Waste Management Market Forecasts to 2030 – Global Analysis By Service Type (Disposal, Transportation and Collection), Waste Type (Hazardous Waste, Industrial Waste, Municipal Waste, Plastic Waste and Other Waste Types), End User (Commercial, Residential and Industrial) and By Geography
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Waste Management Market is accounted for $2,502.78 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $3,905.86 billion by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 7.7% during the forecast period. Waste management involves the collection, transportation, processing, recycling, and disposal of waste materials. Its primary goal is to reduce the adverse effects of waste on human health and the environment. Effective waste management practices aim to minimize waste generation, promote recycling and reuse, and ensure proper disposal of residual waste. Modern waste management also emphasizes sustainable practices like composting organic waste, using energy recovery from waste, and reducing landfill dependence.
According to the estimates and forecasts of the WHO, the global urban population is expected to grow by approximately 1.84% annually until 2020, at the rate of about 1.63% per annum from 2020 to 2025 and around 1.44% per annum from 2025 to 2030.
Market Dynamics:Driver:Increasing number of construction projects
Construction activities generate substantial amounts of waste materials, including debris, concrete, wood, metals, and plastics. Proper waste management in construction projects is crucial for several reasons. Effective management helps mitigate environmental impacts by reducing the volume of waste sent to landfills and minimizing pollution. It promotes resource efficiency through recycling and reusing materials, which conserves natural resources and reduces energy consumption associated with producing new materials. Adhering to waste management regulations ensures compliance with environmental laws and standards, preventing legal liabilities and potential fines.
Restraint:Lack of proper facilities for waste collection
Without accessible and reliable means to collect waste, communities face numerous challenges. Improper disposal becomes prevalent, leading to environmental degradation such as soil and water pollution. Inadequate waste collection also heightens health risks, as unmanaged waste can harbor disease vectors like rodents and insects. The visual blight of scattered refuse diminishes quality of life and deters tourism and economic development. Communities may struggle with implementing recycling programs or sustainable waste practices without a foundational system for collection.
Opportunity:Increasing e-waste
As technology advances and consumer electronics become more prevalent, the disposal of obsolete devices such as smartphones, laptops, and televisions has escalated. This surge in e-waste necessitates effective waste management strategies that prioritize recycling, reuse, and responsible disposal to mitigate environmental and health risks posed by hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium found in electronic components. By implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks and educating the public on proper disposal methods, communities can reduce the environmental footprint of e-waste while recovering valuable resources like metals, plastics, and rare earth elements.
Threat:High cost of recycling
The high cost of recycling presents a significant challenge to effective waste management strategies worldwide. Recycling involves numerous steps, from collection and sorting to processing and re-manufacturing materials into new products. Each stage incurs costs related to labor, transportation, equipment maintenance, and energy consumption. The market prices for recycled materials can fluctuate, impacting the economic feasibility of recycling programs. As a result, many regions struggle to maintain comprehensive recycling programs or resort to exporting recyclables to countries with lower labor costs, which raises environmental concerns due to transportation emissions and questionable recycling practices in some regions.
Covid-19 Impact:The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted waste management systems worldwide. Increased medical waste from hospitals and households, such as discarded masks and gloves, strained existing disposal infrastructures. Changes in consumer behavior, including heightened online shopping and home deliveries, led to a surge in packaging waste. Lockdowns and restrictions also affected recycling programs and waste collection schedules, disrupting the regular flow of materials and creating backlogs in some areas. The pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in waste management systems, emphasizing the need for resilience and adaptability to sudden shifts in waste generation patterns.
The Municipal Waste segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period
Municipal Waste segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period. It encompasses various aspects of waste collection, transportation, recycling, and disposal, focusing on the efficient handling of household and commercial waste. Effective management in this sector involves implementing sustainable practices such as source reduction, recycling initiatives, and energy recovery from waste. By prioritizing recycling and composting programs, municipalities can reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills, thereby minimizing environmental impact and conserving resources.
The Residential segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period
Residential segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Implementing comprehensive recycling programs encourages residents to segregate waste effectively, diverting recyclable materials from landfills. Education plays a crucial role, promoting awareness about proper disposal methods and the importance of reducing waste generation through initiatives like composting organic materials. Technologies such as smart waste bins equipped with sensors help optimize collection routes, minimizing fuel consumption and emissions.
Region with largest share:Because of the region's growing population, high level of disposable income, and rising demand for packed food products, North America held the largest share of the market over the extrapolated period. International agreements promote the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies, encouraging the region to manage waste more efficiently and responsibly. By harmonizing regulations and facilitating cross-border cooperation, such policies enable the sharing of best practices, innovations, and resources among countries. These elements are boosting the regional growth.
Region with highest CAGR:Europe region is poised to hold profitable growth during the projection period. Stringent policies aimed at reducing landfill waste, promoting recycling, and increasing resource efficiency are driving innovation and investment in the sector. The European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, for instance, sets ambitious targets for waste reduction and recycling rates, pushing companies to adopt more sustainable practices. These regulations not only compel businesses to minimize waste generation but also foster the regional development of advanced technologies for waste sorting, treatment, and recycling.
Key players in the marketSome of the key players in Waste Management market include Augean Plc, Biffa Group, Biomedical Waste Solutions, Clean Harbors Inc, Covanta Holding Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Suez Environment S.A., Veolia Environment SA and Waste Management Inc.
Key Developments:In November 2023, Biffa has acquired Hamilton Waste and Recycling Limited (HWR), Scotland’s leading construction and demolition (C&D) waste collection and processing business. The acquisition of HWR is a significant step for Biffa, expanding its waste capabilities in the construction and demolition sector, further underpinning its commitment to low-carbon collections and material processing.
In September 2022, WM Intellectual Property Holdings, L.L.C. acquired Avangard Innovative's U.S. business, which will operate as Natura PCR – an independent company expected to scale and grow recycling capacity to produce an estimated 400 million pounds per year of post-consumer resin (PCR) in five years
Service Types Covered:
• Disposal
• Transportation
• Collection
Waste Types Covered:
• Hazardous Waste
• Industrial Waste
• Municipal Waste
• Plastic Waste
• Other Waste Types
End Users Covered:
• Commercial
• Residential
• Industrial
Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
What our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2030
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements