Global waste generation is projected to rise from 2.01 billion metric tons in 2016 to 3.4 billion metric tons per year by 2050. Around 33% of waste generated is not collected, which widens the gap before any recycling or treatment can happen. The waste sector also contributes about 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Takeaways
- 2.01 billion metric tons of waste were generated globally in 2016
- 3.4 billion metric tons of waste were generated globally in 2050 (projected)
- 33% of waste generated is not collected (global estimate)
- In the U.S., 81% of U.S. households participate in recycling programs (ICF estimate for EPA report)
- In the U.S., 52% of households say recycling helps the environment (survey figure)
- In the U.S., 79% of people report using a recycling bin at home (survey figure)
- U.S. EPA reported 67.7 million tons of materials were recovered in 2018 (recycling/composting)
- U.S. EPA reported 146.0 million tons of municipal solid waste were landfilled in 2018
- U.S. EPA reported 35.1 million tons of municipal solid waste were composted in 2018
Global waste generation is surging, yet only about 9% of municipal waste is recycled worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends30 stats
01
2.01 billion metric tons of waste were generated globally in 2016https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
02
3.4 billion metric tons of waste were generated globally in 2050 (projected)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
03
33% of waste generated is not collected (global estimate)https://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/Global-Outlook-on-Sustainable-Urbanization-and-Waste-Management.pdf
04
7% of all global greenhouse gas emissions come from the waste sector (global estimate)https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ipcc_wg3_ar5_chapter10.pdf
05
Approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to safely managed sanitationhttps://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sanitation
06
Waste generation in OECD countries is about 2.0 kg per capita per dayhttps://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/statistics.htm
07
Global municipal waste generation rose from 1.3 billion tonnes in 2012 to 2.0 billion tonnes in 2016https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
08
Municipal solid waste generation is projected to reach 3.4 billion tonnes per year by 2050https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
09
Approximately 60% of municipal solid waste is organic (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
10
About 14% of municipal solid waste is paper and cardboard (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
11
About 12% of municipal solid waste is plastics (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
12
About 10% of municipal solid waste is glass (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
13
About 9% of municipal solid waste is metals (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
14
About 5% of municipal solid waste is textiles (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
15
About 4% of municipal solid waste is hazardous waste (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
16
Global material circularity rate is estimated at about 8.6% (OECD 2024 report)https://www.oecd.org/environment/waste/circular-economy/
17
Global municipal waste recycling rate is around 9% (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
18
Global municipal waste composting rate is around 19% (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
19
Global municipal waste landfilling rate is around 33% (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
20
Global municipal waste incineration rate is around 12% (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
21
Global municipal waste dumping rate is around 33% (global estimate)https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/brief/solid-waste-management
22
The European Union generated about 190 million tonnes of municipal waste in 2022https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
23
The EU recycled 47.3% of municipal waste in 2022https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
24
The EU landfilled 18% of municipal waste in 2022https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
25
In the U.S., 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste were generated in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
26
In the U.S., 69.1 million tons of municipal solid waste were recycled in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
27
In the U.S., 35.2% of municipal solid waste was recycled in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
28
In the U.S., 26.7% of municipal solid waste was landfilled in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
29
In the U.S., 12.0% of municipal solid waste was incinerated with energy recovery in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
30
In the U.S., 44.6% of municipal solid waste was recovered (recycled or composted) in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Global waste generation is projected to jump from 2.01 billion metric tons in 2016 to 3.4 billion metric tons by 2050 while only about 9% of municipal waste is recycled and around 33% is still landfilled.
02 · Category
User Adoption8 stats
01
In the U.S., 81% of U.S. households participate in recycling programs (ICF estimate for EPA report)https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/us_recycling_behaviors.pdf
02
In the U.S., 52% of households say recycling helps the environment (survey figure)https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/us_recycling_behaviors.pdf
03
In the U.S., 79% of people report using a recycling bin at home (survey figure)https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/us_recycling_behaviors.pdf
04
In the U.S., 60% of households say they are confident about what materials are recyclable (survey figure)https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-10/documents/us_recycling_behaviors.pdf
05
In the EU, 74% of Europeans think recycling is important (Eurobarometer 2020 survey)https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2263
06
In the EU, 37% of Europeans report sorting waste at home (Eurobarometer survey figure)https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2263
07
In the EU, 82% of Europeans say they recycle at least one material (Eurobarometer survey figure)https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2263
08
In the EU, 63% of Europeans are aware of recycling rules (Eurobarometer survey figure)https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2263
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
In both the U.S. and the EU, recycling is widely adopted and valued, but understanding is the weak spot, with 81% of U.S. households in recycling programs and 74% of Europeans saying it is important while only 60% of Americans feel confident about what is recyclable and just 63% of Europeans know the recycling rules.
More related reading
03 · Category
Performance Metrics16 stats
01
U.S. EPA reported 67.7 million tons of materials were recovered in 2018 (recycling/composting)https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
02
U.S. EPA reported 146.0 million tons of municipal solid waste were landfilled in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
03
U.S. EPA reported 35.1 million tons of municipal solid waste were composted in 2018https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
04
In the U.S., 41.4% of plastic packaging is recycled (2020 estimate via report)https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/resources/publications
05
In the EU, 46.1% of packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
06
In the EU, 69% of glass packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
07
In the EU, 81% of paper and cardboard packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
08
In the EU, 34% of plastic packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
09
In the EU, 88% of metal packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
10
In the EU, 66% of wood packaging waste is recycled (2022 estimate)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Packaging_waste_statistics
11
In the EU, 40% of municipal waste is recycled and composted (2022 statistic for EU)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
12
In the EU, 18% of municipal waste is landfilled (2022)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
13
In the EU, 26% of municipal waste is incinerated (2022)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
14
In the EU, 47.3% municipal waste recycling rate includes recycling plus composting where applicable (2022 Eurostat explained)https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Municipal_waste_statistics
15
U.S. EPA reported that 94.4 million tons of materials were landfilled in 2018 (includes some MSW categories)https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
16
U.S. EPA estimated 9% of MSW was composted in 2018 (EPA MSW summary)https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In 2018 the U.S. recovered 67.7 million tons through recycling and composting but still landfilled about 146.0 million tons of municipal solid waste, showing a far larger disposal stream than diverted materials.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Waste Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/waste-industry-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Waste Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/waste-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Waste Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/waste-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
12 datasets cited across this report
+3 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)