Croatia deputy prefect demands action on illegal waste in Roma settlements

Elvis Kralj, deputy prefect of Međimurje County, is demanding a more serious national response to illegal waste dumping in the region's Roma settlements. He points to the government's recent engagement with a significant waste problem in Gospić as a precedent for action.

Kralj has repeatedly warned authorities about the waste issue in Roma communities, even discussing it with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. He is seeking a meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, Marija Vučković, to present the scale of the problem and find lasting solutions. He emphasizes the health consequences for residents, especially children in settlements already facing poor living conditions and water quality, which strain the healthcare system.

The deputy prefect also cited frequent fires and waste burning as serious safety and health hazards. "Gospić is not all of Croatia," Kralj stated, questioning why the problem in Međimurje isn't being addressed with the same urgency and comprehensiveness. He specifically mentioned 50-60 tons of "salonit" (asbestos cement) panels dumped in Podturen and other illegal waste sites, posing risks to the environment and local populations.

The Fond za zaštitu okoliša i energetsku učinkovitost (Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund) offered 200,000 euros for cleanup in Podturen, but the municipality must secure the remaining 260,000 euros. Kralj noted this significant financial burden shows that such problems often exceed local capabilities. He also expressed concern that the representative for national minorities in parliament has not adequately recognized the waste issue in Međimurje's Roma settlements.