This Law prescribes general measures for the purpose of protecting the environment and human health by preventing or reducing the generation of waste, reducing the negative effects of waste generation and waste management, reducing the overall effects of the use of raw materials and improving the efficiency of the use of raw materials and increasing the recycling and reuse of recycled materials, which is necessary for the transition to a circular economy and ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the Republic of Croatia and the European Union. This Law further regulates the waste management system, including the priority order of waste management, principles, goals and methods of waste management, planning documents in waste management, responsibilities and obligations in waste management, locations and buildings for waste management, waste management activities, cross-border waste transport, waste management information system and administrative and inspection supervision over waste management. This Law prescribes measures, in particular the conditions for the operation of landfills and the requirements for waste that is allowed to be disposed, in order to prevent or reduce as much as possible all known harmful effects on the environment, especially pollution of surface water, underground water, soil and air, including the greenhouse effects, as well as all hazards to human health due to waste disposal during the entire lifetime of the landfill, with the aim of establishing a circular economy and ensuring the application of the priority order of waste management, disposing of waste that has not been recovered in a way that does not endanger human health and does not harm the environment, and ensuring the gradual reduction of waste disposal, especially waste that is suitable for recycling or other recovery procedures. This text prescribes measures for the purpose of preventing and reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, especially the aquatic environment, and on human health, as well as promoting the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials, also contributing to efficient functioning of internal market. This Law prescribes measures to prevent the production of packaging waste and encourages the reuse of packaging, recycling and other forms of recovery of packaging waste and the reduction of quantities of final disposal of such waste as a contribution to the circular economy; measures for the purpose of achieving the goals of the European Green Deal ("The European Green Deal"), in the transformation into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy in which there will be no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and in which economic growth is not related to the use of resources. The goals of waste management are prescribed in order to encourage the transition to an economy that is more circular and in which the value of products, materials and resources is retained as long as possible, and the creation of waste is reduced to the smallest possible extent. In order to contribute to the circular economy of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia should achieve specific waste management related goals as listed in article 54. Waste management must be carried out in a way that does not endanger people's health and does not cause a harmful impact on the environment, and in particular: 1. does not cause the risk of pollution of the sea, water, soil and air and endangering biological diversity; 2. does not cause discomfort due to noise and unpleasant odors; 3. does not cause a harmful impact on the landscape or places of special interest; 4. does not cause explosions or fire. Avoiding the risk of pollution of the sea, water, soil and air as well as endangering biological diversity, as a consequence of waste management, is achieved through the implementation of regulations governing spatial planning, construction, environmental protection, nature protection, water protection and protection of the sea from pollution from maritime facilities. The provisions of this text do not apply to certain sectors such as waste water; by-products of animal origin, including processed products (see full list of exemptions in article 3 entitled “Areas of application of the Law”).