Each year, the world generates more than two billion tonnes municipal solid waste. This amount would be enough to fill 822,000 Olympic sized swimming pools. When it comes to municipal solid waste recycling, the US is behind most developed countries. According to Verisk Maplecroft, the US is actually the only country with a higher waste production than its recycling ability. America produces three times as much waste per capita than the average global population. The US is only home to 4% of the global population. However, it generates 12% the majority of all municipal solid waste in the world. Comparatively, India and China account for 36% more of the global population. They also produce 27% most of the waste in the world. The US produces more trash than other countries with higher incomes, but it recycles less. The analysis shows that the US recycles 35% only 1% of its solid waste. Germany is the country that recycles 68%., which is the most efficient. Niall Smith (one of the authors) said that the US’s problems lie in the link between its ability to recycle and what it produces. Niall Smith, one of the report’s authors, said that “the US is doing poorly relative to its high-income peers” I think what we need to be working towards is almost a zero-material-footprint kind of society.”
