Illegal waste to be incinerated in a Croatian cement factory.

Residents of Našice in Croatia protested against the planned incineration of waste from Gospić on September 19, 2026. The demonstration took place in the town center, with locals opposing the disposal of illegally dumped waste in their area. Protesters carried banners reading “Stop poisoning Našice’s air,” “We want to sleep with open windows,” and “From waste to profit, from health to disease.” They argued that the waste should not be burned in Našice or anywhere else in Croatia. The protesters claimed that no cement plants responded to the initial tender for the cleanup of illegal waste in Gospić, except one company. According to organizer Branislav Vukobratović, there was no second tender, suggesting the incineration contract had been unlawfully awarded to cement plants in Našice and Koromačnem. He stated that the cement plant in Našice lacks proper filters for burning waste and called on authorities to hold accountable those who transported the waste and granted permission for its disposal. The demonstrators demanded public access to all documents, studies, and permits related to the waste, including information on its type, origin, quantity, and processing method. They also requested an assessment of potential impacts on public health, air quality, and the environment, emphasizing the need for residents to be included in decisions affecting their community. After the protest, Našice mayor Krešimir Kašuba stated that he and the management of Nexe, which operates the cement plant, had no intention of allowing air pollution or endangering citizens' health. He confirmed that the plant has all necessary permits and complies with standards for its operations, including waste processing. Illegal dumping of waste from Slovenia, Italy, and Germany was discovered at multiple locations in Croatia last year. Approximately 37,000 tons were dumped in Gospić in Lika, where a recent analysis by Zagreb's geotechnical faculty showed the waste has already contaminated soil and groundwater, posing risks to the environment and human health. Residents expressed frustration over the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding the waste issue. Some chanted slogans such as “betrayal” and “thieves” during the protest, highlighting their distrust in local officials and the process leading to the incineration decision. The organizers emphasized that the protest was a grassroots effort aimed at ensuring the waste is returned to its original source. They urged the government and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković to recognize that elected officials must act in accordance with public interest rather than pursuing actions without oversight or accountability.