In June 2002, the Welsh Assembly Government launched the National Waste Strategy for Wales Wise About Waste - which set Welsh local authorities a target of 40 per cent combined recycling and composting for municipal waste by 2009/10.

In April 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government released a draft strategy on how it intends to build on Wise About Waste called Towards Zero Waste: A consultation on a new waste strategy for Wales it sets out long term aims for waste management and resource efficiency until 2050.

In June 2009, the Welsh Assembly Government released a consultation document to seek the publics' view on Part 1 of the Municipal Sector Plan and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal. The sector plan covers municipal waste collected by local authorities - from households, and from some businesses and public bodies. The plan supports Towards Zero Waste, the overarching waste strategy for Wales.