An investigation published on October 14, 2026, by Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa exposes how thousands of tonnes of industrial waste, supposedly destined for recycling, were transported from Italy to Croatia and illegally dumped.
According to Europol, at least 35,000 tonnes of hazardous waste were illegally disposed of across several Croatian locations, generating an estimated €4 million in illicit profits. The investigation has led to approximately 20 arrests.
At Gospić, laboratory tests detected PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals, in groundwater at concentrations twice the legal limit. The waste was deposited above an aquifer supplying drinking water to the surrounding region.
What Kind of Waste Was Involved?
The shipments included industrial plastics and rubber, particularly:
- Plastic insulation left after electrical cables were shredded to recover copper and aluminium.
- Plastic residues from industrial sorting and recycling operations.
- Waste allegedly misclassified as non-hazardous despite containing dangerous substances.
Italian shipments to the Croatian company Tipos Resurs were declared under European waste code 19 12 04, covering plastics and rubber resulting from waste treatment.
Which Companies Were Involved?
Five Italian waste-management companies are mentioned in the Croatian investigation:
- Zoffoli Metalli
- Gifema
- Stena Recycling
- Intercommercio
- Tellfer
None of these five companies has been charged.
The principal suspect is Josip Šincek, who headed the Croatian company Tipos Resurs, which received the waste. He denies wrongdoing and claims to be the victim of political blackmail.
How Did European Regulations Allow This?
The case highlights a fundamental weakness in European waste-shipment controls.
Companies classify their own waste, arrange laboratory testing and complete the documentation required for transport.
Waste declared as non-hazardous and eligible for simplified shipment procedures can cross borders without the prior written authorization required for hazardous waste.
According to the investigation, authorities do not systematically verify every classification before shipment, while physical inspections remain limited.
The result is a system potentially vulnerable to misclassification, fraudulent documentation and inadequate checks on whether exported waste is actually recycled.
Is There a Connection to Eni?
One company mentioned in the investigation, Stena Recycling, belongs to the Swedish Stena Metall group.
European Commission records show that Eni, Stena Metall and Stena Recycling International participated in the same EU-funded APPLES research project between 2011 and 2014.
The project focused on advanced lithium batteries, including recycling technologies.
However, this historical research collaboration is unrelated to the Croatian waste case. There is no verified evidence connecting Eni to the illegal shipments or disposal activities.
The Bigger Question
The Gospić scandal raises a troubling question about Europe’s recycling industry: when waste crosses borders under the label of recycling, who verifies what actually happens to it?
The case illustrates how weaknesses in classification, oversight and cross-border enforcement can turn supposedly recyclable materials into an environmental and public-health threat.
Sources
- Investigation, October 14, 2026:
https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/cp_article/dallitalia-a-gospic-il-viaggio-dei-rifiuti/ - Europol investigation:
https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/13-persons-arrested-for-illegally-disposing-35000-tonnes-of-hazardous-waste - European Commission – APPLES research project:
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/265644