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Waste Management 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-E39

Revenue

£12.6bn

2025-26

£13.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

55,123

Businesses

8,314

Wages

£X.Xbn

Waste Management in the UK industry analysis

The performance of the Waste Management industry is highly contingent on residential and commercial construction activity, as remediation and decontamination services are required on construction sites to meet strict regulations. Other factors like public concern over environmental issues, weather conditions and the level of government expenditure also contribute to solid demand for waste management services. Revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 3.4% over the five years through 2025 to €12.6 billion, including an estimated increase of 2.9% in 2025, while the average industry profit margin is forecast to be 17.4%.

Trends and Insights

  • AI technology is revolutionising waste management in Europe. The AI Against Oil Spills project, launched in May 2025, rapidly detects and responds to oil spills in Dutch ports, enhancing efficiency and boosting demand for waste management services.
  • A slowing construction sector hits demand for soil and groundwater mediation. Supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures hit construction activity, dampening demand for soil and ground water remediation.
  • Concentration in the Waste Management industry is low. Many small waste managers operate in the industry, catering to local markets, keeping the industry fragmented.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom is £12.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 8,314 businesses in the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom include?

Soil and groundwater remediation and Oil spill and other pollution cleanups are part of the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Waste Management industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Waste Management 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

Waste management companies require licensing. Given the harmful nature of substances that waste management companies typically deal with, they must acquire the appropriate licensing from environmental authorities.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Waste Management in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Skilled workers inflate wage costs. The hazardous nature of collecting certain types of waste demands qualified workers, which typically require higher wages.

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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 Waste Management 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.

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights. 

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