The United States produces 12% of the municipal waste in the world, although it represents 4% of the population. This data contrasts with China and India, which together account for 36% of the world’s population, produce 27% of municipal waste. These are data taken from the 2019 Waste Generation and Recycling Report prepared by Verisk Maplecroft.

The report notes that not only the US, but also other developed countries in Western Europe, Canada and Australia are disproportionately responsible for the global waste crisis, manifested in the amount of plastic present in the oceans. Among developed countries there are notable differences in the rate of recycling of the waste generated: while in Germany up to 68% of municipal waste is recycled, in the US the percentage is 35%.