Municipal waste generated in United States of America

United States of America: Municipal waste generated was 265.22 million in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
265.22 million
Change on year
up 8.8%
Rank
1st
of 2 groups
All-time high
265.22 million
in 2018
All-time low
218.45 million
in 2001
Years of data
19
2000–2018

Municipal waste generated in United States of America, 2000–2018

0100.0M200.0M300.0M2000200920182000: 220.9M2001: 218.4M2002: 222.6M2003: 223.5M2004: 230.5M2005: 230.2M2006: 233.2M2007: 232.7M2008: 229.2M2009: 222.2M2010: 227.7M2011: 228.6M2012: 228.9M2013: 231.4M2014: 234.4M2015: 237.8M2016: 243.2M2017: 243.7M2018: 265.2M

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.

Analysis

United States of America recorded 265.22 million for municipal waste generated in 2018. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.

That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and up 15.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, municipal waste generated in United States of America peaked at 265.22 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 218.45 million, in 2001.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

Municipal waste generated in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Municipal waste generated (Tonnes) in United States of America, 2000 to 2018.
Year Value Change
2000 220.85 million
2001 218.45 million -1.1%
2002 222.56 million +1.9%
2003 223.55 million +0.4%
2004 230.53 million +3.1%
2005 230.18 million -0.2%
2006 233.24 million +1.3%
2007 232.69 million -0.2%
2008 229.20 million -1.5%
2009 222.19 million -3.1%
2010 227.75 million +2.5%
2011 228.58 million +0.4%
2012 228.87 million +0.1%
2013 231.40 million +1.1%
2014 234.42 million +1.3%
2015 237.78 million +1.4%
2016 243.22 million +2.3%
2017 243.72 million +0.2%
2018 265.22 million +8.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 226.34 million 218.45 million 233.24 million 10
2010s 237.89 million 227.75 million 265.22 million 9

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 1 India 62.17 million
  2. 1 Türkiye 32.46 million compare
  3. 2 Germany 51.02 million compare
  4. 3 Mexico 42.10 million compare
  5. 4 Japan 40.95 million compare

See the full ranking of 77 places →

More environment data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is municipal waste generated in United States of America?
Municipal waste generated in United States of America was 265.22 million in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
What is the highest municipal waste generated recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 265.22 million in 2018.
What is the lowest municipal waste generated recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 218.45 million in 2001.
How does United States of America rank for municipal waste generated?
United States of America ranks 1st out of 2 groups with data for 2018.
Is municipal waste generated rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States of America data come from?
The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Municipal waste generated (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Municipal waste generated in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://environment.statizoid.com/stat/municipal-waste-generated-tonnes/united-states-of-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Municipal waste generated (Tonnes)
Source
United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database
Licence
UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested)
Coverage
77 places, 1,389 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed