Lifelines (also referred to as Critical Infrastructure) are referred to here as the essential infrastructure and services that support the life of our community. In a disaster response and recovery situation, provision of Lifelines, is essential. New Zealand has several mechanisms to improve the responses of lifeline service providers in a disaster situation, including pre-event planning and coordination groups and legislative provisions for timely response in an emergency. Currently waste management is not formally included in either the coordination process or the legislative provisions for Lifelines. This paper addresses whether or not waste management should be included in these.