垃圾产量

The table displays figures from six countries regarding waste produced between 1980 and 2000.

Overall, the majority of the selected countries had an increase in waste over the given period, except South Korea, which managed to cut its trash by nearly half.

The US was the biggest producer of waste among the six nations. In 1980, its waste production was 131 million tonnes. This grew by 50% over the next two decades, reaching 192 million tonnes in 2000. Japan produced the next highest amount, though much less than the US. After the first decade, Japan’s trash climbed to 32 million tonnes in 1990, an increase of 4 million tonnes. By 2000, however, this became 53 million tonnes, nearly double than 20 years prior. Waste production was similar for Poland and Portugal. After two decades, Poland’s garbage rose from 4 million tonnes to 6.6 million tonnes, while Portugal’s trash increased from 2 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes. Although Ireland (0.8 million tonnes) had the least amount of waste at the start, this grew eightfold to 5 million tonnes, equalling Portugal.

South Korea was the only country that reduced its garbage. From 31 million tonnes in 1990, this dropped to 19 million tonnes a decade later.