One Year of Global Waste Visualized
Waste generation is expected to jump to 3.4 billion tonnes over the next 30 years, compared to 2.2 billion in 2019.
This is due to a number of factors, such as population growth, urbanization, and economic growth.
In this graphic by Northstar Clean Technologies, we show waste generation worldwide and discuss its impact and how it can be reduced.
The Growing Pile of Global Waste
The United States is the world’s most wasteful country, with each American producing a whopping 809 kg (1780 lbs) of waste every year.
Approximately half of the country’s yearly waste will meet its fate in one of the more than 2,000 active landfills across the nation. The country also has the largest landfill in the world, Apex, located in Clark County, Nevada.
The United States is followed by other industrialized countries like Denmark, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland based on average annual per capita municipal waste generation.
| Country | Average Annual per Capita Municipal Waste Generation (kg) |
|---|---|
 United States | 809 |
 Denmark | 781 |
 New Zealand | 727 |
 Canada | 706 |
 Switzerland | 706 |
 Iceland | 656 |
 Israel | 644 |
 Germany | 633 |
 Ireland | 616 |
 Luxembourg | 607 |
 Austria | 570 |
 Australia | 560 |
 France | 514 |
 Netherlands | 513 |
 Finland | 510 |
 Greece | 504 |
 Italy | 489 |
Compared to those in developed nations, residents in developing countries are more severely (Read more...)