Waste and Recycling Market Report 2025

This waste and recycling market report delivers an in-depth analysis of the market’s key characteristics, including size, growth potential, and segmentation. It provides a detailed breakdown of the market across major regions and leading countries, highlighting historical data and future growth projections. The report also examines the competitive landscape, market share insights, emerging trends, and strategic developments shaping the market.

The waste and recycling market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $30.7 billion in 2024 to $32.26 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to urbanization, population growth, regulatory frameworks, growing public awareness of environmental issues, and economic development.

The waste and recycling market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $39.7 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to circular economy initiatives, increased e-waste generation, stricter regulations, rising consumer awareness, urbanization, and infrastructure development. Major trends in the forecast period include technological integration, enhanced data analytics, smart waste management systems, advanced composting technologies, and the deployment of robotic systems.

The growing generation of e-waste is anticipated to drive the expansion of the waste and recycling market in the future. E-waste generation refers to the creation of electronic waste from discarded electronic devices and components, often due to replacements, upgrades, or disposals of electronic products. This increase is mainly fueled by rapid technological advancements, which lead to more frequent upgrades and disposals of electronic devices. Waste and recycling systems play a crucial role in managing this rising e-waste by enabling proper disposal, recycling, and recovery of valuable materials from discarded electronics. For example, a report from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), a Swiss-based UN training arm, revealed that global e-waste production hit a record 62 million metric tons in 2022 and is projected to rise by 32% to 82 million metric tons by 2030. As a result, the surge in e-waste generation is expected to drive growth in the waste and recycling market.

Key players in the waste and recycling market are increasingly adopting digital transformation and automation technologies, such as low-code platforms, to optimize operations and provide real-time data analytics for improved decision-making and resource management. Low-code platforms streamline and automate waste recycling processes, integrate with existing systems, and offer real-time insights, enhancing operational efficiency and compliance. For instance, in May 2024, ISB Global Ltd., a UK-based software company, launched the Waste and Recycling One (WR1) program in the U.S. WR1 standardizes and automates waste and recycling processes, integrating with ERP systems such as SAP to create a unified master data source. Built on the OutSystems low-code platform, WR1 enhances operational efficiency, reduces costs, and modernizes outdated legacy systems without the need for new software integration. It also improves compliance reporting by adapting to regulatory changes and providing real-time operational visibility.

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 are Veolia Environnement S.A., Waste Management Inc., Remondis SE & Co. KG, Republic Services Inc., Suez S.A., Waste Connections Inc., Clean Harbors Inc., Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Stericycle Inc., Sociedad Anónima Industrias Celulosa y Papelera de Ávila, Biffa plc, Reworld Waste LLC, Recology Inc., FCC Environment Limited, Daiseki Co. Ltd., Urbaser S.A., Phoenix Technologies International Inc., Custom Polymers Inc., Biomedical Waste Solutions LLC, Envision Plastics Industries LLC, PolyQuest Inc., Landbell Group, Verdeco Recycling LLC, Bigbelly Inc., Valicor Environmental Services Inc.

North America was the largest region in the waste and recycling market in 2023. 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, 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, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Waste and recycling encompass the processes of managing, processing, and reusing discarded materials to minimize environmental impact and conserve natural resources. Waste can include various types of materials, such as household garbage, industrial byproducts, electronic waste, and hazardous substances. Recycling involves collecting and processing these materials to create new products or raw materials for further use.

The main categories of waste and recycling include municipal waste, industrial waste, and hazardous waste. Municipal waste consists of everyday refuse generated by households, businesses, and institutions, such as food scraps, paper, plastics, and yard waste. This type of waste is typically collected by local authorities and includes non-hazardous materials managed through recycling, composting, and landfill disposal methods. The services related to waste and recycling include collection, transportation, and disposal, with applications spanning packaging, consumer goods, construction, landscaping, and street maintenance, among others.

The waste and recycling market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides waste and recycling market statistics, including waste and recycling industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with an waste and recycling market share, detailed waste and recycling market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the waste and recycling industry. This waste and recycling market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

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.

This product will be delivered within 3-5 business days.