Zelena akcija / FoE Croatia and the “Stop Phaten Plastic” initiative are calling on the State Inspectorate to urgently take measures to remediate the polluted area in Vrginmost and to enable independent and transparent research on the impact of the pollution on the health of residents and the environment.
“We also demand that all those responsible for this environmental incident be sanctioned and that inspection oversight be strengthened to prevent further disasters”, stated Ana-Marija Mileusnić from FoE Croatia.
Today, activists performed a demonstration in front of the State Inspectorate, delivering a symbolic jar containing waste sludge. Alongside actual sludge, the jar symbolised the ingredients of the “recipe” that led to the environmental disaster in Vrginmost: corruption that enabled the company’s illegal activities, inadequate assessments that concealed the true risks, technology that polluted the environment, and the silence of the responsible institutions, Mileusnić explained.
After months of efforts by Vrginmost residents and environmental activists against the company Phaten Plastic Recycling, the harmful plastic melting plant has finally been shut down. “However, the problem is only half-resolved, as the company has left behind contaminated soil and water. Residents still live in fear for their health and future. They are particularly concerned about the safety of the water and food they consume”, said Mileusnić.
She noted that relevant institutions were aware of the problem and received numerous reports of the pollution, but their response was lacking. “Despite promises of investigations and sanctions, the State Inspectorate has not taken concrete steps to protect the residents of Vrginmost”, Mileusnić asserted.
She added that this case is not isolated and that similar issues with illegal waste disposal and environmental pollution are appearing throughout Croatia. “Let us recall last year’s fire at the plastic processing factory ‘Drava International’ in Osijek, or the case in Pazin where thousands of tonnes of waste were unlawfully dumped at a former factory, endangering the safety and health of local residents.”
Mileusnić emphasised that these cases highlight critical failings in Croatia’s waste management and environmental protection systems. “Disregard for laws, institutional irresponsibility, and the endangerment of public health must not be tolerated”, she said.
As part of the “Justice for Vrginmost” campaign, FoE Croatia has submitted numerous demands, reports, and inquiries to the inspection authorities but has received no clear answers regarding the extent and consequences of the pollution or sanctions for the polluters. “The silence of the institutions gives the impression that they are more concerned with protecting the interests of the polluters and local powerbrokers than with safeguarding the health of citizens”, Mileusnić concluded.
You may upload our content in an integral or revised version with the indication of the organisation Zelena akcija/FoE Croatia - under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This permission does not apply to stock photos and embedded content of other creators.
Design & development: Slobodna domena Zadruga za otvoreni kod i dizajn
