• Tens of thousands rally in Zagreb demanding action on hazardous waste cleanup.
• Protesters accuse the government of negligence over unsafe waste disposal.
• Environmental fears rise as 30,000 to 40,000 tons of waste threatens local health.
• Government claims no contamination found, contradicting environmental assessments.
• Protest serves as a critique of Prime Minister Plenkovic's handling of the crisis.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Zagreb on Saturday, urging the Croatian government to take immediate action to clean up over 30,000 to 40,000 tons of illegally dumped hazardous waste in the Lika region. The protest, one of the largest in Croatia in recent years, came in response to public frustration over the government's failure to address serious environmental concerns stemming from the waste, which includes medical and industrial materials. Protest organizers stressed the urgency of a comprehensive cleanup plan and demanded binding deadlines for remediation efforts, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

The hazardous waste controversy first gained attention when police, along with Europol, arrested 13 suspects in February for illegal importation and disposal of waste that allegedly earned them about $4.2 million before authorities intervened. Protesters voiced mistrust in government assurances that no contamination was present at the site, countering these claims with findings from Croatia's anti-corruption agency, which indicated elevated metal levels and harmful PFAS compounds in nearby groundwater. The stark contrast between government statements and scientific findings fueled public outrage at the demonstration, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

Protesters, including many local residents from Gospic, expressed concern about the long-term environmental and health effects of the waste, which has not seen any removals despite assurances from Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic that a contractor had been selected for the initial cleanup phase. Vjekoslav Busic, from the Gospic Is Our Home initiative, sharply criticized the government’s inaction, stating, "The result to date: Not a single kilogram of hazardous waste has been removed from Gospic," reflecting a collective demand for a more accountable environmental policy, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.