25. 2. 78 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 54/19 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 20 February 1978 on waste from the titanium dioxide industry (78/176/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 100 and 235 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (2), Whereas waste from the titanium dioxide industry is liable to be harmful to human health and the environ- ment ; whereas it is therefore necessary to prevent and gradually reduce pollution caused by such waste with a view to eliminating it ; Whereas the 1973 (3) and 1977(%) European Communi- ties’ Programmes of Action on the Environment refer to the need to undertake Community action against waste from the titanium dioxide industry; Whereas any disparity between the provisions on waste from the titanium dioxide industry already appli- cable or in preparation in the various Member States may create unequal conditions of competition and thus directly affect the functioning of the common market ; whereas it is therefore necessary to approxi- mate laws in this field, as provided for in Article 10¢ of the Treaty; Whereas it seems necessary for this approximation of laws to be accompanied by Community action so that one of the aims of the Community in the sphere of protection of the environment and improvement of the quality of life can be achieved by more extensive rules ; whereas certain specific provisions to this effect should therefore be laid down ; whereas Article 235 of the Treaty should be invoked as the powers required for this purpose have not been provided for by the Treaty ; (') OJ No C 28, 9. 2. 1976, p. 16. () O] No C 131, 12. 6. 1976, p. 18. () OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 3. (*) OJ No C 139, 13. 6. 1977, p. 3. Whereas Directive 75/442/EEC (°), concerns waste disposal in general ; whereas for waste from the tita- nium dioxide industry it is advisable to lay down a special system which will ensure that human health and the environment are protected against the harmful effects caused by the uncontrolled discharge, dumping or tipping of such waste ; Whereas in order to attain these objectives there should be a system of prior authorization as regards the discharge, dumping, storage, tipping or injecting of waste; whereas the issue of this authorization should be made subject to specific conditions ; Whereas discharge, dumping, storage, tipping and injecting of waste must be accompanied both by moni- toring of the waste and monitoring and surveillance of the environment concerned ; Whereas for existing industrial establishments Member States must, by 1 July 1980, draw up programmes for the progressive reduction of pollution caused by such waste with a view to its elimination ; whereas these programmes must fix the general reduc- tion targets to be attained by 1 July 1987 at the latest and indicate the measures to be taken for each esta- blishment ; Whereas for new industrial establishments Member States must issue a prior authorization ; whereas such- authorization must be preceded by an environmental impact study and may be granted only to firms which undertake to use only those materials, processes and techniques available on the market that are least damaging to the environment, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 1.  The aim of this Directive is the prevention and progressive reduction, with a view to its elimination, of pollution caused by waste from the titanium dioxide industry. (5) OJ No L 194, 25. 7. 1975, p. 39.