Global waste in numbers
How much rubbish the world produces, how fast it is growing, how much is not managed safely and what it costs, from the United Nations and the World Bank.
🌍 World waste
Waste is a global problem. These pages explain the big picture in plain English, using figures from the United Nations and the World Bank, with the source for every number.
Looking for UK rules on getting rid of your rubbish? Start with the UK guides. The world pages are information only, and each says when it was reviewed and what the figures cover.
E-waste around the world
The world threw away a record 62 million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste in 2022, and less than a quarter was documented as properly recycled. UN figures explained.
Food waste around the world
The world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022, according to the UN Food Waste Index. Where it happens, and what it means.
The global plastics treaty: where talks have got to
Countries are negotiating a legally binding UN treaty on plastic pollution. A plain-English summary of what has happened so far and where to check the latest.
How other countries tackle waste
Three real examples from around the world: Singapore’s one landfill, South Korea’s pay-by-volume bags and Rwanda’s plastic bag ban, with official sources.