U.S. Waste Management Market Report: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goals

Market Overview and Projections

A recent market analysis indicates significant growth in the U.S. waste management sector, with projections showing an increase from US$ 118.5 billion in 2025 to US$ 147.0 billion by 2032. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4%. The expansion is primarily driven by heightened environmental awareness, stringent government regulations, and substantial investments in recycling infrastructure. The industry’s evolution is closely tied to achieving national and global sustainability targets, particularly through the adoption of smart technologies and circular economy models aimed at reducing landfill dependency and enhancing resource recovery.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The U.S. waste management industry is integral to advancing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its operations directly support environmental protection, public health, and sustainable urban development.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By managing waste generated from rising populations and industrial activities, the sector ensures cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The industry is at the forefront of promoting circular economy principles, focusing on recycling, resource recovery, and reducing waste generation, which are central to this goal.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Efforts to reduce landfill use, capture methane gas, and transition to cleaner fleet technologies directly contribute to mitigating climate change.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Proper management of all waste streams, especially hazardous and medical waste, is critical for protecting public health from environmental contaminants.
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Effective waste containment and treatment prevent the pollution of water bodies, safeguarding water resources.

Market Dynamics and SDG Alignment

Market Drivers

The primary drivers for the market are government regulations and policies designed to advance sustainability. Federal and state mandates promoting zero-waste initiatives and circular economy practices directly align with the objectives of SDG 12. Concurrently, rising environmental consciousness among consumers and corporations accelerates the adoption of recycling and composting, further supporting SDG 11 and SDG 13.

Market Restraints

Significant challenges hinder the full realization of sustainability goals. A lack of uniform waste management policies across states creates inefficiencies that impede progress toward national SDG targets. Furthermore, the high capital investment required for advanced processing facilities and persistent operational costs pose considerable barriers to widespread modernization and compliance.

Key Market Opportunities

Substantial opportunities lie in the integration of digital technologies to modernize waste management systems. The adoption of smart bins, AI-powered sorting, and data analytics can optimize collection and recycling efficiency, contributing to SDG 11. Expansion into specialized segments like e-waste and medical waste management addresses critical aspects of SDG 3 and SDG 12, offering new avenues for sustainable growth.

Market Segmentation Analysis

By Waste Type

The market is segmented into municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste (e-waste).

1. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): As the largest segment, effective MSW management is fundamental to achieving SDG 11 by ensuring the cleanliness and sustainability of communities.
2. Industrial and Hazardous Waste: The specialized treatment of these waste streams is vital for regulatory compliance and protecting ecosystems, directly supporting SDG 6 and SDG 12.
3. Electronic Waste (e-waste): Growing demand for e-waste management reflects an increasing focus on recovering valuable materials and preventing toxic pollution, a key component of SDG 12.

By Service Type

Services include collection, transportation, disposal, and recycling. The rapid growth of recycling services is a direct response to regulatory and consumer pressure to move away from linear “take-make-dispose” models. This shift is essential for building a circular economy as envisioned in SDG 12. Innovations in materials recovery facilities (MRFs) are enhancing the efficiency of this transition.

Regional Analysis and SDG Implementation

California leads the U.S. market, with its progressive environmental policies and ambitious climate goals serving as a benchmark for state-level implementation of the SDGs. Legislation such as SB 1383, which mandates organic waste reduction, exemplifies a targeted approach to achieving SDG 12 and SDG 13. Other major states, including New York, Texas, and Florida, are also making significant investments in waste processing infrastructure to support their large populations and advance their sustainability objectives. Public-private partnerships are proving instrumental across regions in developing the scalable infrastructure needed to meet national waste diversion and recycling targets.

Competitive Landscape and Corporate Responsibility

The market features several established corporations actively contributing to sustainability goals through strategic initiatives and investments. Key industry players include:

• Waste Management, Inc.
• Republic Services, Inc.
• Waste Connections, Inc.
• Clean Harbors, Inc.
• Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
• Covanta Holding Corporation
• Stericycle, Inc.
• Veolia North America
• Recology Inc.

Recent developments highlight a strong industry commitment to the SDGs. Waste Management, Inc.’s investment in advanced recycling facilities and electric trucks supports SDG 12 and SDG 13. Republic Services’ sustainability platform aims for carbon neutrality, directly addressing SDG 13. Stericycle’s focus on medical waste services is crucial for SDG 3, while Veolia’s expertise in hazardous waste management helps partners meet stringent environmental standards aligned with SDG 6 and SDG 12.

