USD
GBP 
CNY 
EUR 
INR 
JPY 
MYR 
ZAR 
KRW 
THB 
Global Waste Recycling and Circular Economy Outlook, 2021
The Increasing Adoption of Smart Technologies Will Boost Decarbonization and the Digital Sustainability of Supply Chains
04-Oct-2021
North America
Market Research
MG41-01-00-00-00
EN01274-NA-MT_25822
$4,950.00
Special Price $3,712.50 save 25 %
2021 is defined by a continued market reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, implying that recycling facilities are still adjusting to market fluctuations. Digitalization and decarbonization will gain momentum and companies will strive to achieve sustainability goals and will continue to focus on innovative technologies.
The market is pushing for a further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is exploring every opportunity to get emissions to net zero and net negative. It is also integrating new business models and changing carbon-intensive enterprises into circular carbon businesses. Digital technologies and smart solutions for waste management are firmly established in the market; however, only highly connected and fully integrated systems with the ability to effectively transform data into valuable information will drive the integrated digital transformation of the waste industry and move it closer to a sustainable and circular economy. Circular supply chains are gaining momentum, along with a growing focus on material and product circularity, which impacts new production models that close the loop on material sourcing and drive cross-industry collaboration and the increased efficiency of reuse, recycling, and repurposing (these trends will be supported by the incorporation of advanced technologies).
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the material stream of waste volumes (for example, an increase in the generation of organic waste and packaging waste, especially paper, cardboard, single-use plastic, and WEEE), impacting entire supply chains and production cycles. The growing generation of pandemic waste, especially personal protective equipment waste, such as face masks, plastic face shields, rubber gloves, and safety uniforms, and biohazardous waste from medical facilities has resulted in increased demand for special measures necessary to handle potentially contaminated waste.
Research Scope
This Frost & Sullivan study focuses on the global waste recycling and circular economy market across the following market segments: municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, hazardous waste, WEEE, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and plastic packaging waste. The study examines sorting and the process of turning waste into valuable resources for a more sustainable future while creating new business opportunities for market participants. Revenue was $457.14 billion in 2020, and it is expected to expand to $517.26 billion in 2021 at a growth rate of 13.3%. Growth is mainly attributed to stringent regulations for waste reuse and recycling, the greater circulation of materials, and limited waste volumes directed to landfills, driven by accelerating digitalization, decarbonization, increased efficiency, and cost optimization. Opportunities for a sustainable waste recycling market vary by region, with Europe and North America reaching high levels of waste collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling.
Important investment areas and top trends in 2021 include AI-based smart sorting, emerging solutions for the recycling of cardboard and paper packaging waste, the digital sustainability of supply chains, circular economies for used oil recycling, the building as material banks (BAMBs) concept, chemical recycling of plastic waste, decarbonization, and circular economies for IT asset disposal (ITAD).
Key Issues Addressed
- What is the current market status?
- What challenges is the market facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
- What does the revenue forecast look like?
- What are the regional predictions?
- What are the key market predictions and growth opportunities for 2021?
Author: Paulina Blaszczyk
Key Highlights
Market Challenges due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The 2020 Global Waste Recycling and Circular Economy Market—Predictions versus Actuals
Revenue Forecast
Top Predictions for 2021
Why Is It Increasingly Difficult To Grow?
The Strategic Imperative 8™
The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the Global Waste Recycling and Circular Economy Market
Growth Opportunities Fuel The Growth Pipeline Engine™
Research Scope
Research Scope (continued)
Market Segmentation
Forecast Assumptions
Revenue Forecast by Sector
Revenue Forecast by Region
Key Market Predictions, 2021
Prediction 1—Rapid Growth of Smart Sorting
Prediction 2—Acceleration of the Recycling of Cardboard and Paper Packaging Waste
Prediction 3—Cross-industry Material Sourcing (Driven by the Digital Sustainability of Supply Chains)
Prediction 4—Increasing Adoption of Used Oil Recycling
Prediction 5—Increasing the Value of Recovered Materials through Building as Material Banks (BAMBs)
Prediction 6—Creating Value for Hard-to-Recycle Plastic Waste through Chemical Recycling
Prediction 7—Decarbonization and Net Negative Emissions (Driven by the Circular Economy Concept)
Prediction 8—Growth of the Circular Economy of IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) Services
2021 Market Snapshot—Municipal Solid Waste Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Market
2021 Market Snapshot—Industrial Waste Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Industrial Waste Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the Industrial Waste Recycling Market
2021 Market Snapshot—Hazardous Waste Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Hazardous Waste Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the Hazardous Waste Recycling Market
2021 Market Snapshot—WEEE Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—WEEE Composition Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—WEEE Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the WEEE Recycling Market
Use-Case—Microsoft Circular Centers to Repurpose and Recycle WEEE
2021 Market Snapshot—C&D Waste Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—C&D Waste Composition Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—C&D Waste Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the C&D Waste Recycling Market
2021 Market Snapshot—Plastic Packaging Waste Volume Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Plastic Packaging Waste Recycling Market Revenue Forecast
2021 Market Snapshot—Regional Highlights of the Plastic Packaging Waste Recycling Market
2021 Predictions—Americas
2021 Predictions—Europe
2021 Predictions—Asia-Pacific
2021 Predictions—The Middle East and Africa
Growth Opportunity 1—Reverse Logistics for Circular Economies
Growth Opportunity 1—Reverse Logistics for Circular Economies (continued)
Growth Opportunity 2—Cloud-based Enterprise Solutions for Waste Management Service Providers
Growth Opportunity 2—Cloud-based Enterprise Solutions for Waste Management Service Providers (continued)
Growth Opportunity 3—Advanced Robotics and 3D Printing for Zero-waste Manufacturing and Construction
Growth Opportunity 3—Advanced Robotics and 3D Printing for Zero-waste Manufacturing and Construction (continued)
Key Conclusions
Partial List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Used
MSW Composition
Industrial Waste Composition
Hazardous Waste Composition
Key Plastic Materials Suitable For Recycling
List of Exhibits
List of Exhibits (continued)
List of Exhibits (continued)
Legal Disclaimer
Speak directly with our analytics experts for tailored recommendations.
