Global municipal waste generation per capita 2022, by select country

Austria and the United States have some of the highest volumes of municipal solid waste generation per capita worldwide, with each citizen producing on average over 800 kilograms annually. In contrast, municipal solid waste generation in Japan stood around 320 kilograms per capita, according to the latest available data.

Global waste management landscape

Global municipal waste generation is projected to grow 75 percent between 2020 and 2050, nearing four billion metric tons per annum by the latter year. As such, the importance of efficient disposal methods becomes increasingly critical. In 2020, the largest share of global municipal waste was managed in an uncontrolled manner, often ending up in open dumps. Landfilling accounted for another 30 percent, while less than 20 percent was recycled that year.

Leading waste management companies

French-based Veolia is by far the largest company in the waste management industry in terms of revenue, with 50 billion U.S. dollars generated in 2023. Across the Atlantic, the U.S. is also home to some of the largest waste management companies in the world, including Waste Management Inc., and Republic Services. Despite the high waste generation rates in developed countries, the growth in waste production is forecast to accelerate faster in low-income regions, presenting new challenges and opportunities for waste management companies worldwide.