Total waste generation in Poland
Poland: Total waste generation was 293,977 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Total waste generation in Poland, 2004–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2022, total waste generation in Poland stood at 293,977 tonnes.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.6% on the previous year and down 66.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in Poland peaked at 1.52 million tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 281,119 tonnes, in 2020.
That places Poland 29th out of 62 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total waste generation in Poland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 1.52 million tonnes | — |
| 2006 | 1.52 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1.35 million tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2010 | 603,472 tonnes | -55.3% |
| 2012 | 884,425 tonnes | +46.6% |
| 2014 | 492,106 tonnes | -44.4% |
| 2016 | 534,931 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 431,500 tonnes | -19.3% |
| 2020 | 281,119 tonnes | -34.9% |
| 2022 | 293,977 tonnes | +4.6% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 293,977 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Poland's 293,977 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.47 million tonnes | 1.35 million tonnes | 1.52 million tonnes | 3 |
| 2010s | 589,287 tonnes | 431,500 tonnes | 884,425 tonnes | 5 |
| 2020s | 287,548 tonnes | 281,119 tonnes | 293,977 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More environment data for Poland
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.777 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 2.06 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.73 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 0.1029 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual -4.67 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total waste generation in Poland?
- Total waste generation in Poland was 293,977 tonnes in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total waste generation recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.52 million tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 281,119 tonnes in 2020.
- How does Poland rank for total waste generation?
- Poland ranks 29th out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total waste generation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes).