Authorities assessing removal of illegal dumpsite in Gospić

The government has met with members of a citizens' initiative in Gospić to discuss cleanup efforts at an illegal dumpsite containing an estimated 45,000 tonnes of waste, much of it classified as hazardous.

Authorities are now assessing the best methods for removing the waste, a process expected to take several years.

Vjekoslav Bušić, a representative of the citizens' initiative 'Gospić is our home', said large quantities of hazardous waste remain buried underground.

"Naturally, we do not expect this issue to be resolved overnight. What we agreed today is to carefully consider the best possible solutions. I believe this gives us confidence that the matter can be resolved in the best interests of everyone involved," Bušić said.

Deputy Prime Minister Branko Bačić stressed that there were no opposing sides when it came to resolving the issue.

"It is in everyone's interest for both hazardous and non-hazardous waste to be properly disposed of as soon as possible, for the contaminated land to be cleaned up, and for all future waste disposal to be be carried out in accordance with the law," he said.

Minister of Environmental Protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković said several remediation projects are already underway in Lika-Senj County.

She explained that, following updated findings showing higher chlorine concentrations in the waste, a second public procurement procedure had been launched and is expected to conclude in August. This phase of the project relates to the removal of non-hazardous waste.

"At the same time, we are developing a technical solution for the most complex phase of the project, which involves the largest volume of waste and the greatest uncertainty regarding the condition of the soil and groundwater," Vučković said.

Asked whether the remediation project would be completed during her term in office, Vučković said she could not guarantee that.