Local councils are being urged to carry out spot checks of peoples bins, and prosecute those who aren’t properly separating their waste.
The Environmental Protection Agency says local authorities aren’t doing enough to improve air or water quality, or make people properly segregate their household waste.
A lack of enforcement on fixing failed septic tanks is another issue.
Senior Manager in the Office of Environmental Enforcement in the EPA Valerie Doyle says standards are not where they should be.
