Waste Management has emerged as one of the most challenging environmental issues to face Ireland in recent years. Modern lifestyles have resulted in a significant increase in the quantity but also the type of waste we are producing. Not forgetting we are also faced with the challenge of what to do with the waste. Traditionally in Ireland, the majority of waste has been landfilled and we still continue to have the same dependency on disposal. However due to new legislation, increased environmental concerns and lack of suitable disposable sites we are now turning to waste minimisation, recycling and composting as the chief means of dealing with our waste. Under the Waste Management Act 1996, all local authorities have to produce a Waste Management Plan outlining how they intend to deal with waste in the future decades.