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Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

Luyi Geng Luyi Geng London, United Kingdom Last Updated: June 2025 SIC UK-E3822

Revenue

£12.4bn

2025-26

£12.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

45,308

Businesses

1,857

Wages

£X.Xbn

Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK industry analysis

Demand for hazardous waste treatment and disposal services is driven by activity levels in key markets like healthcare, construction and manufacturing, which have proved particularly volatile in recent years. Revenue is expected to climb at a compound annual rate of 4.6% over the five years through 2025 to €12.4 billion, including a hefty rise of 9.1% in 2025. Profits are increasing in 2025 due to rising demand from businesses seeking proper waste disposal.

Trends and Insights

  • An ageing population and new healthcare facilities will increase hazardous waste demand. The UK government's plan to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 is indicative of a broader European trend. These new facilities will generate increased volumes of healthcare waste, boosting demand for industry services.
  • Demand for electronic waste treatment and disposal picks up. The rapid digitisation of economies in Europe in recent times has drastically ramped up electronic waste volumes.
  • Many waste management companies operate locally. High transportation costs means there’s little incentive for waste companies to operate outside of their local area, restricting market concentration.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom is £12.4bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 1,857 businesses in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 5.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom include?

Electronic waste and Electronic waste are part of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Hazardous waste management companies must be licensed. Given the high degree of danger in handling hazardous waste, treatment and disposal companies must acquire licences from local environmental authorities.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Volatile fuel costs drastically affect purchase costs. Fuel prices have been volatile in recent years, climbing due to geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and supply chain disruptions, driving up purchase expenses. However, prices are cooling, stabilising purchase costs for companies.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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