Unikom denies pollution claims following Osijek protests

Following protests by residents of the Podravlje neighborhood in Osijek, the municipal utility company Unikom has stated that an environmental protection inspection found no regulatory violations at its composting plant. Residents, organized under the ‘Naše Podravlje’ initiative, protested against intense odors they claim have persisted for years, demanding that the city relocate the facility away from residential areas.

Igor Pandžić, director of Unikom, reported that an inspection conducted on August 26, 2026, monitored emissions of hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, ammonia, and amines. The results indicated that all measured concentrations of these pollutants were below the prescribed legal limits. The company maintains that it operates in accordance with its waste management permit and employs technical measures to prevent odor nuisance.

While Unikom pledged to continue environmental monitoring, protesters are calling for an independent expert analysis, the public release of all measurement results, and the relocation of the plant, noting that odors affect multiple parts of Osijek.