Since its economic boom in the 1990s Ireland has been facing ever growing waste arisings. Strict European legislation forced the country to find alternative solutions to sole waste disposal on which the country had been relying on exclusively. The Irish Government has aimed to decouple waste production from economic growth. The author doubts that the planned introduction of thermal treatment facilities would be an appropriate way to achieve the countrys ambitious targets in terms of waste management. Alternatively the author introduces a zero waste approach as a solution to Irelands waste problems. If a zero waste approach was applied emphasis would have to be put on reduction, minimization and recycling. Accordingly, the country of Ireland would pay its contribution to world wide challenging environmental protection and sustainable resource management.