Zadar County Rejects IzoExco
Approximately 11,000 cubic meters of hazardous waste was illegally dumped in Benkovac, and the case is under investigation by USKOK. The county announces remediation and continuous monitoring of water and air quality.
Approximately 11,000 cubic meters of hazardous waste was illegally dumped in Benkovac, and the case is under investigation by USKOK. The county announces remediation and continuous monitoring of water and air quality.
On Wednesday, the Zadar County officially rejected IzoExco's request for a waste management permit at a location in Benkovac. This decision confirmed that the company never had permission for that activity in the disputed area, where a USKOK investigation uncovered approximately 11,000 cubic meters of illegally dumped hazardous waste.
The County specifically emphasized that only a building permit for storing raw materials for construction stone had been issued for the facility at that location. "A building permit is not a legal basis for waste management, nor does it grant the right to dispose of waste at that site," the Zadar County stated.
"We are aware of the seriousness of the case of illegally dumped waste in the Benkovac area and consider it unacceptable that such incidents occur in our county. Protecting the health of citizens and the environment is our priority," the County's statement reads. They highlighted that they have been involved in communication and coordination with various competent state bodies from the very beginning.
They maintain constant communication with the Croatian Institute of Public Health, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, and the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. The goal is coordinated action and the swiftest possible resolution of this environmental issue.
According to analyses conducted so far, no deviations indicating a threat to water or air quality have been identified. Nevertheless, given the seriousness of the situation, continuous sampling and monitoring of the area of Štikada and Benkovac have been agreed upon in cooperation with the Zadar County Public Health Institute.
"Based on the currently available results, there is no reason for additional concern among citizens, but monitoring will continue as long as necessary," the County stated, adding that the public will be promptly informed of all measurement results.
The Government of the Republic of Croatia has adopted a decision to include this area in a remediation program. This establishes an institutional framework for the systematic removal of illegally dumped waste. "Our goal is to protect the health of citizens and the environment, ensure continuous monitoring, and do everything within our jurisdiction to remove the illegally dumped waste as soon as possible and properly remediate the site," the County concluded.
In parallel, USKOK continues its criminal investigation. The case is linked to the same criminal group suspected of illegal waste dumping in the Gospić area. The investigation includes Josip Šincek, the actual head of the company Tipos Resurs, as well as nine other individuals and four legal entities. They are suspected of illegally dumping hazardous waste into nature between 2022 and 2024.
