Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €3.0bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Outsourcing trend opens up new market opportunities for specialised disposal service providers for hazardous waste in Germany
- The hazardous waste treatment and disposal sector in Germany is experiencing a clear outsourcing trend. More and more companies from sectors such as chemicals, construction and healthcare are outsourcing the disposal of hazardous waste to specialised service providers. The main reasons for this are the constantly increasing legal requirements for record keeping, documentation and treatment as well as the increasing technological complexity. As a result, internal disposal solutions are becoming unprofitable for many waste producers for economic and safety reasons. This ongoing trend is also reflected in the development of company figures. According to IBISWorld estimates, the number of active companies rose from 133 to 201 between 2015 and 2025.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The amended TRGS 520 marks the start of greater safety and digitalisation in waste disposal
- The Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances 520 (TRGS 520) is a central regulation that governs the safe operation of collection centres and interim storage facilities for small quantities of hazardous waste in Germany. It is published by the Committee for Hazardous Substances (AGS) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). The aim is to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of hazardous waste. TRGS 520 was last fundamentally revised in September 2024 in order to take into account current technological developments, new legal requirements - in particular through European directives - and practical experience. Particular consideration is given to new waste streams such as lithium-ion batteries, stricter requirements for specialist knowledge and measures to promote digitalisation.
Biggest companies in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Pre-treatment, collection and transport, Thermal processes and Landfill. Pre-treatment, collection and transport is the largest segment of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in Germany.
Trends and Insights
Safe pre-treatment, collection and transport of waste are essential in the industry
- This segment covers the first steps in the waste disposal chain for hazardous substances. Before actual treatment or final disposal, the waste must be safely and efficiently removed from its point of origin - be it an industrial plant, a hospital or a laboratory - and transported to specialised treatment or disposal facilities.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The companies in this sector specialise in the pre-treatment and disposal of hazardous waste that is explosive, oxidising, flammable, toxic, irritant, carcinogenic, corrosive, infectious or otherwise harmful to humans and the environment. The aim is to minimise the risks posed to people and the environment by certain types of waste using special processes and to ensure safe disposal.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany include Operation of facilities for the treatment of hazardous waste, Treatment and disposal of contaminated live or dead animals and contaminated waste, Incineration of hazardous waste, Environmentally friendly disposal of used goods and Treatment, disposal and storage of radioactive waste.Companies
Companies covered in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany include .Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany include centrifugation, sedimentation, conditioning and phytosanisation.Industry Code
WZ 38.22.0 - Hazardous 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
As a result of the outsourcing trend, specialised waste management companies are increasingly taking on central tasks that were previously carried out in-house. The industry ...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
- Factors that influence volatility in the industry
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Many industries rely on expertise in the treatment and disposal of waste. From manufacturing industries to small businesses, everyone relies on experts when it comes to safel...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
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
Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- 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
The waste management industry is characterised by small and medium-sized companies. The companies in the sector are mainly providers that operate at a local or regional level...
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 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The industry must adhere to strict legal requirements. In particular, the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act, the Federal Immission Control Act, the Waste Catalogue ...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Modern facilities enable greater efficiency and increase profits. Through the use of advanced waste treatment technologies, industry companies can optimise their treatment an...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany in 2025?
The market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany is €3.0bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 201 businesses in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany has been growing at a CAGR of 6.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What does the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany include?
Operation of facilities for the treatment of hazardous waste and Treatment and disposal of contaminated live or dead animals and contaminated waste are part of the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany.
How competitive is the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in Germany.
Related Industries
Widen your competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
View all industries in Germany
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.
