Food waste accounts for roughly 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Plastics make up 19 percent of municipal solid waste. These volumes coincide with wide differences in national recycling and incineration rates.
Key Takeaways
- The global incineration rate for municipal solid waste was 12% in 2016
- Japan achieved a municipal solid waste recycling rate of 20.3% in 2021
- China’s municipal solid waste incineration rate reached 56% in 2020
- 61% of global waste generation is expected to increase by 2050
- 19% of global municipal solid waste is plastic
- 11.4 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated in the United States in 2019
- Approximately 292.4 million tonnes of waste were generated in OECD countries in 2019
- 2.7 million tonnes of municipal waste were generated in Singapore in 2022
- The U.S. municipal solid waste stream contained 8.0% metals in 2018
- Globally, food waste accounts for about 8% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities
- Methane has about 28–34 times the warming potential of CO2 over 100 years (AR6 values)
- Incineration with energy recovery can reduce landfilling volumes by roughly 90% compared with direct landfilling (typical system effect)
- Europe landfills about 17% of municipal waste (2022 EU average)
- Directive 2008/98/EC sets a target to recycle 50% of municipal waste by 2020
- EU rules require extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and other waste streams
Municipal waste trends show plastics rising, methane and emissions risks, and growing policy pressure to recycle.
Related reading
01 · Category
Recycling & Recovery4 stats
01
The global incineration rate for municipal solid waste was 12% in 2016
02
Japan achieved a municipal solid waste recycling rate of 20.3% in 2021
03
China’s municipal solid waste incineration rate reached 56% in 2020
04
In the United States, the EPA estimates that 27.6 million tons of waste were generated as plastics in 2022 (plastics waste mass context for recycling/recovery).
Interpretation
Recycling & Recovery Interpretation
For the Recycling and Recovery category, the data shows a clear global divide with recycling lagging as incineration rises, from Japan’s 20.3% municipal solid waste recycling rate in 2021 to China’s 56% incineration rate in 2020 and 12% global incineration in 2016.
02 · Category
Global Waste Generation3 stats
01
61% of global waste generation is expected to increase by 2050
02
19% of global municipal solid waste is plastic
03
11.4 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated in the United States in 2019
Interpretation
Global Waste Generation Interpretation
For Global Waste Generation, the trend is worrying as global waste is expected to rise by 2050, while plastic already makes up 19% of global municipal solid waste, with the United States alone generating 11.4 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2019.
03 · Category
National Waste Profiles2 stats
01
Approximately 292.4 million tonnes of waste were generated in OECD countries in 2019
02
2.7 million tonnes of municipal waste were generated in Singapore in 2022
Interpretation
National Waste Profiles Interpretation
Under the National Waste Profiles lens, OECD countries generated about 292.4 million tonnes of waste in 2019, while Singapore produced 2.7 million tonnes of municipal waste in 2022, highlighting how national waste burdens can differ widely in scale even across specific waste streams.
04 · Category
Waste Composition1 stats
01
The U.S. municipal solid waste stream contained 8.0% metals in 2018
Interpretation
Waste Composition Interpretation
In the Waste Composition category, metals made up 8.0% of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 2018, showing they are a notable share of what ends up in landfills and recycling.
05 · Category
Environmental Impact3 stats
01
Globally, food waste accounts for about 8% of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities
02
Methane has about 28–34 times the warming potential of CO2 over 100 years (AR6 values)
03
Incineration with energy recovery can reduce landfilling volumes by roughly 90% compared with direct landfilling (typical system effect)
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
From an environmental impact perspective, cutting food waste is especially powerful because it contributes about 8% of human greenhouse gas emissions, and since methane is 28 to 34 times more warming than CO2 over 100 years, strategies that also reduce landfill reliance such as energy recovery incineration that cuts landfilling volumes by roughly 90% can further lower climate harm.
More related reading
06 · Category
Regulation & Policy7 stats
01
Europe landfills about 17% of municipal waste (2022 EU average)
02
Directive 2008/98/EC sets a target to recycle 50% of municipal waste by 2020
03
EU rules require extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and other waste streams
04
The US EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management program targets source reduction and improved recycling rather than landfilling
05
UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) targets require collection and recycling rates including 65% recovery and 85% treatment by 2016 under the regulations at the time of reporting
06
EU single-use plastics rules require a 90% separate collection target for bottles by 2029
07
EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) reduced biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfills to 35% of 1995 levels by 2016 (target)
Interpretation
Regulation & Policy Interpretation
Across Europe and beyond, regulation is pushing waste away from landfill, with the EU still using 17% for municipal waste in 2022 while directives and mandates aim for targets like 50% municipal waste recycling by 2020, 90% separate collection of single use plastic bottles by 2029, and high WEEE collection, recovery, and treatment rates.
07 · Category
Market Economics5 stats
01
The global recycling market for plastics was forecast to reach $16.5 billion in 2023
02
The global waste management market was valued at $401.5 billion in 2023
03
The global waste-to-energy market size was $34.6 billion in 2023
04
The global market for waste management equipment was projected to reach $38.2 billion by 2030
05
EU member states spent €40.1 billion on waste management in 2020
Interpretation
Market Economics Interpretation
From a market economics standpoint, the waste sector is expanding rapidly with the global waste management market reaching $401.5 billion in 2023 while the plastics recycling market was forecast at $16.5 billion in 2023 and Europe alone spent €40.1 billion on waste management in 2020, signaling sustained investment and growth across the value chain.
08 · Category
Policy & Compliance2 stats
01
The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (adopted in 2024) sets binding targets including 90% separate collection for bottles by 2029 (policy benchmark affects recovery rates).
02
China’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for household waste-related packaging has been implemented via policy measures that include producer responsibility for collection/recycling obligations (EPR policy mechanism).
Interpretation
Policy & Compliance Interpretation
Under the Policy & Compliance lens, packaging policy is moving toward enforceable collection outcomes, with the EU’s 2024 regulation aiming for 90% separate collection of bottles by 2030 and China backing household packaging waste through implemented extended producer responsibility measures.
09 · Category
Costs & Infrastructure1 stats
01
The Global Methane Initiative (GMI) and associated methane capture best practices report that capturing landfill methane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is widely implemented via landfill gas projects (abatement technology scale rationale).
Interpretation
Costs & Infrastructure Interpretation
The Global Methane Initiative’s finding that capturing landfill methane can reduce greenhouse gas emissions underscores how investing in methane capture infrastructure can deliver climate benefits while directly tying to the Costs & Infrastructure category.
report visual · Comparison
Waste handling today: incineration vs recycling
Incineration rates are substantial in key regions, while recycling rates vary widely—highlighting uneven waste management progress.
China’s municipal solid waste incineration rate reached 56% in 202056%
Japan achieved a municipal solid waste recycling rate of 20.3% in 2021
20.3%
The global incineration rate for municipal solid waste was 12% in 2016
12%
source-verifiediea.org · sciencedirect.com · stat.go.jp2021
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Diana Reeves. (2026, February 13). Waste Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/waste-statistics
MLA
Diana Reeves. "Waste Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/waste-statistics.
Chicago
Diana Reeves. 2026. "Waste Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/waste-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)