What type of waste was found in Varaždin?

According to Miroslav Marković, treated medical waste imported from Italy and Slovenia was dumped at the Varaždin landfill, with a total of 1,500 tons of waste above permitted amounts, of which 700 tons were hazardous waste.

Why hasn't the State Inspectorate published the report for Varaždin?

Miroslav Marković claims the State Inspectorate refuses to publish the report, and he obtained the specific data on waste disposal as a citizen, not in his capacity as an MP. The official reason for refusing to publish is unknown.

What is happening with the investigation into waste in Gospić?

In February 2025, 13 individuals were arrested, and an investigation was launched against ten individuals and four companies. At the site of the former PPK Velebit, 37,000 tons of hazardous waste were found, with elevated concentrations of heavy metals and PFAS compounds detected in the soil and groundwater.

Croatia

Marković: Medical Waste Dumped in Varaždin

H.D. · Prije 18h | 2 min

Deputy Mayor of Varaždin claims to possess records proving excess waste quantities, including 700 tons of hazardous waste, while an investigation in Gospić is underway over 37,000 tons of illegally dumped waste.

Summary

Miroslav Marković claims treated medical waste from Italy and Slovenia was dumped in Varaždin.
The Varaždin landfill had 1,500 tons of waste above the permitted amount, including 700 tons of hazardous waste.
In Gospić, 37,000 tons of hazardous waste were found, and 13 individuals were arrested in February 2025.
The State Inspectorate refuses to publish the report for Varaždin, and irregularities were first identified as early as 2021.

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Miroslav Marković, Deputy Mayor of Varaždin and Member of Parliament, has made serious allegations regarding waste management in Varaždin. In a statement to N1 Zagreb, Marković claimed that treated medical waste imported from Italy and Slovenia ended up at the Varaždin landfill, citing specific records and data he says he obtained as a private citizen.

State Inspectorate Refuses to Publish Report

Marković emphasized that the State Inspectorate refuses to publish the official report from the site. "Unfortunately, in Varaždin we have a long history of waste management issues, spanning over two decades. The reason for all this is the unregulated system, a catastrophic waste management system across Croatia," Marković told N1 Zagreb. According to him, at least 1,500 tons of waste above permitted amounts were recorded at the landfill, with 700 tons of that excess being hazardous waste.

Irregularities Identified as Early as 2021

The MP points out that identical irregularities at the same location were identified as early as 2021, but no concrete measures were taken, nor were there any consequences. In the ongoing investigation by the Croatian State Attorney's Office, the City of Varaždin is mentioned as one of three key waste disposal sites, alongside Gospić.

The Gospić Case: 37,000 Tons of Hazardous Waste

In parallel with the Varaždin case, an extensive investigation is underway in Gospić regarding illegal waste dumping at the site of the former PPK Velebit industrial complex. According to investigators, waste was illegally brought to the site starting in 2021, and a year later, in 2022, the company Tipos Resurs obtained a county permit for managing non-hazardous waste.

USKOK suspects that waste from abroad and within Croatia was falsely presented as material suitable for recycling, after which it was illegally buried or left on open surfaces. In February 2025, 13 individuals were arrested, and the investigation was launched against a total of ten individuals and four legal entities. Soil analyses confirmed elevated concentrations of heavy metals, while PFAS compounds, also known as "forever chemicals," were detected in groundwater downstream from the site.