As
the world hurtles toward its urban future, the amount of municipal
solid waste (MSW), one of the most important by-products of an urban
lifestyle, is growing even faster than the rate of urbanization. Ten
years ago there were 2.9 billion urban residents who generated about
0.64 kg of MSW per person per day (0.68 billion tonnes per year).
This
report estimates that today these amounts have increased to about 3
billion residents generating 1.2 kg per person per day (1.3 billion
tonnes per year). By 2025 this will likely increase to 4.3 billion urban
residents generating about 1.42 kg/capita/day of municipal solid waste
(2.2 billion tonnes per year).
This report provides consolidated
data on MSW generation, collection, composition, and disposal by country
and by region. Despite its importance, reliable global MSW information
is not typically available. Data is often inconsistent, incomparable and
incomplete; however as suggested in this report there is now enough MSW
information to estimate global amounts and trends. The report also
makes projections on MSW generation and composition for 2025 in order
for decision makers to prepare plans and budgets for solid waste
management in the coming years. Detailed annexes provide available MSW
generation, collection, composition, and disposal data by city and by
country. |  |
