The policy of waste comes more and more within the scope of an integrated product policy, that is to say not only end-of-pipe but preventive measures. The main axes are cleaner technologies, cleaner products, eco-consumption and recycling. A strategic approach is required to ensure the effectiveness of the policy, in the frame of a product chain pressure point analysis or a leverage point analysis, in order to maximize the induced effects. Moreover appropriate instruments have to be chosen (and combined) to ensure effectiveness and economic efficiency. Cost/effectiveness ratios may be calculated. Environmental protection needs command-and-control, but the part of economic instruments is increasing and suasive instruments may play an interesting role. The paper provides concrete examples on this topic. The “extended producer’s responsibility” (EPR) appears as a new major principle, with applications to an increasing number of products. There is a relation with deposit-refund systems, which are effective but not always efficient, depending on logistic aspects. Concerning EPR, the paper deals with the following main questions: channeling of the responsibility; transition from an individual to a collective responsibility with the building-up of eco-organizations; choice between global or “segmented” recycling objectives; unicity or multiplicity of eco-organizations; producer’s total or partial responsibility; consumer’s information; judgment in respects to effectiveness, efficiency and equity. Moreover the development of “pay-as-you-throw” systems for financing at the local level the disposal of the municipal solid waste leads to compare the upstream (on products) and downstream (on wastes) financing systems, than to combine them when the producer’s responsibility is not complete. On this matter there is a risk of disappointment at the local level. However these new financing ways risk to increase the cost (including the cost of the products) and the weight for low income people.