Residents of Naš are concerned about the smell and white particles that spread through the town on Tuesday, the cause of which has not been established. The occurrence coincided with a political debate over the government's decision to dispose of waste in the local cement plant.
At the session of the Osijek-Baranja County Assembly, the HDZ majority rejected the opposition's motion to request the withdrawal of the decision by the government. The opposition councillors believe that the local authorities were bypassed.
Councillor Vito Škaro said: "The government is sending us all this waste, which is classified as harmless, without the participation of local authorities." Councillor Josipa Knežević believes that everyone was presented with a fait accompli and stated: "The mayor of Naš, the county prefect, NEXE Group, and the citizens. This is by no means acceptable."
The ruling majority rejected the initiative, stating that the county assembly has no authority to overturn the government's decisions. Osijek-Baranja County Prefect Nataša Tramiš pointed out that there is no danger from the incoming waste. "According to the government's decision, the type of waste accepted will be brought to NEXE for incineration, provided that NEXE has a permit and can burn it in its technological process without harmful effects on human health," Tramiš said.
NEXE stated that it was acting in accordance with the government's decision and that it had engaged an independent accredited laboratory to conduct additional waste analysis. "Sampling is carried out by accredited method from each individual bag. If the analysis shows that the waste does not meet the key number for which NEXE has a valid permit, the waste will not be taken," the NEXE spokesperson said. They also announced that the public would be informed of all indicators of waste disposal after the process was completed.
The representative of the Naš Civic Initiative, Branislav Vuk, brought a petition with the signatures of the citizens to the session. He described the situation in the town: "It was impossible to breathe, the eyes were stinging. Yesterday in Naš was terrible, it stank, and the dust was completely white. I want someone to review this. We want to be absolutely sure that this is being investigated. Whoever was outside, he had to go inside, it was impossible to live."
