Waste Management Statistics 2024 – Everything You Need to Know

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Are you looking to add Waste Management to your arsenal of tools? Maybe for your business or personal use only, whatever it is – it’s always a good idea to know more about the most important Waste Management statistics of 2024.

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Best Waste Management Statistics

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Waste Management Latest Statistics

  • Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate. [0]
  • In addition, nearly 35 million tons of MSW were combusted with energy recovery and more than 146 million tons of MSW were landfilled. [0]
  • Paper and paperboard products made up the largest percentage of all the materials in MSW, at 23.1 percent of total generation. [0]
  • Paper and paperboard products have ranged between 28.4 and 23.1 percent of generation since 2010. [0]
  • Food waste comprised the fourth largest material category, estimated at 63.1 million tons or 21.6 percent of total generation in 2018. [0]
  • Yard trimmings comprised the next largest material category, estimated at 35.4 million tons, or 12.1 percent of total generation, in 2018. [0]
  • This compares to 35 million tons in 1990. [0]
  • In 2018, plastic products generation was 35.7 million tons, or 12.2 percent of generation. [0]
  • Plastics generation has grown from 8.2 percent of generation in 1990 to 12.2 percent in 2018. [0]
  • Plastics generation as a percent of total generation has varied from 12.2 to 13.2 percent over the past eight years. [0]
  • In 2018, 2.7 million tons of selected consumer electronics were generated, representing less than 1 percent of MSW generation. [0]
  • The total MSW recycled was more than 69 million tons, with paper and paperboard accounting for approximately 67 percent of that amount. [0]
  • Metals comprised about 13 percent, while glass, plastic and wood made up between 4 and 5 percent. [0]
  • Collectively, these products accounted for 90 percent of total MSW recycling in 2018. [0]
  • This included approximately 22.3 million tons of yard trimmings and 2.6 million tons of food waste. [0]
  • Other methods of food management were estimated for the first time in 2018. [0]
  • In 2018, 17.7 million tons of food was managed through animal feed, codigestion/anaerobic digestion, bio based materials/biochemical processing, donation, land application and sewer/wastewater treatment. [0]
  • Food made up the largest component of MSW combusted at approximately 22 percent. [0]
  • Rubber, leather and textiles accounted for over 16 percent of MSW combustion. [0]
  • Plastics comprised about 16 percent, and paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent. [0]
  • The other materials accounted for less than 10 percent each. [0]
  • Food was the largest component at about 24 percent. [0]
  • Plastics accounted for over 18 percent, paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent, and rubber, leather and textiles comprised over 11 percent. [0]
  • Other materials accounted for less than 10 percent each. [0]
  • Generation decreased 1 percent between 2005 and 2010, followed by a rise in generation of 7 percent from 2010 to 2017. [0]
  • The generation rate was 4.9 pounds per person per day in 2018, an 8 percent increase from 2017. [0]
  • Over time, recycling and composting rates have increased from just over 6 percent of MSW generated in 1960 to about 10 percent in 1980, to 16 percent in 1990, to about 29 percent in 2000, and to about 35 percent in 2017. [0]
  • It decreased to 32.1 percent in 2018. [0]
  • The amount of MSW combusted with energy recovery increased from zero in 1960 to 14 percent in 1990. [0]
  • In 2018, it was about 12 percent. [0]
  • Landfilling of waste has decreased from 94 percent of the amount generated in 1960 to 50 percent of the amount generated in 2018. [0]
  • In percentage of total MSW generation, recycling did not exceed 15 percent until 1990. [0]
  • The 2018 recycling rate was 32.1 percent. [0]
  • The recycling and composting rates of the below materials in MSW has mostly increased over the last 58 years. [0]
  • The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33 percent of that—extremely. [1]
  • Though they only account for 16 percent of the world’s population, high income countries generate about 34 percent, or 683 million tonnes, of the world’s waste. [1]
  • Daily per capita waste generation in highincome countries is projected to increase by 19 percent by 2050, compared to lowand middle income countries where it is expected to increase by approximately 40% or more. [1]
  • The East Asia and Pacific region is generating most of the world’s waste, at 23 percent, and the Middle East and North Africa region is producing the least in absolute terms, at 6 percent. [1]
  • Low income countries collect about 48 percent of waste in cities, but this proportion drops drastically to 26 percent outside of urban areas. [1]
  • Across regions, Sub Saharan Africa collects about 44 percent of waste while Europe and Central Asia and North America collect at least 90 percent of waste. [1]
  • High income countries generate relatively less food and green waste, at 32 percent of total waste, and generate more dry waste that could be recycled, including plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, and glass, which account for 51 percent of waste. [1]
  • Middleand low income countries generate 53 percent and 57 percent food and green waste, respectively, with the fraction of organic waste increasing as economic development levels decrease. [1]
  • In low income countries, materials that could be recycled account for only 20 percent of the waste stream. [1]
  • All regions generate about 50 percent or more organic waste, on average, except for Europe and Central Asia and North America, which generate higher portions of dry waste. [1]
  • Some 37 percent of waste is disposed of in some form of a landfill, 8 percent of which is disposed of in sanitary landfills with landfill gas collection systems. [1]
  • Open dumping accounts for about 31 percent of waste, 19 percent is recovered through recycling and composting, and 11 percent is incinerated for final disposal. [1]
  • Lowerincome countries generally rely on open dumping; 93 percent of waste is dumped in lowincome countries and only 2 percent in high. [1]
  • Uppermiddle income countries have the highest percentage of waste in landfills, at 54 percent. [1]
  • This rate decreases in high income countries to 39 percent, with diversion of 36 percent of waste to recycling and composting and 22 percent to incineration. [1]
  • Food waste accounts for nearly 50% of emissions. [1]
  • In most countries, solid waste management operations are typically a local responsibility, and nearly 70 percent of countries have established institutions with responsibility for policy development and regulatory oversight in the waste sector. [1]
