Smart Waste Management Market Overview
Smart waste management is a growing industry, becoming increasingly popular with both waste management companies and investors. Smart waste disposal solutions can increase efficiency and save costs, and with increasing amounts of waste being generated by consumers around the world, greater efficiency is extremely desirable in the market.
Urban populations produced 1.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste in 2012, and this number is projected to reach 2.2 billion by 2025, almost doubling in less than 15 years. Developed regions such as North America and Europe are expected to remain the leading generators of waste per capita over the next several decades, though emerging economies in Asia will also contribute significantly to the market as their growing industrial sectors increase both production and waste.
The market for smart waste management companies is therefore on the rise, with Mordor Intelligence predicting a CAGR of 25.68% between 2020 and 2025, which translates into an increase in value approaching $5 billion. IoT waste management devices play a key role in intelligent waste management solutions, and numerous smart waste management companies have implemented them in order to improve monitoring, route optimization, and analytics. The US and Canada lead the way in terms of strategic programs for smart waste management, with 22% of cities adopting them compared with only 7% of cities worldwide. As the US is the largest producer of waste in the world, the need for smart waste solutions is particularly high in that region.
Top 10 Smart Waste Management Companies of 2020
From new tech startups to established waste management giants, numerous companies are manufacturing smart waste management solutions or adapting their processes in order to accommodate them. Here are some of the industry-leading smart waste management companies from around the world.
Company |
Founded |
Headquarters |
Revenue (USD millions) |
| Bigbelly Inc. | 2003 | Needham, US | n/a |
| Covanta Holding Corporation | 1983 | Morristown, US | 1,870 |
| Ecube Labs Co Ltd. | 2011 | Seoul, South Korea | 55* |
| Enevo | 2010 | Espoo, Finland | 10.5* |
| IBM Corporation | 1911 | New York, US | 77,140 |
| Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH | 1945 | Mannheim, Germany | 843.41 |
| Smartbin (OnePlus Systems Inc.) | 2010 | Dublin, Ireland | 19.2* |
| Suez | 1869 | Paris, France | 21,250 |
| Veolia | 1853 | Aubervilliers, France | 32,070 |
| Waste Management, Inc | 1893 | Houston, US | 15,455 |
*Estimated value
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Bigbelly
- Founded: 2003
- Headquarters: Needham, US
- Countries served: 50+
Bigbelly operates a smart waste management platform with solutions for cities, campuses, and retail and venues. The cloud-connected platform allows stations to communicate statuses in real time to allow for efficient operations and decision-making. Sensors enable waste containers to monitor garbage levels and notify crews when they need to be emptied, helping waste management companies to streamline operations. The system uses solar energy and IoT technology to deliver smart city solutions and host communications infrastructure.
Covanta
- Founded: 1983
- Headquarters: Morristown, US
- Revenue: USD 1.9 billion
Covanta provides sustainable waste management solutions and consulting services to clients around the world, operating more than 50 energy-from-waste and material processing facilities globally. The company convers 21 million tons of waste into renewable energy and recycles over 600,000 tons of metal every year. Covanta also offers industrial material management services.
Ecube Labs
- Founded: 2011
- Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
- Revenue: USD 55 million (estimate via RocketReach)
Ecube Labs develops smart waste management and logistics solutions using IoT technology. The company provides eco-friendly solutions that improve waste collection efficiency, reducing the costs and labor needed for operations. Its products include solar-powered waste compacting bins, IoT fill-level sensors, a waste analytics platform, and a fleet management solution. Ecube Labs has offices in North America and Asia, serving companies across the globe.
Enevo
- Founded: 2010
- Headquarters: Espoo, Finland
- Private equity funding: USD 34 million
Enevo develops an IoT tech suite made to reduce waste management costs and improve the environment by measuring, analyzing, and managing waste. Its technology is used by waste companies, smart cities, and businesses across the US and Europe. Enevo produces sensor technology for containers that works with analytics software to manage containers and fleets, as well as plan collection routes. The company holds 10+ patents and has distributed over 45,000 sensors around the world.
IBM Corporation
- Founded: 1911
- Headquarters: New York, US
- Revenue: USD 77 billion
- Employees: 400,000+
IBM provides cloud platforms and cognitive solutions, with 12 labs on 6 continents serving clients in over 170 countries. Watson, its IoT AI platform, helps organizations capture and analyse data from devices such as sensors, making it an asset for smart waste management companies looking to optimize their businesses. Watson is a managed, cloud-hosted service that collects data from devices, equipment, and machines, providing insights to help improve decision-making.
Pepperl+Fuchs
- Founded: 1945
- Mannheim, Germany
- Revenue: USD 843 million
- Employees: 6,300
Pepperl+Fuchs is based in Germany and operates worldwide, developing electrical explosion protection and sensor technology for a range of applications. Its industrial sensors are used in automation technology, and the company also produces components such as rotary encoders, positioning and identification systems, and more. Pepperl+Fuchs’ ultrasonic sensors are employed on vehicles such as waste collection trucks for a variety of uses.
SmartBin (OnePlus Systems Inc.)
- Founded: 2010
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
- Revenue: USD 19.2 million (estimate via RocketReach)
Founded in 2010 as a producer of intelligent remote monitoring systems for smart waste management and recycling, SmartBin was acquired by OnePlus Systems in 2016. The company develops wireless ultrasonic bin sensors and analyzes their data to optimize fleet routes and costs and to manage container assets. Its sensors and systems are used by smart cities as well as public and private waste management companies around the world.
Suez
- Founded: 1869
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Revenue: USD 21 billion
- Employees: 90,000
With roots reaching back over 150 years, SUEZ is a multinational group offering water and waste management solutions across five continents. The company uses digital technologies and solutions to recover 17 million tons of waste per year, producing raw materials and renewable energy. Its subsidiary, SUEZ Smart Solutions, delivers intelligent solutions and digital technologies for environmental management. The company uses smart sensors, meters, and probes to collect data, create models, and improve resource management efficiency.
Veolia
- Founded: 1853
- Headquarters: Aubervilliers, France
- Revenue: USD 32 billion
- Employees: 178,780
Another global leader based in France, Veolia Group is a resource management corporation that designs and provides water, waste, and energy management solutions. Veolia serves over 500,000 business customers and treats 50 million metric tons of waste in its 675 waste management facilities. It also operates municipal waste collection services for 42 million people. The company’s smart waste management solutions include digital sensors and automation to improve waste flow control and optimize costs.
Waste Management, Inc.
- Founded: 1893
- Headquarters: Houston, US
- Revenue: USD 15.5 billion
- Employees: 45,000
Waste Management is one of the world’s largest waste disposal companies, providing environmental solutions across North America. The company collects waste, manages landfills, and creates alternative fuels. Its lines of business include collection, landfill, transfer, recycling, and others. Waste Management has over 6,500 alternative fuel vehicles and more than $500 million invested in alternative technology across over 100 companies.
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