Countries in Asia by Recycling Rate

Key Statistical Highlights

• South Korea ranks first in the world for the 2022 EPI Recycling Score with 67.10 out of 100. No other country is close to this result.
• Singapore ranks 7th globally with a score of 51.70, the second-highest in Asia.
• The Philippines ranks 8th globally with 49.90, remarkably high for a lower-middle-income economy.
• Vietnam ranks 10th globally with 46.00, rising 5.3 points over the past decade. This is the largest 10-year improvement among the Asian countries listed.10 years.
• The Maldives ranks lowest among the 13 featured countries at 20.90 (67th globally).
• The difference between the top performer, South Korea (67.10), and the lowest performer, Maldives (20.90), is 46.2 EPI points. This large gap shows just how different recycling systems are across Asia.
• Sri Lanka and the UAE are tied at exactly 24.50, sharing the 48th global rank.

1. South Korea — Score: 67.10 (Global Rank: #1)

• South Korea was ranked 1st out of 38 countries in the Global Waste Index 2022 by Sensoneo and 6th out of 180 countries in waste management by the 2022 EPI.
• The government introduced a volume-based waste charge in 1992 and, in 1995, refined it into a per-bag fee system, requiring residents to buy designated official trash bags for general waste.
• As a result of the volume-based fee system, household waste was reduced by almost 50% and maintained at that lower level through 2022.
• The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program, implemented in 2003 to replace the Deposit Refund System, imposed mandatory recycling rates on producers and led to a 148% increase in total recycling volume.
• By 2010, 11 Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) were established, handling 93% of all recycling required under the EPR.
• The EPR and waste charge system created 22,000 jobs and reduced approximately 11.19 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
• In 2022, South Korea produced 103.9 kilograms of plastic waste per person, which is more than double the OECD average. Despite this, the country still reported high recycling rates.
• There is some controversy: In 2022, South Korea’s household waste recycling rate was 58.7%, but 12.5 percentage points of this came from ‘thermal recycling’ (burning waste for energy). The government plans to stop counting thermal recycling in its statistics by 2030. This change would lower the municipal waste recycling rate by more than 10 percentage points and the plastic recycling rate by about 30 percentage points.
• Even without including thermal recycling, South Korea’s municipal waste material recycling rate is about 46.2%, which is still higher than most other countries’. Waste recycling surged to 98% in 2022, driven by mandatory pay-as-you-throw food waste bags and RFID-based food waste bins.

2. Singapore — Score: 51.70 (Global Rank: #7)

• Singapore’s overall recycling rate in 2022 was 57%, an improvement from 55% in 2021.
• However, the household recycling rate dropped to 12% in 2022, the lowest in over ten years. This was mainly because of higher shipping costs for exporting paper, cardboard, textile, and leather recyclables.
• Between 2012 and 2018, Singapore’s domestic recycling rate ranged from 19% to 22%; it declined sharply after China banned 24 categories of recyclables in 2018.
• Singapore generated 7.39 million tonnes of solid waste in 2022, up 6.4% from the previous year, driven by a recovery in construction and demolition.
• The high overall recycling rate of 57% was largely driven by industrial waste, especially from construction and demolition, ferrous metals, and industrial offcuts. These categories are recycled at rates above 70%.
• All of Singapore’s paper and textile recyclables are exported for processing; the collapse of the export market directly lowered domestic rates.
• Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan targets an overall recycling rate of 70% by 2030.
• By 2024, Singapore’s overall recycling rate had declined further to 50%, with the domestic rate hitting an all-time low of 11%.
• Singapore and Taiwan both scored 96.7 on the 2024 EPI Waste Recovery Rate scale, which is a broader measure than recycling alone. This shows Singapore’s strong waste management infrastructure for its population size.

3. Philippines — Score: 49.90 (Global Rank: #8)

• The Philippines generates at least 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily, of which 24% is plastic waste.
• 70% of the material value of plastics is lost to the Philippine economy each year, amounting to $790–$890 million.
• The Philippines produces 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags daily.
• Of total solid waste, 33% is disposed of in landfills and dumpsites, while 35% is leaked into the open environment and oceans.
• Only about 28% of key resin plastics consumed in 2019 were recycled.
• By 2024, the number of material recovery facilities (MRFs) reached 12,855 — an 8.7% increase from 11,823 in 2023.
• The number of sanitary landfills increased to 343 in 2024, a 14.7% rise from 299 in 2023.
• The Philippines is one of the top sources of marine plastic pollution worldwide, leaking about 356,371 metric tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean each year. This is roughly 35% of the global total.
• The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act was enacted to formalize recycling obligations on manufacturers and importers, recognizing the country’s informal waste-to-value systems.

