7.2.6Segment

Recycling & Materials Recovery

Recycling companies and materials recovery facilities processing scrap metal, e-waste, paper, and municipal recyclables.

4
Verticals

Overview

Recycling & Materials Recovery covers the sorting, processing, and recovery of recyclable materials — the materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and processors that turn collected recyclables into commodity feedstock. At ~$8B (in dedicated recovery facilities) it is operated by the waste majors and independent recyclers, and is central to the circular economy.

Demand is driven by sustainability commitments, recycled-content mandates and corporate goals, and extended-producer-responsibility regulation, though economics swing with recycled-commodity prices and contamination challenges. It is consolidating, investing in advanced sorting and recycling technology (including chemical recycling), and a growing focus of sustainability-driven investment.

Market snapshot

Market size
~$8B
Growth
~7.2%CAGR (2017–22, nominal)
Companies
~1,400
FragmentationConsolidating

U.S. Census Bureau 2022 CBP/Economic Census, NAICS 562920 (materials recovery facilities); much recycling is also embedded within integrated solid-waste operations.

Business model & economics

Revenue model
Processing fees plus recovered-commodity sales
Recurring revenue
Moderate–High — recurring recyclable feedstock
EBITDA margin
Commodity-price- and contamination-sensitive
Capex intensity
High
  • MRFs turn recyclables into commodity feedstock.
  • Sustainability and EPR regulation drive demand.
  • Advanced sorting and chemical recycling investment.

M&A deal context

Moderate deal activity

Who’s acquiring

Solid-waste majorsIndependent recyclers & processorsSustainability & circular-economy investors

What’s driving deals

  • Recycled-content mandates and EPR regulation.
  • Advanced-recycling-technology investment.
  • Circular-economy and sustainability demand.

Verticals in this segment

  • 7.2.6.1Construction & Demolition Recycling

    Companies recycling concrete, wood, and metal from C&D projects.

  • 7.2.6.2Electronic Waste Recycling (e-Waste)

    Companies collecting and recycling end-of-life electronics.

  • 7.2.6.3Metal Scrap & Recycling

    Scrap metal dealers and processors recovering ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

  • 7.2.6.4Paper, Plastic & Municipal Recycling

    Recycling companies processing paper, plastic, and municipal recyclables.

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