Publication: More Growth, Less Garbage
Date
2021-07-15
ISSN
Published
2021-07-15
Author(s)
Kaza, Silpa
Shrikanth, Siddarth
Chaudhary, Sarur
Abstract
More growth, less garbage presents an
updated picture of how waste generation can grow if the
world continues along the current trajectory and how to
consider changing that path toward lower waste levels. Waste
generation is estimated to grow from 2.24 billion tons in
2020 to 3.88 billion tons in 2050. Historically there has
been a correlation between waste generation and income per
capita. This publication explores the possibility of
decoupling waste generation, and thus consumption, from
economic growth. Five case studies of waste reduction, in
terms of residual waste and or total waste, are highlighted
from cities and countries across the world. In each
location, decisions to reduce or divert waste were driven by
a different factor, such as lack of land, the need to be
more resilient, or the need to reduce costs of the overall
waste system. If waste reduction policies were adopted in
more places around the world, one can envisage a world in
2050 with more growth and less garbage than today.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Kaza, Silpa; Shrikanth, Siddarth; Chaudhary, Sarur. 2021. More Growth, Less Garbage. Urban Development Series. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35998 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”