Bishop: Waste disposal in Gospić is a matter of human dignity

The Diocese of Gospić-Senj has voiced serious concern regarding the ongoing waste disposal issue in Gospić, Croatia, highlighting potential consequences for the environment, public health, and safety. For years, suspect waste has been accumulating at the site of the former PPK Velebit silo, despite warnings from citizens about the trucks delivering it and reports to authorities.

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The Diocese of Gospić-Senj is following with serious concern the information that has been presented in public in recent months about waste disposal in the area of the city of Gospić and the possible consequences for the environment, health, and safety of people.

Currently, an estimated 37,000 tons of mixed waste, including electronic waste residues, medical waste, plastics, and construction materials, are present at the location. Recent expert analyses have revealed severe contamination of the soil and groundwater. The soil is heavily laden with metals, and habitat destruction has been confirmed across nearly 18,000 square meters. Furthermore, PFAS compounds, known as "forever chemicals," have been detected in groundwater downstream from the landfill, necessitating urgent remediation.

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As the local Church whose seat is in Gospić, we feel a pastoral and moral responsibility to clearly state our position on an issue that directly affects the well-being of the people who live here.

In a statement titled "Responsibility for Man and the Created World," Bishop Marko Medo emphasized the Church's pastoral and moral obligation to address the situation. He stated that the Diocese is not seeking to engage in political disputes or assign legal blame, but rather to focus on human dignity and the protection of life. Gospić and the Lika region are described as a place deeply connected to its inhabitants, a land inherited from past generations and one for which current residents are responsible to future ones. The Bishop stressed that forests, waters, springs, karst, soil, and biodiversity are not merely natural resources but integral to the well-being of the community.

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Our starting point is the dignity of every human being and the protection of life.