Waste and Recycling Market Report 2026

The waste and recycling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $32.26 billion in 2025 to $33.93 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to urban population growth, expansion of municipal waste services, rising industrial waste generation, increasing regulatory focus on waste management, development of organized recycling facilities.

The waste and recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $41.91 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investments in advanced recycling technologies, rising adoption of waste-to-energy solutions, expansion of smart city waste programs, growing demand for sustainable waste management services, increasing automation in recycling operations. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of smart waste sorting systems, rising focus on circular economy practices, growing integration of recycling automation, expansion of municipal waste management infrastructure, enhanced use of data-driven waste monitoring.

The increasing generation of e-waste is expected to drive the growth of the waste and recycling market in the coming years. E-waste refers to discarded electronic devices and components resulting from upgrading, replacing, or disposing of electronic products. Its rise is primarily driven by rapid technological advancements, which lead to more frequent device upgrades and disposals. Waste and recycling systems help manage this growth by facilitating proper disposal, recycling, and recovery of valuable materials from electronic waste. For example, according to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), global e-waste production reached a record 62 million metric tons in 2022 and is projected to increase by 32% to 82 million metric tons by 2030. Therefore, increasing e-waste generation is a key driver of the waste and recycling market.

Key players in the waste and recycling market are focusing on digital transformation and automation through solutions such as low-code platforms to optimize operations and provide real-time data analytics for better decision-making and resource management. Low-code platforms streamline and automate recycling processes, integrate with existing systems, and provide real-time operational insights, enhancing efficiency and compliance. For instance, leading technology providers have launched programs that standardize and automate waste and recycling processes, integrating with ERP systems to create unified data sources, reduce costs, replace legacy systems, and improve regulatory compliance.

In November 2023, Biffa Limited, a UK-based waste management company, acquired Hamilton Waste & Recycling Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aligns with Biffa’s commitment to low-carbon collection and material processing, leveraging Hamilton Waste & Recycling’s strong sustainability record. This strategic move aims to help more customers meet their carbon reduction targets by enhancing Biffa’s role in the circular economy. Hamilton Waste & Recycling Ltd., based in the UK, specializes in waste management and recycling services for both residential and commercial clients.

Major companies operating in the waste and recycling market report are Veolia Environnement S.A., Waste Management Inc., Remondis SE & Co. KG, Republic Services Inc., Suez S.A., Waste Connections Inc., Clean Harbors Inc., Stericycle Inc., Biffa plc, Reworld Waste LLC, Recology Inc., FCC Environment Limited, Daiseki Co. Ltd., Urbaser S.A., Biomedical Waste Solutions LLC, Landbell Group, Verdeco Recycling LLC, Bigbelly Inc., Valicor Environmental Services Inc., Envision Plastics Industries LLC.

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

The waste and recycling market includes revenues earned by entities through waste sorting and processing, recycling equipment sales, hazardous waste management, consulting, and auditing services. 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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