The current data for 2024 indicates that the United Kingdom remains the leader in treating municipal waste, with 31.81 million metric tons, although its year-on-year growth was modest at 0.57%. Australia and Belgium show vastly different trends, with Australia experiencing a minor decline of 0.43%, while Belgium has seen a significant increase of 14.57%, reaching 9.24 million metric tons. Noteworthy year-on-year changes are also evident in countries like Ireland (4.76%) and Azerbaijan (11.33%). Over the past five years, these trends highlight a general increase in municipal waste management, driven by heightened environmental regulations and improvements in waste management technologies.
Future trends to monitor in global municipal waste management include advancements in waste-to-energy technologies, stricter regulatory requirements across countries, and the increasing role of recycling and composting as a means to reduce landfill dependency. Additionally, emerging economies might contribute to a larger share of global waste treatment due to enhanced waste management infrastructures and policies.
Top countries in Municipal Waste Treated by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Thousand Metric Tons | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 United Kingdom | 31,810 | 2023 | +0.69% | +0.57% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Australia | 11,160 | 2023 | -0.6% | -0.43% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Belgium | 9,240 | 2023 | +1.39% | +14.57% | View data |
| 4 | 4 Chile | 9,180 | 2023 | +2.22% | +2.35% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Netherlands | 9,150 | 2023 | +0.36% | +0.72% | View data |
| 6 | 6 Switzerland | 6,230 | 2023 | +0.76% | +0.7% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Greece | 5,760 | 2023 | +0.7% | +0.83% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Romania | 5,310 | 2023 | -0.057% | +1.3% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Denmark | 4,840 | 2023 | +0.42% | +0.55% | View data |
| 10 | 10 Norway | 4,220 | 2023 | +5.61% | +1.45% | View data |
