Top 10 Companies in the Plastic Waste Management Industry (2025): Market Leaders Driving the Circular Economy

In Business Insights
November 04, 2025

The Global Plastic Waste Management Market was valued at USD 30.84 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 42.10 Billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.7% during the forecast period (2024–2032). This growth is fueled by stringent global regulations, rising corporate sustainability commitments, and the accelerating adoption of advanced recycling technologies to address the over 400 million metric tons of plastic waste generated annually.

As the world transitions toward a circular economy, the focus intensifies on the key waste management corporations and recycling innovators who are developing scalable solutions for collection, sorting, and material recovery. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Plastic Waste Management Industry—a mix of global waste giants, specialized recyclers, and technology pioneers shaping the future of plastic resource recovery.


🔟 1. Veolia Environnement

Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: End-to-end waste management, mechanical & chemical recycling, energy recovery

Veolia Environnement is the world’s largest environmental services company, holding a leading market share in plastic waste management. With operations spanning 48 countries and an annual revenue exceeding €42 billion, Veolia provides comprehensive solutions from collection and sorting to advanced recycling and waste-to-energy conversion.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Target to produce 610,000 metric tons of recycled plastics annually by 2025

  • Pioneering chemical recycling projects for hard-to-recycle plastics

  • Circular economy partnerships with major FMCG brands

Download FREE Sample Report:
Plastic Waste Management Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Suez Environnement

Headquarters: Paris, France (now part of Veolia)
Key Offering: Recycling solutions, water and waste services, circular economy consulting

Following its integration with Veolia, Suez remains a powerhouse in recycling infrastructure, particularly in Europe. The company operates advanced sorting facilities and material recovery plants, specializing in turning plastic waste into high-quality recycled polymers for the packaging industry.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Operates over 50 water and waste recycling facilities globally

  • Developing smart collection systems using IoT technology


8️⃣ 3. Waste Management, Inc.

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Collection, recycling, landfill management, sustainable services

As North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management services, WM operates over 100 material recovery facilities and serves millions of residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company is investing heavily in AI-powered sorting technologies to improve plastic recycling efficiencies.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Goal to increase plastic recycling volume by 50% by 2030

  • Investing $800 million in recycling infrastructure upgrades


7️⃣ 4. Republic Services

Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Key Offering: Recycling collection, processing, sustainable solutions

Republic Services is the second-largest waste management provider in the U.S., with a growing focus on plastic recycling innovation. The company’s Recycling Centers of the Future initiative incorporates robotics and AI to significantly improve sorting accuracy and recovery rates for various plastic resins.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Target to increase recycling recovery rate to 40% by 2030

  • Partnerships with packaging producers for closed-loop recycling


6️⃣ 5. Remondis SE & Co. KG

Headquarters: Lünen, Germany
Key Offering: Recycling services, water management, resource recovery

Remondis is one of the world’s largest privately-owned recycling and water management companies, with a strong presence across Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company specializes in advanced mechanical recycling and operates numerous facilities for processing post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Annual processing capacity of over 30 million tons of recyclables

  • Developing chemical recycling partnerships for mixed plastics

Download FREE Sample Report:
Plastic Waste Management Market – View in Detailed Research Report


5️⃣ 6. Biffa plc

Headquarters: High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Waste collection, recycling, resource recovery

Biffa is a leading UK-based waste management company with growing investments in plastic recycling infrastructure. The company operates advanced polymer processing facilities and is expanding its capacity to meet rising demand for recycled content from packaging manufacturers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Investing £1.25 billion in green economy infrastructure by 2030

  • Target to quadruple plastic recycling capacity by 2030


4️⃣ 7. Clean Harbors, Inc.

Headquarters: Norwell, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: Environmental services, industrial cleaning, recycling

Clean Harbors specializes in hazardous waste management and has expanded into plastic recycling, particularly for industrial and commercial plastic streams. The company’s expertise in handling complex waste materials positions it well for managing challenging plastic waste streams.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Developing specialized recycling solutions for industrial plastics

  • Expanding capacity for recycled plastic production


3️⃣ 8. Covanta Holding Corporation

Headquarters: Morristown, New Jersey, USA
Key Offering: Waste-to-energy, material recovery, environmental solutions

Covanta is a leader in sustainable waste management through energy recovery, operating facilities that convert non-recyclable waste into clean energy. The company also operates material recovery facilities that capture recyclables, including plastics, before energy conversion.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Processes over 20 million tons of waste annually

  • Developing advanced sorting to increase plastic recovery rates


2️⃣ 9. Stericycle, Inc.

Headquarters: Bannockburn, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Medical waste management, compliance solutions, recycling

Stericycle specializes in regulated waste management, including healthcare plastics, and has developed expertise in recycling complex plastic waste streams from medical facilities. The company’s compliance focus ensures proper handling and recycling of specialized plastic materials.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Healthcare plastic recycling programs for hospitals

  • Sustainable solutions for regulated waste streams


1️⃣ 10. Hitachi Zosen Corporation

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Waste treatment plants, recycling systems, environmental solutions

Hitachi Zosen is a global engineering company specializing in waste treatment and recycling systems, including advanced plastic recycling technologies. The company designs and constructs facilities for mechanical and chemical recycling of plastics across Asia and internationally.

Sustainability Initiatives:

  • Developing chemical recycling technology for mixed plastics

  • Building waste-to-energy and recycling plants globally

Get Full Report Here:
Plastic Waste Management Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Plastic Waste Management Is Circular and Technology-Driven

The plastic waste management market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. While traditional disposal methods still handle significant volumes, the industry is investing billions in circular economy solutions, advanced recycling technologies, and digital tracking systems to create a more sustainable plastics value chain.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rapid expansion of chemical recycling capacity in Europe and North America

  • Regulatory push for extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycled content mandates

  • Digitalization of waste tracking through blockchain and IoT systems

  • Brand-manufacturer partnerships for closed-loop recycling systems

Get Full Report Here:
Plastic Waste Management Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only managing global plastic waste—they’re pioneering the circular transformation of material flows and resource recovery.