Imagine a world where our annual trash pile could fill over 8 million Olympic-sized swimming pools—that is the staggering reality of global waste generation, which has surpassed 2 billion tonnes every year and is on a relentless path to increase by 70% by 2050.
Key Takeaways
- Global municipal solid waste generation reached 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016, with projections indicating a rise to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario
- Annual global waste generation from MSW was approximately 2.1 billion metric tons in 2018, representing a significant environmental burden
- The world produced over 2 billion tonnes of solid waste annually as of 2020, with daily generation exceeding 5.5 million tonnes
- East Asia and Pacific region generated 468 million tonnes of MSW in 2016, representing 23% of global total
- Sub-Saharan Africa MSW generation was 95 million tonnes annually in 2016, expected to triple by 2050
- High-income countries produced 34% of global MSW (683 million tonnes) in 2016 despite only 16% population
- Global average MSW generation per capita is 0.74 kg/person/day as of 2016 data
- High-income countries average 1.57 kg/capita/day MSW in 2016
- Low-income countries MSW per capita: 0.46 kg/person/day in 2016
- Global MSW organic waste fraction averages 44% by weight
- Plastics comprise 12% of global MSW composition on average in 2016 data
- Paper and cardboard make up 17% of global MSW by mass
- Global municipal solid waste generation projected to increase by 70% to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050 from 2.01 billion in 2016
- Waste generation in low-income countries expected to rise 93% by 2050 to 181 million tonnes annually
- High-income countries MSW projected to grow 19% by 2050 to 783 million tonnes
Global waste is rising rapidly and is projected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes by 2050.
Global Totals
- Global municipal solid waste generation reached 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016, with projections indicating a rise to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario
- Annual global waste generation from MSW was approximately 2.1 billion metric tons in 2018, representing a significant environmental burden
- The world produced over 2 billion tonnes of solid waste annually as of 2020, with daily generation exceeding 5.5 million tonnes
- Total global waste generation in 2022 estimated at 2.24 billion tonnes for MSW alone, excluding industrial and hazardous waste
- In 2019, global MSW generation totaled 2.24 billion tonnes, marking a 69% increase from 1.32 billion tonnes in 1990
- Worldwide solid waste generation hit 2.3 billion tonnes per year in recent estimates, with plastics comprising 12-13%
- Global waste production reached 2.01 billion metric tons of MSW in 2016 from urban areas alone
- By 2023 estimates, annual global MSW generation surpassed 2.3 billion tonnes, driven by population growth and urbanization
- Total global waste generated annually is about 11.2 billion tonnes including all types, but MSW at 2.2 billion tonnes
- In 2021, the planet generated roughly 2.2 billion tonnes of MSW, equivalent to 0.79 kg per person per day globally
- Global MSW generation was 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016, expected to grow by 70% to 3.4 billion by 2050
- Annual global solid waste output estimated at 2.12 billion tonnes for MSW in 2020
- World generated 2.24 billion tonnes of MSW in 2016 per updated data
- Total MSW worldwide in 2022: approximately 2.3 billion metric tons annually
- Global waste generation totals around 2 billion tonnes of MSW yearly as of 2019
- In 2020, global MSW production was about 2.1 billion tonnes, per UN estimates
- Worldwide MSW generation: 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016
- Global total MSW: 2.2 billion tonnes per year in 2021 data
- Annual global MSW generation estimated at 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023
- World MSW output: over 2 billion tonnes annually since 2018
- Global MSW generation reached 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020 projections
- Total global waste from MSW: 2.01 billion tonnes baseline in 2016
- In 2019, global MSW totaled approximately 2.2 billion metric tons
- Worldwide annual MSW: 2.3 billion tonnes as per 2022 stats
- Global solid waste generation: 2.1 billion tonnes MSW in 2020
- Total global MSW production: around 2 billion tonnes yearly post-2016
- 2021 global MSW: estimated 2.24 billion tonnes
- Annual world MSW generation: 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 data point
- Global MSW totals projected from 2.01 Bt in 2016
- 2.2 billion tonnes of MSW generated globally per year in recent years
Global Totals Interpretation
We are diligently burying ourselves in the refuse of our own making, with a growth projection so steep that by 2050 we’ll need a planet and a half just for the landfill.
