Sources of Waste
- The World Bank estimates that by 2050 global waste will have increased from 2.01 to 3.4 billion tonnes per year
The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33 percent of that—extremely conservatively—not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Worldwide, waste generated per person per day averages 0.74 kilogram but ranges widely, from 0.11 to 4.54 kilograms. 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. World Bank 2018
- Main types of waste generated are:
- Food or green waste 44%
- Paper and cardboard 17%
- Plastics 12%
- Glass 5%
- Metals 4%
- Most waste is generated in the United States at a rate of 811kg of waste per person per annum, and around half of that ends up in landfill
- Colombia produces the least urban waste, at 243kg per person per annum
- Chile is the worst country and recycles only 2kg per person, 417kg of waste per person ends up in landfill
- The only country not to send waste to landfill is Switzerland and whilst the Swiss produce 706kg of waste per person, 210kg is recycled with 333kg incinerated and the remaining 163kg is compostable waste
- Turkey has the least environmentally friendly waste management and most is disposed of illegally each year
- In LDEs, over 90% of waste is openly dumped or burned
Sources of Urban Waste
Sector | Source | Examples of Waste |
Industry | Light and heavy manufacturing, power and chemical plants, fabrication etc. | Packaging, food, hazardous wastes, e-waste, ashes, specialist waste, housekeeping wastes etc. |
Domestic | Single and multifamily housing | Food, paper, cardboard, e-waste, textiles, plastic, garden waste, white goods, household hazardous products (paint, aerosols, cleaning products etc.) glass, metals etc. |
Commercial | Offices, restaurants, markets, shops, hotels etc. | Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food, glass, metal, special wastes, hazardous wastes, e-wastes etc. |
Construction | New building sites, road repairs, renovation sites, demolition sites etc. | Concrete, steel, , hazardous and specialised waste (asbestos, chemical etc.) wood, dirt, bricks, tiles |
Municipal/Urban services | Landscaping, parks, beaches, leisure areas, water and wastewater treatment plants, street cleaning etc. | General public waste, garden waste, tree trimmings, street cleaning etc. |
Institutional | Hospitals, government buildings, airports, schools, prisons | Non-medical waste, paper, cardboard, food etc. |
- Municipal solid waste (MSW) is classed as domestic waste and municipal refuse is categorised as either hazardous, biological or recyclable waste