Country & City Waste Landscapes
The Country & City Waste Landscapes database is a compilation of waste management and plastic pollution-related data for 100 cities / island states across 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The database was developed in recognition of the need for a one-stop platform for country-level and city-level plastic waste and waste management-related data. Existing data on plastic waste pollution is often fragmented, and there is a lack of standardization around the data points collected to understand the landscape. The Country & City Waste Landscapes database aims to address this data gap by simplifying the search for relevant information. The database facilitates an improved understanding of the plastic pollution situation in the selected countries and cities, the initiatives currently being undertaken to tackle the problem, and the key actors involved in these initiatives.
Data was collated through desktop research and reported as is, based on the information available as of October 2024. The data sources consulted include government websites or databases; reports from leading organizations working on plastic pollution and the circular economy; journal or academic articles; and news articles. Links to the original sources are provided where available.
The Country & City Waste Landscapes database provides country-level and city-level data and information on the following topics:
Overview - Socioeconomic, climate & environmental indicators
Municipal solid waste, plastic waste and waste worker statistics
Municipal solid waste composition
Waste management
Ecosystem and key actors
Investments
Policies
Programs and other initiatives
How You Can Use the Database
The database can be used by individuals, city planners, and organizations such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporates, and investors who are interested in understanding the plastic waste management landscape in the identified countries and cities.
For example, a company considering a plastic waste reduction campaign in Makassar in Indonesia can refer to the database to understand the current amounts of plastic waste generated, identify other programs or initiatives that have been conducted, and explore collaboration opportunities.
As we recognize that there may be newer or local-language data sources that may not have been considered, we invite you to share feedback through the feedback form available on the database page.
The Country & City Waste Landscapes database allows users to explore data on different levels:
Countries & Cities
Find country-level data and city-level data related to waste management and plastic pollution.
Across Cities
Compare data from multiple cities within a single country.
Across countries
Compare data from up to 10 cities across different countries.
Geographical Coverage
The tool covers 75 cities across 22 countries in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The 75 cities included in the database meet one or more of the following criteria: capital cities; mega cities where consumption and plastic waste generation are high; cities with data available from published sources; or cities identified as plastic leakage hotspots by different studies. The geographical boundaries of the cities / city states may vary with each data point.
- Africa – 14 countries, 20 cities
- Asia – 8 countries, 1 island state, 53 cities
- Latin America and the Caribbean – 17 countries, 9 island states, 17 cities
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions on the Country & City Waste Landscapes database.
Blog on Key Highlights
The blog provides an example of how data from the tool can be leveraged to draw relevant insights.
Explore the Tool
Use the tool to find country-level and city-level waste management and plastic pollution-related data.