  • Direct central government involvement in waste service provision, other than regulatory oversight or fiscal transfers, is uncommon, with about 70 percent of waste services being overseen directly by local public entities. [1]
  • Typically, local governments cover about 50 percent of investment costs for waste systems, and the remainder comes mainly from national government subsidies and the private sector. [1]
  • worldwide municipal solid waste generationis expected to have increased by roughly 70 percent to 3.4 billion metric tons. [2]
  • However, less than 20 percent of waste is recycled each year, with huge quantities still sent to landfill sites. [2]
  • As the world’s most populous nation, China is responsible for the largest share of global municipal solid waste– at more than 15 percent. [2]
  • The U.S. accounts for less than five percent of the global population, but produces roughly 12 percent of global MSW and is the biggest generator of MSW per capita. [2]
  • Waste generation in urban areasis generally twice as much as in rural areas, and the urban population of Denmark is almost 90 percent. [2]
  • metal manufacturing mean the annual waste per capita in Canada is estimated to amount to 36.1 metric tons per inhabitant. [2]
  • Global electronic waste generationtotaled more than 50 million metric tons in 2019 and is expected to increase by an estimated 20 million metric tons in the coming decade. [2]
  • Food is the most common form of waste, accounting for almost 50 percent of global MSW. [2]
  • In the EU, construction contributed 35.9 % of the total in 2018 and was followed by mining and quarrying (26.6 %), manufacturing (10.6 %), waste and water services (9.8 %) and households (8.2 %). [3]
  • the remaining 9.1 % was waste generated from other economic activities, mainly services (4.2 %) and energy (3.4 %). [3]
  • Almost three quarter (74 % or 5.2 tonnes per inhabitant). [3]
  • In the EU, 812 million tonnes of waste excluding major mineral waste were generated in 2018, equivalent to 35 % of the total waste generated. [3]
  • Among the waste generated in the EU in 2018, 101.7 million tonnes (4.4 % of the total). [3]
  • Compared with 2010, 11.9 % more hazardous waste was generated in 2018 in the EU which is an increase in quantity terms from 90.8 to 101.7 million tonnes. [3]
  • In 2018, the share of hazardous waste in total waste generation was below 10.0 % in all of the EU Member States except for Estonia and Bulgaria, where it made up, respectively, a 46.9 % and a 10.4 % share of the total. [3]
  • The quantity of waste subject to disposal decreased from 1 027 million tonnes in 2004 to 984 million tonnes in 2018, which was a decrease of 4.2 %. [3]
  • The share of disposal in total waste treatment decreased from 54.1 % in 2004 to 45.4 % in 2018. [3]
  • As stated above, in the EU in 2018, more than a half (54.6 %) of the waste was treated in recovery operations recycling (37.9 % of the total treated waste), backfilling (10.7 %) or energy recovery (6.0 %). [3]
  • The remaining 45.4 % was either landfilled (38.4 %), incinerated without energy recovery (0.7 %) or disposed of otherwise (6.3 %). [3]
  • In total, 82.3 million tonnes of hazardous waste were treated in the EU in 2018, with more than two thirds of this treated in just four EU Member States, Germany (22.4 million tonnes or 27.3 % of EU total), Bulgaria . [3]
  • tonnes or 16.5 %), Estonia . [3]
  • tonnes or 13.0 %) and France . [3]
  • tonnes or 11.6 %), see Figure 7. [3]
  • In 2018, 45.1 % of the hazardous waste treated in the EU was recovered 37.5 % by recycling or backfilling and 7.6 % by energy recovery , see Figure 8. [3]
  • Of the total amount of waste generated by healthcare activities, about 85% is general, non hazardous waste comparable to domestic waste. [4]
  • The remaining 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, chemical or radioactive. [4]
  • Worldwide, an estimated 16 billion injections are administered every year. [4]
  • A person who experiences one needle stick injury from a needle used on an infected source patient has risks of 30%, 1.8%, and 0.3% respectively of becoming infected with HBV, HCV and HIV. [4]
  • In 015, a joint WHO/UNICEF assessment found that just over half (58%). [4]
  • Additional information, including the hourly and annual 10th, 25th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages, is available in the downloadable XLS files NAICS. [5]
  • The US accounts for 12% of all municipal solid waste generated globally. [6]
  • Some estimates put the average percentage of deadhead miles to total miles driven as high as 35%. [6]
  • The reality is, however, that driver turnover happens to be a very costly issue for trucking companies in the waste hauling industry, with a 100% turnover rate not uncommon. [6]
  • And the numbers speak for themselves they increased their fleet size from 100 to 530 between 2019 and 2021 an increase of 430%. [6]
  • They also increased their daily loads from 180 loads per day in 2019 to 1200 loads per day in 2021 an incredible 567% increase!. [6]
  • The pick up in economic activity, and resumption of business and social activities in 2021 have led to a 10 per cent increase in waste disposal, while 26 per cent more waste was recycled. [7]
  • Compared to the period before COVID 19 pandemic in 2019, 2021 saw 5 per cent less waste generated and 5 per cent more waste disposed, with the amount of waste recycled being lower by 11 per cent. [7]
  • The overall recycling rate improved from 52 per cent in 2020 to 55 per cent in 2021. [7]
  • The recycling rate of the non domestic sector increased from 68 per cent in 2020 to 70 per cent in 2021, while that of the domestic sector remained unchanged at 13 per cent in 2021. [7]
  • Plastic, Horticultural, Wood, and Paper & Cardboard waste recycling rates The recycling rate of Plastic waste increased from 4 per cent in 2020 to 6 per cent in 2021. [7]
  • There was a 60 per cent increase in the amount of Plastic waste recycled with more processed locally and exported. [7]
  • The recycling rate of Horticultural and Wood waste increased from 80 per cent and 64 per cent in 2020 to 83 per cent and 76 per cent respectively in 2021. [7]
  • The recycling rate of Paper/Cardboard edged up marginally from 38 per cent in 2020 to 39 per cent in 2021. [7]
  • It remains below 2019’s 44 per cent as less Paper/Cardboard recyclables are exported than in 2019 while there is an increase in Paper/Cardboard waste disposed of. [7]
  • This was matched by a corresponding increase in the amount of recyclables collected under the National Recycling Programme by 14 per cent, contributing to 40 per cent of the increase in the amount of waste recycled by the domestic sector. [7]
  • Overall, the domestic recycling rate remained unchanged at 13 per cent in 2021. [7]
  • Recycling Rate Total Disposed Ferrous metal1,3121,30699% 6 Paper. [7]
  • 2 Plastics982586% 924 Food 817154 19% 663 Horticultural 33227783% 55 Wood 31023476% 76 Ash & sludge 249229%227. [7]
  • tyres272695% 1 Others 233 188% 214. [7]

