Mobile Menu

Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Matt Reeves Matt Reeves Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: April 2025 ANZSIC D2921NZ

Revenue

$483.1m

2025-26

$499.0m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

1,226

Businesses

118

Wages

$XX.Xm

Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand industry analysis

A national focus on minimising landfill waste has impacted the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand. A rising population and number of businesses has increased waste generation, but a growing emphasis on sustainability and recycling has curbed industry revenue growth. Manufacturing processes have been developed to incorporate more recyclable materials, reducing disposable waste. Despite companies innovating landfill operations to be environmentally friendly, the increased use of recycling and waste reduction strategies has resulted in lower demand for waste treatment and disposal services. These factors are expected to have contributed to an annualised 1.3% drop in industry revenue over the five years through the 2024-25 to $483.1 million. This includes an anticipated 0.6% dip in 2024-25.

Trends and Insights

  • New Zealand’s focus on adopting sustainable recycling has harmed the industry’s performance. Revenue, industry value added, employment and total business numbers are all set to have declined over the five years through 2024-25 amid the changing waste disposal landscape.
  • Manufacturers have expanded their recycling capabilities, which, along with constrained manufacturing production across New Zealand, has decreased the volume of waste they’ve sent to landfills. An overall increase in construction activity has lifted construction firms’ contribution to industry revenue.
  • Auckland, with its large population, supports the highest number of waste management companies in New Zealand, contributing to around one-quarter of enterprises in the country. Conversely, rural areas like Marlborough and Nelson generate lower waste, so they’re less profitable.
  • Vertically integrated waste companies dominate the market. They’re able to maximise their economies of scale and guarantee a secure line of waste for treatment and disposal.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $483.1m in 2025.

Trends and Insights

A national focus on minimising waste sent to landfill is hurting the industry

  • The amount of waste generated in New Zealand dictates demand for waste treatment and disposal firms, with more waste supporting revenue growth. Increases in the number of households and businesses lead to more waste being produced in the economy.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

An increased rate of population growth will drive revenue over the next five years

  • Despite efforts to improve their sustainability, landfills can have a range of negative effects on the environment, including greenhouse emissions, soil pollution and groundwater contamination. However, as waste production in New Zealand is set to continue rising in the near future, landfills will still be required, creating demand for waste treatment and disposal firms.

Biggest companies in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
First Sentier Investors Holdings
148.6
Enviro
108.3

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Organic waste, Paper, plastic, metals and glass waste and Rubble, concrete and timber waste. Organic waste is the largest segment of the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Robust construction activity has lifted the share of rubble, concrete and timber waste produced

  • This segment includes rubble, concrete and timber waste products, all of which are primarily products of the construction sector.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Waste Treatment and Disposal Services concern the responsible management and disposal of solid, liquid, hazardous, organic and other wastes. Firms that operate landfills, combustors, incinerators and other treatment facilities are also included in the industry. Sewage treatment facilities are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Organic wastePaper, plastic, metals and glass wasteRubble, concrete and timber wasteHazardous wasteLiquid wasteTextile wasteEwaste

Companies

First Sentier Investors HoldingsEnviro

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BIOGASWASTE TREATMENTWASTE DISPOSALHAZARDOUS WASTE

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 2921 - Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand

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

New Zealand’s focus on adopting sustainable recycling has harmed the industry’s performance. Revenue, industry value added, employment and total business numbers are all set ...

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
  • 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

Manufacturers have expanded their recycling capabilities, which, along with constrained manufacturing production across New Zealand, has decreased the volume of waste they’ve ...

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

Auckland, with its large population, supports the highest number of waste management companies in New Zealand, contributing to around one-quarter of enterprises in the country...

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

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, 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

Vertically integrated waste companies dominate the market. They’re able to maximise their economies of scale and guarantee a secure line of waste for treatment and disposal.

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

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 is future-proofing its operations in Auckland, having already invested $50.0 million into a new waste treatment facility. The company has also invested in im...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of First Sentier Investors Holdings's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Enviro's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for First Sentier Investors Holdings, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Enviro, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Changes in waste collection services demand and the number of households in New Zealand are strong indicators of trends in the industry. Costs of natural disasters are highly...

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 (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

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

Operating costs for waste management companies have grown, driven by skyrockets in fuel prices. Elevated purchase costs have squeezed industrywide profitability, even though ...

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 Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand in 2025?

The market size of the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand is $483.1m in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand industry in 2025?

There are 118 businesses in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand?

The Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand?

The Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services market in New Zealand?

The biggest companies operating in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services market in New Zealand are First Sentier Investors Holdings and Enviro

What does the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand include?

Organic waste and Paper, plastic, metals and glass waste are part of the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is First Sentier Investors Holdings.

How competitive is the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Waste Treatment and Disposal Services industry in New Zealand.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

View all industries in New Zealand

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 New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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.