Thousands rally in Croatia demanding urgent cleanup of toxic waste from a town

Tens of thousands of citizens marched in protest in Croatia on Saturday, outraged that authorities have failed to clear a large amount of illegally dumped hazardous waste that poses a significant threat to the environment. The scandal, which originated in the central town of Gospic, has drawn criticism towards conservative Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and his administration, who have seen increasing public discontent in recent weeks.

The issue came to light in February when Croatian police and Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, arrested 13 individuals suspected of illegally importing and disposing of hazardous waste, profiting at least $4.2 million in the process. However, nearly a year later, Gospic residents remain concerned that approximately 37,000 metric tons (40,000 U.S. tons) of waste still remains at an abandoned industrial site, predominantly buried underground.

This waste includes remnants of electronic equipment, plastics, construction materials, and medical waste. A report released last month by the Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK revealed that the soil at the site contained higher-than-normal metal concentrations and PFAS compounds, commonly known as "forever chemicals," in the groundwater.

At the protest, Vjekoslav Busic, representing the "Gospic Is Our Home" initiative, stated that residents have been reporting what they believe to be illicit activity since 2023.