Full Breakdown
Toxic Waste Dumping in Gospic Sparks Nationwide Protest and EU Appeal
By Drooid · · How we work
Illegal Dumping and Environmental Impact
Between 2022 and 2024, an estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste—including hazardous material—were illegally abandoned at several sites in Gospic, a town in Croatia’s Lika region. One of the largest sites lies only 50 metres from the home of activist Željka Šikic. The Croatian Institute of Public Health later detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in nearby groundwater and elevated copper and lead levels in the soil. Residents, fearing contamination, have turned to bottled water despite official assurances of safe drinking water.
Arrests and Ongoing Site Presence
In February 2025, police arrested 13 individuals suspected of operating the environmental crime network. Two Croatian nationals identified as the network’s leaders were labeled high-value targets by Europol and are alleged to have coordinated illegal waste imports from Italy, Slovenia and Germany, generating upwards of €4 million in profit. Although the arrests raised hopes for site closure, the waste remains in place 18 months later, prompting continued community alarm.
Community Mobilization and Demands
Šikic and 16 other residents formed the “Gospic is our home” movement to demand comprehensive remediation. Campaign member Ivana Rukavina Saric explained that the group assembled experts from diverse fields to tackle the complex problem. The movement has attracted nationwide attention, receiving daily calls from other affected communities. On 5 September, tens of thousands of Croatians marched on Zagreb, with estimates of 40,000 participants. The activists now call for the removal of the buried waste, inclusion of all known waste hotspots in a national waste strategy, and an urgent cleanup of the Gospic site.
Government Response and Planned Actions
Croatian authorities have launched two public procurement procedures aimed at the removal, disposal, or recovery of the waste. Nevertheless, the site’s persistence has led the campaign to plan a protest at the European Parliament in Brussels, arguing that time for promises has run out. The group’s push for EU involvement underscores concerns that illegal waste shipments—estimated by the United Nations to comprise 15 % to 30 % of EU waste flows—extend beyond Croatia’s borders.
Outlook
The activists’ upcoming Brussels demonstration seeks to pressure both national and European bodies into decisive action, highlighting the broader challenge of illegal waste trafficking across the continent.
