Making industry responsible for environmentally sound disposal of its hazardous waste

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities.

Article 7 of the Convention on Civil Liability for Damage Resulting from Activities Dangerous to the Environment (Lugano 1993), states: The operator of a site for the permanent deposit of waste at the time when damage caused by waste deposited at that site becomes known, shall be liable for this damage. Should the damage caused by waste deposited before the closure of such a site become known after that closure, the last operator shall be liable.

1. Governments should establish regulations setting out industry's ultimate responsibility for environmentally sound disposal of the hazardous waste its activities generate.

1. Reducing industrial wastes
2. Preventing production of hazardous wastes
3. Disposing of hazardous waste
4. Applying polluter-pays principle

1. Urging industry to publish information on their management of hazardous waste
2. Supporting industry in phasing-out processes generating high risk hazardous waste
3. Returning radioactive waste to the supplier for safe storage or disposal
4. Developing industry-based institutions on hazardous waste handling
5. Cooperating with industry in identifying and cleaning-up hazardous waste disposal sites
6. Conducting environmental audits to assess hazardous waste management in industry
7. Applying measures for waste disposal costs to be paid by the waste generators

1. Cleaning up hazardous waste sites

1. Providing education on hazardous waste management in government and industry
2. Facilitating public access to justice in environmental matters
3. Enhancing corporate environmental responsibility

1. Wastage
2. Hazard