Thousands in Croatia protest government delay over toxic waste cleanup

The short version

• Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied across Croatia protesting the government's failure to clear thousands of tons of illegal hazardous waste.[Associated Press]
• An estimated 37,000 metric tons of electronic, medical, plastic, and construction waste remains buried at an abandoned industrial site in Gospić.[Associated Press]
• An agency report detected elevated metals and PFAS in groundwater, though officials maintain multiple local tests returned negative results.[Associated Press]
• Experts warn that surrounding karst terrain and rivers could eventually carry toxic contamination toward the Adriatic Sea.[Associated Press]

Key facts

• Tens of thousands of people protested across Croatia over the unresolved hazardous waste site in Gospić.[Associated Press]
• Roughly 37,000 metric tons of plastic, electronic, medical, and construction waste remains largely buried at an abandoned industrial property.[Associated Press]
• Thirteen suspects were arrested by Europol and Croatian police for generating at least 4 million euros through illegal waste imports and disposal.[Associated Press]
• Europol reported that much of the hazardous waste brought into Gospić originated in Italy, Slovenia, and Germany.[Associated Press]
• Croatian anti-corruption agency USKOK published a report finding elevated metal levels in the soil and PFAS chemicals in groundwater at the location.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Thousands rally in Croatia demanding urgent cleanup of toxic waste from a townAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press