The production of garbage is a significant problem in this world, as evidenced by the 8 countries that produce the most garbage in the world. Garbage refers to any material or product which is not usable at all. Since this can be interpreted differently by different people, the United Nations has come up with a more comprehensive definition, which basically states that garbage or waste refers to any product which either has been disposed of or the intention is to dispose of it.
There is a significant difference regarding the measurement of waste. While some measure it according to size, others lay more emphasis on weight. This can result in very different measurements as different materials can have different weights at the same size.
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Furthermore, it is also an arduous task comparing the waste produced by various countries since different countries have different definitions of waste and different ways of reporting it. While there are often inconsistencies involved in the reporting process of waste production, it is also important in identifying methods to reduce the creation of waste and garbage. This is because waste can attract pests and insects, which can spread dangerous diseases while the burning of waste, especially toxic waste can release harmful chemicals as well which can be dangerous for the environment. On the other hand, if you are more interested in the production of some of the more pleasant things in life, you can visit the 8 countries that produce the most honey in the world.
In order to determine the 8 countries that produce the most garbage in the world, we consulted a report prepared by the World Bank regarding the production of garbage on a global scale. We initially used the total waste produced by each country as the criteria for determining our ranking. However, that would not present a true and fair view since this means that if a country has 10 times the population of another country yet produces 3 times the weight, it would rank higher on our list. Hence, we introduced another criterion, which is the waste produced per capita. This has allowed us to create a more accurate ranking. Using multiple criteria helps to cancel out the risks associated with any individual criteria, and hence makes the rankings more objective than subjective. Without further ado, here is our ranking, starting from number 8:
8. Algeria
Waste produced per capita in the country: 1.21 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 20
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 23,288
Ranking according to total waste generation: 8
Overall score: 16
7. Belgium
Waste produced per capita in the country: 1.33 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 16
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 13,690
Ranking according to total waste generation: 11
Overall score: 16.5
6. Argentina
Waste produced per capita in the country: 1.22 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 19
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 41,096
Ranking according to total waste generation: 4
Overall score: 18.5
4. Egypt
Waste produced per capita in the country: 1.37 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 14
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 40,822
Ranking according to total waste generation: 5
Overall score: 20.5
4. Denmark
Waste produced per capita in the country: 2.34 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 6
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 10,959
Ranking according to total waste generation: 13
Overall score: 20.5
3. Austria
Waste produced per capita in the country: 2.4 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 5
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 13,288
Ranking according to total waste generation: 12
Overall score: 21.5
2. Australia
Waste produced per capita in the country: 2.23 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 8
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 36,164
Ranking according to total waste generation: 6
Overall score: 23
1. Canada
Waste produced per capita in the country: 2.33 kg per capita
Ranking according to waste produced per capita: 7
Total waste generation by the country (tonnes per day): 49,616
Ranking according to total waste generation: 3
Overall score: 25
In what is a surprising result, it is Canada which tops the list of 8 countries that produce the most garbage in the world. Furthermore, it is also surprising that countries such as China and Brazil do not make the list, even though they are the top 2 producers of garbage overall in the world. This is due to the fact they have huge populations, and hence, the garbage produced per capita is significantly lower.