4. Vietnam — Score: 46.00 (Global Rank: #10)

• In 2022, Vietnam generated 26.1 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW), ranking 3rd in Southeast Asia by MSW volume.
• Only 15% of solid waste in Vietnam is recycled or reused. This means that even though Vietnam’s EPI score is high compared to others, the total amount recycled is still low.
• Vietnam’s informal waste sector is vast: over 90% of plastic waste is collected by informal waste pickers.
• An estimated 10,000–16,000 informal waste collectors work daily in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone.
• After China banned plastic waste imports in 2018, Vietnam became a major destination for this waste. In 2022, it ranked 4th in the world for plastic waste imports, with about 420,000 tonnes imported each year.
• Research indicates only one-third of imported plastic waste is recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills.
• MSW growth rate of 13% per year is projected through 2025, driven by rapid urbanization.
• Approximately 17 million tonnes of solid waste remain untapped annually for composting, recycling, or energy recovery.
• Vietnam’s National Strategy for Integrated Solid Waste Management targets collecting all household and commercial waste in urban areas by 2025 and treating 90% through recycling or composting.
• Vietnam leaked approximately 28,221 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean annually — the 6th highest in Southeast Asia.

5. Thailand — Score: 40.00 (Global Rank: #13)

• Thais generate an estimated 1.14 kg of solid waste per person per day, of which around 50% is biodegradable.
• Thailand generates approximately 26.77 million tonnes of MSW annually — the second-highest in Southeast Asia. Even though Thailand collects and recycles 88.8% of its municipal solid waste, about 428,000 tonnes of plastic waste are still mismanaged each year.
• Of Thailand’s approximately 2,500 dump sites, only about 20% are managed properly.
• Only about 25% of single-use plastic (SUP) waste (approximately 0.75 million tonnes) is sorted and recycled.
• In 2015, only about 5 million tonnes of Thailand’s total waste was recycled — a small proportion of the total waste generated.
• Thailand’s waste management plan calls for 75% of total solid waste to be properly disposed of or recycled by 2021, up from 49% at the time of planning.
• The government and private sector planned to spend 177 billion baht (approximately US$5.1 billion) on waste management technology and public awareness campaigns.
• Thailand leaked approximately 22,806 metric tonnes of plastic waste into the ocean annually.
• Thailand’s EPI recycling score improved by +3.7 points over the decade.

6. Türkiye — Score: 32.00 (Global Rank: #28)

• Türkiye’s EPI recycling score improved by +1.3 points over the decade — a modest gain.
• Of Türkiye’s estimated 3.7 million tonnes of plastic waste generated or imported, only approximately 6% is recycled.
• The remainder is split: 61% goes to landfills, and approximately 33% (over 1.1 million tonnes) remains uncollected or is openly dumped.
• The landfill rate remains very high while the recycling rate stays low compared to European peers.
• Notable exceptions in packaging recovery: recovery rates reached 93% for paper and board, 68% for metal, 63% for plastic, and 34% for composite packaging.
• Türkiye had set a target to achieve a recycling rate of 65% for packaging waste and 35% for all recyclable waste by 2023.
• The number of recovery facilities has significantly increased in recent years.
• PET recycling in particular is economically attractive: by 2030, Türkiye’s recycled and combusted PET waste is projected to be worth $168 million and $25 million, respectively.
• If Türkiye were to recycle its landfilled PET waste, it could generate an economic value of approximately $373 million by 2030.

7. Uzbekistan — Score: 31.60 (Global Rank: #30)

• Uzbekistan’s EPI recycling score improved by +0.5 points over the decade.
• Uzbekistan generates 10.2 million tonnes of waste annually, of which plastic accounts for 10.3% (approximately 1.05 million tonnes).
• In 2022, the volume of plastic waste was 2.5 times higher than in 2013, driven by rapid economic growth, urbanization, and expanding industry.
• The packaging sector is the largest consumer of plastic, accounting for 22.1% of total plastic entering the market in 2022.
• The transport and construction sectors rank second and third as plastic consumers.
• Current recycling capacity is insufficient to meet the rising volume of plastic waste.
• The MSW management system includes 13 state unitary enterprises with 172 branches and 9 MSW integrated treatment clusters.
• President Mirziyoyev signed a 2019–2028 MSW Management Strategy that targets a 60% the recycling rate for solid household waste by 2028.
• Uzbekistan’s sanitation services currently cover approximately half the country’s population, highlighting a major rural infrastructure gap.

