{
  "id": 5803827,
  "title": "Croatia: Toxic waste protest draws tens of thousands",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/croatia-toxic-waste-protest-draws-tens-of-thousands-5803827",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T17:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/croatia-toxic-waste-protest-draws-tens-of-thousands/a-79049228?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A massive protest unfolded in Zagreb, Croatia, as tens of thousands of citizens blamed their government for failing to address the illegal storage of toxic waste. The landfill in Gospic, located 124 miles southwest of Zagreb, was being utilized to store toxic waste from several countries, including Germany and Italy, according to reports. Demonstrators carried signs demanding an end to waste imports and an immediate cleanup of illegal landfills, which they argued were contaminating groundwater. They also called for the implementation of a new nationwide waste management plan within 20 days. The protests followed a series of arrests in February 2025, with Europol assisting Croatian authorities in their ongoing investigation. Four companies are currently under scrutiny, with Europol estimating that most of the 35,000 tons of waste originated from Italy, along with contributions from Slovenia and Germany. The discarded materials comprised plastic refuse and toxic hospital waste, generating profits of approximately €4 million ($4.6 million) for the implicated parties, who may have fabricated documents to falsely claim the plastic waste was recyclable. Local environmental activists dispute the tonnage, asserting that 37,000 tons of waste were illicitly discarded in Gospic alone. Prosecutors released a report in August confirming soil contamination in Gospic, emphasizing the significant risk it poses to the environment and public health, even though drinking water in the area remains uncontaminated, health officials stated. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has pledged to cover the toxic waste site in Gospic by mid-October before the waste is removed.",
  "summary": "The Zagreb demonstrators demanded that the government come up with a plan to clear illegal toxic waste in 20 days. Prime Minister Plenkovic has promised to tackle the issue.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Thousands rally in Croatia demanding urgent cleanup of toxic waste from a town",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/thousands-rally-in-croatia-demanding-urgent-cleanup-of-toxic-waste",
        "published": "2026-09-05T14:41:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Thousands rally in Croatia demanding urgent cleanup of toxic waste from a town",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/thousands-rally-in-croatia-demanding-urgent-cleanup-of-toxic-waste-5789094",
        "published": "2026-09-05T14:53:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Croatia: Toxic waste protest draws tens of thousands",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/croatia-toxic-waste-protest-draws-tens-of-thousands",
        "published": "2026-09-05T17:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Tens of thousands rally in Zagreb over Croatia waste cleanup delays",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/tens-of-thousands-rally-in-zagreb-over-croatia-waste-cleanup-delays",
        "published": "2026-09-05T18:41:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Thousands protest in Croatia to demand government clean up toxic waste",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/thousands-protest-in-croatia-to-demand-government-clean-up-toxic-waste",
        "published": "2026-09-05T18:42:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}