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Resolution 587 (1975)
Problems connected with the disposal of solid urban and industrial waste
The Assembly,
1. Having taken cognisance of the report on problems connected with the disposal of solid urban and industrial waste presented by its Committee on Regional Planning and Local Authorities (Doc. 3546) ;
2. Observing that the increase in solid waste is a disturbing phenomenon which accompanies the rising standard of living in consumer society, and that it results in deterioration of the human and natural environment ;
3. Taking account also of the loss of resources resulting from certain production techniques, the waste they produce and traditional disposal methods ;
4. Considering the extreme complexity of this problem which implies far-reaching changes in production methods and techniques, commercialisation of consumer goods, municipal administration, education, and information of the public as consumer and citizen ;
5. Considering that in the processing of waste the prime responsibility and main costs rest with local authorities ;
6. Considering that the effort required to obtain satisfactory disposal or rational re-utilisation of waste exceeds the material possibilities of most local authorities,
7. Calls upon the governments of member states to assist local authorities financially and technically, so as to enable them to carry out their waste disposal task in a manner satisfactory to public health and to the environment, while observing as far as possible the principle of economisation of resources ;
8. Also calls upon governments to promote all research that may lead to new production techniques for the reduction of waste, particularly toxic waste which is difficult to re-cycle, but also any research which might help to re-use waste and re-introduce it into the production cycle ;
9. Recalls in this regard the polluter-pays principle, and considers that governments should apply this principle to waste producers, particularly industries producing toxic waste, and oblige these industries to eliminate waste or to have it eliminated under conditions compatible with the protection of the environment ;
10. Invites local authorities to review their waste disposal policy, approach it henceforth from the point of view of management of a secondary resource which should be exploited, and devote their attention to this need as early as the collection stage ;
11. Invites local authorities to join together, particularly in rural regions, in order to organise jointly the collection and rational processing of waste ;
12. Requests the European Conference of Local Authorities to include this problem on the agenda of one of its forthcoming sessions, and to organise an exchange of information and experience in this field for the benefit of local authorities in Europe.