A major demonstration in Zagreb drew tens of thousands of protesters demanding urgent action to address a significant illegal waste dumping operation in the Lika region. The protest, one of Croatia’s largest in recent years, was triggered by frustration over the government’s slow response to removing more than 30,000 tonnes of hazardous material, including medical and industrial waste, buried near the town of Gospic since 2023.
Investigators determined that 13 individuals were arrested in February for their roles in importing and dumping the waste, which originated from elsewhere within the European Union. The illegal scheme generated over $4 million for those involved before authorities discovered the operation at an abandoned industrial facility outside Gospic. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic visited the site recently and announced that a contractor had been selected to begin waste removal operations.
A significant point of contention has emerged between government claims and independent findings regarding environmental contamination. While Croatian officials stated that soil and water testing around Gospic revealed no contamination, an assessment from the country’s anticorruption agency published earlier reported elevated metal concentrations in soil samples and detected PFAS chemicals, commonly called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, in groundwater nearby.
Organizers of the march, including the Gospic Is Our Home community group, called for a comprehensive cleanup plan with specific deadlines and the removal of all buried waste within a defined timeframe. The rally attracted support from lawmakers across the political spectrum and notable public figures, reflecting widespread concern about the issue. Environmental specialists cautioned that while localized thus far, the region’s geological characteristics and river systems could potentially transport pollutants toward the Adriatic Sea coastline, which supports significant tourism activity.
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