29. — (1) The Minister may issue policy directions to any local authority in respect of the application and carrying out of the provisions of this Act where the Minister is of the opinion that the local authority should follow such directions in order to effectively exercise its functions under this Act.

(2) The Minister shall prepare and issue to local authorities guidelines and criteria in relation to the prevention and control of litter, including guidelines and criteria on appropriate objectives to be specified by local authorities under section 11 (2).

(3) The Minister may revoke or amend any direction, guideline or criteria issued under this section.

(4) The Minister shall cause a notice of every policy direction issued to a local authority under subsection (1) to be published at least once in a newspaper circulating in the functional area of the local authority.

(5) A local authority shall—

(a) in performing its functions under this Act, have regard to any policy direction issued to it under subsection (1), and

(b) in the making of its litter management plan under section 10 and in performing its functions under this Act, have regard to the guidelines and criteria issued to it under subsection (2).