The Global Solid Waste Treatment Market was valued at USD 236.65 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 303.20 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.7% during the forecast period (2024-2032). This expansion is driven by increasing environmental regulations, urbanization, and the global transition toward sustainable waste management through recycling, energy recovery, and advanced treatment technologies.
As municipalities and corporations intensify their sustainability commitments, innovative waste processing solutions are becoming essential for both environmental protection and resource efficiency. This report examines the Top 10 Companies in the Solid Waste Treatment Industry – global leaders transforming waste streams into valuable resources through technological innovation and large-scale operations.
🔟 1. Waste Management, Inc.
Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Comprehensive waste collection, recycling, landfill management, and waste-to-energy solutions
North America’s largest waste management provider operates 260+ landfills and processes over 100 million tons of waste annually. The company leads in renewable energy production from landfill gas with $1.5B+ invested in recycling infrastructure through 2025.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Produces enough renewable energy to power 500,000+ homes annually
- Processes 15M+ tons of recyclables per year
- Developed industry-leading single-stream recycling technology
Download FREE Sample Report: Solid Waste Treatment Market – View in Detailed Research Report
9️⃣ 2. Veolia Environnement
Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: Integrated water, waste, and energy management services
The global environmental services leader operates in 40+ countries, processing 61 million tons of waste annually. Veolia specializes in circular economy models that extract maximum value from waste streams.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Operates 65 waste-to-energy plants worldwide
- Targets 100% recycling rate for industrial clients’ waste
- Developed proprietary waste-sorting robotics technology
8️⃣ 3. SUEZ Group
Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: Advanced waste sorting, recovery, and treatment solutions
Processes 45 million tons of waste annually with specialized expertise in hazardous waste treatment and material recovery. The company invests €100M annually in R&D for circular economy innovations.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- 90% material recovery rate at European facilities
- Pioneered optical sorting technology for plastics recycling
- Operates smart waste collection systems in 50+ cities
Download FREE Sample Report: Solid Waste Treatment Market – View in Detailed Research Report
7️⃣ 4. Republic Services
Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Key Offering: Waste collection, recycling, and disposal services
The second-largest US waste management company operates 91 material recovery facilities and processes 5 million tons of recyclables annually. Known for groundbreaking work in polymer recycling.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Invested $300M to expand recycling capacity (2020-2024)
- Developed proprietary recycling facility automation systems
- Diverted 1.3M tons from landfills through organics programs
6️⃣ 5. Waste Connections
Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
Key Offering: Solid waste collection and disposal services
Operates across 43 US states and 6 Canadian provinces with a focus on secondary and exclusive rural markets. Achieves industry-leading 20%+ EBITDA margins through operational efficiency.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Produces renewable natural gas at 15 landfill sites
- Increased recycling volumes by 12% year-over-year
- Diverted 2M+ tons from landfills through recycling programs
5️⃣ 6. Biffa plc
Headquarters: High Wycombe, UK
Key Offering: Waste collection, recycling, and energy recovery
Processes 7.5 million tons of waste annually with particular expertise in UK municipal waste contracts. Operates one of Europe’s largest plastic bottle recycling facilities.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Recycles 1.3 billion plastic bottles annually
- Invested £75M in advanced plastics recycling technology
- First UK waste company to issue a sustainability-linked bond
Download FREE Sample Report: Solid Waste Treatment Market – View in Detailed Research Report
4️⃣ 7. Remondis SE & Co. KG
Headquarters: Lünen, Germany
Key Offering: Recycling and resource recovery solutions
Processes 30 million tons of materials annually across 800 facilities globally with expertise in closed-loop industrial applications. Leader in metals recovery from incinerator bottom ash.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- 98% recovery rate for metals from thermal treatment residues
- Operates Europe’s largest wastewater treatment facility
- Pioneered nutrient recovery from organic waste streams
3️⃣ 8. Hitachi Zosen Corporation
Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Waste-to-energy plants and sorting systems
Has engineered over 500 waste treatment facilities worldwide with particular strength in thermal treatment technologies. Japanese market leader with 70% share of domestic WTE plants.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Developed AI-powered robotic waste sorting achieving 95% purity
- Pioneered high-efficiency waste gasification technology
- Constructed world’s largest waste-fired power plant (Singapore)
2️⃣ 9. Covanta Holding Corporation
Headquarters: Morristown, NJ, USA
Key Offering: Waste-to-energy and sustainable disposal
Operates 41 energy-from-waste facilities processing 21 million tons of waste annually to generate 10 million MWh of electricity – powering 1 million homes.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 1 ton per ton of waste processed
- Recovers 600,000+ tons of metals annually from waste streams
- First US waste company to receive SBTi approval for emissions targets
1️⃣ 10. Cleanaway Waste Management
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Key Offering: Integrated waste management services
Australia’s largest waste company processes 5.5 million tons annually with nationwide collection and treatment infrastructure. Leader in packaging waste recycling through modern MRFs.
Sustainability Initiatives:
- Operates Australia’s most advanced PET recycling facility
- Diverted 400,000+ tons from landfill through organics processing
- First Australian waste co. to have SBTi-approved climate targets
Get Full Report Here: Solid Waste Treatment Market – View in Detailed Research Report
♻️ Market Outlook: The Future of Waste is Circular
The solid waste treatment industry is undergoing a paradigm shift toward true circularity, with waste streams being redefined as resource flows. Traditional disposal methods are being replaced by advanced systems that maximize material recovery and energy generation while minimizing environmental impact.
📊 Key Industry Trends:
- The global waste-to-energy market is projected to reach $50B by 2027 (7.4% CAGR)
- Plastic recycling capacity expected to double by 2025 to meet sustainability targets
- Smart waste technologies reducing collection costs by 30-50% in pilot cities
- Corporate zero-waste commitments driving demand for advanced treatment solutions
Get Full Report Here: Solid Waste Treatment Market – View in Detailed Research Report
The companies leading this transformation show how waste management infrastructure is becoming central to sustainable development – turning environmental liabilities into economic assets through scale and innovation.