Per Capita Rates
- Global average MSW generation per capita is 0.74 kg/person/day as of 2016 data
- High-income countries average 1.57 kg/capita/day MSW in 2016
- Low-income countries MSW per capita: 0.46 kg/person/day in 2016
- Upper-middle-income per capita MSW: 0.78 kg/day in 2016
- Lower-middle-income MSW generation: 0.52 kg/capita/day baseline 2016
- United States MSW per capita: 2.18 kg/day in 2016 equivalent
- China per capita MSW: 0.62 kg/person/day in 2016
- India MSW per capita: 0.45 kg/day as of 2016 data
- Denmark highest per capita MSW at 2.92 kg/person/day among OECD in 2020
- Sub-Saharan Africa average per capita MSW: 0.37 kg/day in 2016
- South Asia per capita: 0.45 kg/person/day MSW 2016
- Latin America average MSW per capita: 1.13 kg/day in 2016
- High-income North America per capita: highest at 2.21 kg/day MSW 2016
- East Asia Pacific per capita MSW: 0.71 kg/person/day 2016
- Middle East North Africa MSW per capita: 1.16 kg/day 2016 average
- EU average MSW per capita: 513 kg/year (1.4 kg/day) in 2020
- Japan per capita MSW: 1.1 kg/person/day in 2021
- Brazil MSW per capita: 1.04 kg/day nationally
- Global urban per capita MSW higher at 0.8 kg/day vs rural 0.6 kg/day in 2016
- Australia per capita MSW: 2.15 kg/person/day in 2020-21
- South Korea MSW per capita: 1.13 kg/day in recent data
- Nigeria per capita MSW: 0.74 kg/person/day urban average
- Germany MSW per capita: 620 kg/year (1.7 kg/day) in 2021
- Mexico per capita MSW: 1.2 kg/day approx
- Indonesia per capita MSW: 0.7 kg/person/day in 2022
- Canada MSW per capita: 2.91 kg/person/day high among peers
Per Capita Rates Interpretation
While the world's poorest produce less than half a kilo of trash daily, the wealthy generate enough to gift-wrap the planet several times over, proving that the road to a cleaner Earth isn't paved with good intentions, but with far less packaging.
Projections and Trends
- Global municipal solid waste generation projected to increase by 70% to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050 from 2.01 billion in 2016
- Waste generation in low-income countries expected to rise 93% by 2050 to 181 million tonnes annually
- High-income countries MSW projected to grow 19% by 2050 to 783 million tonnes
- Sub-Saharan Africa waste to triple by 2050 from 95 Mt to 278 Mt
- South Asia MSW projected to increase 167% to 881 Mt by 2050
- East Asia Pacific waste to grow 38% to 646 Mt by 2050 despite slowdown
- Global plastic waste expected to double to 380 Mt by 2040 from 2016 levels
- By 2050, daily global MSW per capita to reach 1.0 kg from 0.74 kg in 2016
- Latin America MSW to increase 53% to 353 Mt by 2050
- MENA waste generation forecast up 145% to 349 Mt by 2050
- Europe Central Asia MSW up 25% to 303 Mt by 2050
- Global food waste projected to reach 3.2 billion tonnes by 2050 if trends continue
- Urban waste generation to account for 80% of total MSW by 2050 globally
- Plastic leakage to environment could triple by 2040 without intervention
- E-waste global generation to reach 82 Mt by 2030 from 57 Mt in 2021
- Global MSW growth rate averages 2.6% annually through 2050 in baseline scenario
- By 2030, global waste could cost $640 billion in economic losses annually
- India's MSW to quadruple to 620 Mt by 2050 from current levels
- China's waste generation peak expected mid-2020s then stabilize
- Sub-Saharan Africa highest growth rate at 3x by 2050 due to urbanization
- Global recyclables in MSW to reach 1.3 billion tonnes by 2050
- Hazardous waste global projection: double to 8 billion tonnes by 2050
- Plastic waste in oceans could increase 10-fold by 2025 without action
Projections and Trends Interpretation
We are refining our monumental mastery of turning the planet into a landfill, a skill for which we will be profoundly buried in consequences.
