IBISWorld Platform
Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.
Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Waste-to-energy (WtE) plant operations have been navigating a complex landscape shaped by economic fluctuations, waste generation dynamics and evolving waste management technologies. The industry's performance has become increasingly tied to the amount of waste produced, which reflects overall consumption patterns and construction activity. While heightened construction activity once provided a steady stream of materials for WtE plants, recent interest rate hikes have slowed down this source of growth, leading to reduced waste and a downturn in WtE plant revenues. Also, the sluggish manufacturing sector has lowered the need for electricity and heat utilities that WtE plants provide and waste volumes, compounding challenges. Rising demand for power from data centers have driven up the price of electric power. Industry-wide revenue has been falling at a CAGR of 1.3% over the past five years and is expected to total $1.4 billion in 2025, including an estimated 2.0% increase in 2025 amid rising electric power prices. Also, profit has increased over the five years through 2025 relative to 2020 pandemic lows.
Access this data your way
The Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation in the US Industry analysis is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.
API Data Delivery
Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.
Integrations
Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.
What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code OD4496. This industry contains establishments primarily operate waste-to-energy plants. Waste-to-energy (WtE) is an umbrella term for processes that are used to create energy out of waste. Industry operators collect waste and revenue through tipping fees and generate additional revenue from sales of electricity generated by waste. This industry does not include publicly owned and operated facilities, but does include private companies operating on behalf of municipally owned WtE plants. Related terms covered in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States include incineration, refuse-derived fuel (rdf), kilowatt-hour, pyrolysis, gasification, tipping fee and electrostatic precipitator.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States include Mass burn, Refuse-derived fuel and Modular.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States include Covanta Holding Corp and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Trusted by industry professionals
More than 6,000 businesses use IBISWorld to shape local and global economies
We were able to supplement our reports with IBISWorld’s information from both a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. All of our reporting now features some level of IBISWorld integration.
IBISWorld delivers the crisp business knowledge we need to drive our business. Whether it be serving up our major clients, winning new business or educating on industry issues, IBISWorld brings real value.
IBISWorld has revolutionised business information — which has proved commercially invaluable to exporters, investors and public policy professionals in Australia and overseas.
When you’re able to speak to clients and be knowledgeable about what they do and the state that they operate in, they’re going to trust you a lot more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States is $1.4bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 9 businesses in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States?
The Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States 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-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States?
The Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States are Covanta Holding Corp and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.
What does the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States include?
Operating waste-to-energy incinerators and Operating gasification plants are part of the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States is Covanta Holding Corp.
How competitive is the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Waste-to-Energy Plant Operation industry in the United States.
Cut through the noise with intelligence you can trust
