The environmental code consists of 7 basic principles. 

The first principle is "the Polluter pays and corrects". 

It implies measures to prevent and control pollution, but also responsibility for recovery from environmental damage. Thus, the state should create conditions in which it is more profitable for nature users to take measures to prevent negative impacts on the environment than to pay environmental fines. In a word, the mechanism of "prevention". In addition, a polluter that has caused environmental damage must restore the environment to its original level. 

The second principle is New approaches to environmental impact assessment. 

Under the current Environmental code, the requirement to pass the environmental impact assessment procedure – EIA-applies to almost all, i.e. 19 thousand enterprises. This approach is ineffective and impractical. Therefore, the new Environmental code suggests that this requirement should be applied only to 2.6 thousand enterprises of the "first category", which account for 80% of emissions. At the same time, the public participates in all stages of the ESIA. 

The third principle is the Introduction of the best available technologies (BAT) and economic incentives.  

To maximize the environmental situation, it is necessary to implement the best available technologies. To do this, industrial enterprises undergo a technological audit. They are offered technologies that will reduce emissions. Enterprises that have implemented BAT will be exempt from payment for emissions. If they don't go to BAT, their rates of payment for emissions will continue to grow. 

The fourth principle is to Direct the payment for emissions to environmental measures. 

Currently, the current legislation does not require spending on environmental protection measures funds received from payments for emissions to the environment. Therefore, local Executive bodies allocate from 0 to 400% for environmental protection, on average only 45%. The current situation with environmental payments and their spending has been repeatedly criticized by international experts. In this regard, the draft accompanying law provides for mandatory financing of environmental measures at the expense of incoming environmental payments in the amount of 100%. 

The fifth principle is the Creation of an automated emission monitoring system. 

In order to obtain timely and reliable information on the qualitative and quantitative composition of emissions and discharges, the draft Environmental code provides for mandatory automation of industrial environmental monitoring with data transmission to the authorized body. The sixth principle is to Strengthen environmental control. 

The draft accompanying law proposes to amend the Business code in terms of conducting checks on facts that directly affect the living conditions of the population. These changes are aimed at rapid response to the facts of negative impact on the environment. Responsibility for environmental violations is being strengthened by increasing administrative fines by 10 times.  

The seventh principle is to Improve the management of production and consumption waste. 

The draft of the new Environmental code focuses on implementing the principles of circular economy used in OECD countries. This project provides for a hierarchy of waste, which is aimed at step-by-step waste management, that is, a sequence of measures aimed at preventing the formation, reuse, recycling, and disposal of waste. In order to reduce the number of unauthorized landfills, licensing of the activities of enterprises engaged in waste processing and disposal, and a notification procedure for garbage collection organizations will be introduced.