Waste companies say that current recycling targets are "unrealistic and out of reach".
The Irish Waste Management Association (IWMA) says the Government's target of 55% of waste being recycled by 2025 will not be met.
To reach the target of 60% by 2030 will mean that the country will have to double the amount it recycles, the IWMA added.
Secretary of the IWMA Conor Walsh, speaking at their annual conference, said the Government had put the responsibility for recycling on to waste collectors.
However, he said collection companies are not the producers of waste.
"The waste industry facilitates the collection, sorting, and recycling of waste and has not been found wanting in that regard. However, the sector cannot be held responsible for the actions of producers, consumers, and the Government."
He said the Government should introduce an incentive system to get households and businesses to recycle more waste.
Meanwhile, Mr Walsh responded to criticism of the present 'side by side' competition system for waste collection which involves different companies operating in the same areas.
Dublin City Councillor Daithí Doolan (SF), who is chair of a committee looking at getting the council to take back control of waste collection, has described the current system as the 'Wild West'.
He said only 68% of households have food waste collected despite a legal requirement to provide all households with brown collection service and that 18% of households have no service at all.
Cllr Doolan said the current system is leading to an acute problem of illegal dumping.
However, Mr Walsh said that illegal dumping began in 2002 as a result of Sinn Féin and other groups encouraging people not to pay bin charges.
He said all households in Dublin city have access to a brown bin and to a waste collection service.
