Viktor Prtenjača claims that between 2021 and 2025, hundreds of tons of medical and asbestos waste were brought to the Gornja Jagodnja landfill without documentation, just two kilometers from water sources.
Following the revelations of scandals involving hazardous and harmful waste in Gospić and Benkovac, the knot of ecocide is slowly unraveling in other places as well, and now it's the turn of the municipality of Polača, specifically the Gornja Jagodnja waste disposal site. The situation was brought to the public's attention by the former mayor of Polača, Viktor Prtenjača (60), who led Polača as an HDZ mayor for four terms, a full 16 years, until 2017, and is now politically active through the DOMiNO party, where he serves as the president of the municipal branch.
Prtenjača claims that serious criminal activity was taking place at the municipal waste landfill. "I noticed that strange things were happening at our municipal waste landfill. I went several times to see what was going on there and came to the conclusion that what they are doing there is serious crime. And all of this will lead to unwanted consequences in the future," he said.
The former mayor describes how waste arrived at night and was covered with non-hazardous municipal waste in the morning. "It's sad, pitiful, and lamentable what ignoramuses and the corrupt are willing to do... Waste was brought in at night and covered with non-hazardous municipal waste in the morning. That's why I ask all organs of the Croatian state responsible for this, if they can respond to anonymous reports, please respond to my public call. I'm not some investigator and I don't want to deal with this, but everything is clear here, it's clear to the people of Polača..." Prtenjača stated.
He also recounted how during one night he saw two fully loaded trucks, which might have contained around 50 tons of waste. When he went to ask in the morning, the Municipality told him it was non-hazardous waste from the power plant in Šopot and that they didn't have to pay. "Who made a contract with them? For free? Who has the right to tell someone, 'Unload, you don't have to pay anything'? This isn't anyone's private property!" he said.
Prtenjača claims that from 2021 to 2025, hundreds and hundreds of tons of hazardous medical and asbestos waste were constantly deposited at the landfill without accompanying documents and without any documentation. When this waste comes into contact with water, air, and agricultural products, it causes infertility and cancers.
"All of this is located just two kilometers from a series of water sources that are vital to this population. There are hundreds of wells that private owners use to irrigate their private plots," the former mayor warned.
The landfill was permanently closed in February 2025, but the problems remain. Prtenjača claims that the remediation was carried out in secrecy and that it merely covers up the real problems. "Everyone was in a hurry to complete the remediation, and the funds from the fund were secured even before the closure. Look, if the landfill in Polača is being remediated faster than the one in Zadar, that tells you everything. I was there three months ago and the remediation hadn't even started, and now recently when I was there, it was already nearing completion," he said.
He added that mayors usually like to boast about such things, but no one has read anything about the waste remediation in Polača. "Because someone wanted to secretly reach the final stage in the hope that it would never be discovered once it was covered up," Prtenjača believes.
The former mayor accuses the municipal leadership, the municipal council, and the employees of the defunct utility company. "I think this is an arm of the same octopus, involving the municipal leadership, the council, and the employees of that utility company. All of this requires a thorough investigation, and I have said that I stand with full moral and criminal responsibility and place myself at the disposal of investigative bodies, the prosecutor's office, and anyone else. I am ready to give them evidence and point them to living witnesses, namely the employees and drivers," he said.
As an indication, he cites the shutdown of the utility company a year ago, which he sees as an attempt to cover tracks. "It's about the municipal leadership! They allowed this on someone's orders. It's also about the directors of the utility company. Now look at the indication: they shut down that company a year ago, all to cover their tracks," he emphasized.
Prtenjača warns that the solution is to urgently stop the current method of remediation, determine what is all at the landfill, and rectify the situation. "There is no amount of money that can pay for this beauty of Vransko polje. None! And if there is a breach into Vransko polje, then it will be 'oh my God'," Prtenjača concluded.
He also recalled the period of his terms, when, as he says, great care was taken of the landfill. "When I was mayor, not two days could pass without me personally going to the landfill with my associates, fearing that something might happen. We built the landfill for Polača and the city of Benkovac. We had a gentleman's agreement and we took care. The people of Benkovac never brought even two centimeters of anything that wasn't non-hazardous municipal waste," he said.
After his departure, as he claims, chaos ensued, and contracts were signed with the City of Biograd, the Municipality of Pakoštane, Tkon, Orebić, and Metković. "We are a small, God-given municipality with natural values and beauties. Unfortunately, I think we are no longer that..." the former mayor concluded.
