Mismanaged plastic waste is defined as plastic that is either littered or inadequately disposed. Inadequately disposed waste is not formally managed and includes disposal in dumps or open, uncontrolled landfills, where it is not fully
contained.
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Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
Asia accounted for approximately ** percent of global mismanaged plastic waste in 2019. The second largest contributor to mismanaged plastic waste was Africa, which accounted for just over ** percent. Mismanaged plastic waste often ends up in rivers, which inevitably results in plastic waste leakage to oceans. Many of the largest plastic emitting rivers are in Asia, such as the Pasig river in the Philippines.
Although Asia accounts for the largest share of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide, wealthy countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom typically have far higher plastic waste generation per capita than developing countries.
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OWID. (April 1, 2022). Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 28, 2026, from /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/
OWID. "Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region." Chart. April 1, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 28, 2026. /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/
OWID. (2022). Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 28, 2026. /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/
OWID. "Distribution of Mismanaged Plastic Waste Worldwide in 2019, by Region." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 1 Apr 2022, /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/
OWID, Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/ (last visited July 28, 2026)
Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region [Graph], OWID, April 1, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1270943/mismanaged-plastic-waste-worldwide-by-region/
