Karlovac Rangers Warn of Illegal Dumpsites

Despite the availability of recycling yards and regular bulky waste collection, the number of illegal dumpsites in the Karlovac area is rapidly increasing. This was highlighted by Hrvoje Jurković, a ranger and nature guardian from the organization Ranger Karlovac, in an interview with Radio Mrežnica published on August 19, 2026.

For every one cleaned up, ten new ones appear

Jurković points out that nature guardians spend their free time cleaning up illegal dumpsites, reporting them to the relevant authorities, and rescuing wild animals, but the problem is nonetheless worsening.

"We have our own jobs, but we try to spend our free time in nature. We clean up illegal dumpsites, report everything to the relevant services, and also rescue wild animals. Unfortunately, our forests and rivers are still full of illegal waste dumps, and recently the number of illegal dumpsites has increased rapidly. We don't understand it. We have recycling yards for all types of waste, regular collection of large and bulky waste from households is organized, but despite all that, there is more and more garbage."

According to his data, for every illegal dumpsite that is cleaned up, ten new ones appear, which nature guardians notice almost daily during their actions. In the Karlovac area alone, there are about a thousand such dumpsites.

Hundreds of bags of waste along the road to Slovenia

The situation on the road to Slovenia is particularly concerning, where garbage accumulates during the summer months and increased tourist transit.

"It's terrible. About 300 to 400 bags of waste are visible on Monday mornings on the road to Slovenia. We all witness it. People simply throw a bag by the roadside when returning from vacation. Then wild animals come and scatter it. We have proposed installing video surveillance at critical points. That could be one solution, along with hefty fines for offenders, including financial penalties."

New app and education as key

Ranger Karlovac is soon planning to launch a mobile app that will allow citizens to anonymously report illegal dumpsites, as well as animal abuse.

"In a few days, our new mobile app will be released, through which illegal dumpsites and animal abuse can be reported anonymously. The public will be informed in a timely manner."

Jurković believes the key to solving the problem lies in prevention through education starting from an early age, by introducing workshops and educational games for schoolchildren. Additionally, he proposes increased work by municipal wardens with more frequent patrols of critical points.

"Education, motivation, promoting the circular economy. Let's protect our nature."

Ogulin case sheds new light on the problem

While Karlovac rangers warn about illegal dumpsites, a similar waste problem is shaking neighboring Ogulin. Members of the Homeland Movement claimed on Wednesday that an undetermined amount of waste of unknown content is being brought to the Sodol landfill and received outside working hours. Željko Stipetić from DP provided photos he claims show waste unloading on July 16, 2025, at 4:50 PM, when the landfill was already closed.

Stipetić warned that the Sodol landfill is on karst terrain and that Duga Resa draws most of its drinking water from that area. "Citizens are afraid for their safety," he said, and announced that DP will consider filing a criminal complaint once they gather enough material about irregularities that have been ongoing for three years.

Ogulin Mayor Dalibor Domitrović (SDP) denied claims about the import of hazardous waste, saying that mixed municipal waste from other areas is brought to the landfill by two companies with proof of origin, and only during working hours. He temporarily suspended waste imports to draw attention and refute false claims on anonymous Facebook pages.

State announces urgent remediation of illegal dumpsites

DP Vice President Stipo Mlinarić stated that in the case of hazardous waste in Gospić, services such as customs, inspection, and the Security and Intelligence Agency failed, and announced that the state will urgently remediate illegal dumpsites. He also advocated for maximum penalties for offenders.

"We will seek amendments to the Criminal Code so that criminals who brought tons and tons of waste to Croatia have their assets seized and the damage repaired with their money," Mlinarić said.

Asked about an extraordinary session of the Croatian Parliament on the topic of waste, Mlinarić said it is President Zoran Milanović's constitutional right to convene it, but they had already requested what Milanović proposes at an earlier coalition meeting. "DP will be in the parliament chamber and will be part of the solution," he said, adding that the left-wing opposition and other parties want to profit only for themselves, while DP is part of the ruling majority and seeks solutions for urgent remediation of dumpsites.