New expert findings reveal environmental impact of waste sites in Benkovac and Gospić

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ZAGREB, 9 September 2026 — New expert findings released by Croatia’s anti-corruption and organised crime office USKOK have provided further details about the environmental impact of two locations linked to a major investigation into the illegal disposal of waste in Croatia.

The documents, prepared by experts from the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering and the Croatian Institute of Public Health (HZJZ), examine a former quarry complex in Benkovačko Selo near Benkovac and waste stored at Bilajska 50 in Gospić.

USKOK said the documents were made available because of the significant public interest in the case, while stressing that the criminal investigation remains non-public. The investigation concerns a larger number of suspects who are suspected of acting as a criminal organisation and committing several offences against the environment and the economy.

Microplastics detected outside Benkovac waste site

The Benkovac assessment examined 19 surface-material samples, each divided into three sub-samples, to determine whether microplastics were present around the former quarry site.

The expert analysis found polymer fragments and synthetic fibres in all analysed sub-samples taken from within the main waste body at locations S1–S6. Microplastic material was also confirmed in samples taken outside the main waste area, including locations approximately 20 to 30 metres from its edge.

The experts concluded that the deposited waste is a confirmed source of secondary microplastics.

They identified several possible mechanisms by which particles can spread. The prevailing wind direction is towards the north-east, corresponding with findings of polymer fragments in samples S16 and S17. Rainwater is also considered an important transport mechanism, with runoff potentially carrying fine particles from the elevated waste body towards lower sections of the former quarry.

The site is located on karst terrain, with cracks, depressions and cavities. Experts said this means that rainwater can transport fine particles across the surface and into lower areas, while the possibility of further movement into the subsurface cannot be excluded.

The report says the environmental change is considered long-term, because microplastics degrade slowly and larger fragments can continue breaking down into smaller particles.

The experts said that removing the waste and remediating the site would significantly reduce the main source of further microplastic generation and spread. However, completely removing particles that have already dispersed cannot realistically be expected because of their small size and possible retention in cracks and cavities.

PFAS detected in groundwater near Gospić site

The HZJZ analysis examined 20 PFAS compounds in three composite samples of waste eluate from the Gospić site.

Six PFAS compounds were detected in the eluates, with the total concentrations ranging from 2.43 to 6.17 micrograms per kilogram of dry matter. The highest total was recorded in one composite sample at 6.17 µg/kg.

The HZJZ assessment also examined groundwater from three piezometers close to the industrial complex at Bilajska 50.

Four PFAS compounds were detected in the groundwater samples. At one location, the combined concentration of the detected PFAS compounds was 0.2005 micrograms per litre, or 200.5 nanograms per litre. At another, the total was 0.0071 µg/L, while the third sample was below the reporting limit of 0.0015 µg/L.

The largest contribution came from PFBS, which accounted for 86% of the total PFAS concentration in the 200.5 ng/L sample. PFHxA was the second most significant compound in the waste eluates.

Importantly, these measurements relate to groundwater monitoring points near the waste site, not drinking water from the public supply system.

The HZJZ report notes that the concentrations detected in the groundwater piezometers around Bilajska 50 are within the lower range of levels reported in studies of contaminated landfill sites. It also notes that PFAS concentrations can vary considerably depending on environmental and operational conditions.

The findings form part of the wider USKOK investigation into the handling and disposal of waste at several locations in Croatia.

USKOK has now made the underlying expert documentation publicly available, allowing the findings to be examined in detail.

Benkovac report HERE

Opinion of the Croatian Institute of Public Health HERE