The cities that produce the most garbage in the world

(Baonghean.vn) - According to a recent study by the US National Academy of Sciences, New York is considered the most wasteful city in the world: it uses the most energy (on average, it consumes the amount of oil of 2 oil tankers every 3 days), throws away the most trash in the world (33 million tons per year), and uses the most water.

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is the second largest waste producer after New York: 12 million tons per year. In 2011, Mexico City closed its largest landfill, affecting the collection, treatment and processing of municipal waste. Some initiatives have been introduced, such as allowing residents to trade recyclables in exchange for vouchers for fresh fruits and vegetables.

The third-worst-producing city is Tokyo. With twice the population of Mexico City, it produces less trash, thanks to a recycling program that cuts waste.

Trash piles up in Naples, Italy. Photo EPA

Mumbai, India, is the fourth-worst city in the world, generating 11 million tonnes of waste every day. Plastic bags and bottles clog gutters, some are burned, causing air pollution, and the rest is piled up in vast open dumps.

In Delhi, waste increased by 50% between 2007 and 2012. The waste and smog problem could make it the dirtiest city in the world.

In Jakarta, one of the world’s most developed cities, many residents dump household waste in the nearest waterway. Every day, 100 tons of trash are collected from the beaches of islands five miles from the mainland.

In Cairo, Egypt, each person generates 625 kg of solid waste per year. Not to mention that feeding leftovers to pigs has been disrupted by an outbreak of avian influenza.

On a national level, the United States is the world's largest waste producer, generating an average of 2.58kg per person, significantly higher than other wealthy nations such as Japan, the UK, and France. According to a report by bottled water company Nalgene, the five most wasteful cities in the United States are Houston, Cleveland, Atlanta, Tampa, and Indianapolis.

In China, population growth has led to a doubling of waste. According to the Globe and Mail, China generates an average of 1.12 kilograms of trash per person per day, 10% more than Ontario, despite having a GDP per capita six times lower.

A city's waste problem depends on how it disposes of its waste. Without infrastructure to collect waste, it ends up in rivers, canals, and streets, resulting in unsanitary messes like those in Bangalore and Delhi.

Currently, many cities have been searching for and applying effective policies to help reduce waste and consumption./.

Thanh Hien

(According to Guardian)