Bruna Alves
Research lead covering environment and sustainability
Global waste generation - statistics & facts
Waste generation has increased massively around the world in recent decades, and there are no signs of it slowing down. More than two billion metric tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated worldwide every year, and this figure is expected to increase by roughly 70 percent by 2050. With such immense volumes of waste arising, the need for authorities to provide adequate waste treatment and disposal services has become ever more important.
Largest waste producers worldwide
With a population of more than 1.4 billion people – the largest in the world – China is responsible for the largest share of global municipal solid waste, at around 15.5 percent, according to the latest data. The Asian country is estimated to generate over 200 million metric tons of MSW per year. On the other side of the globe, the United States produced roughly 12 percent of global MSW in 2018, while accounting for less than five percent of the global population. The U.S. is amongst the largest generators of MSW per capita, with the average American producing more than 800 kilograms of waste per year. However, among OECD countries, Denmark ranks as the top waste producer per capita, with 845 kilograms generated in 2022. This is almost twice the average per capita MSW generation in the EU. The high waste generation of the Nordic country is associated with a mostly urban population combined with a high purchasing power.Global waste streams
Waste consists of a variety of materials, from food and packaging to electronics and construction materials. While plastic waste has garnered huge attention in recent years due to its impacts on marine life, electronic waste (E-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream worldwide. Global E-waste generation stood at around 50 million metric tons in 2019 and was forecast to grow by around 40 percent in just one decade, to reach some 75 million tons by 2030. Much like other waste forms, e-waste generation per capita is higher in wealthier nations, with countries like Norway, the UK, and Switzerland generating more than 20 kilograms per person per year. While E-waste is a fast-growing stream, food is still the most common form of waste, accounting for almost 50 percent of global MSW generation.Fighting the global waste problem
Managing the ever-growing amount of waste generated around the world remains a challenge, with huge quantities still sent to landfills. In 2022, over 10 thousand tons of waste were sent daily to the world’s largest landfill sites. Waste is also often disposed of at hazardous open dump sites, especially in developing nations. With recycling rates varying significantly by country, there is still a lot of room for improvement and development.
