Croatian Fund Receives Bids for Waste Remediation in Gospić

The Croatian Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency has received four bids for the initial phases of remediating illegally dumped waste at the former PPK Velebit site in Gospić. The fund announced that two offers were submitted for the removal of approximately 4,500 tons of bulk waste with hazardous properties, a task for which no interested bidders came forward in a previous procedure.

Simultaneously, two bids were opened for the removal of about 650 tons of waste contained in "big bags." A commission from the Fund has begun reviewing the documentation and evaluating all submitted proposals. Field activities are expected to commence as soon as possible, adhering to legal procedures.

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Our goal is not to solve the problem partially, but to remediate the entire location in the shortest possible time, without consequences for people's health and permanent environmental damage.

Director of the Fund, Luka Balen, stated that the Croatian government has secured financing for the remediation. He emphasized the goal is not a partial solution but the complete cleanup of the entire site promptly, without negative consequences for public health or permanent environmental damage. The selected contractor will have up to six months to remove the "big bag" waste and up to 12 months to clear the 4,500 tons of mixed waste near the silo.

In parallel, the Fund is preparing a temporary covering for the buried waste, a preventive measure to limit rainwater infiltration and reduce leachate formation. This protective layer will remain until the removal of the buried waste begins. The Fund and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition are also working on the most challenging part of the project: the final removal and disposal of the buried waste, exploring options with specialized operators for hazardous waste treatment in Europe.

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This is a preventive protective measure by which a waterproof layer will be placed to limit the penetration of rainwater through the waste and thus further reduce the possibility of leachate formation.