5.1 Objects of the Act

5.1.1
The objects of the Act are:

• To protect health, well-being and the environment by providing reasonable measures for—
  a.) minimising the consumption of natural resources;
  b.) avoiding and minimising the generation of waste;
  c.) reducing, re-using, recycling and recovering waste;
  d.) treating and safely disposing of waste as a last resort;
  e.) preventing pollution and ecological degradation;
  f.) securing ecologically sustainable development while promoting justifiable economic and social development;
  g.) promoting and ensuring the effective delivery of waste services;
  h.) remediating land where contamination presents, or may present, a significant risk of harm to health or the environment; and
  i.) achieving integrated waste management reporting and planning;
• To ensure that people are aware of the impact of waste on their health, well-being and the environment;
• Generally, to give effect to section 24 of the Constitution in order to secure an environment that is not harmful to health and well-being.

5.1.2
The Waste Act stipulates that its objects should be read in conjunction with the environmental principles established in NEMA.