Overview

Earth’s three billion urban residents generate 1.2 kilograms (kg) (2.6 pounds (lbs)) of municipal solid waste per person per day, 3.5 trillion kg (7.8 trillion lbs) in total, or the equivalent weight of more than 10 Empire State Buildings. It is estimated that, by 2025, the urban population may likely increase to 4.3 billion urban residents, each generating approximately 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs) per person per day.¹ Solid waste is generally considered an urban issue, and it is expected to become more problematic as the number of urban residents rises, particularly in developing countries. Thus, as global urbanization expands and economies strengthen, solid waste management may become increasingly important.

Table 1 illustrates the percentage of solid waste generated by each region of the world, with countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean projected to have the greatest per capita generation rates of solid waste by 2025.² Sites located in regions with high per capita solid waste production should consider all materials strategies as a top priority. Facilities that work with local, state, and/or national governments and partners to support or develop recycling programs can make a quantifiable positive environmental impact.

Table 1: Worldwide solid waste generation

Data Source: The World Bank