Medical Waste Disposal Services in the US - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2029)

Coming Clean: as the Pandemic Subsides and Consumers Seek Healthcare Services They Previously Delayed, Industry Revenue Will Rise

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency and industry estimates, the United States generates an estimated 6.0 million tons of medical waste annually. Due to public safety concerns, such waste cannot be directly disposed of in landfills along with municipal solid waste. Strict laws and regulations govern the disposal of regulated medical waste (RMW), further necessitating a specialized industry to fulfill demand. This waste includes disposable items that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials. As a result of regulations, most small-quantity RMW-generating facilities outsource disposal activities to the Medical Waste Disposal Services industry. Amid rising healthcare demand, industry revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 3.4% over the past five years, and is expected to reach $1.8 billion in 2023. In the same year, industry revenue is expected to grow 0.7%. The COVID-19 pandemic supported downstream demand as hospitals operated at capacity and PPE waste grew. Growth is expected to have continued following the height of the pandemic as patients got elective procedures they had put off, with growth expected to taper off in 2023.

This industry collects, treats and disposes medical waste according to local, state and federal guidelines. Medical waste is generated from healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, veterinary clinics, dentist offices, research labs and private practices. The industry is highly regulated.

This report covers the scope, size, disposition and growth of the industry including the key sensitivities and success factors. Also included are five year industry forecasts, growth rates and an analysis of the industry key players and their market shares.