25.7.75 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 194/39 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE “of 15 July 1975 on waste (75/442/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro- pean 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 Parliament (%); Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%); Whereas any disparity between the provisions on waste disposal already applicable 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 approximate laws in this field, as provided for in Article 100 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 impro- vement 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; Whereas the essential objective of all provisions relating to waste disposal must be the protection of human health and the environment against harmful effects caused by the collection, transport, treatment, storage and tipping of waste; Whereas the recovery of waste and the use of recovered materials should be encouraged in order to conserve natural resources; (*) OJ No C 32, 11. 2. 1975, p. 36. (*) OJ No C 16, 23. 1. 1975, p. 12. Whereas the programme of action of the European Communities on the environment (%), stresses the need for Community action, including the harmoni- zation of legislation; Whereas effective and consistent regulations on waste disposal which neither obstruct intra-Com- munity trade nor affect conditions of competition should be applied to movable property which the owner disposes of or is required to dispose of under the provisions of national law in force, with the . exception of radioactive, mining and agricultural waste, animal carcases, waste waters, gaseous effluents and waste covered by specific Community rules;. Whereas, in order to ensure the protection of the environment, provision should be made for a system of permits for undertakings which treat, store or tip waste on behalf of third parties, for a supervisory system for undertakings which dispose of their own waste and for those which collect the waste of others, and for a plan embracing the essential factors to be taken into consideration in respect of the various waste disposal operations; Whereas that proportion of the costs not covered by the proceeds of treating the waste must be defrayed in accordance with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 For the purposes of this Directive: (a) ‘waste’ means any substance or object which the holder disposes of or is required to dispose of pursuant to the provisions of national law in force; ' (* OJ No C 112, 20. 12. 1973, p. 3.