Thousands Demand Action as Toxic Waste Crisis Grows in Croatia

Tens of thousands of people filled the streets of Zagreb this week, united by a single demand: the government must take immediate action against the illegal storage of toxic waste. The large demonstration highlights growing public anger over reports that a landfill near the town of Gospic has been used to store dangerous materials from several European countries, including Germany, Italy, and Slovenia. For many in attendance, the protest was a clear message that the current situation is unacceptable and poses a serious threat to the nation’s environment.

According to Deutsche Welle (DW), the protest featured signs with strong messages, such as "ecocide equals slow genocide," a term used to describe the destruction of the natural environment. Protesters are calling for the government to clear all illegal landfills, which they argue are polluting groundwater. Furthermore, they have set a strict deadline, demanding a new national waste management plan within the next 20 days. They also want the government to put a temporary ban on waste imports in place to prevent more foreign trash from entering the country.

The scandal first came to light following a series of arrests in February 2025, when 13 people were taken into custody. Since then, an investigation involving Europol—the European Union's law enforcement agency—and Croatian authorities has been ongoing. Deutsche Welle (DW) reports that four companies are currently under investigation for their involvement. Investigators believe that the suspects made a profit of approximately 4 million euros by falsely declaring toxic hospital waste and plastic refuse as materials suitable for recycling. By forging documents, these groups were able to move the waste across borders illegally.

There is significant disagreement regarding the scale of the problem. While official reports suggest that about 35,000 tons of waste have been dumped, local environmental activists claim the true number is higher, stating that 37,000 tons were left at the Gospic site alone. This discrepancy has fueled public distrust, as citizens worry that the full extent of the environmental damage is being hidden or underestimated.

In August, prosecutors released a report confirming that the soil in Gospic is contaminated. The report noted that this pollution has spread beyond the original site, creating a significant risk for both the environment and the health of local people. Despite these findings, health authorities have stated that the drinking water in Gospic remains safe for now. However, the fear of long-term health consequences continues to drive the public outcry.

In response to the mounting pressure, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has promised that the government will take steps to secure the Gospic site. He announced that the area will be covered by mid-October to prevent further spread of the contamination, with plans to remove the waste entirely at a later date. While this announcement is a step forward, many protesters remain skeptical. They argue that covering the site is not enough and that the government must address the root causes of the illegal waste trade to ensure such a crisis does not happen again.

The situation remains tense as the government attempts to balance its waste management policies with the demands of an increasingly vocal public. With Europol continuing its investigation into the companies and individuals responsible for the illegal dumping, the case is expected to remain a major political issue in the coming months. For the people of Croatia, the focus is now on whether the government will follow through on its promises or if more protests will be necessary to protect the country’s land and water from further harm.