Every year, almost two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are generated globally, which is enough to fill 822,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. MSW includes waste from businesses, buildings, homes and yards.

Of all the countries in the World Bank database, China "produces" the most municipal solid waste – 395 million tonnes per year – followed by the US with 265 million tonnes. However, the US has a much higher proportion of MSW per capita – approximately 812 kg, trailing only Monaco, Moldova, Mongolia, Liechtenstein and Denmark. This means that every person in the US "produces" nearly five pounds of MSW every day.
The amount of waste generated is expected to rise as the global population continues to grow and residents, for the most part, become wealthier. According to World Bank data, waste volumes are expected to increase by as much as 70% between 2016 and 2050.