U.S. waste driving global garbage glut – study

PARIS, France – The United States is driving a worldwide waste boom that poses a severe risk to human health, the environment and the economy, according to anew study of global garbage trends published Wednesday, July 3.

Data on the combined solid, plastic, food and hazardous waste of 194 countries showed that the world now produces an average of 2.1 billion tons of trash each year – enough to fill more than 820,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Just 16% of this (323 million tons) is recycled, while 950 million tons is disposed of “unsustainably”, according to risk management firm Verisk Maplecroft.

Analysis showed that US citizens and businesses produce far more per capita than their fair share.

At an average of 773 kilograms per head, the country generates around 12% of global municipal solid waste – approximately 239 million tons annually.

This is over 3 times the global average and more than 7 times that of Ethiopia, the least wasteful nation.

In addition, the US’s insatiable consumption is not matched by its recycling capacity.

At 35%, the US was ranked one of the worst of the developed nations for recycling, and significantly behind countries such as Germany, which recycles 68% of its waste.

The report’s authors also warned that recent or impending bans on solid waste imports by a number of Asian importers, including China, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia could make it even harder for big waste-producers to manage the growing problem.

China’s decision to ban 24 varieties of solid waste imports last year, including many plastics, is predicted to create a 111-million-ton waste mountain by 2030, based on current trends.

Plastic waste pollution in particular has reached epidemic proportions with an estimated 100 million tons of plastic now found in the oceans, threatening marine life and the tourism industry.

Although a number of nations have pledged to reduce consumption of single-use plastics, a monitor said last month that global production is still climbing, led largely by Asia and a shale-gas production boom in America.

Niall Smith, senior environment analyst at Verisk, said it was up to businesses as well as governments to reduce their waste and invest in more recyclable options.

“Beyond the potential financial impacts, the reputational risks for business are high if they ignore intensifying interest in the issue from consumers and investors,” he said. – Rappler.com

Here are more stories about garbage glut:

• Indonesia to return 49 containers of waste to Europe, U.S.
• Canada takes garbage back from Philippines, ending long dispute
• Trash from the top of the world handed over for recycling in Nepal
• India’s trash mountain to rise higher than Taj Mahal
• The problem with plastics: stopping it ‘at the source’