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Reference

  1. epa – https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials.
  2. worldbank – https://datatopics.worldbank.org/what-a-waste/trends_in_solid_waste_management.html.
  3. statista – https://www.statista.com/topics/4983/waste-generation-worldwide/.
  4. europa – https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Waste_statistics.
  5. who – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/health-care-waste.
  6. bls – https://www.bls.gov/oes/2020/may/naics4_562100.htm.
  7. qv21 – https://www.qv21.com/blog/municipal-waste-management-statistics.
  8. nea – https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling.

How Useful is Waste Management

One of the primary reasons why waste management is so crucial is its impact on the environment. Improper disposal of waste can lead to pollution of land, air, and water, which in turn can have detrimental effects on ecosystems and wildlife. Plastic pollution, for example, has become a global crisis, with vast amounts of plastic waste accumulating in our oceans and endangering marine life. By implementing proper waste management practices, such as recycling and composting, we can reduce our carbon footprint and help protect the planet for future generations.

Furthermore, waste management is also vital for promoting human health and well-being. Improper disposal of waste can lead to the spread of diseases and toxins that can harm individuals and communities. In developing countries, where waste management infrastructures are often inadequate, this issue can be particularly acute. By establishing efficient waste management systems, we can mitigate health risks and improve the quality of life for all.

In addition to environmental and health benefits, waste management also has economic advantages. Recycling, for example, not only reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills but also conserves valuable resources such as metals, paper, and glass. This, in turn, can lead to cost savings for businesses and create new opportunities for economic growth. By viewing waste as a valuable resource rather than a burden, we can transform the way we think about consumption and production.

Another important aspect of waste management is its role in promoting sustainability and circular economy principles. The concept of a circular economy emphasizes the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling resources to create a closed-loop system that minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency. By adopting this approach, we can create a more sustainable future where resources are used responsibly and wasteful practices are minimized. Waste management is the cornerstone of a circular economy, providing the infrastructure and know-how necessary to facilitate this transition.

Overall, waste management is an invaluable tool in addressing a wide range of environmental, societal, and economic challenges. By improving waste management practices at the individual, community, and governmental levels, we can take significant steps towards creating a more sustainable and resilient society. It is imperative that we recognize the importance of waste management and work together to implement innovative solutions that will benefit both present and future generations.

In Conclusion

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