Why has the wildlife landfill rehabilitation failed? Ministry: No bid, costs skyrocket

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković addressed concerns over hazardous waste found in Gospić, Lika, stating that the situation is being handled at legal, remediation, and political levels. According to measurements conducted by the Croatian Institute for Public Health (HZJZ), there is no threat to drinking water. Plenković emphasized that representatives from the Environmental Protection Fund (FZOEU) and Krunoslav Capak from HZJZ confirmed that no danger exists for drinking water in Lika. He requested HZJZ to report publicly on water quality within three to four days. Further actions depend on criminal proceedings and investigations. The government has issued public calls for the cleanup of waste, with 32,000 tons buried at the former PKK Velebit site and 5,000 tons on the surface. The government will seek financial compensation, as ecocide is being introduced into the Criminal Code. Two meetings were held involving the cabinet and members of the ruling coalition to discuss the issue of illegal dumping of large quantities of waste in several locations in Lika, including Gospić, Štikada, and Lički Osik. USKOK initiated an investigation against Josip and Monika Šinc and other suspects last year, which has since expanded to new locations and additional individuals. Plenković stated that the issue is being treated on three levels: the penal level managed by the State Judicial Administration (DORH) and USKOK, the remediation level managed by the Environmental Protection Fund and coordinated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the political level led by the opposition seeking to gain political points through misinformation and spreading panic among residents of Gospić and the Ličko-Senjska county. He noted that the opposition, driven by changes in public opinion and political trends, has used the waste situation to attract media attention. Plenković acknowledged the opposition's desire for media attention, noting that the tourism season is performing well and will likely exceed last year's performance, contributing positively to economic growth. He mentioned the slowdown in inflation pressures, regulation of energy and fuel prices, maintaining investment credit ratings, and addressing injustices from the Račan government towards defenders. Regarding the costs of removing hazardous waste, Plenković stated that the waste contains hazardous materials and procedures require finding companies capable of handling such waste. Croatia currently lacks suitable facilities or sites for this purpose. The Environmental Protection Fund is currently contacting companies across Europe to handle the waste. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Spatial Planning, Construction, and State Property Branko Bačić addressed concerns regarding illegal hazardous waste dumps in Lika and outlined the government’s plans for remediation. He assured citizens that the government understands their concerns and is taking all necessary steps to maintain the quality of drinking water, emphasizing continuous monitoring and testing of water quality. He highlighted that the government has elevated the activities of relevant ministries to the highest level, guided by three principles: daily and continuous measurement of water samples in Lika, regular publication of test results even if negative, and immediate remediation and restoration of the area in Gospić. Bačić noted that the first public tender for the cleanup failed due to lack of bids, while the second deadline is set for August 25. However, the ministry and the Environmental Protection Fund have already started negotiations with around 70 European companies to handle the buried waste. If no acceptable bids are received by August 25, the surface waste of 4,500 tons and 650 tons in large bags will be addressed immediately. He stressed that the government is not waiting and is actively working on solutions. Regarding the removal of hazardous waste, Bačić explained that the first phase of the negotiation process involves market research and that contacted companies are asked to submit proposals for the disposal and management of hazardous waste. He indicated that approximately 30,000 tons of buried waste would be removed and transported abroad, going to the country whose company provides the most comprehensive and comprehensive proposal. Gospić Mayor Darko Milinović criticized the government and Prime Minister Plenković for their handling of the hazardous waste situation in Gospić. He claimed that the government could have initiated direct negotiations for remediation, but instead lost over a year and a half without removing a single kilogram of the controversial waste. He pointed out that the city was warned in 2023 about the dumping of tens of thousands of tons of waste and the concerns of citizens regarding water safety. Milinović accused the government of lying when Plenković stated that direct negotiations could not be initiated immediately. He argued that the law allows for direct negotiations in unforeseen situations beyond the control of the contracting party. He criticized the change in the amount of waste from 3,500 to 4,150 tons, which prevented the initiation of direct negotiations again. He expressed frustration that no progress had been made despite the time elapsed. He also questioned who is responsible for the situation, indicating that the chief state prosecutor had responded to his request, though the response was related to lithium. He suggested that the government does not know how to handle the waste and criticized the comparison to the situation in Varazdin, where no chemical elements threatening human health were found. Mayor Milinović emphasized that direct negotiations are not optional but mandatory in the case of Gospić. He criticized the government for its inaction and failure to address the issue promptly. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition detailed the chronology of actions taken in the case of the illegal waste dump in Gospić. It noted that the location was included in the Waste Management Plan in May of last year, creating a legal basis for the Environmental Protection Fund to conduct the cleanup. However, preparatory work on the site could not begin until mid-November 2025 due to investigative activities in the criminal proceeding. After USKOK informed the fund that there were no obstacles to accessing the site, an investigation of domestic and international markets was conducted. In February of this year, a public procurement process was launched for the first phase of the cleanup, specifically the removal and disposal of scattered waste near the silo. Despite allowing interested companies to take samples and familiarize themselves with the site conditions, no bids were received. As a result, the fund conducted additional consultations with potential contractors in July. Technical requirements and the cost of disposal largely depend on the composition of the waste, particularly the chlorine content. Higher chlorine content requires more complex and expensive thermal processing abroad. Due to new findings, the estimated value of the first phase of the cleanup increased from 2.1 million to 4.72 million euros excluding VAT. Deadlines have also changed: the selected contractor will have a maximum of 12 months to remove the scattered waste from the site and another 12 months for its final reuse and disposal. A separate procurement process has been initiated for the removal of approximately 650 tons of non-hazardous waste in big bags. The estimated value of this task is 400,000 euros excluding VAT, with a six-month deadline for execution. The deadline for submitting bids in both processes expires at the end of August. The more complex issue of buried waste remains unresolved. The fund initially contacted 15 foreign operators and later sent inquiries to approximately 60 addresses of waste disposal operators and power plants in the European Union. Four inquiries were also sent regarding the possibility of long-term storage of waste in closed former salt mines. Possible solutions are being investigated, including data from reports by the Faculty of Geotechnics. The Ministry emphasized that preferred options include disposal at hazardous waste landfills or energy recovery, with the possibility of combining these solutions. Parallel to the cleanup, possible effects of the waste on the environment and the health of the population are being examined. The Ministry requested expert opinions on the presence of PFAS compounds and the safety of drinking water, which the Croatian Institute for Public Health confirmed as safe. At the end of July, representatives of the government, the Ministry, and the fund met with the civil initiative "Gospić is our home." They agreed to publish all available analyses, submit requests for the disclosure of the entire forensic report from the criminal proceedings, and consider the possibility of expanding the network of monitoring stations for groundwater. A new meeting is scheduled to be held by September 20, when models for the cleanup of buried waste are expected to be presented. The Ministry emphasized that it did not issue permits or conduct inspections.