Nova Gradiška citizens protest Šagulje waste center construction

Citizens in Nova Gradiška are protesting the construction of the Šagulje Regional Waste Management Center (RCGO). The civic initiative ‘Nova Gradiška nije smetlarnik’ (Nova Gradiška is not a landfill) held a gathering to demand a referendum and requested that Brod-Posavina County identify an alternative location for the facility.

Documents reveal that the city administration has been aware of the project for years. The location was included in city spatial documents as early as 1999, and the regional center was defined in 2003 spatial plan amendments. In 2020, the City of Nova Gradiška and RCGO Šagulje signed an agreement regarding the handover of mixed municipal waste.

While some critics have suggested the opposition is politically motivated due to upcoming mayoral elections, organizers deny any political ties. Sabina Vlaović, a deputy mayor and mayoral candidate, supported the citizens' initiative during the protest.