Explore the Research
Read the research. Question the numbers. Understand the problem yourself.
Evidence Standard
We prioritise United Nations agencies (UNEP, ITU, UNITAR), the OECD, the World Bank, the European Environment Agency, government environmental agencies and peer-reviewed research. We never publish an environmental statistic without a source, and we never attribute an industry-wide figure to a single company.
The Library
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Global WastePublished 2024
UNEP's flagship assessment of municipal solid waste generation, projections to 2050 and the full economic cost of waste when environmental, health and climate impacts are included.
Read original sourceUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Global WastePublished Ongoing
UNEP's general research and resource hub on waste: policy, prevention, treatment and the global picture across waste streams.
Read original sourceOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
PlasticPublished 2022
OECD's economic analysis of plastics: production, use, waste generation and the share of plastic waste that is ultimately recycled.
Read original sourceITU / UNITAR
E-WastePublished 2024
The official ITU and UNITAR measurement of electronic waste generated worldwide, collection and recycling rates, and projections to 2030.
Read original sourceUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Fashion & TextilesPublished 2024
UNEP statement on the scale of global textile waste and the environmental cost of the fashion and textiles sector.
Read original sourceWorld Bank
Global WastePublished 2018
The World Bank's global dataset on municipal solid waste generation by country and region, including per-capita generation and projections to 2050.
Read original sourcePress Information Bureau, Government of India
IndiaPublished 2024
Government of India information, based on the Central Pollution Control Board's 2021-22 annual report, giving the average solid waste generated in India per day.
Read original sourceCentral Pollution Control Board, Government of India
IndiaPublished 2023
CPCB's annual report on plastic waste management reported estimated plastic waste generation of about 3.90 million tonnes for 2021-22, compiled from information supplied by India's States and Union Territories.
Read original sourcePress Information Bureau, Government of India
IndiaPublished 2025
CPCB estimate of e-waste generation in India during FY 2024-25 under the applicable reporting framework.
Read original sourceThe Times of India
IndiaPublished 2026
Report attributing to Haridwar Municipal Corporation the collection of approximately 8,000 metric tonnes of waste from the Ganga ghats and mela areas during the 2026 Kanwar Yatra.
Read original sourceBusiness Standard
IndiaPublished 2026
Earlier report citing approximately 7,000 tonnes of waste as the cleanup began, showing how initial estimates differed from the later municipal figure.
Read original sourceSourced Statistics
2.1 Billion Tonnes
Municipal solid waste generated globally in 2023.
Global municipal solid waste generation was approximately 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 and is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
Source: UNEP 2024United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — Global Waste Management Outlook 2024(opens in a new tab)$640.3 Billion
Projected annual cost of waste by 2050 without urgent action.
Without urgent action, the global annual cost associated with waste management and its wider environmental, health and climate impacts could reach approximately $640.3 billion by 2050.
Source: UNEP 2024United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — Global Waste Management Outlook 2024(opens in a new tab)92 Million Tonnes
Textile waste generated globally every year.
Approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated globally every year.
Source: UNEP 2024United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — Unsustainable fashion and textiles in focus for International Day of Zero Waste(opens in a new tab)353 Million Tonnes
Plastic waste generated globally in 2019.
The OECD also reported that only about 9% of plastic waste was ultimately recycled in 2019.
Source: OECDOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) — Global Plastics Outlook(opens in a new tab)62 Million Tonnes
E-waste generated globally in 2022.
Electronic waste is rising faster than it is collected or recycled, and is projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.
Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024ITU / UNITAR — Global E-waste Monitor 2024(opens in a new tab)82 Million Tonnes
Projected global e-waste generation by 2030.
Approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated globally in 2022, projected to reach 82 million tonnes by 2030.
Source: Global E-waste Monitor 2024ITU / UNITAR — Global E-waste Monitor 2024(opens in a new tab)TRASH HERE exists to create awareness, not misinformation. We believe environmental action should begin with understanding.
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