Full Breakdown
Zagreb Protest Demands Cleanup of Hazardous Waste Near Gospic
9/5/2026, 8:35:31 PM
Core Event: Massive Demonstration in the Capital
The march began at Trg kralja Tomislava near the main railway station, proceeded toward Ban Josip Jelacic Square, and featured speeches from environmental and civic representatives. Organized by the citizen initiative Gospic je naš dom (“Gospic Is Our Home”), the demonstration called for the immediate removal of illegally dumped waste near Gospic and for stronger state action on environmental protection.
Background & Context
The protest targets the former PPK Velebit industrial complex, where waste has been illegally deposited for years. Analyses released earlier in 2026 identified roughly 4,500 tonnes of loose hazardous material and 650 tonnes stored in bags as part of the initial government-backed remediation. The Croatian Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund later estimated that, when waste in silos and bags is included, the total mass at the site approaches 45,000 tonnes. Independent testing this year also detected PFAS in groundwater downstream of the site.
Data & Statistics
- 33,000 tonnes of waste are reported to be buried at the Gospic location, the figure most frequently cited by protest organizers.
- The Environmental Fund’s broader assessment puts the total waste at almost 45,000 tonnes when all stored material is counted.
- 4,500 tonnes of loose hazardous waste and 650 tonnes in bags have entered the first phase of the government remediation plan.
- More than 200 public figures, including musicians, actors, and academics, have endorsed the protest.
- Trade unions such as SSSH, NHS, and Matica hrvatskih sindikata have expressed solidarity, emphasizing residents’ right to health and environmental protection.
Official Statements & Responses
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic asserted that the government does not consider the site a current threat and pledged that the illegally dumped waste will be cleaned up through a phased remediation process. President Zoran Milanovic expressed support for the peaceful gathering, stating that protecting nature, the human environment, and public health is a constitutional priority.
The organizers of Gospic je naš dom declined to attend the Prime Minister’s meeting, arguing that institutional responses have been too slow and that residents have not received sufficient information about the scale of environmental risk.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total quantity of waste: protest statements cite 33,000 tonnes of buried waste, while the Environmental Fund’s assessment includes additional stored material, raising the figure to almost 45,000 tonnes. The government’s remediation timeline specifies a 20-day deadline for presenting a complete programme and a three-month target for removing the buried waste, but detailed schedules for each phase have not been disclosed. Responsibility for the illegal import and disposal remains contested, with organizers demanding an independent assessment of liability.
What’s Next
The government has committed to delivering a full remediation plan within 20 days and to completing the removal of the 33,000 tonnes of buried waste within three months. Organizers also seek long-term environmental monitoring by independent experts and the inclusion of all known “black-spot” sites in the national Waste Management Plan, along with a temporary suspension of waste imports.
