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Re-assessing global municipal solid waste generation.
Amani Maalouf1,2, Antonis Mavropoulos1,2
1Research Department, D-Waste, Athens, Greece.
Summary
Global waste generation reached 20 billion tonnes in 2017 and is projected to hit 46 billion tonnes by 2050. Inconsistent data reporting challenges accurate global waste management assessments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management Science
- Circular Economy Studies
Background:
- Global waste data is inconsistent due to varying terminology, categories, and methodologies.
- Previous global waste estimates lack comprehensive and standardized approaches.
- Understanding waste generation trends is crucial for environmental sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a reliable global estimate of total waste generation.
- To analyze trends and project future waste arisings.
- To inform policy for sustainable development goals and circular economy implementation.
Main Methods:
- Employed regression analysis for cross-comparable waste data.
- Utilized material flow analysis to assess waste generation.
- Analyzed global waste data from 2004-2019 and projected to 2050.
Main Results:
- Estimated global waste arisings at approximately 20 billion tonnes in 2017 (2.63 tonnes per capita).
- Projected total global waste to reach 46 billion tonnes by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario.
- Municipal solid waste (MSW) was 2.7 billion tonnes in 2019, with a projected increase to 2.89-4.54 billion tonnes by 2050.
Conclusions:
- Significant portion of MSW (one-third) is uncollected, and much collected waste lacks proper treatment.
- Nearly 42% of MSW is disposed of through open dumping or uncontrolled burning.
- Findings highlight the urgent need for improved waste management and circular economy strategies.
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