The Department of the Environment has rejected a claim by the European Commission that Ireland is in breach of a 1999 EU Landfill directive.
The Commission named several countries, including Ireland, it claimed are in breach of EU regulations in an attempt to shame governments into applying its directives.
The Department claims to have fully complied with the Landfill Directive and cited the 1996 Waste Management Act and a 1997 act on the licencing of Waste Facilities, which it claimed covered the issues mentioned in the EU directive.
The Commission said Ireland is facing five cases of infringement of the directive and could face prosecution.
Each EU citizen produces an average of 540 kg of waste a year, of which 57 per cent goes to landfill. The EU's 1999 landfill directive sets strict rules on what types of waste can go to landfill and how tips must be managed.
The Commission, which has the role of ensuring EU rules are applied, said many countries were ignoring the law. The Commission said Ireland faces five infringement cases regarding landfill sites.
Greece and Spain were accused of having the biggest number of illegal waste dumps in the European Union. Both Mediterranean countries have at least 10 waste dumps that break EU rules that aim to reduce air, soil and water pollution.
"We receive a steady flow of complaints from people who are worried about the impact that illegal or badly managed landfills can have on their health," EU Environment Commissioner Ms Margot Wallstrom said in a statement identifying the worst offenders.
Italy was next on the commission's roll of shame, with eight legal suits against it for operating substandard tips. Britain, France and Germany each have one.
Although the legal process is long and arduous, countries can face hefty fines if the EU court finds they repeatedly ignore environmental rules.