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Medical Waste Management Market – By Type of Waste, By Service, By Waste Generator – Global Forecast, 2025 to 2034

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Medical Waste Management Market Size

The global medical waste management market size was valued at around USD 15.7 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at 7.4% CAGR from 2025 to 2034. Medical waste management refers to the activities and methods used to manage waste produced by health care structures, ranging from hospitals, clinics, laboratories, even research facilities. This category of waste includes material which can be hazardous to the health of individuals and the environment.
 

Medical Waste Management Market

The demand for healthcare infrastructure such as hospitals, clinics, research facilities, and even laboratories is leading to an increasing amount of medical waste. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that high-income countries produce approximately 0.5 kilograms of waste per bed per day, compared to the low-income nations receiving an average of 0.2 kilograms per day. The amount of waste produced is continually increasing, creating a subsequent need for effective waste management solutions.
 

Furthermore, the lack of proper disposal of medical waste leads to the spread of infectious diseases and pollution. These issues have raised concern from healthcare providers and the governing bodies. The proper and effective treatment of healthcare waste ensures that drug resistant microorganisms are not spread to other areas, highlighting the need for proper waste management solutions. Thus, such issues have highlighted the demand for proper education and training on waste handling and disposal in healthcare facilities.


Moreover, there is an increase in the adoption of strong waste management systems due to the stringent government and international health regulations regarding the treatment, handling, and disposal of medical waste. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which carries out the Medical Waste Tracking Act; focus on establishing medical waste management. Such regulatory measures will increase the demand for specialist waste management services and equipment as well as emphasize the need for new waste treatment technologies which would comply with the regulations.

Medical Waste Management Market Trends

  • The emerging concern for public safety and environmental health positively affects the market. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a case study for why medical waste must be effectively managed during emergencies. PPE in the healthcare system during the pandemic increased the amount of medical waste.
     
  • From March 2020 to November 2021, the WHO estimates there was 87,000 tones of PPE waste and most of it was wasted. This demonstrates the dearth of solid waste management systems in existence.
     
  • CDC has highlighted these practices by outlining the effective management of medical waste to contain the spread of infections to health workers, patients, and the environment. This focus on safety and compliance has improved how waste is handled within health care facilities.
     
  • These were instances of how some supportive regulatory frameworks and research investments created great opportunities for market players during the pandemic. For instance, in the U.S., the EPA issued guidelines concerning the disposal of medical waste during the COVID-19 pandemic which helped bring uniformity in practices while reducing the risk for exposure during disposal. These initiatives facilitated the development of medical waste management technologies and services.
     

Medical Waste Management Market Analysis

Medical Waste Management Market, By Type of Waste, 2021 – 2034 (USD Billion)

Based on type of waste, the market is bifurcated into hazardous and non-hazardous. The non-hazardous segment dominated the market with the largest revenue share of 76.7% in 2024.
 

  • The rise in the number of healthcare facilities in urban, as well as developing regions, is directly proportional to the increase in production of non-hazardous waste. The increase in the number of clinics, laboratories and hospitals results in a higher rate of disposable, non-infectious waste that creates the need for disposal at lower costs.
     
  • The increasing demand for sustainable management approaches within the healthcare industry increases the demand for medical waste management products. For instance, as per the WHO, around 85% of waste generated by healthcare activities is nondescript and non-hazardous.
     
  • Moreover, effective management of non-hazardous waste would lower operational costs by minimizing disposal costs and managing resources more efficiently.
     
  • Healthcare facilities are adopting more waste management methods, such as appropriate waste sorting and preventing recyclables from going to waste.
     
  • With tailored waste management practices, healthcare facilities can mitigate their ecological footprint while also increasing patient and staff safety, which in turn leads to greater segmentation growth.
     
Medical Waste Management Market, By Service (2024)

Based on service, the medical waste management market is segmented into collection, transportation and storage services, treatment and disposable services, recycling services, and other services. The treatment and disposable services segment are further sub-segmented into incineration, autoclaving, microwaving, and other treatment and disposable services. The recycling services segment dominated the market with the largest revenue of USD 5 billion in 2024.
 

