Why are citizens protesting in Gospić?

Citizens are protesting against the illegal hazardous waste landfill in Lika, demanding answers about the extent of contamination and those responsible for illegal dumping.

How long could the landfill remediation take?

According to Vjekoslav Bušić from the 'Gospić Is Our Home' initiative, it will take at least 10 years to remove all the waste.

What do experts say about the situation?

Experts are divided: Danko Fundurulja believes it is not an emergency situation, while Mirela Holy criticizes both the government and opposition for neglecting the environment.

Croatia

Gospić Protests: 'They Poisoned Our Water, Soil, and Air'

Q: When is the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment?

The session is held the day after the protest, on Monday, and is expected to discuss the issue of illegal waste in Gospić.

A.G. · Prije 8h | 2 min

Several hundred citizens gathered on Sunday at Stjepan Radić Square demanding answers about illegal waste, while experts warn that remediation could take at least a decade.

Summary

Several hundred citizens protested in Gospić over the illegal hazardous waste landfill.
Vjekoslav Bušić warns that remediation will take at least 10 years.
Mirela Holy criticizes the government and opposition for neglecting environmental protection.
The Parliamentary Committee on Environment session is held the day after the protest.

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Several hundred citizens gathered on Sunday in the center of Gospić to protest against the illegal hazardous waste landfill in Lika. The gathering at Stjepan Radić Square began around 9:30 AM, with protesters demanding answers about the extent of contamination, those responsible for illegal dumping, and potential consequences for human health and the environment.

The messages from the protest were sharp and emotional. "Lika has been betrayed and draped in black," "They poisoned the water, soil, and air," and "If we save Lika, we have saved Croatia," were some of the slogans heard among the crowd, as reported by Prigorski. The protest took place ahead of Tuesday's session of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Nature.

Experts Divided on Urgency of Remediation

The topic of the illegal waste landfill in Gospić dominated media coverage this week, with members of the "Gospić Is Our Home" initiative and experts also weighing in. Vjekoslav Bušić from the initiative appeared on N1 television's Novi dan show, where he warned about the lengthy remediation process.

"It will take at least 10 years to remove all the waste. That is unacceptable!" Bušić stated. On the other hand, Danko Fundurulja, an expert in landfill design and remediation and a lecturer at the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences, who is involved in the Gospić waste remediation, believes the situation is not as dramatic. "In Gospić, this is not an emergency situation," Fundurulja said on the same show.

Holy Calls Out Both Government and Opposition

Former SDP Environment Minister Mirela Holy also commented on the case on N1 television's Novi dan, criticizing both the authorities and the opposition. "This is the best indicator of how much the government, as well as the opposition, cares about environmental protection," Holy said.

The protest in Gospić was held on Sunday, August 16, 2026, with citizens gathering a day before the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Nature, where the issue is expected to be discussed. Information about who is responsible for the illegal waste dumping has not yet been made public.