Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Zagreb, demanding urgent government action to address illegal toxic waste storage. Protesters are particularly concerned about a landfill near Gospic, which is reportedly holding waste from multiple countries, including Germany and Italy. The situation has raised alarms over potential groundwater contamination, with calls for a comprehensive waste management plan to be implemented within 20 days.
The protest reflects growing public frustration with the government’s inaction on environmental issues, especially following the arrests of individuals linked to illegal waste dumping. Activists claim that the scale of the problem is even larger than reported, with local estimates suggesting that 37,000 tons of waste have been improperly disposed of in Gospic alone.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has promised to cover the toxic site by mid-October, but many are sceptical about the government’s commitment to long-term solutions. The ongoing investigation, supported by Europol, underscores the seriousness of the issue, as it poses significant risks to both public health and the environment.
As the protest highlights, the consequences of toxic waste mismanagement extend beyond immediate health risks, potentially affecting local economies and public trust in government. The outcome of this situation could set a precedent for environmental policy in Croatia and influence public engagement in environmental activism across the region.
Source: DW News
