The NWMS will apply to all branches and organs of state when they perform a waste management activity, and therefore the NWMS represents a cross-cutting program.
The Act stipulates for integrated waste management plans to be established for all spheres of government: National, Provincial, and Municipal. Furthermore, one of the implications of integration is that they must be aligned with municipal Integrated Development Plans.
Furthermore, the NWMS needs to be aligned with other integrated strategies, such as those for managing hazardous waste, air pollution, and management of the water resource. This is to prevent duplication of functions and activities, and maximize the efficiency with which the state’s resources are used.