An environmental policy principle that holds that those who cause pollution or environmental damage should bear the costs associated with preventing, controlling, and remedying that pollution or damage. Under this principle, polluters are held financially responsible for the environmental harm they cause, and the cost of measures taken to prevent and mitigate such harm. This principle serves as a powerful incentive for polluters to avoid environmental damage and encourages them to adopt sustainable practices. By holding polluters accountable for the costs of their actions, the polluter-pays principle helps to shift the burden of environmental damage from society to those who are responsible for causing it.
Published in Chapter:
Legal, Financial and Fiscal Measures to Support the Collection Solutions of Biowaste in Portugal
Fátima David (CICF-IPCA, UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal),
Pedro Melo Rodrigues (CIQUP-IMS-DGAOT-FCUP, UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal),
Elisabete Soares (UDI-IPG, Polytechnic of Guarda, Portugal), and
Tânia Cristina Azevedo (State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), Brazil)
Copyright: © 2023
|Pages: 23
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-8592-7.ch009
Abstract
The Portuguese Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020, of December 10 (PCM, 2020b), dictates the implementation of biowaste selective collection networks or the separation and recycling of biowaste at the source until December 31, 2023. This chapter aims to analyze the financial support provided to municipalities (local authorities) for implementing biowaste collection solutions, such as on public roads or through door-to-door collection, and to citizens for adopting biowaste separation and recycling practices through domestic or community composting. The authors also explore the application of the polluter-pays principle, which requires citizens to pay environmental taxes and fees to support sustainable development. Regarding this focus, the chapter highlights the legal, financial, and fiscal measures used to support biowaste collection and recycling efforts in Portugal, providing insight into the steps needed to achieve a sustainable environment while addressing the economic and social needs of the population.