Gospić illegal waste remediation: Four bids received for protective covering

The Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency has received four bids for the temporary covering of buried illegal waste at the former PPK Velebit site in Gospić. This measure aims to prevent rainwater from seeping through the waste and causing further contamination. Luka Balen, director of the Fund, stated that these bids allow for the immediate selection of a contractor to begin protective works as part of a comprehensive remediation plan funded by the Croatian government.

In addition to covering the buried waste, authorities are reviewing bids to remove approximately 4,500 tons of hazardous surface waste and 650 tons of non-hazardous waste. While official testing confirms the safety of the public water supply, continuous monitoring of the environment and water quality remains a priority.

Waste management expert Renato Šarc noted that covering the waste is a necessary temporary measure to ‘buy time’ before the rainy season increases the mobility of pollutants. He emphasized that a full remediation concept requires more detailed analysis, suggesting that several thousand tons of waste must be excavated and tested to accurately characterize the site and its contents.