Regional Variations
- East Asia and Pacific region generated 468 million tonnes of MSW in 2016, representing 23% of global total
- Sub-Saharan Africa MSW generation was 95 million tonnes annually in 2016, expected to triple by 2050
- High-income countries produced 34% of global MSW (683 million tonnes) in 2016 despite only 16% population
- South Asia generated 334 million tonnes of MSW in 2016, projected to increase by 167% by 2050
- Latin America and Caribbean MSW: 231 million tonnes in 2016
- Middle East and North Africa region MSW output: 143 million tonnes per year in 2016
- Europe and Central Asia generated 242 million tonnes MSW in 2016
- North America MSW generation: around 270 million tonnes annually in recent data
- China alone generated 210 million tonnes of MSW in 2016, largest single contributor
- India MSW production: 168 million tonnes in 2022 estimates
- United States generated 292 million tons of MSW in 2018, about 4.9 pounds per person per day
- EU-27 MSW generation totaled 205 million tonnes in 2020
- Japan annual MSW: approximately 43 million tonnes in 2021
- Brazil MSW: 78 million tonnes per year as of 2020
- Sub-Saharan Africa waste generation rate highest growth at 3% annually through 2050
- Middle East North Africa expected to see 145% increase in MSW by 2050 from 143 Mt baseline
- South Asia waste doubled from 1990 to 2016, reaching 334 Mt
- East Asia Pacific waste grew 65% from 1990-2016 to 468 Mt
- Latin America waste up 25% since 1990 to 231 Mt in 2016
- High-income countries per capita MSW 1.6 times low-income average in 2016
- Europe Central Asia MSW stable at 242 Mt since 2016
- Nigeria MSW generation: 32 million tonnes annually in 2020 estimates
- Russia MSW: 70 million tonnes per year in 2022
- Australia MSW output: 14 million tonnes in 2020-21
- South Africa MSW: 20 million tonnes annually
- Germany MSW generation: 48 million tonnes in 2021
- Mexico MSW: 45 million tonnes per year
- Indonesia MSW: 68 million tonnes in 2022
Regional Variations Interpretation
Here is a one-sentence interpretation balancing wit with seriousness: "Our planet's mounting waste crisis reveals a grimly ironic truth: the wealthiest nations produce garbage with the same staggering efficiency as their economies, while the poorest regions, though currently generating less, are on track to inherit the dubious honor of catching up with a vengeance."
Waste Composition
- Global MSW organic waste fraction averages 44% by weight
- Plastics comprise 12% of global MSW composition on average in 2016 data
- Paper and cardboard make up 17% of global MSW by mass
- Glass accounts for 5% of total global MSW generation
- Metals represent 5% of MSW composition worldwide average
- In high-income countries, paper is 27% of MSW, plastics 18%, organics 28%
- Low-income countries: organics 54%, plastics 7%, paper 6% in MSW
- Upper-middle-income MSW: organics 38%, paper 15%, plastics 13%
- Lower-middle-income: organics 50%, plastics 9%, paper 9%
- Global plastic waste in MSW: 242 million tonnes annually pre-2016
- Food waste constitutes 53% of MSW organics globally
- Textiles average 4% of global MSW composition
- Rubber and leather: 2% global MSW average
- Other waste (misc): 11% in global MSW breakdown
- In Sub-Saharan Africa, organics 62% of MSW, plastics 5%
- South Asia MSW: organics 51%, plastics 10%, paper 5%
- East Asia Pacific: organics 38%, paper 16%, plastics 14% MSW
- Latin America organics 40-50%, plastics 10-15% typical
- MENA region MSW: organics 45%, plastics 12%, paper 10%
- Europe Central Asia: paper 25%, plastics 15%, organics 30%
- US MSW composition: paper 23%, yard trimmings/food 28%, plastics 12.2% in 2018
- Global e-waste portion of MSW small but growing at 2%
- Hazardous waste in MSW averages 1-2% globally
- Wood waste 6% in high-income MSW, lower elsewhere
- Global MSW recyclables (paper, plastic, metal, glass): 37% potential
Waste Composition Interpretation
We’re a world of stark contradictions: richer countries throw out modernity wrapped in plastic and paper, while poorer ones discard mostly food, yet all of us together are burying 242 million tonnes of plastic and half our decomposing dinner in the same planetary landfill.
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