Earlier this week, Westmeath County Council joined Longford and Offaly County Councils in seeking more time to make a decision on the new Midlands Draft Waste Plan.
Last week Offaly Council decided to adjourn a decision on the plan to the June monthly meeting when some of the members expressed concern about methods of waste control such as thermal treatment.
Both councils seemed to be anxious to proceed with the plan, which would streamline the disposal of waste in the region, reduce the landfill sites and build a thermal treatment unit.
The councils believe that a major education programme about the issues will have to be started before they commit themselves to adopting it.
The decisions came despite the findings of a survey conducted in the midlands by consultants M.C. O' Sullivan that 93 per cent of midlanders prefer thermal treatment to landfill.
Another finding of the survey was that 57 per cent of the respondents already carry out recycling on a regular basis in the area.
On Monday, Westmeath County Council met to discuss the issue and like its neighbours sought more time and information before giving a decision on the plan which will involve building an incinerator or thermal waste unit in the region.
Cllr Dan McCarthy, (Labour) accused the Environmental Protection Agency of remaining silent when it should be examining the US Environmental Protection Agency's recent report.
The US EPA reported that the cancer risk in some circumstances from municipal incinerators could be 10 times higher than previously suggested.
Councillors also wanted reports on this issue from the Midland Health Board before taking any decisions.
The debate in the midlands is heating up, with environmental groups from Laois, Longford and Offaly questioning the logic of building a thermal treatment plant if other alternatives are available.
The midlands plan proposes a dramatic reduction in landfill from 95 per cent to 17 per cent in the next 15 years and recommends a 45 per cent recycling rate, with a separation of organic and other waste.