Global municipal waste generation 2022, by select country

The United States is by far the largest producer of municipal waste in the world, generating over 200 million metric tons, as of the latest data available. In contrast, municipal waste generation in the UK stood at around 29 million tons in 2022. 

Types of municipal waste

Municipal waste consists of various everyday items, such as uneaten food, household appliances, clothing, and plastic packaging. The fastest growing waste stream is electronic waste, especially in developing nations. The volume of e-waste generated worldwide reached 62 million metric tons in 2022, and is expected to continue growing. 

What happens to municipal solid waste?

Once collected by the appointed company, waste is then transported to sites to be either landfilled, recycled, composted, or recovered. Although recycling rates have been improving, landfilling is still the most common form of waste disposal and treatment worldwide. As waste generation continues to grow around the globe, many landfill sites have grown to astronomical sizes. One of the largest landfills in the world is Sudokwon, in South Korea, which dumps around 20,000 tons of waste a day.