Representatives of the local initiative gathered on Tuesday outside the Nexe cement plant to protest the burning of a portion of waste from Gospić. The representatives announced they would organise shifts and stated they are seeking a meeting with county officials.
The initiative’s representative, Mirjana Petrović, stated that they had been informed that the Nexe plant holds permits for handling hazardous waste, but they were unaware that the public had not been informed. She believes residents have the right to demand that the plant adhere to established regulations. In her view, the plant’s chimney should be equipped with a monitor to measure emissions, as is standard for waste incinerators.
Petrović said that information about the waste from Gospić is varied, with some reports suggesting it has already arrived and been incinerated, but there is no concrete confirmation. She added that neither have they received confirmation from people in Gospić as to whether the lorries have departed. She confirmed that the initiative is planning to organise shifts outside the cement plant to verify what is being delivered by the lorries. "I do not know if we will block anything, we will not do anything until we reach an agreement with everyone," Petrović said.
The call to gather in front of the cement factory was made via social media, yet only a few residents gathered at the entrance. Petrović assessed that while residents generally support the initiative, no one is willing to compromise their comfort, and it is difficult to motivate people to become more active. A member of the initiative, Vjeran Miličić, stated that they are not against the production of cement, but rather against waste being burned in the cement plant.
