Mobile Menu

Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal 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-E3821

Revenue

£50.6bn

2025-26

£52.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

261k

Businesses

9,410

Wages

£X.Xbn

Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK industry analysis

Europe’s Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal industry has contended with numerous headwinds in recent years, most notably declining waste volumes from downstream markets that have struggled amid turbulent economic conditions. Yet, long-term contracts limiting volatility and a greater emphasis on sustainability through greater recycling levels have kept demand afloat in the unfavourable environment. Revenue is projected to sink at a compound annual rate of 0.3% over the five years through 2025 to €50.6 billion, including an estimated hike of 1% in 2025, when the average industry profit margin is estimated to sit at 15.8%.

Trends and Insights

  • High fuel prices and landfill taxes are squeezing profit. As landfill taxes increase annually due to shortages, they lift the costs of disposing of waste, weighing on the average profit margin for those that use landfill sites.
  • Rising environmental awareness is boosting demand for waste treatment in Europe. Eco-friendly incineration and energy recovery are increasingly favoured as the region shifts focus toward reducing landfill use and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Waste handlers profit from generating and selling electricity from incinerated waste.
  • Concentration is low in the industry. Although consolidation activity is common among the larger players, low barriers to entry result in many smaller waste management companies joining the industry.
Show more

Top Questions Answered in this Report

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom is £50.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 9,410 businesses in the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom include?

Waste treatment and Waste disposal are part of the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal 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

Regulation is light in the industry. Waste managers are required to obtain licenses before they’re allowed to begin treatment and disposal activities.

View more insights with purchase. View purchase options.

External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Automation is reshaping the labour landscape in waste management. The non-hazardous waste treatment and disposal industry has witnessed a significant shift towards automation, reducing reliance on manual labour. Consequently, wage costs have stabilised.

View more insights with purchase. View purchase options.

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 Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal 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. 

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.

To learn more about specific data sources used by IBISWorld's analysts globally, including how industry data forecasts are produced, visit our Help Center.