Croatian president calls for immediate action over Gospić waste scandal

(Photo: Ured predsjednika Republike Hrvatske / Marko Beljan)

ZAGREB, Croatia, 10 August 2026 – Croatian President Zoran Milanović has called for the immediate remediation of an illegal waste site near Gospić, saying the authorities can no longer delay action over concerns about environmental contamination and public health.

Milanović made the comments on social media on Monday, following expert findings commissioned by Croatia’s anti-corruption and organised crime prosecutor’s office USKOK, which confirmed contamination of soil and groundwater around the site.

The case concerns an industrial complex at Bilajska 50, where around 37,000 tonnes of waste have been identified. Expert analysis by the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Zagreb found mixed industrial waste, including material from the processing of electronic and medical waste, plastics and other treated waste fractions.

Almost 33,000 tonnes are believed to be buried at the location, mixed with soil to such an extent that separation is no longer considered possible.

Testing recorded elevated levels of several pollutants, including copper, lead and antimony. Copper concentrations reached almost 10,000 mg/kg, close to 100 times the permitted level, while lead exceeded 1,000 mg/kg, around ten times the legal limit.

Further testing found PFAS compounds, often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’, in groundwater downstream from the site. Concentrations reached 200.5 nanograms per litre, twice the Croatian and European threshold of 100 ng/l for water intended for human consumption. Authorities have said the affected groundwater is not part of the public drinking water supply.

Milanović said the situation required immediate action.

“The illegal, indeed criminal, disposal of hazardous waste in Lika, around Gospić, must be urgently remedied.”

He criticised the Government for continuing to refer to procedures and public tenders, arguing that the environmental risks required urgent intervention.

“The Croatian government can no longer justify itself for a day with procedures and public tenders, as it does now, because people’s health is undoubtedly at risk and because there is a threat of permanent pollution of the area.”

Milanović also questioned why no one had yet been held accountable for the illegal disposal of waste, including those responsible for bringing the waste to Lika and institutions that were responsible for preventing such activity.

“Lika, but also Croatia, must receive an answer: why has no one been punished to date for the illegal disposal of hazardous waste and why have the competent state institutions silently allowed this?”

He concluded by asking when remediation would begin and called on the Government and relevant ministries to act immediately to protect public health and the future of the region.

The Croatian Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund is currently considering four remediation options, ranging from sealing the site to excavation and disposal abroad, incineration abroad or stabilisation of the waste. Estimated costs range from several million euros to more than €100 million, depending on the option selected.

Environment Minister Marija Vučković has said that the ministry plans to present its preferred remediation model by the end of September.

The case remains subject to criminal proceedings and is not public.