ZAGREB — Tens of thousands of people rallied in Zagreb on Saturday to demand the urgent cleanup of illegally dumped hazardous waste near the town of Gospic. The demonstrators called for a clear plan to remediate polluted sites with clearly defined deadlines and an immediate ban on waste imports.

The protest focused on an abandoned industrial site near Gospic where approximately 37,000 metric tons of waste remains. The waste is mostly buried underground and includes remains of electronic equipment, plastics, construction materials, and medical waste. Much of the waste in Gospic was imported from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany. Gospic has around 12,000 residents.

Vjekoslav Busic, a member of the Gospic Is Our Home initiative, said residents had been reporting suspected illegal activity since 2023. "The result to date: Not a single kilogram (pound) of hazardous waste has been removed from Gospic," Busic said. Ivan Rittinger, a protester, said, "This is not a tragedy. This is a crime." Suzane Maria Flander, a resident of Zagreb, said that it is a "basic human right to have clean soil, clean water and clean air."

An expert report published last month by the Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK found elevated metal concentrations in the soil at the site. The USKOK report detected PFAS compounds in groundwater at the site. Experts warned that the region’s karst terrain, loose soil, and rivers could carry pollution from the site toward the Adriatic Sea. USKOK is investigating a Croatian company for allegedly burying illegal toxic waste at several sites across Croatia, with the largest amount of illegal waste found in Gospic.

Authorities stated that multiple water and soil tests in Gospic came out negative for contamination. One company has been chosen to clear some of the waste while a long-term plan is drafted, and the site will be temporarily covered to protect it from rainwater. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic accused political opponents of fueling panic for political gains.

Why It Matters

The rally shows public concern over environmental contamination and government response timelines. The presence of PFAS compounds and elevated metals in soil and groundwater poses potential health risks, while geological factors could spread pollution to the Adriatic Sea. The demand for binding deadlines reflects frustration with the pace of remediation despite prior arrests and ongoing investigations.

The scale of the waste dump, involving tens of thousands of metric tons from multiple countries, reflects the cross-border nature of the illegal trade. The involvement of EU law enforcement and national anti-corruption agencies indicates the complexity of addressing such environmental crimes. The protest serves as a public assertion of rights to clean air, water, and soil during conflicting reports on contamination levels.

Timeline

In February 2025, Croatian police and Europol arrested 13 people on suspicion of illegally importing and disposing of hazardous waste. Europol stated that the suspects made at least 4 million euros in illegal profit. In August 2026, an expert report published by the Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK found elevated metal concentrations in the soil at the site. The USKOK report also detected PFAS compounds in groundwater at the site.

On September 5, 2026, protesters demanded the urgent cleanup of illegally dumped hazardous waste near the town of Gospic. Croatian actor Rade Serbedzija attended the rally. Protesters carried national flags and banners reading "When if not now" and "The lungs of Croatia have trouble breathing." Protesters shouted "Croatia, Croatia" during the rally.

What's New

Organizers demanded a complete cleanup plan with binding deadlines within 20 days and the removal of all buried waste within three months. Lawmakers from the Social Democratic Party and the Most party attended the rally.

The illegal waste scandal in Gospić, Croatia, centers on the criminal dumping of approximately 37,000 tons of industrial and hazardous waste at an abandoned industrial complex. Croatian is a South Slavic language spoken in Croatia.