Let's stop Trashing the Earth
Live statistics, articles, and resources on waste, pollution, and the damage we are doing to the planet — one discarded item at a time.
4,410,317 metric tons
Ocean plastic pollution
Estimated plastic entering the world's oceans so far this year.
How this is calculated →Help us clean the planet
Donate to fund cleanups, restoration, and waste reduction where the damage is worst.
14,754,516,716 metric tons CO₂
Global CO₂ emissions
Fossil fuel CO₂ released into the atmosphere so far this year.
How this is calculated →521,219,341 metric tons
Food waste
Food lost or wasted worldwide so far this year.
How this is calculated →24,858,153 metric tons
Electronic waste
Discarded phones, computers, and electronics generated so far this year.
How this is calculated →36,886,292 metric tons
Fast fashion waste
Textile waste dumped globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →316,315,989,650 bottles
Plastic bottles
Plastic bottles purchased globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →21,966 species
Species extinction
Species lost globally so far this year due to human activity.
How this is calculated →6,014,069,314 trees
Trees cut down
Trees felled globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →641,500,727 metric tons
Landfill waste generated
Municipal solid waste sent to landfills globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →Microplastics in the food chain
How plastic fragments are turning up in seafood, salt, and drinking water.
Fast fashion's hidden waste
The clothing industry produces more emissions and landfill than most countries.
Plastic recycling myths
Why putting it in the blue bin doesn't mean it gets recycled.
Our World in Data
Data-driven research on environmental change, emissions, and resource use.
UNEP pollution reports
United Nations Environment Programme research on waste, plastics, and pollution.
15,142,163,580 barrels
Oil extracted
Petroleum and other liquid fuels produced globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →1,804,220,794,405 butts
Cigarette butts littered
Discarded cigarette filters thrown into the environment so far this year.
How this is calculated →172,804,258 metric tons
Plastic produced
New plastic manufactured globally so far this year.
How this is calculated →40,093,795,431 garments
Garments produced
New clothing items manufactured worldwide so far this year.
How this is calculated →162,379,872 metric tons CH₄
Human methane emissions
Methane released by human activity so far this year.
How this is calculated →40,094 metric tons
Ghost fishing gear lost
Fishing gear lost or abandoned at sea so far this year.
How this is calculated →How to spot greenwashing
Vague claims, hidden trade-offs, and labels that sound better than they are.
Air pollution and your health
Why smog, smoke, and indoor air matter as much as carbon on the label.
Corporate accountability for pollution
A handful of industries drive most plastic, emissions, and waste — and most escape the bill.
What you can do about waste
A practical action guide — reduce, refuse, repair, and push for better systems.
Extended producer responsibility
Why the company that makes the mess should pay to clean it up.
The waste hierarchy
Prevention beats recycling — a simple order of priorities for materials and emissions.
Ocean Conservancy
International NGO — coastal cleanups, science, and ocean policy advocacy.
Break Free From Plastic
Global movement of NGOs campaigning to end plastic pollution.
Climate Action Tracker
Independent tracker of government climate pledges, policies, and warming outcomes.
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Circular economy research — plastics, textiles, and design for reuse.
Earthjustice
U.S. legal nonprofit — courtroom enforcement against polluters and weak regulation.
The Ocean Cleanup
Engineering projects to intercept plastic in rivers and remove it from the ocean.
IEA Global Methane Tracker
Policy-oriented data on methane from energy, agriculture, and waste.
Surfers Against Sewage
UK charity — beach cleanups, water-quality campaigning, and plastic-free communities.