Four bids for remediation of illegally dumped waste in Gospić

Four bids have been received for the tender to remediate illegally dumped waste near the Silos in Gospić, reported Luka Balen, Director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. Two bids relate to the removal of 650 tons of non-hazardous waste in large bags, while two relate to 4,500 tons of bulk waste with hazardous properties.

The bids were submitted by four economic entities, two for each part of the procedure. A professional committee has begun evaluating them in accordance with the Public Procurement Act.

"Due to the open public procurement procedure, I cannot disclose more details. We acknowledge public interest and the urgency of the matter, and the public will be informed of all details in a timely manner," Luka Balen said.

A six-month deadline is envisioned for the removal of the 650 tons of non-hazardous waste in large bags. For the removal of the 4,500 tons of bulk waste with hazardous properties, the deadline is one year, after which an additional year is planned for further processing off-site.

The most demanding part of the remediation relates to nearly 33,000 tons of buried waste, which includes waste with hazardous properties mixed with soil and construction material.

Following the publication of a comprehensive expert evaluation by the Faculty of Geotechnical Engineering, the Fund began market research, and oral consultations with interested economic entities are currently underway. Information regarding the remediation method should be presented to the public during September.

At the same time, a negotiated procurement procedure has been launched for temporarily covering the buried waste with a protective foil, and the bids will be opened on Friday, August 28.

"This is the first phase, which would temporarily prevent potential leaking during autumn, winter, and precipitation. As the waste is excavated, the foil will be removed. This is only part of the complete process, not a permanent solution," Balen emphasized.

These are two separate procurement procedures—one for the removal and disposal of bulk waste next to the silo, and one for the disposal of waste stored in bags.

The new procurement procedure was published after the Fund received no bids during the previous one in March.

The first phase of remediation, meaning the removal and disposal of 4,500 tons of bulk waste, is worth 4 million 720 thousand euros excluding VAT. 

All analyzed water samples in the Gospić area are safe for health, the Croatian Institute of Public Health announced based on an analysis conducted on August 17.

Six samples were taken directly from taps, and it was concluded that there are no deviations from the prescribed values.

PFAS compounds were also not detected above the limit of quantification in any sample, confirming that water from the public water supply in the Gospić area is healthy and safe to drink, the Institute pointed out.

Source: HRT