The generation of industrial waste has the potential to produce grave environmental and public health risks. Thus, it is essential to manage wastes effectively. The regulation of waste management is based primarily on the precautionary, prevention and polluter pays principles embedded in international environmental law. Waste management regulations are most appropriately administered through a sector-by-sector approach, encompassing all sectors related to the environment in aggregate. It is particularly important for businesses to initiate necessary measures for the optimum management of wastes as they tend to be prolific polluters. Magistrates need to be adequately informed about environmental laws, regulations and international jurisprudence so they can be applied in a timely manner to prevent industrial wastes from creating risks for both humans and the environment.

• Outline the environmental risks associated with industrial wastes.
• Identify the legal challenges encountered by waste management professionals.

• Improved understanding of the problems associated with industrial waste management.
• Identification of the legal means available for the effective implementation of associated environmental law.

• Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
• Ecole National de la Magistrature
• VEOLIA Environment

• Rapport- Dechets Industriels Questions Juridiques et Jurisprudence Internationale- France 2003 (PDF - 378 kb)