World Produces 2.1 Billion Tons of Waste Annually: Report
Mian Nadeem
Published September 20, 2026 | 10:33 PM
The world produces 2.1 billion tons of waste annually, and this volume is projected to rise to 3.8 billion tons by 2050 if proactive measures are not taken, according to a global report.
(Based on United Nations Environment Programme guidelines and data related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11.6).
Waste management and disposal costs are expected to reach $640.3 billion by 2050, up from the current $250 billion, as waste volumes increase.
Pakistan generates approximately 48.5 million tons of waste annually, with a yearly growth rate of 2.4%. An average Pakistani produces between 0.283 and 0.612 kilograms of waste daily.
Among major cities:
- Karachi produces the highest amount, generating 12,000 to 15,000 tons of waste per day (excluding medical waste).
- Lahore produces around 6,000 to 7,500 tons of waste daily.