Do you know how much waste the world produces every year? 

Every year, humanity generates between 2.1 and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste. If current trends continue, that number will soar to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Our planet is drowning in waste, fueled by unsustainable production and consumption. 

Do you know how much of that waste is properly managed? 

Only around 60 per cent of waste is managed in controlled facilities. Poorly managed waste – including electronic waste, textiles and end-of-life vehicles – can leach chemical pollutants into the soil, decreasing plant growth and productivity and contaminating water sources. Waste management is already the third-largest emitter of methane, a potent driver of short-term global warming. 

Did you know that billions of people lack waste collection services? 

An estimated 2.7 billion people still lack access to basic solid waste collection. In many countries, there is little to no infrastructure for proper waste management, leaving communities exposed to health risks and environmental degradation. 

Do you know why waste pollution happens? 

Waste pollution is driven by unsustainable production and consumption, rapid urbanization, and linear “take-make-dispose” models. For example, the equivalent of a city the size of Paris is built every week to meet the demands of rapid urbanization, which is one of the five main drivers of environmental change. Most construction and demolition debris is sent to landfills, polluting air, soil and water. 

Do you know what this means for our planet? 

The global waste crisis is worsening the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. But it’s also a huge opportunity: by embracing zero-waste and circular solutions, we can prevent pollution, protect ecosystems and generate billions in economic value. Strengthening global waste management could yield an annual net gain of US$108.5 billion by 2050.