The government is in parliament the procedure referred to amendments to the Law on Waste Management, with which they wanted to close the area for illegal disposal, ensure the traceability of shipments and prevent citizens from paying the cost of remediation. The new system brings continuous video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, more controls, stricter financial guarantees and a public list of persons prohibited from managing waste.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković he said that they were preparing the law before the case of illegally dumped waste in the area of the former PPK Velebit in Gospi came to the attention of the public. The proposal went through two public consultations, in 2025 and 2026, and its goal is to determine responsibility at each stage, from generation and transportation to processing and disposal of waste.
One of the key innovations is the mandatory continuous video surveillance of entrances to waste management locations. The recordings will be kept for 30 days in order to be available for inspection and investigative bodies. Waste transport vehicles must have GPS, and data on their movement will be recorded for at least two years. In this way, the route from the origin to the destination could be reconstructed for each shipment.
A publicly available list of persons who are prohibited from managing waste is also being introduced. It will include responsible and management-related persons so that the activity would not simply continue through the new company after the irregularities were established.
Locations of non-hazardous waste will be controlled at least once, and locations of hazardous waste at least twice a year. The types and quantities of waste, the method of storage and processing, records, compliance with permits and financial guarantees will be checked. Competent authorities may temporarily detain suspicious shipments, vehicles and equipment.
The law additionally implements found “those who live and cry”. Companies will have to provide guarantees for waste removal and damage repair, and a lien on the property of the one being removed is foreseen up to the cost of repair. This should prevent private earnings from remaining with the owners, and the account being transferred to the state, cities or municipalities.
Local authorities also get a bigger role. Before issuing a county permit, a reasoned opinion of the head or mayor, based on the spatial plan and purpose of the building, will be requested. Cities and municipalities will have to organize the removal of illegally dumped waste at least once a year.
The electronic system e-ONTO, which will link data on permits, shipments, transportation, locations and supervision, is also expanding. For certain cross-border shipments, data will be reported two days before departure. The Ministry can prohibit their takeover or delivery for up to one year if it determines a significant risk to the environment.
Simultaneously with the legal one amendments, the Government establishes a Scientific Council for expert support for the remediation of illegally disposed waste in Gospi. It will be led by the rector of the University of Zagreb, Stjepan Lakuši, and his deputy will be the director of the Croatian Institute for Public Health, Krunoslav Capak. Experts from chemical engineering, civil engineering, waste management, hydrogeology, soil protection and public health will participate in the work of the Council. Their task is to establish the facts, assess the risks and provide the public with complete information about the situation in Gospi.
Minister of Environmental Protection Marija Vučković she said that the focus of the reform is on prevention, full traceability and real financial responsibility.