# Central European waste management disputes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/croatias-mounting-waste-crises-spark-local-emergencies-and-crossborder-dispute > Updated: 2026-08-08T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 20. The waste‑management crisis that followed the May 2026 emergencies in Croatia continues to shape policy across the region. In Pula, overflowing containers block streets, while a water‑quality failure in Karlovac and reports of roughly one million tonnes of hazardous waste dumped in Lika highlight ongoing illegal disposal problems. In the Lika region, the situation has escalated following investigations in Gospić. Authorities have identified approximately 37,000 tons of mixed waste, including medical and electronic refuse. Soil and groundwater analyses by the Faculty of Geotechnics have detected high concentrations of heavy metals—such as lead, copper, and antimony—as well as PFAS "forever chemicals." Further allegations have surfaced regarding a second illegal waste site on state-owned land in Udbina. This has triggered political tension, with Most party leaders accusing the government of criminal links and criticizing the slow pace of remediation, while local officials warn of potential protests in Zagreb. Bosnia‑Herzegovina has lodged formal complaints against Croatia’s plan to store low‑ and intermediate‑level radioactive waste on Trgovska Gora, prompting a Geneva hearing and civil-society protests led by activists such as Mario Crnković. In Slovenia, the Ljubljana municipal council debates a €430 million waste‑to‑energy incinerator. Czech towns are weighing post‑2030 waste‑disposal options, and Prague has approved a major ZEPO modernization. Balkan sites continue to draw health alerts, including a former swimming‑complex dump in Mostar and the Red Mud pond in Montenegro. Parallel health monitoring shows low microplastic levels in Croatian drinking water and continued warnings about bacterial contamination in reusable containers. ## Claims - Approximately 37,000 tons of mixed waste are located at the PPK Velebit site in Gospić. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Marija Vučković stated that the Ministry has sent inquiries to 62 addresses in Europe, including 32 incinerators and 30 hazardous waste landfills. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Croatia currently lacks a hazardous waste landfill and an energy plant for waste processing. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Nikola Grmoja alleged that former chief state inspector Andrija Mikulić received bribes to facilitate illegal waste disposal. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Marin Miletić reported a new illegal waste location on state-owned land in Udbina. (corroborated by 4 sources) - PFAS compounds, known as 'forever chemicals,' were detected in groundwater downstream from the landfill. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Analyses found high concentrations of copper, lead, and antimony in waste samples. (single source) - Darko Milinović, Mayor of Gospić, threatened protests in Zagreb if remediation does not accelerate. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-08: Croatia illegal waste crisis: Hazardous dumping in Gospić and Udbina Illegal hazardous waste dumping in Gospić and Udbina has sparked political outcry and investigations into potential groundwater contamination and institutional corruption in Croatia. 19 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-probes-illegal-waste-dump-in-udbina-lika ### 2026-07-22: Croatia halts illegal waste dumping in Mičevec and Lički Osik Croatian inspectors stopped illegal construction waste dumping in Mičevec and investigated hazardous waste alleged in Lički Osik, including PFAS and cyanide, prompting calls for cleanup and possible criminal on 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-halts-illegal-waste-dumping-in-mievec-and-liki-osik ### 2026-07-19: Czech courts review hazardous‑waste incinerator and wind‑farm disputes Czech courts are reviewing two environmental disputes: the Supreme Administrative Court will hear AVE CZ’s appeal over a halted hazardous‑waste incinerator in Rybitví, while the Constitutional Court has undone 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/czech-courts-review-hazardouswaste-incinerator-and-windfarm-disputes ### 2026-07-18: Croatia reports low microplastic levels in drinking water and links to heart attacks Croatia's water monitoring shows low microplastic levels, while a study links blood microplastics to heart attacks in most patients. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-reports-low-microplastic-levels-in-drinking-water-and-links-to-heart-attacks ### 2026-07-16: Reusable plastic bottles and shopping bags can harbor bacteria, experts warn in Croatia Experts warn that reusing PET water bottles and unwashed shopping bags can spread harmful bacteria; regular washing and proper reusable containers are advised. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/reusable-plastic-bottles-and-shopping-bags-can-harbor-bacteria-experts-warn-in-croatia ### 2026-07-16: Croatia Reports Low Microplastic Levels in Drinking Water Croatia’s Institute for Water reports an average of 0.144 microplastic particles per litre in drinking water, a level comparable to or lower than European averages, and notes a 94.7% reduction during treatment. