Medical Waste Management Market Size, Share, and Trends 2025 to 2034

Medical Waste Management Market Size and Forecast 2025 to 2034

The global medical waste management market size accounted for USD 13.11 billion in 2024 and is expected to exceed around USD 26.08 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 7.20% from 2025 to 2034.

Medical Waste Management Market Key Takeaways

• North America held a market share of 31.14% in 2024.
• The non-hazardous waste segment reached USD 8 billion in 2024.
• The treatment and disposable services segment accounted for a 30% market share in 2024.
• The hospital's waste generation segment garnered a 33% market share in 2024.

U.S. Medical Waste Management Market Size and Growth 2025 to 2034

The U.S. medical waste management market size exhibited at USD 2.88 billion in 2024 and is projected to be worth around USD 6.07 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 7.90% from 2025 to 2034.

The detailed research report covers significant prospects and inclinations of medical waste management products throughout different regions including Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. By region, the medical waste management market is led by North America due to the high incidence of cancer and early implementation of the latest medical waste management techniques. Europe reported the second maximum share predominantly due to the high geriatric population and positive reimbursement scenario. 

The U.S. is a major player in the regional market, growth driven by the country's large healthcare industry, stringent regulations, and increased demand for effective waste management solutions. The growing demand for sustainable waste management practices is fueling innovation and development areas. The strict regulations, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), play a crucial role in regulating waste management, including medical waste disposal. 

Asia-Pacific is also anticipated to witness a rapid growth rate, on account of increasing investment by major manufacturers and increasing per capita healthcare expenditure. India is a significant player in the Asian medical waste management market, driven by rising awareness of the importance of proper biomedical waste management, government regulations, investments in R&D, technological advancements, and the rise of third-party waste management service providers. 

• In February 2025, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India's first indigenous Automated Bio Medical Waste Treatment Plant at AIIMS New Delhi. The Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig, named “Sá¹›janam,” was developed by CSIR NIIST Thiruvananthapuram.

The growing expansion of healthcare facilities like clinics & hospitals increases production of waste, fueling demand for medical waste management. The aging population and rising demand for healthcare services help in the market growth. The strong government support and regulations to improve medical waste management increase demand for an eco-friendly waste management system. Additionally, growing awareness about medical waste management and growing healthcare activities in Japan, China, and India drive the overall growth of the market.

India's medical waste management trends

India is significantly growing in the medical waste management. The growing healthcare infrastructure, like diagnostic labs, hospitals, and clinics, increases the production of medical waste, fueling demand for an efficient waste management system. The growing demand for healthcare services and stringent government regulations to ensure biomedical waste management help in the market growth. The growing awareness of medical waste among healthcare professionals & the public, and technological advancements like the automated waste segregation system, drive the overall growth of the market.

Crucial factors accountable for market growth are

• Exponentially increasing volume of medical waste
• Rising geriatric population
• Increasing prevalence of chronic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
• Growing obese population
• Increasing requirement for sustainable and effective medical waste management
• Increasing focus of governments all over the world to tackle the issue of medical waste management
• Increasing number of accidents
• Integration of latest technologies
• Growing investment by key manufacturers
• Increasing per capita healthcare expenditure

Major Trends in the Medical Waste Management Industry

Medical wastes need careful containment and disposal before gathering and consolidation for handling. The measures for discarding controlled medical-waste substances are designed to shield the staffs who generate medical scrap and who tackle the wastes from generation point to disposal point. To avert injuries from needle sticks and other infected sharps should not be repeated, firmly bent, or cracked by hand. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have broadcasted general rules for managing sharps. Healthcare amenities may need added precautions to avert the creation of aerosols during the management of blood-contaminated objects for some rare diseases or situations.

Storage and transportation of regulated medicinal wastes within the healthcare organization prior to termination of treatment are often essential. Healthcare organizations are instructed to clear out medical waste frequently to avoid buildup. Medical scrap requiring storing should be reserved in puncture-resistant, leak-proof, labeled containers under situations that lessen or avert foul smells. The storage area must be well-ventilated and be unreachable to pests. Every facility that produces regulated medical scrap should have a controlled medical waste management strategy to ensure well-being and environmental protection as per local guidelines.

Incineration of medical scrap has conventionally been the foremost medical waste managing technique globally. However, incineration results in the emission of numerous harmful fumes such as Sulphur dioxide, dioxins, and carbon monoxide which augment global warming. Thus, the development of other techniques is gaining popularity for sustainable medical waste management.

Market Scope 

Treatment Insights

Incineration Segment Reported Foremost Market Stake in 2024

Incineration displayed the major share in the worldwide medical waste management market in 2024. Incineration is the lone method employed for pathological scrap such as identifiable tissue and body parts that augments the segmental share. The factors such as the generation of a high volume of medical waste due to the increasing prevalence of viral diseases and the low cost of incineration are expected to retain the dominance of incineration in the near future. The chemical treatment segment is anticipated to grow at the maximum CAGR through the forecast time frame mainly due to high anticipated demand.

Why did the incineration segment dominate the medical waste management market? 

The incineration segment dominated the medical waste management market in 2024. The growing prevalence of viral diseases and low cost increases demand for incineration. The growing demand for lowering the mass and volume of medical waste helps the market growth. Incineration lowers mass up to 70% & volume up to 90%, and high-temperature incineration supports treating agents like bacteria & viruses.

Waste Type Insights

Hazardous Waste Dominated the Market Revenue

Hazardous waste is generated in high volumes at hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Moreover, the implementation of stringent regulations for the safe disposal of hazardous waste by governments all over the world is expected to boost the demand for hazardous waste management in the near future.

How hazardous waste segment dominated medical waste management?

The hazardous waste segment dominated medical waste management in 2024. The growing production of chemicals, sharps, and infectious materials helps in the market growth. The growing demand for specialized treatment to manage hazardous waste helps in the market growth.

Medical Waste Management Market Companies

• BioMedical Waste Solutions
• Stericycle Inc.
• Clean Harbors
• Citiwaste
• MedPro Waste Disposal
• Sanpro
• Waste Management, Inc.
• Sharps Compliance, Inc.

Recent Developments

• In January 2023, BeMC launched bio-medical waste management for healthcare centers. The special vehicle performs tasks like transportation, disposal, collection, and treatment of clinical wastes. The total waste generated by health centers is about 500 kilos. (Source: https://www.thehansindia.com) 
• In September 2024, KMC to set up a bio-medical waste treatment plant at Dhapa. The plant treats biomedical waste collected from private hospitals and government hospitals. (Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
• In September 2024, the Bengal government launched a bar-coded system for bio-medical waste management at hospitals. The bar-coded system ensures accountability of bio-medical waste. There are two types of bar-coded present: pasted barcodes and pre-printed barcodes. Pre-printed barcodes printed on color-coded containers & waste bags, and pasted barcodes affixed on containers or bags by hospital staff. (Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Segments Covered in the Report

By Treatment

• Chemical Treatment
• Autoclaving
• Incineration
• Others

By Waste Type

• Hazardous
• Nonhazardous
  • Infectious & Pathological Waste
  • Pharmaceutical Waste
  • Sharp Waste
  • Other Medical Waste

By Waste Generator 

• Hospitals & Diagnostic Laboratories
• Other Waste Generators

By Treatment Site

• Offsite Treatment
• Onsite Treatment

By Region 

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa