Croatia and Montenegro face environmental crises over waste management

waste management scandal ecocide legislation illegal waste dumping environmental pollution plastic bag regulation

In Croatia, the illegal dumping of approximately 37,000 tons of waste in Gospić has triggered a major environmental and political crisis. Investigations have revealed that the site contains hazardous and ecotoxic materials, with PFAS 'forever chemicals' detected in downstream groundwater. In response, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced that the government will introduce ecocide as a criminal offense in the upcoming Criminal Code amendments. Remediation efforts are beginning, with the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency receiving bids from companies including the CE-ZA-R consortium and Tabak Grupa to remove the waste.

Separately, in Montenegro, the NGO Green Home has criticized the Ministry of Ecology for failing to substantially improve the Waste Management Law. The organization argues that current regulations regarding plastic bags and packaging waste are ineffective, noting that only 230 legal entities currently pay the required fees despite widespread use of plastic bags across the country.

Entities

Andrej Plenković · Azra Vuković · CE-ZA-R · Croatia · Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund · Gospić · Green Home · Tabak Grupa

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Tabak Grupa submitted a bid of 4.5 million HRK for waste removal in Gospić. glas-slavonije.hr · www.poslovni.hr
[● 2 SOURCES] The Croatian government plans to introduce ecocide as a criminal offense within two weeks. www.lika-express.hr · www.tportal.hr
[○ 1 SOURCE] PFAS 'forever chemicals' have been found in groundwater near the Gospić waste site. www.frontal.ba
[○ 1 SOURCE] An investigation found nearly 37,000 tons of waste, including hazardous substances, at the Gospić site. www.frontal.ba
[● 4 SOURCES] Green Home claims the Ministry of Ecology in Montenegro did not adequately address plastic bag and packaging waste in recent law amendments. etv.me · radiotitograd.me · rtnk.me · tvpljevlja.me
[● 2 SOURCES] The CE-ZA-R consortium bid nearly 11 million HRK for waste removal in Gospić. glas-slavonije.hr · www.poslovni.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] Bids have been submitted for the first two phases of waste remediation in Gospić. www.lika-express.hr · glas-slavonije.hr · narod.hr · www.poslovni.hr
[● 4 SOURCES] In Montenegro, only 230 legal entities are currently paying the plastic bag fee. etv.me · radiotitograd.me · rtnk.me · tvpljevlja.me