Gospić illegal waste: State steps in to clean up, but those responsible must answer

(Photo: Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition)

GOSPIĆ, 11 August 2026 – The Croatian government has moved ahead with plans to remove and safely dispose of illegally dumped waste at a contaminated site in Gospić, with new public procurement procedures now under way after the first tender attracted no bids.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition said in a statement on Monday that the government and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund had been taking steps to enable the clean-up since the case became public in February 2025.

Under Croatian waste management legislation, responsibility for remediation initially rests with the polluter or, in certain circumstances, the local authority where the waste is located. However, after it was assessed that the polluter would not be able to cover the costs, the Ministry and Fund began procedures to enable state financing.

The site was subsequently included in Croatia’s Waste Management Plan by a government decision in May 2025, creating the legal basis for the Fund to carry out the remediation.

Criminal investigation delayed access

The Ministry said preparation for the physical clean-up could not begin until October 2025 because access to the site was restricted during investigative procedures conducted by USKOK.

Despite the restrictions, officials said documentation was collected, additional analyses were carried out and the market was researched to determine how the waste could be removed and treated safely.

Once USKOK confirmed that access was no longer restricted, the Fund carried out further domestic and international market consultations. An open tender for the first phase of the clean-up was launched in February 2026, the Ministry said.

The first phase covers the removal and disposal of loose waste located near a silo. However, no bids were submitted.

Following additional consultations with potential contractors, the estimated value of this phase was increased from €2.1 million to €4.72 million excluding VAT. The planned timetable was also extended, with up to 12 months for removal followed by up to another 12 months for final recovery and disposal.

A separate tender has also been launched for the removal of around 650 tonnes of non-hazardous waste stored in so-called “big bags”. The estimated value is €400,000 excluding VAT, with a six-month completion period.

The deadline for bids for both procedures is the end of August.

The more complex issue concerns waste buried at the site. The Fund has contacted dozens of operators across the European Union, including hazardous-waste landfill operators and energy-recovery facilities, as well as operators of former salt mines used for permanent storage.

Officials said the technical information provided to potential operators has been expanded following the publication of a full geotechnical report.

The Ministry has also said that protecting public health remains a priority. It requested expert assessments concerning PFAS compounds and drinking water, while the Croatian Institute of Public Health confirmed the safety of drinking water. Monitoring is expected to continue.

At a meeting with the citizens’ initiative “Gospić je naš dom” in late July, authorities agreed to publish available analyses, seek publication of the full criminal-proceedings expert report and consider expanding groundwater monitoring.

A further meeting is planned by 20 September, when proposed models for dealing with the buried waste are expected to be presented.

The Ministry also stressed that it did not issue permits for the site or conduct inspections there, saying the circumstances surrounding how major changes at the location went undetected should be established through the appropriate procedures.

Meanwhile, Croatia is preparing changes to its Waste Management Act aimed at strengthening controls and introducing tougher sanctions for illegal waste activities.