How Much Municipal Waste We Generate

Australians are generating 20% less municipal waste per capita during 2018-2019 than in 2006-2007.

However, Australians still generate 500kg municipal waste per capita, less than the average person living in the OECD area, who would have generated 539kg on average in 2018.

NameMunicipal Waste (kg per capita)Data Year
Australia500**2018/19
Austria582.9Estimated value
Belgium414.22019
Chile436.62018
Colombia243.32018
Costa Rica266.32019
Czech Republic499.32019
Denmark850.22019
Estonia369.52019
Finland564.52019
France546Estimated value
Germany606Estimated value
Greece535.92019
Hungary390.32019
Iceland673.82017
Ireland604.42018
Israel679.72019
Italy496.82019
Japan335.82018
Latvia440.82019
Lithuania477.82019
Luxembourg796.9Estimated value
Netherlands515.12019
New Zealand781.12018
Norway771.72019
Poland336.62019
Portugal516.52019
Slovakia421.32019
Slovenia506.22019
South Korea399.72018
Spain480.1Estimated value
Sweden459.42019
Switzerland707.62019
Turkey419.7Estimated value
United Kingdom454.72019
United States of America810.82018
Canada
Mexico
OECD MSW
National Waste Report 2020