• The RSS provides an over-arching spatial strategy for the region and should include a concise strategy for waste management, including: distribution of tonnages requiring management; a pattern of any waste management facilities of national, regional or sub-regional significance that may be required in the region; and the broad locations for such facilities' development, and supporting policies. Tonnages of waste requiring management should be apportioned and the proposed apportionments should be expressed as annual rates. Both waste collection authorities (WCA) and the WDA can engage with the process of the development and revisions to the RSS, for example, by providing data, information and suggestions resulting from the preparation of the MWMS. PPS 10, paragraph 7, emphasises the need for regional planning bodies to work with WPA to develop "a realistic and responsible approach to future waste management".
• The RSS will also be able to inform the preparation and revision of a MWMS by providing a strategic direction across all waste streams and by providing a high level picture of the need and opportunities for, and constraints on, future waste management development. Revisions to the RSS should not be a 'top-down' process, but should draw on work carried out at the local level including existing waste plans, data and other works in the preparation of the DPD and MWMS.
• Regional planning bodies in preparing the RSS must consider the need for additional waste management capacity of regional or sub-regional significance and reflect any requirement for waste management facilities identified nationally. In drawing up this pattern of waste management facilities, regional planning bodies should take into account the need for waste management, including for disposal of residues from treated wastes, arising in more than one waste planning authority area but where only a limited number of facilities would be required. If the WDA has identified certain requirements through the MWMS, then it is important that the opportunity to engage and influence the RSS is taken. Both WDA and WCA should engage at the regional level, including with the regional technical advisory bodies (RTABs), which provide advice to regional planning bodies on the implications of waste management for the development and implementation of the RSS.