Every year our world population grows by 74 million, and will soon reach 7 billion in 2011.
This demographic growth produces a significant increase in the volumes of waste, concentrates population in urban areas and heightens the urgent need for research on collection and treatment solutions appropriate to these future mega-cities.
With every inhabitant producing an average of more than 500 kilograms of waste per year, the developed countries are the world’s leading producers. However the link between economic growth and increased waste volumes is starting to weaken in the wealthiest countries; conversely, it is getting stronger in emerging countries. While those countries averaging between 200 and 300 kilograms, per inhabitant, per year, population growth has moved China to the head of the line, establishing it as the world’s largest waste producer, ahead of the United States.
In 2008, Veolia Environmental Services treated more than 67 million metric tons of waste around the world. The division is present in approximately 30 countries, concentrated in 6 zones and countries: France, the United Kingdom, Central Europe, North America, Australia and China.
Given the huge stakes of managing our waste, innovation is essential and it is certainly an ongoing priority at Veolia Environmental Services, as demonstrated by the technological advances built into its state-of-the-art materials recovery facilities, and its development of new waste management strategies, such as integrated management.
See our list of Veolia Environmental Services Australia recycling and disposal facilities,
* Article courtesy of Planète Veolia
* Figures courtesy of "The World Waste Survey- From Waste to Resource". Philippe Chalmin and Catherine Gaillochet. Publisher, Economica