The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, has warned that regions which block the construction of incinerators and other waste-management facilities could suffer economically.
Speaking at the publication of a review of waste infrastructure in Ireland, Mr Cullen also launched an attack on council election candidates promoting an anti-incineration "zero waste" agenda, accusing them of having a "Paul Daniels" approach.
"They pretend that there is a magic wand somewhere which will make waste disappear so that no one has to pay anything and it doesn't need to be put anywhere. Managing waste costs money, burying it costs more."
His Department's review of progress over the last five years in waste management showed that while considerable progress had been made in terms of recycling, many regions had failed to reach their own targets in terms of waste infrastructure and services.
The most significant failure has been the failure to deliver incinerators, with six regions due to have such facilities in operation or at construction by early this year.
According to the report, the north-east region's plans are at the most advanced stage after a private firm, Indaver, obtained planning permission for a facility in Carranstown, Co Meath, last year,
The Dublin and south-east regions are in the process of identifying private companies to build and operate the facilities.
The Connacht and Kerry/Limerick/Clare regions have reported "no significant progress", while the midlands is at a very early stage of pre-planning. The other regions have no definitive plans yet.
The most significant improvement in waste facilities in the last three years has been in recycling facilities for households, with half of Irish households now segregating their waste.
Half of the waste regions also reached their targets for recycling collection services. Wicklow performed poorly in this respect, with only 800 homes having such a service, compared with a target of 19,000.
Mr Cullen announced an extra 25 million for recycling facilities. He also outlined policy initiatives aimed at reducing packaging, plastic and newspaper waste going to landfill.
He again reiterated his view that incinerators were essential to managing Ireland's waste problem. He claimed major foreign firms would not locate in regions with insufficient waste facilities.
"In the future, if you're not self-sufficient in your management of waste, you have a big problem."
He said business representatives and politicians have lobbied him about the lack of waste infrastructure, yet the same people opposed waste developments in their own area. "You can't have it both ways. We have got to get the mindset right."
Mr Cullen said, while not satisfied with the progress to date on incineration plans, the advances had still been "significant".
There's now a much greater understanding of the thermal treatment process," he said.
However, the Minister's comments drew criticism from Opposition politicians, including the Green Party, whose candidates are promoting a zero waste agenda.
The Green party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said the Minister was "failing in the challenge to reduce waste levels" which are now at three times the levels produced in the Netherlands.
"Minister Cullen's desperation to build a necklace of incinerators around Ireland is an admission of this failure, and displays a cosy understanding between the Minister and the producers and importers of disposable materials."