Nearly 40,000 people gathered outside the Croatian parliament this month to protest against the illegal dumping of hazardous waste in the town of Gospić, located in the mountainous Lika region of central Croatia. The demonstration was organized by the grassroots campaign “Gospić is our home,” which was established by local residents frustrated by the ongoing environmental and health threats posed by the contamination.
Between 2022 and 2024, an estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste, including hazardous materials, were illegally dumped and buried at multiple sites around Gospić. One of the largest dumping grounds was located just 50 meters from the home of campaign co-founder Željka Šikić, who described regular nighttime truck traffic entering a nearby industrial site. Despite the frequent activity, local authorities and police largely failed to intervene, prompting residents to monitor and document vehicle movements themselves.
A recent report by the Croatian Institute of Public Health confirmed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often called “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — in groundwater near the waste sites. Elevated levels of copper and lead were also detected in the soil. While officials have assured the public that drinking water remains safe, mistrust persists among locals, many of whom now rely on bottled water.
In February 2025, law enforcement arrested 13 individuals suspected of involvement in the environmental crime network responsible for the waste dumping. The primary suspects, two Croatian nationals, are deemed major targets by Europol and are believed to have coordinated the illegal import of hazardous waste from Italy, Slovenia, and Germany. Authorities estimate the network generated profits exceeding €4 million by falsifying documentation to disguise waste shipments as recyclables, thereby avoiding costly disposal procedures.
Despite these arrests, local activists say progress on cleanup and broader policy measures has been slow. In response, Šikić and 16 others formed the “Gospić is our home” movement 18 months ago to demand comprehensive remediation of the contaminated sites and the removal of buried waste. The group is also calling for the inclusion of all known waste hotspots in Croatia’s national waste management strategy.
The campaign has gained momentum nationally, with Ivana Rukavina Sarić, another member of the group, reporting daily outreach from communities across Croatia facing similar illegal dumping issues. The United Nations estimates that between 15% and 30% of waste shipments within the European Union are conducted illegally, highlighting a broader challenge in managing cross-border waste trafficking. Recent investigations have also uncovered contamination linked to waste exports in other countries, including microplastic pollution in irrigation canals in Turkey.
Looking ahead, the “Gospić is our home” movement plans to bring its concerns to the European Parliament in Brussels, aiming to raise awareness and push for stronger enforcement against waste-related crimes across the EU.