Recent related Waste Management research
01 Aug 2026 | Global | Technology Research
Innovations in Microbial Fermentation, Renewable Fuels, Direct Air Carbon Capture, Battery Recycling, and Plastic Upcycling
This edition of the Industrial Bioprocessing TOE features information on innovations in microbial fermentation, renewable fuels, oilseed production via extraction, direct air capture, low carb fuels, battery recycling, and plastic upcycling, among others.
The Industrial Bioprocessing TOE prov...
29 Jul 2026 | Asia Pacific | Market Outlook
Growth Opportunities in Water and Wastewater Industry, Asia-Pacific, 2026
The Asia-Pacific (APAC) water sector is entering a decisive transition phase, where resilience, efficiency, and regulatory compliance are becoming as critical as capacity expansion. As climate volatility, industrial complexity, and urban density intensify across the region, water and wastewater syst...
14 Jul 2026 | South Asia, Middle East & North Africa | Market Research
Top 10 Growth Opportunities in Sustainable Manufacturing, the Middle East, 2026
The Middle East manufacturing sector is undergoing a structural transformation driven by decarbonization imperatives, energy transition, and the economic diversification agendas of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments. Carbon intensity is emerging as a key competitive differentiator, parti...
14 Jul 2026 | Global | Technology Research
Next-Generation Fermentation Pathways for Sustainable Fuel Production
Next-generation fermentation pathways for sustainable fuel production represent an evolving suite of biological and bio-electrochemical processes designed to convert diverse carbon sources, such as CO₂, biomass, waste gases, and organic residues, into liquid fuels. These approaches integrate advan...
03 Jul 2026 | Global | Technology Research
Innovations in Biomethane Synthesis, Bio-proteins, Microalgae Fermentation, Zero Liquid Discharge, Water Treatment, and Direct Air Carbon Capture.
This edition of the Industrial Bioprocessing TOE features information on innovations in waste-to-biomethane production, seaweed biorefining, anaerobic digestion, microalgae fermentation, zero liquid discharge technology, fungal bioremediation, electrochemical DAC, among others.
The Industrial...
Purchase includes:
- Report download
- Growth Dialog™ with our experts
Growth Dialog™
A tailored session with you where we identify the:- Strategic Imperatives
- Growth Opportunities
- Best Practices
- Companies to Action
Impacting your company's future growth potential.
Research Scope
This Frost & Sullivan study focuses on the global waste recycling and circular economy market across the following market segments: municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, hazardous waste, WEEE, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and plastic packaging waste. The study examines sorting and the process of turning waste into valuable resources for a more sustainable future while creating new business opportunities for market participants. Revenue was $457.14 billion in 2020, and it is expected to expand to $517.26 billion in 2021 at a growth rate of 13.3%. Growth is mainly attributed to stringent regulations for waste reuse and recycling, the greater circulation of materials, and limited waste volumes directed to landfills, driven by accelerating digitalization, decarbonization, increased efficiency, and cost optimization. Opportunities for a sustainable waste recycling market vary by region, with Europe and North America reaching high levels of waste collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling.
Important investment areas and top trends in 2021 include AI-based smart sorting, emerging solutions for the recycling of cardboard and paper packaging waste, the digital sustainability of supply chains, circular economies for used oil recycling, the building as material banks (BAMBs) concept, chemical recycling of plastic waste, decarbonization, and circular economies for IT asset disposal (ITAD).
Key Issues Addressed
- What is the current market status
- What challenges is the market facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- What does the revenue forecast look like
- What are the regional predictions
- What are the key market predictions and growth opportunities for 2021
Author: Paulina Blaszczyk
| Deliverable Type | Market Research |
|---|---|
| No Index | No |
| Podcast | No |
| Author | Paulina Blaszczyk |
| Industries | Environment |
| WIP Number | MG41-01-00-00-00 |
| Is Prebook | No |
| GPS Codes | 9307-A4 |
