Expert report finds so-called forever chemicals in an illegal landfill in Gospić

The illegal waste scandal in Gospić, Croatia, centers on the criminal dumping of approximately 37,000 tons of industrial and hazardous waste at an abandoned industrial complex. Investigation details from Croatia's anti-corruption office, USKOK, outline massive environmental contamination and a network of institutional corruption.

The USKOK anti-corruption agency has published the findings and supplement to the environmental protection report related to a contentious industrial complex in Gospić that has been linked to a major illegal waste disposal scandal. The supplemental expert report shows that compounds known as forever chemicals were found in the groundwater downstream of the landfill. Here is an excerpt from a statement issued by USKOK on Thursday:

Excerpt from a statement issued by USKOK: "Given the determined quantities of waste, its hazardous properties, contaminant concentrations and proven transmission routes, it can be concluded that this is a locally significant but progressive impact, which has already led to permanent changes in the environment, and without the implementation of remediation measures, it represents a continuous source of pollution with a tendency to spread and increase the intensity of the impact on the environment and human health."

The primary suspects in the case are Varaždin businessman Josip Šincek and his wife, Monika Šincek. Operating as a criminal enterprise, they orchestrated the smuggling and illegal disposal of waste across multiple sites in Croatia, including Varaždin, Benkovac, Senj, and Gospić.

The syndicate imported shredded plastic and mixed industrial waste from Slovenia and Italy, combining it with illegally acquired medical waste and electronics from within Croatia.

At the former industrial site in Gospić, the waste was either left exposed to rain or buried directly into unprotected soil in layers 4 to 5 meters deep.

The scale of the dumping was made possible by systemic bribery and administrative complicity. The Šinceks testified that former Chief State Inspector Andrija Mikulić demanded a €500,000 bribe to guarantee that state environmental inspectors would ignore the illegal operations.

The investigation expanded to local officials, including county advisor Jerko Kostelac, who allegedly authorized waste management permits for the site even though nearly 5,800 tons of illegal waste were already visibly stockpiled there.

An official expert report prepared by the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering at the University of Zagreb revealed critical levels of contamination. The dumped material is classified under the severe HP14 Eco toxicity category, causing irreversible habitat destruction across nearly 17,800 square meters.

Soil analysis showed copper levels at 9,946 mg/kg (nearly 100 times the legal limit), lead levels at 1,051 mg/kg (10 times the limit), and antimony levels at 317 mg/kg (300 times natural levels).

Testing confirmed that PFAS (forever chemicals) have leached from the landfill into downstream groundwater, measuring 200.5 Nano grams per liter. This is double the European and Croatian safety threshold of 100 ng/l for human consumption. Fortunately, the specific contaminated aquifer is local and not connected to the public drinking water network.

Local frustration remains high as the site continues to pose an active threat. Led by the citizen action group "Gospić je naš dom" (Gospić is Our Home), locals have staged protests, including a 5-kilometer march, demanding immediate government action.

Local Mayor Darko Milinović has publicly criticized the national government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković for failing to remove a single kilogram of waste over a year after the discovery. Remediation costs are estimated at €50 million, but clean-up has been delayed by failed public procurement tenders.

Source: HRT