Waste Collection Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: July 2024
NAICS 56211Revenue
$77.1bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
259k
Businesses
9,210
Wages
$XX.Xbn
Waste Collection Services in the US industry analysis
Waste collection servicers’ performance is primarily contingent on the volume of waste produced. The rate of waste collection significantly reflects the US economy, particularly the industrial production index and residential and non-residential construction activity. The impact of the pandemic in 2020 is a testament to this correlation; a drop in manufacturing output and construction resulted in a diminished expenditure on waste collection services. Moreover, fluctuations in fuel costs contribute to revenue volatility through varying fuel surcharges. Also, increased interest rates meant to temper inflation have further contributed to uncertainty in downstream markets in recent years. Despite this volatility, robust recovery and a wide range of clientele has caused revenue to grow at a CAGR of 1.0% to an estimated $77.1 billion through the end of 2024, including an anticipated 0.8% boost in 2024. In the same year, profit is projected to slump to 8.0%, with rising interest rates a big factor in this trend.
Trends and Insights
- Eco-friendly waste services are expanding due to public awareness and governmental policies. However, stringent regulations and increased privatization are driving up compliance costs, constraining growth for smaller servicers.
- Waste collection services are crucial for municipal management. Demand for these services is heavily influenced by consumer spending and economic conditions, such as rising interest rates and residential construction.
- The Sunbelt generates substantial demand for servicers due to a booming local population. Growth from an influx of immigrants and retiring baby boomers enables each town to adopt its own waste collection service due to large regional distances.
- Companies increasingly compete based on environmental credentials. Many waste collection servicers are investing in electric fleets or using eco-friendly natural gas from landfills to fuel their trucks and bolster sustainability efforts.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $77.1bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Environmentally friendly recycling and composting services spur expansion
- Governmental policies and increasing public awareness regarding environmental protection are driving customers towards premium recycling and composting services that prioritize eco-friendly practices.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Waste collection services will offset losses associated with increasing operating costs
- As companies strive for sustainability via advanced equipment, their operating costs will rise because of initial investments, maintenance and training for new technologies.
Biggest companies in the Waste Collection Services in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Waste Management, Inc. | 16,679.2 | 2,768.5 | 16.6 | |
Republic Services, Inc. | 13,987.6 | 2,464.7 | 17.6 | |
Waste Connections, Inc. | 5,349.4 | 749.0 | 14.0 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 14 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 Hazardous materials and other, Residential waste collection and Transfer, collection, and storage facility . Hazardous materials and other is the largest segment of the Waste Collection Services in the US.
Trends and Insights
Residential waste collection services remain stable
- Residential waste collection services are the responsibility of local municipalities that either undertake waste collection themselves or contract out the collection service to private companies.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in the US
Complementors
- Sewage Treatment Facilities in the US
- Remediation & Environmental Cleanup Services in the US
- Recycling Facilities in the US
International industries
- Waste Collection Services in Canada
- Liquid Waste Collection Services in Australia
- Solid Waste Collection Services in Australia
- Non-Hazardous Waste Collection in the UK
- Waste Collection in Ireland
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in this industry collect hazardous and nonhazardous waste and recyclable materials. Nonhazardous waste includes municipal solid waste, or household waste, and industrial and commercial waste. This industry also includes transfer stations in which waste is relocated from local vehicles to long-distance automobiles for transport to disposal facilities. This industry does not account for government-provided services of a similar nature.
What's included in this industry?
Hazardous materials waste collection and haulingResidential waste collectionTransfer, collection and storage facility waste collection servicesNonresidential waste collectionRadioactive waste collection and local haulingCompanies
Waste Management, Inc.Republic Services, Inc.Waste Connections, Inc.Purchase this report to view all 14 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACTVERTICAL INTEGRATIONHAZARDOUS WASTEMUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW)TRANSFER STATIONWASTE-TO-ENERGY (WTE)BIOFUELIndustry Code
NAICS 56211 - Waste Collection Services in the US
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
Eco-friendly waste services are expanding due to public awareness and governmental policies. However, stringent regulations and increased privatization are driving up complia...
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
Waste collection services are crucial for municipal management. Demand for these services is heavily influenced by consumer spending and economic conditions, such as rising i...
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 Sunbelt generates substantial demand for servicers due to a booming local population. Growth from an influx of immigrants and retiring baby boomers enables each town to a...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each state in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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
Companies increasingly compete based on environmental credentials. Many waste collection servicers are investing in electric fleets or using eco-friendly natural gas from lan...
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
Waste Management persisted in its emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability. Their goals included reducing carbon emissions, enhancing recycling processes and ...
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 Waste Management, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Republic Services, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Waste Connections, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 11 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Waste Management, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Republic Services, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Waste Connections, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 11 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Changes to environmental regulation and consumer trends in recycling have a significant effect on servicer demand. Recycling introduces unexpected costs like substituting the...
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
Waste collection services have consolidated operations through vertical integration and compliance costs. Nonetheless, volatile fuel prices have severely impacted broader pro...
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
- Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
- Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
- Income Statement (2017-2022)
- Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- 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 the US include:
- US Census Bureau
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US International Trade Commission
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 Collection Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States is $77.1bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in 2024?
There are 9,210 businesses in the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Waste Collection Services in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Waste Collection Services market in United States are Waste Management, Inc., Republic Services, Inc. and Waste Connections, Inc.
What does the Waste Collection Services in the US in United States include?
Hazardous materials waste collection and hauling and Residential waste collection are part of the Waste Collection Services in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Collection Services in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Waste Management, Inc..
How competitive is the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Waste Collection Services in the US industry in United States.
