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Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Consistent growth in consumer spending, a rebounding industrial base and broader adoption of renewable energy contributed to positive growth for waste disposal companies. Although high inflation in 2022, which peaked at 9.1% per the Federal Reserve, created higher volatility, clients were unfazed, as sharp increases in consumer spending and the industrial production index resulted in larger waste generated across individual and commercial markets. Additionally, the trade war with China led to reduced recycling rates, inadvertently supporting waste disposal revenue as more waste required disposal through traditional waste management channels, such as landfill sites. Higher manufacturing activity generated a wider range of toxic and hazardous materials that require specialized disposal. Revenue accelerated at a CAGR of 1.8% to an estimated $25.9 billion over the past five years, including an estimated 0.3% decline in 2025 alone.A core service stream that has provided multipronged benefits for disposal companies is the increased investment in waste-to-energy (WTE) services, which effectively utilizes energy by capturing methane from landfills or burning waste. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act has been pivotal in this growth, providing funding and tax incentives that promote the development and implementation of WTE technologies. These systems not only mitigate methane emissions but also produce renewable energy, making them an increasingly appealing choice for waste management firms. Additionally, China's ban on recycling imports, exacerbated by the trade war with the United States, has heightened demand for landfill and incineration services. Larger companies have also pursued strategic acquisitions to expand their client base, such as Waste Management Inc’s acquisition of Stericycle in November 2024. The push toward workflow efficiency and client expansion also bolstered profit, even amid elevated inflation. Moving forward, waste disposal companies will continue benefiting from steady disposal needs across downstream clients and positive trends in new construction. Stable growth in new households and businesses will expand existing client niches, bolstering opportunities for smaller and localized disposal companies. However, revenue growth may be tempered by increasing recycling rates, reflecting a broader shift toward sustainable waste management. Companies are expected to expand their WTE operations to navigate these evolving dynamics, capitalizing on the dual benefits of waste reduction and renewable energy generation. Pursuing mergers with recycling service providers will also be a strategic priority, enabling companies to enhance their service offerings. These trends are expected to cause revenue to inch upward at a CAGR of 1.6% to an estimated $28.0 billion over the next five years.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 56221. This industry owns and operates waste treatment or disposal facilities, including waste combustors (waste- to-energy plants), solid waste landfills and compost dumps. Many companies in this industry also provide waste collection and hauling services and are also included in the Waste Collection Services industry (IBISWorld report 56211). Related terms covered in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States include tipping fees, waste-to-energy (wte), hazardous waste and leachate.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States include Solid waste landfills, Hazardous waste treatment and disposal and Waste-to-energy plants.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States include Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services, Inc. and Covanta Holding Corp.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States is $25.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 4,916 businesses in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.4 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States?
The Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States?
The Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States are Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services, Inc. and Covanta Holding Corp
What does the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States include?
Solid waste landfills and Hazardous waste treatment and disposal are part of the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States is Waste Management, Inc..
How competitive is the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Waste Treatment & Disposal Services industry in the United States.
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