Waste mountain

In 2016, the world generated 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (from households and businesses), up from 1.8 billion tonnes just three years earlier. That number excludes industrial solid waste. The World Bank predicts the municipal waste mountain could grow by 70% by 2050. Currently, 37% of solid waste goes to landfill worldwide, 33% to open dumps and 11% to incinerators.