9.7 Ethics of Waste
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a resource as well as related services, including any related treatment costs. Its
application is mainly when resources are being consumed and used.
9.7.3 The Precautionary Principle (PP)
This principle holds the assumption that when an activity threatens the environment
or human health, precautionary measures need to be taken even if no cause and effect
relationships have been established scientifically. The core objective of this principle
is to ensure that an activity or substance that poses a threat to life or the environment
does not cause harm, even when there is lack of conclusive scientific proof (Hussen
2018). The Rio Declaration is a non-binding instrument that presents principles
important for governing international environmental law, particularly sustainable
development. Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration emphasizes this principle by
stating that in case of threats of severe or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific
proof or certainty should not be used as the reason for the postponement of
cost-effective measures for preventing environmental damage. Consequently, the
principle is beneficial for the protection of human health and the environment,
including waste management.
9.7.4 Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency
This principle states that resource efficiency must be accomplished using policy
instruments that develop incentives for minimizing wasteful use. It is also applicable
to various environmental governance issues by streaming procedures and processes
for minimization of environmental costs. In this regard, the use of resources should
be done in an efficient way to prevent and reduce the generation of waste.
9.7.5 The Principle of Responsibility
This principle is premised on the notion that all individuals, organizations, and states
should maintain ecological processes. Access to ecological resources carries responsibilities for using them in ecologically sustainable, socially fair, and economically
efficient ways (Hussen 2018). The consideration of ecological and social dimensions
seeks to ensure that people are responsible for resource management as well as
conservation, thus minimizing waste generation.
211
a resource as well as related services, including any related treatment costs. Its
application is mainly when resources are being consumed and used.
9.7.3 The Precautionary Principle (PP)
This principle holds the assumption that when an activity threatens the environment
or human health, precautionary measures need to be taken even if no cause and effect
relationships have been established scientifically. The core objective of this principle
is to ensure that an activity or substance that poses a threat to life or the environment
does not cause harm, even when there is lack of conclusive scientific proof (Hussen
2018). The Rio Declaration is a non-binding instrument that presents principles
important for governing international environmental law, particularly sustainable
development. Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration emphasizes this principle by
stating that in case of threats of severe or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific
proof or certainty should not be used as the reason for the postponement of
cost-effective measures for preventing environmental damage. Consequently, the
principle is beneficial for the protection of human health and the environment,
including waste management.
9.7.4 Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency
This principle states that resource efficiency must be accomplished using policy
instruments that develop incentives for minimizing wasteful use. It is also applicable
to various environmental governance issues by streaming procedures and processes
for minimization of environmental costs. In this regard, the use of resources should
be done in an efficient way to prevent and reduce the generation of waste.
9.7.5 The Principle of Responsibility
This principle is premised on the notion that all individuals, organizations, and states
should maintain ecological processes. Access to ecological resources carries responsibilities for using them in ecologically sustainable, socially fair, and economically
efficient ways (Hussen 2018). The consideration of ecological and social dimensions
seeks to ensure that people are responsible for resource management as well as
conservation, thus minimizing waste generation.