Zagreb's HDZ warns that the containers mar the main square's appearance and will serve a limited number of users, while the city administration insists the location in front of Ilica 2 is the only viable one.
Zagreb's HDZ on Friday demanded answers from the city administration regarding the installation of underground waste containers at Ban Jelačić Square, warning that authorities have not responded to their inquiries for over a week. Meanwhile, the City of Zagreb says the chosen location has passed all necessary checks, including conservation reviews, and is the best possible solution.
According to Ivan Matijević, head of Zagreb's HDZ, the City should explain why, as he claims, the interests of a small number of private space users were prioritized over the public interest and the preservation of the historical character of Zagreb's main square. As reported by Večernji list, HDZ claims that only holders of special cards will be able to use the containers, while other citizens and tourists will not have access.
The party also requested information on the number of households that will use the new containers, which other locations were considered and why they were rejected, and why a less intrusive solution was not chosen. Additionally, they are interested in the long-term impact of concrete shafts and visible parts of the containers on the passage, views, and use of Ban Jelačić Square.
From the Zagreb city administration, they responded that the location in front of Ilica 2 has undergone rigorous checks and meets all technical and safety conditions, without compromising the structural integrity of surrounding buildings or infrastructure, reports Tportal Biznis. A team of experts from various fields reviewed all potential points in the city center, but the installation of containers is only possible in places where dense underground and above-ground infrastructure allows it.
As Dinka Živalj, spokesperson for the City of Zagreb, told Večernji list, the location has passed all criteria set by conservators and all city offices, and state approvals are also in place. She added that "a multidisciplinary team from the City of Zagreb visited all possible locations, and none could serve this purpose due to installations." As examples of locations that were considered but deemed impossible, the City cites Petrićeva, Margaretska, Tomićeva, and the public toilet location at Ban Jelačić Square, where installations or tram traffic needs posed problems.
The City reminded that underground containers have previously been installed at other historically significant locations such as Zrinjevac, Kaptol, and Marulićev Square, and they function properly. They emphasized that the goal of the waste management modernization project is to remove thousands of containers and bins from the city center, which, as they state, marred the city, spread unpleasant odors, and hindered pedestrian movement. All locations in the city center, they add, were chosen in accordance with conservation guidelines, with all necessary permits from relevant offices and the state.
According to data reported by Tportal Biznis, 275 underground containers have been installed at 66 locations in the city center so far, while 552 semi-underground containers have been placed at 184 locations outside the center. The maximum prescribed distance for residents to reach a container is 200 meters. City authorities note that underground containers are intended for residents, while bins will remain available for visitors.
