(1)  The Board, on or before 31 May in each financial year, is to prepare a draft operational plan, in accordance with section 20 , in relation to the next financial year.

(2)  After preparing a draft operational plan, the Board is to submit the plan to the Minister for approval.

(3)  The Minister may –

(a) approve the draft operational plan as submitted under subsection (2) ; or

(b) require the Board to amend the draft operational plan submitted under subsection (2) .

(4)  The Board, as soon as practicable after being required to do so under subsection (3)(b) , is to submit to the Minister under subsection (2) a draft operational plan as amended in accordance with the requirement.

(5)  For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister's power under subsection (3)(b) may be exercised more than once in respect of a draft operational plan.

(6)  If an operational plan in relation to a financial year has been approved by the Minister under subsection (3)(a)  –

(a) it is in effect as the operational plan of the Board for that financial year; and

(b) the Board is to act during that financial year in accordance with the operational plan.

(7)  The Board, having regard to changes to a waste strategy that is in effect under section 19(7)(a) , or to any circumstances related to the purposes of the Act, or for other reasonable cause, may prepare at any time an amendment to an operational plan that is in effect under subsection (6)(a) .

(8)  Subsections (2) , (3) , (4) and (5) apply, in relation to an amendment to an operational plan that is in effect, as if a reference in those subsections to a draft operational plan were a reference to an operational plan that is in effect.

(9)  An amendment to a draft operational plan that is approved under subsection (3)(a) takes effect on the day on which it is approved by the Minister under that subsection.

(10)  The Board is to ensure that an operational plan that is in effect under subsection (6)(a) is available for public inspection on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Board while it remains in effect.