Croatia Is Facing a Waste Crisis, Most MPs Say

Croatia is facing a waste management crisis, Most MPs said Monday, as they called for greater scrutiny of waste disposal practices across the country.

Sinj Mayor Miro Bulj sharply criticized Split-Dalmatia County's waste management at a press conference, warning that the county could face a crisis similar to the one seen in Naples, Italy.

Bulj pointed to the county's planned waste management center at Lećevica, which remains unfinished, while Sinj's own landfill has been closed. He blamed Split Mayor Tomislav Šuta and Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Blaženko Boban for the situation. County officials have rejected the allegations.

"The person responsible for the Lećevica waste management center is Tomislav Šuta, and the person above him is County Prefect Blaženko Boban, who now expresses deep regret. Not a day goes by that I don't get calls from mayors and other local officials begging me to take their waste," Bulj said.

Meanwhile, Most MP Marin Miletić is calling for greater scrutiny of the type of waste being disposed of at Marišćina, the waste management center in Viškovo near Rijeka.

His call comes after the City of Senj announced plans to close the Sv. Juraj landfill after it reached capacity and begin transporting its waste to Marišćina.

"Šincek was still dumping his waste in Senj two months ago. Now, that site is closed," Miletić said, referring to Josip Šincek, whose waste disposal company has been accused of dumping thousands of tons of hazardous waste at a landfill in Gospić.

"We are not prejudging, but we do want the government to investigate, to test the air quality, to test the soil here in Marišćina. Is it possible that PFAS have seeped into the ground, and are there any traces of them here?" Miletić said.

The issue comes in the wake of the waste crisis in Gospić, which prompted Parliament to convene a special session last week.