This report analyses the global waste market, with particular reference to municipal solid waste (MSW). Key Note estimates that the amount of MSW generated worldwide in 2006 was 2.02 billion tonnes.
Press Release Body = Global Waste Management - Market Assesment
Executive Summary
This report analyses the global waste market, with particular reference to municipal solid waste (MSW). Key Note estimates that the amount of MSW generated worldwide in 2006 was 2.02 billion tonnes. There is a link between growth in wealth and increase in waste - the more affluent a society becomes, the more waste it generates. As the less wealthy nations develop, they too are creating more wealth, thus adding to the world's waste output. Waste is produced by all activities of industry and commerce, with important waste streams including construction/demolition, mining, quarrying, manufacturing and municipal waste. Much of the focus of this report is on MSW, because it is the most widespread waste stream and is produced by millions of people. MSW requires major financial and logistical resources to collect, recycle and arrange final disposal. Industrial waste generally has a greater tonnage than MSW, but its management is the responsibility of relatively small and specific sectors of society. Environmentally acceptable waste-management practices are essential if damaging consequences are to be avoided, such as those due to toxic/hazardous waste, greenhouse-gas emissions, water pollution, air pollution and noise/visual impact (of recycling/waste disposal facilities). Incinerators provide an effective means of reducing the bulk of municipal waste, but it is important that they do not emit harmful gases, compounds and particles. This report provides an account of published waste statistics for a wide range of countries. In the waste-management market, available data are often old, incomplete and lack harmony in terms of definition. Efforts are being made in more developed economies to produce up-to-date statistics, but for the majority of the world's population, waste data are very poorly reported. Key Note presents a broad global coverage of available information, to provide an overall view of municipal data by tonnage, generation per capita per annum and disposal route. For some industrialised countries, Key Note has included statistics on waste streams in addition to municipal data. An important part of this report is a discussion of legislation, government waste-management policy and market structure for the major countries in the EU, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and South America, as well as the US. The prime driver behind improved waste management is legislation, but this does not fulfill its aims unless it is supported by effective enforcement. Indeed, a lack of enforcement gives rise to unscrupulous operators that appear to comply with the law, but in practice deal with waste incorrectly or even dump it illegally.
2025
