Definitions for "Polluter Pays Principle"
When production processes threaten or cause damage to the environment, the cost of necessary environmental measures should be borne by the producer and not society at large, giving incentives to reduce pollution.
The principle to be used for allocating costs of pollution prevention and control measures to encourage rational use of scarce environmental resources and to avoid distortions in international trade and investment. This means that the polluter should bear the expenses of carrying out the above-mentioned measures decided by public authorities to ensure that the environment is in an acceptable state.
Under this principle, the person or organisation that produces pollution (including waste) is held responsible for it. Linked to Producer Responsibility.