Countries by Plastic Waste Generation 2024

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by total plastic waste generated annually in 2024, measured in millions of metric tons according to OECD Global Plastics Outlook data. The United States generates the most plastic waste of any country in absolute terms — approximately 42 million metric tons per year — while simultaneously having some of the lowest recycling rates among wealthy nations, with the majority of American plastic waste ending up in landfill or incineration rather than being recycled.

✨ AI Insight

The disparity in plastic waste generation is stark, with the United States producing nearly double the amount of plastic waste compared to China, which ranks second at 21.6 million metric tons. This gap highlights not only the sheer scale of waste produced by the U.S. but also raises concerns about its low recycling rates, suggesting a systemic issue in waste management practices. Countries like Germany and Japan, generating 6.6 and 4.9 million metric tons respectively, demonstrate more efficient waste management systems. As global awareness of plastic pollution rises, these figures may prompt discussions on policy changes and innovations in recycling technologies to mitigate the environmental impact.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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United States leads with 42 in 2024.

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Average value in 2024: 13 · median: 7.

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Gap in 2024: United States is 11.1× larger than United Kingdom.