20.11.2025.
As previously announced, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund has started with activities regarding remediation of illegal dumping site in Gospić. Yesterday's panel discussion for citizens held in Gospić was also attended by the director of the Fund, Luka Balen, and his deputy, Mirko Budiša, in order to explain the planned activities and answer any questions."After the competent institutions gave the green light to start remediation activities on the location of illegally dumped waste in Gospić and access to the site itself, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, the Fund immediately started project activities, as we were announcing from the very beginning. In a short period of time, we received and analysed the available materials and inspection solutions, as well as the market, and in order to ensure the best possible quality of the procedure, at the beginning of this week we issued a call for consultations to all interested companies.", said director Balen. The information obtained will be used to complete the procurement documentation thus ensuring that the procedure is carried out efficiently. in the shortest possible time, and in the most cost-effective way for the citizens of the Republic of Croatia.
In his opening speech, he emphasised the importance of open dialogue and timely exchange for the successful implementation of all environmental protection projects and announced that the Fund would continue to inform the local community about all steps related to remediation. Citizens were presented with the so far collected data related to the type and estimated amount of waste, which are also listed in the published call for participation in the preparation of the public procurement procedure.
As Deputy Mirko Budiša pointed out during the panel, remediation will be complex, with the first phase referring to the removal of improperly disposed bagged and bulk waste on site. It is estimated that there are around 5,200 tonnes of different types of waste. In parallel with the first phase, data will be continuously analysed, and documentation will be prepared for the second phase, which includes the remediation of the part of the landfill where the waste is buried.
In addition to the start of remediation activities in Gospić, activities have also commenced on the remediation of the illegal landfill in Poznanovec in Bedekovčina. Economic operators interested in remediation works have the opportunity to participate in written consultations related to the remediation of both landfills until 26 November 2025. Procurement procedures regarding the remediation of illegal landfills in Pazin and Samobor have already been initiated and will soon follow for the remaining two of the six priority locations - Benkovac and Lovinac.
At the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition and in order to protect the public interest and human health, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted amendments to the Waste Management Plan including these locations, and for the remediation of which the Fund initially provided 30 million euros.
Finally, director Balen concluded that the Government, the Ministry of Environment and Green Transition, and other competent institutions are taking concrete, measurable, and systematic steps, from amendments to the Waste Management Plan to changes in laws governing waste management. Moreover, the Fund will carry out the remediation procedure in the citizens’ best interest, in cooperation with the local community and the profession, and in accordance with all legal regulations. The goal of all these activities is to ultimately provide a safe, healthy and clean environment for all citizens.