  • The focus of medical waste recycling services is to securely remove, process, and recycle certain medical waste types, consisting of non-infectious plastics and metals from healthcare facilities. These services help reduce the environmental footprint by transforming undesirable waste into reusable materials or energy instead of sending it to landfills.
     
  • In addition, as noted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the lack of proper disposal facilities of medical waste can contribute to soil and water pollution, which raises the importance of having robust recycling programs.
     
  • Thus, healthcare facilities globally are further developing detailed waste management programs which stipulate recycling as an important activity in conserving the environment and resources within the healthcare industry.
     
  • Moreover, in various countries, healthcare facilities are obliged by harsh ecological policies to recycle specific types of waste or cut down on the amounts sent to landfills. These policy regulations and incentives ensure that the recycling of waste is integrated within the medical waste management industry. This policy perspective illustrates the increased importance attached to the recycling of medical waste in healthcare systems.
     

Based on waste generator, the medical waste management market is segmented into hospitals, laboratories and research centres, nursing homes, and other waste generators. The laboratories and research centres segment dominated the market with the largest revenue of USD 5.7 billion in 2024.
 

  • Laboratories must follow rigid rules such as those set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) when it comes to waste storage, handling, and disposal. Compliance with these rules is crucial for safety and protection of the environment, thereby increasing the market for professional waste management services.
     
  • In addition, chemicals, other infectious agents, and hazardous materials are worked on in research facilities. For instance, according to WHO, 15% of the total waste produced in a healthcare facility is classified as potentially hazardous which includes infectious, toxic, and radioactive materials.
     
  • It is vital to effective biological waste management in healthcare facilities to eliminate contamination, reduce staff health risks, and avert disease transmission. This context emphasizes putting in place robust waste management plans in the laboratory and research activities to preserve humans and the surroundings.
     
U.S. Medical Waste Management Market, 2021 – 2034 (USD Billion)
  • The U.S. medical waste management market is projected to grow significantly, reaching USD 11.1 billion by 2034.
     

  • The change within the industry is being propelled by the growing public and legislative concern regarding the environmental and health hazards posed by the insufficient management of medical waste.
     
  • The increasing risk of water and soil pollution and disease spread have raised the anthropological alarm for construction of adequate waste treatment systems. Hence, medical institutions are adopting more sophisticated waste management systems.
     
  • Moreover, there are standards of infection control that are followed in the U.S. which demand the use of disposables, specifically in the era after Covid where prevention of infections is a priority.
     
  • The escalating rates of medical waste resulting from high usage proportion of disposable PPE such as masks, gloves, and gowns in the healthcare system have enhanced the volume of generated medical waste.
     
  • According to The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, over 6000 tons of disposable waste is generated by healthcare facilities in the U.S., leading to a total of approximately 14,000 tons of waste being generated per day.
     
  • Amidst this growth, there is an increasing focus on generating efficient means for disposing of medical waste. A greater emphasis on effective management of medical waste is expected to prompt further developments in disposal technology and techniques to address the demands without compromising the environment.
     
  • The medical waste management market in UK is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
     

  • In accordance with their carbon targets, the National Health Service (NHS) aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, but aims for a goal by 2030, which helps guide their direct control measures. Based on a report from NHS England and NHS improvement, 11 coal stations are pulled into the NHS emulation as 5.4% is used to indicate UK's carbon population.
     
  • Such initiatives are enabling hospitals and service providers to adopt sustainable practices such as waste reduction tactics, along with alternative options for incineration, such as recycling and reuse where applicable. These steps are important for the NHS to meet their environmental targets and further decrease the carbon footprint.
     
  • Japan medical waste management market is anticipated to witness lucrative growth between 2025 to 2034.
     

  • Japan has made significant steps towards the achievement of environmental sustainability, particularly through its harsh legislation on the processing, disposal, and recycling of medical waste.
     
