ZAGREB, Croatia
Tens of thousands of individuals gathered in Croatia on a Saturday, expressing their outrage over the government’s failure to clean up a significant amount of hazardous waste that has been illegally dumped, sparking serious concerns about potential environmental harm in the country.
This illegal waste situation, originating from the town of Gospic, has intensified criticism directed at Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his conservative government, which has been facing growing public dissent in recent times.
The issue came to light last February when Croatian police, in cooperation with Europol, arrested 13 individuals believed to be involved in the illicit import and disposal of hazardous materials. At that time, Europol indicated that these individuals had gained at least 4 million euros (around $4.2 million) through illegal activities.
More than a year later, residents of Gospic are increasingly worried about approximately 37,000 metric tons of waste that remain at an abandoned industrial site, most of which is buried underground. This waste includes remnants of electronic devices, plastics, construction debris, and medical waste.
A report released last month by Croatia’s anti-corruption agency, USKOK, indicated that the soil at the site displayed elevated levels of metal contamination, and concerningly, PFAS compounds—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—have been detected in the groundwater.
The protest on Saturday aimed to urge the government to present a definite action plan to urgently and fully address the cleanup of the polluted sites, complete with specific deadlines. Protesters also called for an immediate halt to waste imports.
Vjekoslav Busic, representing the “Gospic Is Our Home” initiative, mentioned that residents have been alerting authorities to suspected illegal activities since 2023.
“So far, not a single kilogram of hazardous waste has been removed from Gospic,” Busic stated.
Another protester, Ivan Rittinger, commented on the authorities’ approach, stating, “They speak of this as if it’s a tragedy, as if it just appeared out of nowhere.” He accused someone of profiting from it and others of turning a blind eye, declaring, “This was planned. It’s not a tragedy; it’s a crime.”
USKOK has stated that they are investigating a Croatian firm for allegedly burying toxic waste illegally at several locations throughout the country, with the majority found in Gospic. The government has announced that investigations are ongoing, alongside efforts to clean the area.
Officials have also claimed that multiple water and soil tests conducted in Gospic showed no signs of contamination. The site will be temporarily covered to shield it from rain, while one company has been selected for the waste removal, and a long-term plan is being established.
Plenkovic has accused his political adversaries of stoking fears for their own political advantage.
While experts acknowledge that the damage appears to be localized, they caution that the region’s karst terrain, combined with loose soil and rivers, could facilitate the spread of pollution toward the Adriatic Sea.
Gospic, home to about 12,000 residents, is near a nature park and is characterized by its forests, lakes, and rivers. The initial Europol report noted that much of the waste that ended up in Gospic was imported from other EU countries, including Italy, Slovenia, and Germany.
At the main square in Zagreb, protesters shouted “Croatia, Croatia” while waving national flags and holding banners that read “When if not now” and “The lungs of Croatia have trouble breathing.”
Zeljka Sikic from Gospic expressed her gratitude to the crowd, emphasizing the courage it takes to stand up for environmental issues today, stating, “We have been handed over to eco-mafia.”
Another Zagreb resident, Suzane Maria Flander, stressed that “it’s a basic human right to have clean soil, clean water, and clean air.”
