A restaurant may need daily rubbish collection, while a factory may have to deal with chemical waste or large amounts of industrial scrap. A city has a different job again. It needs a system that can collect waste from homes, keep recycling programmes running and move rubbish to the right facilities.

Waste management companies handle these jobs, but they don’t all offer the same services. Some operate large collection fleets and landfills, while others focus on hazardous waste, industrial sites or specialist treatment. Their size, service areas and facilities also differ.

Here are ten major waste management companies in the USA. The list considers annual revenue, market position and the scale of their operations. It includes both national providers and companies that focus on particular regions or types of waste.

Quick comparison of 10 waste management companies in the USA

Company	Headquarters	Approx. annual revenue	Main focus
WM (Waste Management)	Houston, Texas	$20.4 billion	Waste collection, recycling and disposal
Republic Services	Phoenix, Arizona	$15 billion	Waste collection, recycling and energy projects
Waste Connections	Spring, Texas	$8 billion	Solid waste collection, disposal and recycling
Veolia North America	US operations of a French parent company	Not separately stated	Waste treatment, material recovery and waste-to-energy
Clean Harbors	Norwell, Massachusetts	$5.4 billion	Hazardous and industrial waste
GFL Environmental	North American operations, including the USA	5.7–7.5 billion	Solid waste, recycling and liquid waste
Stericycle	Bannockburn, Illinois, before its acquisition by WM	About $2.6 billion before integration	Medical and regulated waste
Enviri Corporation	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	About $2 billion	Industrial waste and metal recovery
Casella Waste Systems	Rutland, Vermont	About $1.26 billion	Regional waste collection, recycling and organics
Recology	San Francisco, California	About $1.34 billion	Recycling, composting and municipal waste services

Revenue figures are estimates and may cover different reporting periods. Veolia’s figure refers to the wider company, not its US business alone. WM has also acquired Stericycle, so Stericycle is no longer a separate competitor. Market capitalisation is different from annual revenue and changes with the company’s share price.

1. WM (Waste Management)

WM is based in Houston, Texas, and is the largest waste management company in North America among the companies listed here. It collects waste from homes, offices, shops and industrial sites. The company also runs recycling centres, transfer stations and landfills.

WM handles more than everyday rubbish. Its recycling facilities process materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic and metal. The company also captures gas from some landfills and uses it to produce energy.

A household might hire WM for regular bin collection, while a business could arrange separate pickups for general waste and cardboard. Larger sites often need different services depending on how much waste they produce and what it contains. The options vary by location.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Waste collection, recycling, landfill operations and energy projects that use landfill gas
Fees and costs	Vary by location, waste volume and service agreement
Service access	Residential, commercial and industrial customers
Best suited to	Homes and businesses that need regular waste collection and recycling services

WM offers several waste services under one company, which can be useful for businesses that want to manage general waste and recycling through the same provider. Before signing up, check the local collection schedule and confirm which materials the nearby facility accepts.

Official details: WM

2. Republic Services

Republic Services is another major waste management company in the USA. Its headquarters are in Phoenix, Arizona, and its operations include waste collection, recycling, landfill management and specialised waste services.

The company runs recycling centres and invests in projects that turn waste into useful resources, including energy and biogas. It has also worked to reduce emissions from its collection fleet. These projects form part of its wider waste management business rather than replacing its everyday collection services.

A shopping centre, for instance, may need regular waste pickups along with separate collection for cardboard and other recyclable materials. Republic can provide different services for residential and commercial customers, depending on local coverage and the type of waste involved.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Waste collection, recycling and renewable energy projects
Fees and costs	Vary by service, location and contract
Service access	Residential, commercial and industrial customers
Best suited to	Customers that need waste collection and recycling from one provider

Republic Services may suit businesses that produce several types of waste and want a regular collection arrangement. Check which services operate in your area and ask how the company handles each material.

Official details: Republic Services

3. Waste Connections

Waste Connections provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services across the USA and Canada. The company is based in Spring, Texas, and has a strong presence in smaller and secondary markets as well as other service areas.

Its work covers the steps between collecting rubbish and sending it to the right destination. Waste Connections operates transfer stations, disposal facilities and recycling operations. A transfer station allows collection vehicles to unload waste before larger vehicles move it to another facility, which can make collection routes more practical.

