The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund has published the results of analyses conducted by the Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, with nearly all samples failing to meet the criteria for a non-hazardous waste landfill. A citizens' initiative is seeking an independent interpretation.
The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU) published on Saturday, August 1, 2026, the analyses of the composition of waste buried at the former PPK Velebit site in Gospić. The results, which were carried out by the Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health (NZJZ) for the State Inspectorate (DIRH), show that nearly all tested samples fail to meet the conditions for disposal at a non-hazardous waste landfill.
Samples were collected from various points at the landfill on Bilajska Street. According to the analysis data, several types of waste were found. Most of it is waste from mechanical treatment, such as that generated by sorting, crushing, or pelletizing. However, as reported by Lika Online, the samples also included medical waste and waste soil, including excavated soil from contaminated sites and stones.
For mechanically treated waste, which was the most prevalent in the sampling, elevated antimony levels were the most common reason the material failed to meet the prescribed conditions. The measured antimony concentrations exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 0.7 mg/kg dry matter several times over, ranging from 0.33 mg/kg to as high as 3.5 mg/kg dry matter.
In certain samples, elevated levels of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total organic carbon (TOC), and copper were also found. As for medical waste, which is classified as waste from the care of newborns and the treatment of humans (e.g., diapers, bandages, bedding), elevated DOC levels were found, while one sample of untreated medical waste was simply marked as non-compliant. Soil at depths of up to 30 centimeters was also analyzed, and its composite sample was found to be in compliance with the Regulation on the Protection of Agricultural Land.
As reported by Hina, which sought an interpretation of the harmfulness of the found compounds from the institutions, neither NZJZ nor DIRH provided a concrete response. From NZJZ, they stated that in this case, they have "the role of an independent analytical laboratory" and referred to the client, i.e., the State Inspectorate, for interpretation of the results.
"We kindly ask that for all interpretations and analysis results, you contact the client, who is also the owner of the same, i.e., the State Inspectorate," NZJZ stated. On the other hand, DIRH responded that "the environmental inspection is not authorized to provide opinions on the impact of exceeded limit values on the environment and on human life and health," referring to the content of the test reports themselves.
With the publication of these analyses, one of the conclusions from the meeting held on Tuesday, July 28, between representatives of the Government, the Fund, and the citizens' initiative "Gospić Is Our Home" has been realized. Vjeko Bušić from that initiative stated after the meeting that they are generally satisfied and that it is crucial that they will finally gain insight into the analyses of the most dangerous, buried waste.
"So that we finally know about the most dangerous waste, which is buried, what its analyses are and what the potential danger is to health and the environment," Bušić said for Lika Online. The citizens' initiative announced that it will give all published analyses to independent experts for review "so that citizens can get an interpretation from professionals who do not depend on anyone in this process," as stated in their Facebook post.
The initiative also highlighted that a significant change to the remediation plan was agreed at the meeting. Instead of the initial idea to temporarily cover 90 percent of the buried waste and only remediate it in 2028, the remediation of this most dangerous part will now begin immediately, as Phase 3 of the project. It was also agreed that a new meeting to determine the fastest remediation model will be held by September 20, 2026.
In the meantime, the Fund has already initiated a market analysis for the disposal of buried waste and last week sent inquiries to 11 foreign operators managing hazardous waste landfills in the EU, as well as four inquiries regarding the possibility of permanent storage in former salt mines.