8. Israel — Score: 30.40 (Global Rank: #34)

• Israel’s EPI recycling score improved by +0.6 points over the decade.
• Israel’s Waste Management EPI Score is 62.70, ranking 25th globally in the composite waste category — significantly higher than its recycling sub-score alone.
• Israel generates approximately 1.0 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, with a plastic-specific recycling rate of only 6%.
• Israel has a Deposit Return System (DRS) in place for beverage containers, which drives a portion of its recycling performance.
• The single-use plastic tax is in effect.
• In the broader OECD Municipal Waste dataset, Israel’s material recycling rate was approximately 6.8%, composting accounted for 15.1%, and the majority of municipal waste (76.5%) went to landfill.
• The 10-year EPI change of +0.6 suggests incremental but slow improvement.

9. Sri Lanka — Score: 24.50 (Global Rank: #48)

• Sri Lanka produces an estimated 6,500–7,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily.
• Approximately half of all waste is collected by local authorities; collection frequency varies widely between urban and rural areas.
• Waste separation at source occurs on a limited scale, with streams often mixed before collection.
• Plastic waste studies show HDPE, PVC, LDPE, and PP are the most collected and recycled types, while PS (polystyrene) and PET recycling remain low.
• A positive correlation was found between tourist arrivals and plastic waste generation, underscoring tourism’s outsized contribution to plastic waste.
• Heavy rainfall negatively correlates with waste collection rates, as extreme weather hampers collection logistics.
• By 2018, the National Plastic Collection and Plastics Recycling Program (NPCPRP) had established 12 recyclable collection and plastic recycling facilities in 12 Local Authorities.
• A ban on single-use plastics (straws, stirrers, plates, cups, cutlery) was introduced in 2023.
• About 90% of coastal litter originates from within Sri Lanka, with plastic often transported to coastlines via rivers and canals.

10. UAE — Score: 24.50 (Global Rank: #48)

• The UAE’s EPI recycling score improved by +1.0 points over the decade.
• Abu Dhabi alone recycled more than 3.455 million tonnes of waste from various sources in 2022.
• Demolition and construction waste was the largest recycled stream, accounting for 2.195 million tonnes (60% of total demolition/construction waste produced).
• Industrial and commercial waste recycled in Abu Dhabi totaled approximately 1.215 million tonnes in 2022.
• About 59,000 tonnes of agricultural and animal waste were converted into organic fertilizer in 2022.
• Abu Dhabi had 27 waste management facilities as of the end of 2022.
• The UAE plastic recycling market stood at 0.84 million tonnes in 2020 and is forecast to reach 1.44 million tonnes by 2030 — a CAGR of 5.34%.
• The Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced a policy in 2020 to reduce single-use plastic products in Abu Dhabi, including levying fees on single-use items.
• DGrade launched the “Simply Bottles” initiative to increase PET bottle recovery and planned the world’s first bottle-to-yarn recycling plant in the UAE.

11. China — Score: 24.40 (Global Rank: #50)

• China’s EPI recycling score improved by +1.1 points over the decade.
• China accounts for nearly 70% of the ASEAN Plus Three region’s plastics use — 107 out of 152 million tonnes in 2022.
• China also has the world’s largest plastic recycling capacity, accounting for approximately 45% of global plastic recycling.
• From 2011 to 2020, China recycled 170 million tonnes of plastic waste.
• These recycling efforts reduced crude oil consumption by 510 million tonnes and prevented 61.2 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
• In 2023, China’s overall recycling volume reached 376 million metric tonnes — a 1.5% increase year-on-year — with scrap metals constituting the largest share.
• Approximately 80% of China’s recycling industry comprises small and medium-sized enterprises that lack capital for modern sanitation technology.
• Recycling infrastructure is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural China with significant gaps in collection.
• China’s 2017 Five-Year Plan embedded recycling into the national economic strategy, setting specific utilization-rate targets and outlining infrastructure development plans.
• Despite a vast recycling infrastructure, China’s EPI Solid Waste sub-score was 45.00 (82nd globally), indicating that managed waste remains a challenge.

