Waste to Energy Market Report 2026

The waste to energy market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $40.7 billion in 2025 to $43.85 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in municipal solid waste generation, limited landfill availability, early adoption of incineration technologies, expansion of urban waste management systems, rising energy recovery initiatives.

The waste to energy market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $59.28 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in circular economy infrastructure, rising focus on waste diversion from landfills, expansion of waste-to-energy capacity in emerging economies, growing adoption of advanced thermal technologies, increasing regulatory support for waste valorization. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing deployment of thermal waste-to-energy plants, rising adoption of advanced emission control systems, growing integration of power and heat recovery, expansion of municipal waste processing capacity, enhanced focus on operational efficiency and compliance.

The growing focus on efficient waste management is anticipated to drive the expansion of the waste-to-energy market in the coming years. Efficient waste management involves the proper segregation of waste at its source and ensuring that it undergoes various recycling and resource recovery processes. A highly effective waste management solution is the sustainable approach of converting waste to energy, which generates heat to produce electricity. For example, in April 2024, an article by the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based international organization for public-private cooperation, indicated that by 2050, the amount of municipal solid waste could decrease from over 4.5 billion tonnes per year to under 2 billion tonnes. This shift toward a fully zero-waste circular economy model aims for 60% of all municipal solid waste - collected from homes and businesses - to be recycled, with the remainder managed safely. Thus, the emphasis on efficient waste management is fueling the growth of the waste-to-energy market.

Companies in the waste-to-energy market are developing innovative technologies. For instance, in December 2023, Alfa Laval, a Sweden-based leader in the design and manufacture of fluid handling equipment known for its innovation, efficiency, and reliability, partnered with Bisviridi, a UK-based sustainable oil producer focused on efficient oil separation. Together, they developed a process to convert oil and fats waste into a biofuel known as Bio Crude. Bio Crude can be refined into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aligning with the aviation industry's decarbonization objectives and entering an emerging market.

In February 2024, Blue Planet Environmental Solution India Pvt. Ltd, a Singapore-based integrated waste management company, acquired Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Limited (MWTESL), a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to foster innovation in the waste-to-energy sector by leveraging unique technologies and research capabilities. Collaborative research efforts are focused on driving sustainable energy production and waste management. Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Limited, an India-based company specializing in converting municipal wet waste into Bio-CNG through Bio-Methanation, complements Blue Planet's expertise in carbon capture and utilization technologies.

Major companies operating in the waste to energy market are Veolia Environnement, Covanta Holding Corporation, SUEZ, Waste Management Inc., Babcock & Wilcox, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Wheelabrator Technologies, Dalkia, Enerkem, Siemens, Tetra Tech, Viresco Solutions, Biogas Energy, CapitaSymonds, Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, MRF Solutions, Plasco Energy Group, Green Energy Technologies, Klean Industries, Amec Foster Wheeler, RWE AG, A2A, Remondis, O2 Energy, ReEnergy Holdings, GWE Biogas, 8 Rivers Networks, INDEMA.

Europe was the largest region in the waste to energy market share in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the waste to energy market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the waste to energy market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The waste-to-energy market includes revenues earned by entities by the combustion of wastes, which heats water, generates steam, or makes electricity via a steam-powered turbine. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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