World Energy Resources | 2016

WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL | WASTE-TO-ENERGY
countries, and a significant increase in waste generation per capita and overall waste
production for countries in developing regions of the world (e.g. in the East Asian and
Pacific region). In addition, global waste generation rates are not expected to peak by the
end of this century. While OECD countries will reach ‘peak waste’ by 2050, and East Asia
and Pacific countries by 2075, waste will continue to grow in Sub-Saharan Africa. By 2100,
global waste generation may hit 11 million tonnes per day 45 .
TABLE 8: PROJECTED WASTE GENERATION DATA FOR 2025, BY REGION
Region
Total Urban
Population
(millions)
Total Urban MSW
Generation
(tonnes/day)
Urban MSW
generation per
capita (kg/day)
Africa 518 441 840 0.85
East Asia & Pacific 1 230 1 865 380 1.52
Eastern & Central
Asia
240 354 811 1.48
Latin America &
Caribbean
466 728 392 1.56
Middle East & North
Africa
257 369 320 1.43
OECD 842 1 742 417 2.07
South Asia 734 567 545 0.77
Total 4 287 6 069 705 1.42
Source: Hoornweg & Bhada-Tata (2012)
Waste composition varies greatly between different areas, regions and countries of the
world. It is influenced by many different factors such as culture, economic development,
climate, and energy resources. Based on previous considerations, Figure 9 illustrates the
45 Hoornweg, Bhada-Tata & Kennedy (2013)
31