Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Frankfurt, Germany
Last Updated: July 2024
WZ E38.20DERevenue
€16.7bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
€X.Xbn
Employees
3,672
Businesses
755
Wages
€X.Xbn
Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany industry analysis
The waste treatment and disposal sector plays an important role in the circular economy. Industry players pre-treat waste so that it can be reused by downstream recycling companies. Due to the coronavirus crisis, which led to a slump in production volumes in the manufacturing industry, the volume of waste generated in Germany fell, which meant that the sector generated lower turnover with recycling companies. In addition to the decline in production volume, the industry was also impacted by the fact that the construction sector lost momentum due to financing. While turnover in building construction still recorded growth in 2021 due to the high order backlog, it has fallen since 2022 due to the ECB's increase in the key interest rate. Nevertheless, industry turnover increased by an average of 1.2% per year between 2019 and 2024 due to the high level of raw material prices and the high prices achievable for electricity from waste incineration. Industry revenue is expected to fall by 1.3% year-on-year to EUR 16.7 billion in 2024. IBISWorld expects a stable high profit margin for the current year, in particular due to the high commodity price level.The industry's most important customers are companies from the manufacturing and construction sectors. The sector's turnover is therefore largely dependent on the development of production volumes and the construction industry. In turn, construction activity is linked to demand for housing and financing conditions, such as the interest rates charged on construction loans. Despite falling interest rates, growth is likely to continue to be dampened by high construction costs in the current year. Production volumes are also likely to decline in the current year, which also represents a risk for the waste management industry. On the other hand, the increase in recycling efforts is leading to a rise in demand for processed waste from downstream recycling companies.In the next five years, the industry's turnover is expected to increase by an average of 2.2% per year to 18.6 billion euros in 2029. The industry's range of services is expected to shift significantly towards the energy recovery of waste and pre-treatment for recycling in the future. The number of employees and companies in the sector is also likely to increase by 2029, as waste treatment as preparation for the recycling process offers great potential for the future.
Trends and Insights
- The capacity for landfilling waste is constantly decreasing. The reason for this is the decreasing number of landfill sites in Germany. As a result, a lot of waste is being exported abroad and stored there.
- The resale of treated waste to recycling companies offers the industry sales potential. The recyclability of raw materials for use in production is likely to play an increasingly important role in the next five years.
- The centre region is home to the most companies in the sector. Many companies from the construction industry, the main producers of waste in Germany, have also settled here. They offer high sales potential for waste handlers.
- Competition, both internal and external, will increase in intensity in the coming years. On the one hand, small and medium-sized companies will be displaced by larger ones and, on the other, companies from the manufacturing sector will increasingly take over waste treatment themselves.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €16.7bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The waste treatment companies are primarily financed through fees and the resale of treated waste
- The industry players finance themselves through fees paid by the waste collection sector or direct customers such as the construction industry for the disposal of certain types of waste. For other waste, however, such as some metal parts, the industry players even have to pay themselves, as these can be resold after pre-treatment.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Waste processing is an attractive business model
- According to IBISWorld, the increasing focus on waste processing instead of landfilling represents a promising business model for the industry.
Biggest companies in the Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Remondis SE & Co. KG | 777.4 | |
Alba Group plc & Co. KG | 282.5 | |
AGR Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbH | 181.1 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Waste treatment for recycling, Landfill and incineration and Energy utilisation. Waste treatment for recycling is the largest segment of the Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany.
Trends and Insights
The treatment of waste for recycling will become increasingly important in the future
- Waste treatment for recycling refers to the processing and pre-treatment of waste such as construction waste, chemical waste, waste paper or plastics.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Materials Recovery in Germany
Complementors
- Sewerage in Germany
- Waste Collection in Germany
International industries
- Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in the US
- Waste Collection Services in Canada
- Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in Australia
- Waste Collection Services in New Zealand
- Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry players are responsible for the treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Treatment and disposal is carried out in different ways. The waste is mainly incinerated or deposited in landfills.
What's included in this industry?
Waste treatment for recyclingLandfill and incinerationEnergy utilisationCompanies
Remondis SE & Co. KGAlba Group plc & Co. KGAGR Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbHPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
DEPONYRECYCLINGEPS (EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE)HBCD (HEXABROMOCYCLODODECANE)CIRCULAR ECONOMYPRIMARY RAW MATERIALSSECONDARY RAW MATERIALSSCHLACKETHERMAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANTSIndustry Code
WZ 38.2 - Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The capacity for landfilling waste is constantly decreasing. The reason for this is the decreasing number of landfill sites in Germany. As a result, a lot of waste is being e...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The resale of treated waste to recycling companies offers the industry sales potential. The recyclability of raw materials for use in production is likely to play an increasi...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The centre region is home to the most companies in the sector. Many companies from the construction industry, the main producers of waste in Germany, have also settled here. ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Competition, both internal and external, will increase in intensity in the coming years. On the one hand, small and medium-sized companies will be displaced by larger ones an...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The company Remondis tries to hedge against price fluctuations by means of futures contracts. The high volatility of market prices for primary and secondary raw materials is ...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Remondis SE & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Alba Group plc & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of AGR Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Remondis SE & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Alba Group plc & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for AGR Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Thanks to government funding, the industry can realise test and showcase projects. Fully automated processing of biological waste and research into processes for metal separa...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The profit margin remains stable despite an increasing level of regulation. The industry players are becoming increasingly successful in reselling treated waste and utilising...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany in 2024?
The market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany is €16.7bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany industry in 2024?
There are 755 businesses in the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Waste Treatment & Disposal market in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Waste Treatment & Disposal market in Germany are Remondis SE & Co. KG, Alba Group plc & Co. KG and AGR Abfallentsorgungs-Gesellschaft Ruhrgebiet mbH
What does the Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany include?
Waste treatment for recycling and Landfill and incineration are part of the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in Germany is Remondis SE & Co. KG.
How competitive is the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany.
