Chile and Israel are the ‘two largest waste producers’ in the world

Chile and Israel are the ‘two largest waste producers’ in the world, according to the Global Waste Index 2025.

Released to conincide with World Environment Day, the Global Waste Index 2025 ranks the 38 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) based on their effectiveness in managing waste. Created by Sensoneo, the study was first conducted in 2019 and again in 2022.

The United Kingdom remained in the 18th position despite a reduction in waste generation from 463 kg to 436 kg per capita per year.

Incineration declined by approximately 74% in the UK according to the index, from 190 kg to 50 kg per year. However, the analysis found the UK is recycling 12 kg less material compared to the previous index.

Table: The world’s biggest waste polluters, showing per capita amounts of total waste generated, recycled, incinerated, and landfilled in a year.

The Global Waste Index 2025 evaluates waste management efficiency and ranks countries in descending order, starting with those performing the worst. The comparative analysis is based on the most recent data available in each country. The full methodology and the complete ranking of all 38 countries is available on the Sensoneo website.

As in the 2022 index, the country generating the most municipal solid waste is the United States, with its output increasing from 811 kilograms to 951 kilograms per capita.

Along with Canada, both North American nations rank at the bottom in terms of waste management.

The index found that the United States sends 447 kg of its 951 kg of waste per capita to landfills, while in Canada, 67% of the 684 kg of all generated waste ends up in landfills.

Switzerland is the only country that does not send any waste to landfill, according to the index. Other countries with minimal amounts sent to landfill are Belgium (1 kg), Finland and Estonia (2 kg) and Japan (3 kg).

Austria recycles the highest amount of municipal waste, at 334 kilograms per capita, which represents 42%, the analysis found.

The three countries with the largest decreases in the amount of waste generated compared to the previous edition of the ranking were New Zealand (173 kg), Finland (128 kg), and Iceland (107 kg).

However, in 12 out of 38 countries, more than 50% of generated waste still ends up in landfills — including in countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.