The scandal surfaced in February 2025, triggering a stalled investigation by the anti-corruption agency USKOK. Despite an estimated cleanup cost of €50 million projected in June 2026, the site remains untouched, leaving residents to live alongside untreated hazardous materials. The lack of transparency regarding soil and water safety has fueled public outrage, as local campaigns struggle to force the government to release comprehensive environmental reports.
Croatia’s Toxic Legacy: The Gospić Waste Crisis
Thousands marched through Zagreb on September 5, demanding accountability for a sprawling network of illegal waste sites in the Lika region. More than 35,000 tonnes of hazardous plastic and medical debris remain buried at the 'Silos' site in Gospić, where groundwater tests have now confirmed the presence of toxic 'forever chemicals'.
Evidence from the Croatian Institute of Public Health confirms that PFAS, a class of persistent synthetic chemicals, has leached into local groundwater. These compounds do not break down in the environment, posing long-term risks to the region’s water supply and coastal ecosystems. As the government remains silent on formal demands, protesters have expanded their focus, linking the Gospić site to broader industrial oversight failures that threaten public health far beyond the Lika region.
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