ZAGREB — Croatian authorities are facing renewed pressure to address illegal waste disposal after investigators uncovered additional locations believed to be connected with unlawful landfilling.

Fresh coverage on September 10, 2026, reported new findings by Croatia’s Office for the Suppression of Corruption and Organised Crime (USKOK), including an additional suspected illegal landfill site in the town of Benkovac. The developments have prompted renewed discussion about how Croatia manages waste and protects vulnerable areas from environmental damage.

The discovery has placed illegal waste disposal back at the centre of Croatia’s environmental debate. Uncontrolled dumping can create long-term risks for soil, groundwater and surrounding communities, particularly when waste is deposited without appropriate treatment or monitoring.

Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Construction Minister Branko Bačić said the country would need to invest in waste-to-energy facilities as part of a broader response to its waste-management challenges.

Waste-to-energy plants can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while generating electricity or heat from materials that cannot be economically recycled. However, such facilities also require strict environmental controls and significant investment.

The latest investigation highlights the importance of stronger oversight throughout the waste-disposal chain. Authorities must determine who was responsible for the suspected illegal sites and whether the operations involved wider networks or breaches of environmental regulations.

The Benkovac finding is particularly significant because it shows that the problem may extend beyond isolated incidents. Authorities are therefore expected to continue examining additional locations and reviewing how waste-disposal regulations are being enforced.

Environmental groups and local communities are likely to closely monitor the government’s response. Effective enforcement, transparent investigations and investment in modern waste infrastructure could help reduce the incentive for illegal dumping.

Croatia’s challenge is to combine stronger enforcement with long-term improvements to its waste-management system. The latest findings have renewed attention on that task and could lead to further measures aimed at preventing illegal landfilling.