But under a proposed European Union directive, to be discussed by ministers in Brussels on Thursday, a member state could no longer refuse to import waste for burning.

Czech Environment Minister Libor Ambrozek said he would protest against the proposal.

"The directive does not reflect the difference in the economic conditions in the new EU member states," he said in a statement.

"The different price levels in the waste treatment area create preconditions for an undesirable cross-border transfer of waste ... to new member states, for eco-dumping."

The Czech Republic, which borders much richer and larger Germany, has experienced a rise in cases of often illegal waste imports - "eco-dumping" - as companies try to cut costs.

It fears the new plan could cause a massive rise in shipments, including illegal ones.

There are about 20,000 tonnes of illegally dumped German waste in the country, a ministry spokeswoman said.

Customs officials have tightened up border controls and have caught six trucks this month trying to enter Czech territory with undeclared illegal waste, the news agency CTK reported.