Medical Waste Management Market Report 2026

The medical waste management market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $19.69 billion in 2025 to $20.73 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing healthcare facility expansion, increasing medical activity volumes, rising awareness of infection control needs, early development of regulated waste systems, strengthening healthcare safety responsibilities.

The medical waste management market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $25.22 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing environmental protection enforcement, rising healthcare waste generation, expansion of specialized medical waste processing infrastructure, growing regulatory compliance requirements, strengthening focus on sustainable waste management practices. Major trends in the forecast period include growing focus on safe biomedical waste handling and disposal, rising adoption of regulated waste treatment and compliance systems, increasing preference for organized waste collection services, expansion of advanced waste treatment and sterilization technologies, strengthening emphasis on environmental health and public safety.

The increasing volume of healthcare waste is anticipated to drive the expansion of the medical waste management market in the coming years. Healthcare waste volume refers to the total amount of waste generated by medical facilities, including infectious materials, sharps, pharmaceutical residues, and other hazardous byproducts resulting from patient care activities. The rise in healthcare waste volume is largely driven by the aging global population, as older individuals require more frequent medical treatments, extended hospital stays, and higher usage of medical supplies and medications, all of which generate significant waste. Growing volumes of healthcare waste heighten the need for specialized disposal services, as hospitals and healthcare facilities depend on professional systems to safely collect, transport, treat, and dispose of contaminated materials that pose serious risks to human health and the environment. For example, in September 2025, according to the Amlon Group, a US-based environmental solutions company, US hospitals generate more than 14,000 tons of waste each day, equating to approximately 33.8 pounds of waste per patient per day. Therefore, the rising volume of healthcare waste is contributing to the growth of the medical waste management market.

Leading companies operating in the medical waste management market are concentrating on the development of advanced solutions, such as environmentally friendly waste containment systems, to replace traditional single-use plastic waste containers. An eco-friendly solution refers to a sustainable practice or technology designed to minimize environmental impact by conserving resources, reducing pollution, and promoting ecological balance. For instance, in June 2025, Daniels Healthcare Ltd., a UK-based medical waste solutions company, introduced the 24L SHARPSGUARD eco container, the world’s first sharps container manufactured using recycled healthcare waste as part of its sustainable product portfolio. This innovation replaces conventional single-use sharps containers by producing regulated medical waste containers with up to 80% post-consumer recycled plastic, including up to 40% sourced directly from NHS clinical waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill, thereby lowering carbon emissions and supporting circular waste practices. Designed to prioritize sustainability, safety, and performance, the eco container provides greater usable capacity, maintains established clinical compliance, and is offered at the same cost as traditional containers. Integrated with Daniels Healthcare’s broader clinical waste management solutions and developed in collaboration with NHS partners and recycling specialists, it delivers a sustainable medical waste solution that helps healthcare facilities achieve environmental objectives, streamline waste operations, and encourage wider adoption of eco-efficient practices across the industry.

In July 2024, Superior Medical Waste Disposal LLC, a U.S.-based waste management company, acquired the medical waste customer base of Bioclean Team Inc. for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is intended to enhance Superior Medical Waste Disposal LLC's service offerings and expand its market presence within the medical waste management sector. Bioclean Team Inc. is a U.S.-based company specializing in innovative cleaning and disinfection solutions.

Major companies operating in the medical waste management market report are Stericycle Inc., Veolia Environmental Services, Clean Harbors Inc., Suez Environmental Services, Waste Management Inc., Republic Services Inc., Sharps Compliance Inc., Daniels Health Inc., Remondis SE & Co. KG, Biffa Group, Initial Medical, PHS Group, Hanjer Biotech Energies Pvt. Ltd., Tatva Global Environment Ltd., BVG India Ltd., Averda Waste Management, MedPro Disposal, United Medical Waste Management, BioSter SA, ARTECH Reduction Technologies, Eco Medical Waste Services, Condor Medical Waste Treatment Company LLC, Med-X Waste Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Compass Medical Waste Services (Pty) Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the medical waste management market in 2025. North America was the second-largest region in the global medical waste management market share. The regions covered in the medical waste management market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the medical waste management market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Medical waste management consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as waste treatment and disposal. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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