Opposition parties are claiming that high waste-collection charges are behind new figures showing an increase in the illegal disposal of domestic waste.
Sinn Féin's environment spokesman, Arthur Morgan, said today's report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vindicated the party's insistence that the introduction of waste charges would lead to more backyard burning and fly-tipping.
Mr Morgan said: "The EPA report found that approximately 80 per cent of all local authorities identified backyard burning as being a significant issue while also finding that more than one-fifth of all households did not have, or were not availing of, a waste-collection service in 2003.
"This is no coincidence . . . people who cannot afford these charges are obviously turning to other methods of disposing of their waste such as backyard burning and unregulated operators who are involved in fly-tipping."
Labour's Eamon Gilmore agreed and said privatisation of collection services was a contributory factor.
"The country's waste-management policies need to be changed to a public service responsible to local authorities . . . equally the waste charging system needs to be changed," Mr Gilmore said.
The Green Party's Ciaran Cuffe said a substantial amount of blame attaches to the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and an immediate response is required, including increased powers for the Office of Environmental Enforcement.
"They should be given the authority to take cases to the High Court instead of the District Courts where fines of €3,000 are derisory for waste offences, Mr Cuffe said.
An agency to provide incentives for recycling should be created, he added.