Editing Waste hierarchy (section)

== Challenges for local and regional authorities ==
The task of implementing the waste hierarchy in waste management practices within a country may be delegated to the different levels of government (national, regional, local) and to other possible factors including industry, private companies and households. Local and regional authorities can be particularly challenged by the following issues when applying the waste hierarchy approach.<ref name=Hansen/> 
* A coherent [[waste management]] strategy must be set up
* Separate [[garbage collection|collection]] and [[waste sorting|sorting]] systems for many different waste streams need to be established.
* Adequate [[waste treatment|treatment]] and disposal facilities must be established.
* An effective horizontal co-operation between local authorities and municipalities and a vertical co-operation between the different levels of government, local to regional and when beneficial, also at the national level need to established
* Finding financing for the establishing or upgrading of expensive sustainable waste management infrastructure to address the needs of managing waste
* A lack of data available on waste management strategies must be overcome and monitoring requirements must be met to implement the waste programs
* The enforcement and control of business plans and practices be established and applied to maximize benefits to the environment and human health
* A lack of administrative capacity at the regional and local level. The lack of finances, information, and technical expertise must be overcome for effective implementation and success of the waste management policies.