Zagreb waste management project faces criticism from RESPIRA

The civic initiative RESPIRA has issued an open letter to Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, demanding answers regarding the Waste Management Center (CGO) project at the Resnik location. While the project was initiated under former Mayor Milan Bandić, RESPIRA criticizes the current administration for continuing and accelerating its implementation rather than halting or thoroughly re-evaluating it.

The project involves a public procurement process valued at approximately 155 million euros. Official documentation indicates that by 2029, the facility is expected to process 347,994 tons of waste annually, with daily traffic reaching up to 470 vehicles. Environmental impact studies suggest that unpleasant odors could spread up to three kilometers from the site, despite city claims that the facility would be completely enclosed.

RESPIRA raised several environmental concerns, noting that over 5,600 residents live within one kilometer of the site, with the nearest residential buildings located as close as 378 meters away. Additional concerns include the potential contamination of a key aquifer, the unknown disposal method for 120,000 tons of fuel produced annually by the system, and the lack of explicit mention regarding PFAS 'forever chemicals' in the documentation.