Innovation and Future Trends for Sustainable Waste Management

The future of waste management is being shaped by digital transformation and a deepening commitment to circularity. Innovations such as IoT-enabled smart bins, AI-based sorting, and route optimization software are improving operational efficiency and reducing the environmental footprint of waste services, advancing SDG 11 and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Looking forward, the industry is poised to fully embrace circular economy principles, with an emphasis on material reuse, sustainable packaging, and extended producer responsibility (EPR). The growth of waste-to-energy technologies will also play a role in achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), positioning the market for a transformative decade centered on sustainability.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article connects to this goal by discussing the management of hazardous and medical waste, which is crucial for protecting public health from harmful substances and pathogens.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  This goal is addressed through the article’s focus on investments in recycling infrastructure, the adoption of smart technologies like IoT and AI for waste management, and the overall modernization of the waste sector to improve efficiency and sustainability.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article directly relates to this goal by highlighting the importance of managing municipal solid waste (MSW) in the context of growing urbanization and the need for sustainable urban development. It discusses strategies to make cities cleaner and more sustainable through effective waste collection and processing.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This is a central theme of the article. It emphasizes the shift towards a circular economy, reducing landfill dependency, increasing recycling rates, and promoting resource recovery. These actions are fundamental to achieving sustainable production and consumption patterns.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article links waste management to climate action by mentioning federal and state-level climate action plans, corporate goals for carbon neutrality, and the adoption of electric waste collection trucks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The role of collaboration is explicitly mentioned, highlighting that “Public-private partnerships are playing a pivotal role in enhancing infrastructure and service delivery” and that collaboration between governments, manufacturers, and recyclers is crucial for achieving zero-waste targets.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on the growing need for “hazardous waste” and “medical waste management” directly supports this target by aiming to safely handle and dispose of materials that could otherwise cause illness and pollution.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The article details this through mentions of “investments in recycling infrastructure,” “technology integration, such as IoT-based waste tracking and automated sorting,” and the adoption of “AI-based waste sorting systems” to modernize the industry.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The article’s entire focus on the “U.S. waste management market,” particularly the “municipal solid waste (MSW)” segment driven by “growing urbanization,” directly addresses this target. It discusses improving collection, processing, and disposal to minimize the environmental impact of cities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. The article addresses this by discussing the management of “industrial waste,” “hazardous waste,” and “electronic waste (e-waste),” and the need for “specialized treatment and regulatory compliance.”
  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. This target is central to the article, which highlights efforts to “reduce landfill dependency,” improve “recycling rates,” promote “waste diversion and recycling programs,” and embrace “circular economy models that… promote efficient resource recovery.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article supports this by noting that market growth is driven by “climate action plans” and that companies are setting goals like “achieving carbon neutrality by 2030” and using “electric waste collection trucks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article explicitly states that “Public-private partnerships are playing a pivotal role in enhancing infrastructure and service delivery” and that “regional governments are increasingly collaborating with private players to enhance waste diversion rates.”

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Target 11.6 (Municipal Waste Management)

  • Indicator 11.6.1: Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities. The article implies this through its discussion of “municipal solid waste (MSW)” as the leading market segment and the growth of “collection, transportation, disposal, recycling” services. The implementation of “curbside recycling systems” is a specific measure of this.

• Target 12.4 (Environmentally Sound Management of Waste)

  • Indicator 12.4.2: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment. The article points to this by highlighting the “rising demand for e-waste and hazardous waste management” and the focus of companies like Veolia on managing “complex hazardous waste streams.”

• Target 12.5 (Reduce Waste Generation)

  • Indicator 12.5.1: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled. This is a key metric implied throughout the article. It is directly referenced in phrases like “improving recycling rates,” “investments in waste diversion and recycling programs,” “material recovery efficiency,” and the expansion of “materials recovery facility (MRFs)” capacity.

• Target 9.4 (Sustainable Infrastructure and Technology)

  • The article implies indicators such as the level of investment in sustainable infrastructure and the rate of technology adoption. This is supported by mentions of “increasing investments in recycling infrastructure,” companies planning to “invest in expanding its recycling capacity,” and the fact that “technology integration… is gaining traction across states.”

• Target 13.2 (Climate Action Integration)

  • An implied indicator is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the waste sector. The article provides concrete examples, such as Waste Management, Inc.’s introduction of “electric waste collection trucks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” and Republic Services’ goal of “achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.”

• Target 17.17 (Partnerships)

  • An indicator would be the number and scope of public-private partnerships in the waste management sector. The article provides qualitative evidence by stating that “Public-private partnerships are playing a pivotal role” and that companies are entering into “strategic partnerships with local governments.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: openpr.com