12. Malaysia — Score: 22.10 (Global Rank: #62)

• In 2022, Malaysia’s national recycling rate rose to 33.17%, with total recycled goods reaching 4.626 million tonnes.
• This was in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan’s target of achieving a 40% recycling rate by 2025.
• Malaysia generates approximately 12.84 million tonnes of MSW annually.
• Household recycling was estimated at just 9.7% in a 2011 national survey, with Kuantan leading at 18.4% and Sabah at the lowest, 4.5%.
• In 2019, Malaysia’s recycling rate exceeded its national target at 28.1%, up from 24.6% in 2018.
• For context, South Korea and Singapore then recorded rates of 53.7% and 34%, respectively, significantly ahead.
• In 2015, 88.8% of household, industrial, commercial, and institutional waste still went to landfills.
• In 2005, Malaysia generated about 7.34 million tonnes of solid waste, of which 30% was potentially recyclable, but only 3–5% was actually processed.
• Malaysia leaked approximately 73,098 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean annually — the 2nd highest in Southeast Asia.
• The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) oversees Malaysia’s national recycling programs and the expansion of its recycling infrastructure.

13. Maldives — Score: 20.90 (Global Rank: #67)

• The Maldives generates approximately 860 metric tonnes of waste daily — the majority of which is plastic.
• For the Greater Malé region and 32 inhabited outer islands (including 86 tourist resorts), over 800 tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated every day.
• The average solid waste generation rate is 0.8–1 kg per person per day in Malé, 0.3–0.5 kg in atolls, and 2.5 kg per person per day in resort islands.
• Most waste was historically burned in the open, as landfills are essentially impossible in a nation that is 99% water.
• Open burning generates carbon emissions and public health hazards for half a million Maldivians, while microplastics contaminate marine food sources and damage coral reefs.
• The government is shifting from a linear “use-and-dispose” model to a circular economy approach, embedded in the national Strategic Action Plan (SAP).
• ADB, together with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism, is financing a Greater Malé Waste-to-Energy Project to build a sustainable regional solid waste management facility.
• The project aims to generate at least 50,000 MWh of electricity per year by 2027 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually, starting in 2027.
• By 2027, the project aims to treat at least 80% of combustible and commercial waste, properly dispose of it, or recycle it.

Asia vs. the World: Recycling Performance in Context

• Germany (score: 49.80) — 9th globally, just ahead of the Philippines
• USA (score: 14.80) — 105th globally, well below Malaysia and the Maldives
• Japan (score: 11.50) is ranked 135th globally, despite its advanced technology.
• India (score: 17.80) is ranked 79th globally, which is below China.
• Russia (score: 5.30) is ranked 168th globally.

Regional Trends and Structural Drivers

Why Some Asian Countries Score High Despite Low Income

The China Paradox

Ocean Plastic and Recycling Performance

• The Philippines leaks an estimated 356,371 metric tonnes of plastic into the ocean annually — 35% of the global total.
• Malaysia leaks approximately 73,098 metric tonnes — 2nd in Southeast Asia.
• Vietnam leaks approximately 28,221 metric tonnes — 6th in Southeast Asia.
• Thailand leaks approximately 22,806 metric tonnes.

Asia’s E-Waste Challenge

Plastic Waste Generation Trajectory

Policy Lessons from Asia’s Top Recyclers

• Volume-Based Waste Charge (VBWF): Residents pay per bag of waste; recyclables are collected free of charge. This creates a direct financial incentive to sort and reduce household waste.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Manufacturers and importers are required to meet mandatory recycling targets for products they place on the market. EPR organizations (PROs) formed by producers collectively manage recycling infrastructure.
• Digital waste verification: An online system tracks recycling data in real time, ensuring transparency and enabling rapid policy adjustments.
• RFID food waste bins: Smart bins measure food waste volume, charge residents accordingly, and have driven food waste recycling rates to approximately 98%.

• Zero Waste Masterplan: Long-term national strategy targeting 70% overall recycling by 2030, with specific sector-by-sector roadmaps.
• Industrial waste systems: Near-total recycling of construction and demolition waste through mandatory sorting and licensed industrial recyclers.
• Semakau Landfill: Singapore’s sole landfill (Pulau Semakau) is an engineered offshore island with strict design-life calculations — the scarcity of landfill space drives strong institutional pressure to recycle.

Conclusion

Here is a full list of countries in Asia by recycling rate:

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