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 being driven by stringent environmental regulations, increasing corporate sustainability initiatives, and the accelerating adoption of advanced recycling technologies across municipal and industrial sectors.

As the world confronts the challenge of over 400 million metric tons of plastic waste generated annually, the focus sharpens on the key players who are building the infrastructure for a circular economy. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Plastic Waste Management Industry—a mix of global waste giants, recycling specialists, and recovery innovators shaping the future of sustainable material management.

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🔟 1. Veolia Environnement

Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Offering: Collection, Sorting, Mechanical & Chemical Recycling, Energy Recovery

Veolia Environnement is the world’s leading environmental services company, holding the largest market share in plastic waste management. Its global infrastructure spans 48 countries, processing millions of tons of waste annually through advanced material recovery facilities (MRFs) and chemical recycling plants. Veolia’s expertise covers the entire value chain, from municipal collection to producing high-quality recycled polymers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Target to triple plastic recycling capacity to 1.2 million tons by 2030

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

• Global partnerships with major brands for closed-loop packaging solutions

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

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9️⃣ 2. Suez Environnement

Headquarters: Paris, France (now integrated with Veolia)
Key Offering: Waste Collection, Recycling, Water and Waste Management

Following its merger with Veolia, Suez brings complementary strengths in water and waste management, creating a European powerhouse. Historically, Suez was renowned for its innovative recycling technologies and extensive network of sorting facilities across Europe and Latin America, serving over 40 million people.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of smart sorting technologies using AI and robotics

• Leadership in plastic-to-plastic recycling for food-grade applications

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8️⃣ 3. Waste Management, Inc.

Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
Key Offering: Comprehensive Waste Services, Recycling, Landfill Management

As North America’s leading provider, Waste Management operates over 100 material recovery facilities and 250 active landfill sites. The company has invested heavily in advanced sorting systems, achieving plastic identification accuracy rates above 95% through AI and optical scanning technologies.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Goal to increase plastic recovery by 20% by 2030

• Investment in pyrolysis technology for plastic-to-fuel conversion

• Partnerships with retailers for in-store plastic film recycling programs

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7️⃣ 4. Republic Services

Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Key Offering: Recycling, Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Collection, Disposal

Republic Services is the second-largest waste management provider in the U.S., with a growing focus on plastic recycling infrastructure. The company’s Polymer Center in Las Vegas represents one of the industry’s most advanced plastic sorting facilities, producing high-purity bales of PET, HDPE, and PP for domestic markets.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Commitment to invest $250 million in recycling infrastructure by 2025

• Development of first-of-its-kind plastics processing facility in Indiana

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

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6️⃣ 5. REMONDIS SE & Co. KG

Headquarters: Lünen, Germany
Key Offering: Recycling, Water Management, Service and Trading

REMONDIS is one of the world’s largest privately-owned recycling and water management companies, operating across Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company processes over 30 million tons of recyclables annually, with specialized expertise in packaging waste and industrial plastic recovery.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Operation of one of Europe’s most modern plastics recycling plants in Germany

• Active participation in international circular economy research projects

• Development of traceability systems for recycled content certification

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5️⃣ 6. Biffa plc

Headquarters: High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Waste Collection, Recycling, Resource Recovery

Biffa is a leading UK waste management company with growing investments in plastic recycling infrastructure. The company’s recently opened £27.5 million PET recycling facility in Durham can process 1.3 billion bottles annually, producing food-grade rPET for the UK market and reducing reliance on imported recycled material.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Target to quadruple UK plastic recycling capacity by 2030

• Investment in chemical recycling technology partnerships

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4️⃣ 7. Clean Harbors, Inc.

Headquarters: Norwell, Massachusetts, USA
Key Offering: Environmental, Energy and Industrial Services

Clean Harbors specializes in hazardous waste management but has significantly expanded into plastic recycling, particularly through its subsidiary Safety-Kleen. The company operates one of North America’s largest plastic recycling and re-refining networks, focusing on industrial plastic containers and packaging.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Recycling over 100 million pounds of plastic annually

• Development of closed-loop systems for industrial plastic containers

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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 disposal through energy recovery, operating facilities that convert non-recyclable waste into clean energy. While primarily focused on energy recovery, the company plays a crucial role in the waste hierarchy by managing plastic that cannot be economically recycled, while recovering metals from the process.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Recovery of over 500,000 tons of metal annually from waste streams

• Investment in advanced preprocessing to improve recycling rates

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2️⃣ 9. Hitachi Zosen Corporation

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: Environmental Plants, Recycling Systems, Waste Management Technology

Hitachi Zosen is a Japanese engineering company with strong expertise in waste treatment and recycling technology. The company designs and builds advanced waste-to-energy plants and material recovery facilities, with particular strength in Asian markets where space constraints drive innovation in waste processing.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of high-efficiency waste sorting and recycling systems

• Export of Japanese waste management technology to emerging markets

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1️⃣ 10. Stericycle, Inc.

Headquarters: Bannockburn, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Medical Waste Management, Compliance Services, Secure Information Destruction

While primarily focused on regulated waste, Stericycle plays a significant role in managing plastic waste from healthcare facilities, including single-use medical devices and packaging. The company’s expertise in handling complex waste streams positions it uniquely for specialized plastic recycling challenges.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of specialized recycling solutions for medical plastics

• Implementation of waste minimization programs for healthcare clients

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

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

The plastic waste management market is undergoing a fundamental transformation. While landfilling and incineration still handle significant volumes, the industry is investing heavily in circular economy solutions, advanced sorting technologies, and chemical recycling processes that can handle complex plastic streams.

📈 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

• Integration of AI and robotics in material recovery facilities to improve sorting efficiency

• Growing corporate commitments to plastic neutrality and circular packaging

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 building the infrastructure for a circular future where plastic becomes a valuable resource rather than waste.