The table compares household waste per person, the proportion recycled and the proportion sent to landfill in five countries.
Overall, Germany and South Korea combined high recycling with low landfill use, whereas Turkey did the reverse. The USA produced by far the most waste per person.
The USA generated 810 kg of waste per person, the highest figure, followed by Germany with 620 kg. Japan produced the least, at 350 kg. The American recycling rate was only 32%, and half of its waste, 50%, went to landfill.
Germany recycled 67% of its waste, the highest rate on the table, and sent just 1% to landfill. South Korea also performed well, with a 60% recycling rate and 15% going to landfill, from a waste total of 400 kg per person.
Turkey produced 420 kg of waste per person, but recycled only 13%, the lowest rate, while 70% was put in landfill, also the highest figure. Japan recycled just 20% of its waste but sent only 2% to landfill, meaning that most of its waste was dealt with in other ways.