Croatia illegal waste dumping crisis

In late July 2026, authorities highlighted a long‑standing waste dump of about 3,500 tonnes of tires and plastic beside artificial Lake Štikada near Gračac. The site, which supplies drinking water to the municipality, raised fears of ecological disaster, especially during summer fire conditions. The Environmental Protection Fund began preparatory work on a remediation plan, but no cleanup start date was set, and local officials focused on fire‑risk mitigation while activists pressed for faster action.

By early August 2026, the anti‑corruption office USKOK released a detailed report on a separate illegal dump at Bilajska 50 in Gospić, confirming hazardous metals and PFAS “forever chemicals” in groundwater, with PFAS levels more than double drinking‑water limits. Activists and the political party Most demanded immediate remediation, independent testing, public disclosure of documents, and prosecution of responsible parties. The findings underscored the broader risk of contaminant migration through karst terrain, expanding concerns about water safety beyond the initial lake site.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a growing crisis of illegal waste disposal in Croatia, where multiple sites threaten drinking‑water supplies, prompting heightened scrutiny, calls for accountability, and the development of remediation strategies.