Global municipal waste generation 2020, by select country

The United States is the largest producer of municipal waste in the world, generating approximately 265 million metric tons of garbage as of 2018. China produced slightly less according to the most recent available data in 2017, at 215 million metric tons.

Types of municipal waste

Municipal waste consists of various everyday items, such as uneaten food, household appliances, clothing, and plastic packaging. The fastest growing waste stream is electronic waste, especially in developing nations. The volume of e-waste generated worldwide reached 54 million metric tons in 2019, and is expected to continue growing.

What happens to municipal solid waste?

Once collected by the appointed company, waste is then transported to sites to be either landfilled, recycled, composted, or recovered. Although recycling rates have been improving, landfilling is still the most common form of waste disposal and treatment worldwide. As waste generation continues to grow around the globe, many landfill sites have grown to astronomical sizes. One of the largest landfills in the world is Apex Regional in Las Vegas, which dumps more than 10,000 tons of waste a day.