Thousands protest in Croatia to demand government clean up toxic waste

Tens of thousands of people protested in Zagreb, Croatia, demanding the government address a hazardous waste scandal. Demonstrators accuse the government of inaction regarding over 30,000 tonnes of illegally dumped medical and industrial waste near Gospic. The protest, one of the largest in years, highlights public frustration over the slow cleanup and broader accusations of corruption against Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's government. While authorities arrested 13 people for illegal waste importing and dumping, and the Prime Minister announced a contractor for waste removal, conflicting reports exist on contamination levels. The anticorruption agency found elevated metal levels and PFAS chemicals in soil and groundwater, contradicting government assurances. Protesters are demanding a comprehensive cleanup plan with strict deadlines.

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 5, 2026, to protest the slow cleanup of approximately 37,000 metric tons of illegally dumped hazardous waste in the town of Gospic. The waste, discovered in February 2026 after an investigation by Croatian police and Europol, includes electronic equipment, plastics, construction materials, and medical waste, with soil and groundwater tests revealing elevated metal concentrations and PFAS compounds. Residents fear the waste is endangering their health and the environment. Protesters are demanding an urgent cleanup plan with clear deadlines and an immediate ban on waste imports. The scandal has intensified criticism of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's government, which states investigations are ongoing and cleanup efforts are being planned, though no waste has yet been removed from Gospic.