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-reports-low-microplastic-levels-in-tap-water ### 2026-07-10: Czech Opatovice Power Plant Secures Permit for Waste‑to‑Energy Facility Czech authorities have granted the Opatovice power plant final permits for a CZK 7 bn waste‑to‑energy plant at Čeperka, slated for 2029‑30, funded 60 % by the Modernisation Fund and opposed by local referendums 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/czech-opatovice-power-plant-secures-permit-for-wastetoenergy-facility ### 2026-07-04: Croatia confronts dangerous gas leaks and growing plastic waste Greenpeace finds high methane and toxic gas levels near Croatian gas sites, urging stricter EU rules, while a fish in the Adriatic was found with a plastic bottle, underscoring Croatia’s plastic waste problem. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-confronts-dangerous-gas-leaks-and-growing-plastic-waste ### 2026-06-28: Croatia’s Draganić Forest Site Reveals 40 Tons of Hazardous Waste Barrels Hundreds of barrels with paint‑lacquer sludge, totalling about 40 tons, were found in a Draganić forest, prompting police and inspectors to remove them and investigate the illegal dumping. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatias-dragani-forest-site-reveals-40-tons-of-hazardous-waste-barrels ### 2026-06-26: Bosnia and Croatia waste incidents raise food safety and environmental health alerts Fire at Bosnia’s Uborak dump and mysterious barrels near Karlovac, Croatia, trigger food‑safety and environmental warnings over possible contamination. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosnia-and-croatia-waste-incidents-raise-food-safety-and-environmental-health-alerts ### 2026-06-24: Czech municipalities dispute waste incinerator projects Litvínov rejects a hazardous‑waste incinerator while Prague invests 850 million CZK to modernise its ZEVO plant, highlighting Czech debates over waste‑management policies. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/czech-municipalities-dispute-waste-incinerator-projects ### 2026-06-24: Litter Accumulation Plagues Široki Brijeg and Poklonci Recreation Areas Street waste in Široki Brijeg and litter on Montenegro’s Poklonci lakeside reveal persistent Balkan waste‑management problems and calls for stronger enforcement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/litter-accumulation-plagues-iroki-brijeg-and-poklonci-recreation-areas ### 2026-06-23: Mario Crnković vows to block nuclear waste depot on Bosnia‑Croatia border Mario Crnković will join a Zagreb round‑table to oppose a proposed nuclear‑waste site at Trgovska Gora on the Bosnia‑Croatia border, citing legal, environmental and health concerns. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mario-crnkovi-vows-to-block-nuclear-waste-depot-on-bosniacroatia-border ### 2026-06-23: Balkans waste sites spark health alerts in Bosnia and Montenegro Waste sites in Vrapčići (Bosnia) and Zeta (Montenegro) raise health concerns, prompting inspections, remediation plans and debated government funding. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/balkans-waste-sites-spark-health-alerts-in-bosnia-and-montenegro ### 2026-06-15: Hazardous‑waste incinerator plan near Litvínov, Czech Republic A hazardous‑waste incinerator plan near Litvínov, Czech Republic, proposes a 50k‑tonne/year plant to power‑generate from waste, with public comment open until 8 July; former rail chief Petr Žaluda is linked to 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hazardouswaste-incinerator-plan-near-litvnov-czech-republic ### 2026-06-06: Bosnia‑Herzegovina challenges Croatia over planned radioactive waste storage at Trgovska Gora Bosnia‑Herzegovina files legal challenges to stop Croatia’s planned radioactive waste storage at Trgovska Gora, citing risks to 250,000 residents and seeking a temporary halt via the ESPO Committee. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosniaherzegovina-challenges-croatia-over-planned-radioactive-waste-storage-at-trgovska-gora ### 2026-06-01: Czech towns weigh waste disposal sites and heat‑network plans Strakonice explores post‑2030 waste options, including a new landfill, while Czech experts discuss municipal heat networks as a path to low‑emission heating. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/czech-towns-assess-wastetoenergy-and-heatnetwork-options-after-incinerator-project-ends ### 2026-05-28: Ljubljana waste incinerator plan sparks health and environmental controversy Ljubljana's proposed €430 million waste incinerator faces opposition over health risks, lack of impact studies, and concerns it may lock the city into a costly, polluting energy system. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ljubljana-waste-incinerator-plan-sparks-health-and-environmental-controversy ### 2026-05-13: Bosnia‑Herzegovina challenges Croatia over Trgovska Gora radioactive waste storage at Geneva hearing Bosnia‑Herzegovina contests Croatia’s plan to store radioactive waste on Trgovska Gora, bringing the dispute before the Espoo Committee in Geneva. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bosniaherzegovina-challenges-croatia-over-trgovska-gora-radioactive-waste-storage-at-geneva-hearing ### 2026-05-06: Croatia faces mounting waste problems in Pula and Karlovac‑Lika regions Waste piles block Pula streets while hazardous waste and polluted water plague Karlovac and Lika. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/croatia-faces-mounting-waste-problems-in-pula-and-karlovaclika-regions --- Cite as: Central European waste management disputes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/croatias-mounting-waste-crises-spark-local-emergencies-and-crossborder-dispute