Canada. Canada's estimated total waste generation is the largest in the entire world. It has an estimated annual waste total is 1,325,480,289 metric tons. Given Canada's population of 36.7 million, that's an estimated annual waste per capita of 36.1 metric tons.
No other country is drowning in waste as much as the US
Most waste is generated in the United States. Each US citizen currently produces 811kg of waste, and around half of that ends up in landfill. Meanwhile just 95kg of that are incinerated. US citizens produce two kilograms more waste today than they did in 2019.
As you'd expect of a country with a population of 1.4 billion, China produces the most municipal solid waste (over 15%). However, considering in terms of population, the US generates the most waste per person. The United States makes up around 5% of the world's population but produces 12% of the solid waste.
Food waste produced annually in selected countries worldwide 2020. China and India produce more household food waste than any other country worldwide at an estimated 92 million and 69 million metric tons every year, respectively.
Food is the most common form of waste, accounting for almost 50 percent of global MSW. Millions of tons of food is wasted every year, especially fruit and vegetables. Much like other waste forms, the United States is a major producer of food waste, generating almost 100 million metric tons of food waste every year.
Most used materials – waste generation vs recycling
In 2020-21, the three largest sources of waste were building and demolition (25.2 mega tonnes), organics (14.4 mega tonnes), and ash from C&I electricity generation (12 mega tonnes).
South Korea created its Waste Management Law in 1986, a practical step to achieving a no-waste country. The law focused on reducing the millions of tonnes of waste dumped at landfills. To reduce the high quantities of plastic in the garbage, the government banned the use of disposable plastic bags and containers.
The majority of food waste in Australia comes from our homes. Australian households waste 2.5 million tonnes of food each year, or more than four kilograms per household per week. Organic material makes up about half of what Queenslanders throw away in their wheelie bin each week.
With each person binning nearly 300 kilograms of food a year, Australia still sits in fourth position on the global food wastage rank.
70% of the 7.6 million tonnes of food wasted in Australia every year is edible. Australian households throw away around one in five bags of groceries, equal to around 312kg per person.
In 2020-21, Australia generated 75.8 mega tonnes (Mt) of total waste, including 14 Mt from households and local government, 32.8 Mt from the commercial and industrial sector and 29 Mt from construction and demolition. 75.8 Mt of waste is roughly the equivalent weight of 471 Sydney Opera Houses.
Singapore is known for having among the world's most spotless public spaces and strictest anti-littering laws.
France. As well as taking pride in its reputation as a gourmet nation, France can also be proud of its record in curbing food waste. The country has repeatedly earned the top spot in the Food Sustainability Index.
The construction industry is the industry that generates the most waste. Metal, paper, plastics, rubber, wood, glass, and more all get used in construction. All of the “odds and ends” left after a construction project end up getting tossed out and into the trash.
Where is Australia ranked in food safety? According to the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2022, Australia ranks 22nd in terms of food quality and safety.
It generates heat due to the high radioactivity and requires cooling as well as shielding. (Australia does not have any high-level waste.
Australia has a plastics problem. Australia now produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100 kg per person. Of this, only 13% of plastic is recovered and 84% is sent to landfill. More concerningly, around 130,000 tonnes of the plastic we consume leaks into the marine environment each year.
Australia also has a reputation internationally as a modern, safe, reliable and sustainable producer of food. The overwhelming majority of food sold in Australia is grown and supplied by Australian farmers.
Whether it's the pizza you ordered in, a pan full of stir-fry, or last night's pasta, leftovers are unfortunately one of the most commonly wasted food items. Discover our tips to using leftover spaghetti bolognese, leftover barbecue meats, even leftover cake!
But there's a long way to go. Japan, known for its hygiene-oriented culture of packaging, is the second highest packaging waste producer in the world, with its citizens using as many as 450 plastic shopping bags each year. Globally, plastic waste generation more than doubled between 2000 and 2019 to 353 million tons.
The EPA says that Sydney is running out of landfill space. No space for non-putrescible waste by 2028 (that's in six years). And no space for putrescible waste by 2036.
The largest rubbish tip in Australia is situated in Eastern Creek, Sydney. The rubbish tip represents the biggest integrated recycling/landfill facility, not only in Australia but in the Southern Hemisphere too.