  • The Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law together with Industrial Waste Management Law offer detailed instructions for the treatment of healthcare waste and include fines for contravening them. These laws force the healthcare industry to practice a high standard of waste management, and in so doing, add a mark to Japan's progress in sustainable waste management.
     
  • Japan's sophisticated means of waste management has been pointed out by the WHO for its focus on the 3R principle; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Emphasis on Japan's healthcare centers properly functioning aligns with WHO's global action and strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance, claiming it is crucial for containment of infections.
     
  • This concern positions Japan's contemporary practices as a world power in sustainable healthcare and protection of the environment.
     
  • The medical waste management market in Saudi Arabia is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
     

  • There is increasing volume of medical waste due to Saudi Arabia's immense investment in the building of new hospitals, clinics, research centers, and specialized medical facilities throughout the country.
     
  • Compared to the situation in the present, there is expected to be a proportional increase in the quantum of medical waste that is generated due to the expansion of Saudi Arabia's healthcare system. This, in turn, is bound to lead to an increased requirement in the region for effective and volumetric solutions to the medical waste problem.
     

Medical Waste Management Market Share

The competition in the market comes from both large companies that operate on an international scale and many small to mid-sized firms operating in various countries. So, one of the focus areas of market players is spending money on the creation of efficient medical waste management technologies like steam sterilizers, microwave systems, and plasma pyrolytic systems.
 

Collaboration with research and education centers as well as with medical institutions is extremely important for modernization and distribution so that companies can respond to the increasing need for inexpensive and simple methods for making medical diagnoses. Much more needs to be done to encourage innovation and facilitate entry into this market so that these companies can strengthen their positions in the emerging markets for medical waste management.
 

Medical Waste Management Market Companies

Some of the eminent market participants operating in the medical waste management industry include:

  • Bertin Technologies
  • BioMedical Waste Solutions
  • Clean Harbors
  • Daniels Sharpsmart
  • Environmental Solutions Group
  • Gamma Waste Systems
  • GRP & Associates
  • MedPro Disposal
  • Republic Services
  • Stericycle AG
  • Suez Recycling and Recovery
  • Triumvirate Environmental
  • US Ecology
  • Veolia Environmental Services
  • Waste Management

USPs for the top market players:

  • Compliance expertise to ensure adherence to local and federal regulations.
     
  • Comprehensive product portfolio for hazardous and non-hazardous infectious medical waste
     
  • Cost-effective pricing with high service quality
     

The medical waste management market research report includes an in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates and forecast in terms of revenue in USD Million from 2021 – 2034 for the following segments:

Market, By Type of Waste

  • Hazardous
  • Non-hazardous

Market, By Service

  • Collection, transportation and storage services
  • Treatment and disposable services
    • Incineration
    • Autoclaving
    • Microwaving
    • Other treatment and disposable services
  • Recycling services
  • Other services

Market, By Waste Generator

  • Hospitals
  • Laboratories and research centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Other waste generators

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

  • North America 
    • U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe 
    • Germany
    • UK
    • France
    • Spain
    • Italy
  • Asia Pacific 
    • China
    • Japan
    • India
    • Australia
  • Latin America 
    • Brazil
    • Mexico
  • Middle East and Africa 
    • South Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • UAE
       
Authors: Mariam Faizullabhoy , Gauri Wani
Frequently Asked Question(FAQ) :
What is the projected size of the U.S. medical waste management industry?
The U.S. medical waste management market is projected to reach USD 11.1 billion by 2034, driven by heightened public and institutional awareness regarding the environmental and health risks of improper medical waste disposal.
How big is the medical waste management market?
Why is the non-hazardous segment dominating the market?
Who are some of the prominent players in the medical waste management industry?
Medical Waste Management Market Scope
  • Medical Waste Management Market Size
  • Medical Waste Management Market Trends
  • Medical Waste Management Market Analysis
  • Medical Waste Management Market Share
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    Premium Report Details

    Base Year: 2024

    Companies covered: 15

    Tables & Figures: 105

    Countries covered: 17

    Pages: 135

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