Croatia to decide on 33,000 tons of waste in Gospić by September end; groundwater pollution a concern

Croatia's Minister of Environmental Protection, Marija Vučković, announced that a decision on how to manage nearly 33,000 tons of buried waste in Gospić will be presented by the end of September. The ministry has expressed significant concern regarding the potential for groundwater contamination from the site.

"We are concerned about the possibility of pollution spreading through groundwater," Vučković stated in an interview. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy is currently evaluating four different remediation strategies for the substantial amount of buried waste. All proposed options will be presented to the public for review before the ministry advocates for a specific solution.

The waste, located at the former PPK Velebit site, consists of approximately 37,000 tons in total, with nearly 33,000 tons buried. It is described as heterogeneous industrial waste, including significant amounts of plastic, rubber, textiles, and metal particles. The presence of microplastics, elevated heavy metal concentrations, and ecotoxic properties have been confirmed. PFAS compounds, known as "forever chemicals," have also been detected in the groundwater downstream from the landfill, though this water is not part of the public supply.

Minister Vučković addressed criticism from Gospić Mayor Darko Milinović regarding the slow progress, stating that the city is responsible for preventing illegal dumping and monitoring problematic sites. She assured that the ministry is exploring ways to expedite the remediation process and has pledged financial assistance to the city for fencing and video surveillance of the location. The ministry is considering an "in situ" remediation option, which would involve isolating the waste on-site, a method some experts deem the quickest and most cost-effective, though it faces opposition.