What a Waste 3.0: Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management Toward Circularity until 2050
The World Bank Group's What a Waste 3.0 report offers the most up-to date data and statistical analytics on global solid waste management.
World Bank Group
The world is at a critical juncture in managing its mounting volumes
of waste. Rapid population growth, accelerating urbanization, rising
incomes, and increased consumption are driving a surge in municipal
solid waste generation that is outpacing the capacity of local systems
and municipal budgets. Cities and communities worldwide are struggling
to keep up.
Within this crisis lies an opportunity. By investing in more
efficient, inclusive, and sustainable waste management systems,
countries can unlock new avenues for economic growth, job creation, and
innovation. Improved waste management systems can transform waste from a
burden into a driver of sustainable development, unlocking jobs and
benefiting both local communities and the global environment.
To fully grasp the scale and urgency of today’s challenges, as well as the opportunities they present, the World Bank Group's What a Waste 3.0 report
offers the most up-to date data and statistical analytics on global
solid waste management. Drawing on the most recent publicly accessible
data from 217 countries and economies and 262 cities, it provides a
framework for understanding how different policy choices and levels of
ambition could shape the future of global waste.[1]
Abstract
What a Waste 3.0 is the third edition of the World Bank Group’s What a Waste series, following the 2012 and 2018 publications. It updates and expands these earlier publications and provides a global reference dataset on municipal solid waste in the context of a transition toward circularity, drawing on the most recent publicly accessible data from 217 countries and economies and 262 cities. This edition consolidates data on waste generation, composition, collection, treatment, and disposal, and presents trends by region and income group. It also includes information on legislation, institutional arrangements, plastics management, private sector participation, employment, environmental impacts, and the costs and financing of municipal waste services.[2]
Report published 20 March 2026
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