The company serves households, businesses and industrial customers. A small shop may need a scheduled pickup, while a construction site could require larger containers and more frequent collection. The right arrangement depends on the waste volume, location and type of service.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling
Fees and costs	Depend on waste volume, service frequency and location
Service access	Residential, commercial and industrial customers
Best suited to	Communities and businesses that need regular waste services

Waste Connections is worth checking if you need waste collection in one of its service areas. Confirm local availability and ask whether the company can provide the container size and pickup schedule your site needs.

Official details: Waste Connections

4. Veolia North America

Veolia North America is part of Veolia, a global environmental services company headquartered in France. Its North American operations cover waste management and other environmental services, including the treatment of specialised waste and the recovery of useful materials.

Waste treatment involves more than collecting rubbish and taking it to a landfill. Depending on the material, a facility may separate recoverable resources, treat waste to reduce its risks or use certain waste streams to generate energy. Hazardous waste needs particular care because the wrong handling method can harm people and the environment.

Veolia serves customers with different environmental requirements, including industrial and commercial operations. A manufacturer may need a specialised waste treatment service, while another customer may need help recovering materials from its waste stream. The appropriate service depends on the material and the facility’s capabilities.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Waste treatment, material recovery and waste-to-energy services
Fees and costs	Depend on the material, treatment method and service agreement
Service access	Industrial, commercial and other customers in supported areas
Best suited to	Organisations that need waste treatment or specialised environmental services

Veolia may be relevant if your business needs more than routine collection. Describe the waste you produce and ask which treatment or recovery services are available at your location.

Official details: Veolia North America

5. Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors, headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, specialises in environmental and industrial services. Its work includes hazardous waste collection, treatment, disposal and industrial cleaning. The company also operates services for used oil and other materials that need specialist handling.

Factories and industrial sites can produce waste that ordinary collection services cannot accept. Some materials need controlled transport, specialised treatment or incineration. Clean Harbors provides services for these situations and also re-refines used oil to recover useful products.

Its work differs from routine household waste collection. A business must identify its waste correctly and follow the rules that apply to that material. Clean Harbors can then assess the handling and treatment options available for the job.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Hazardous waste management, industrial services and used-oil re-refining
Fees and costs	Depend on waste type, quantity, transport and treatment
Service access	Industrial and commercial customers with specialised waste needs
Best suited to	Businesses that generate hazardous or industrial waste

Clean Harbors is a company to consider when your waste requires specialist treatment. Ask about accepted materials, transport arrangements and disposal methods before choosing a service.

Official details: Clean Harbors

6. GFL Environmental

GFL Environmental provides waste management services across North America, including extensive operations in the USA. The company handles solid waste, recycling and liquid waste, serving customers with different collection and disposal needs.

Its solid waste services cover routine collection and related waste operations. Other parts of the business deal with liquid waste and specialised environmental work. This range can help customers that produce more than one type of waste, although the available services depend on their location.

For example, a commercial property may need regular rubbish collection and recycling, while an industrial site may require a separate arrangement for liquid waste. Those jobs call for different equipment and handling methods. Customers should explain their needs clearly when requesting a quote.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Solid waste, recycling and liquid waste services
Fees and costs	Depend on waste type, volume and collection requirements
Service access	Residential, commercial and industrial customers in supported areas
Best suited to	Customers that need several types of waste management services

GFL may suit a business that wants to arrange more than one waste service with the same provider. Check which services are available locally and confirm that the company can handle the materials your site produces.

Official details: GFL Environmental

7. Stericycle

Stericycle specialises in medical waste management and other regulated services. WM acquired the company, so Stericycle should now be viewed as part of WM’s business rather than as a separate, independent competitor.

Healthcare facilities produce waste that needs different handling from ordinary household rubbish. Hospitals, clinics and laboratories may need approved collection and treatment for used medical supplies and other regulated materials. Stericycle built its business around these requirements and also offers secure document destruction for organisations that handle confidential records.

The rules for medical waste depend on the material and the relevant regulations. A clinic, for example, needs to separate regulated waste from general rubbish and arrange the right collection service. Secure document destruction addresses a different problem: it helps organisations dispose of sensitive paperwork without exposing private information.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Medical waste services and secure document destruction
Fees and costs	Depend on waste type, collection frequency and service agreement
Service access	Healthcare facilities and businesses with regulated waste or document needs
Best suited to	Hospitals, clinics, laboratories and organisations that need specialised handling

Stericycle’s services may be relevant if your organisation produces medical waste or handles confidential records. Since WM acquired the company, check the current service arrangements and contact details before making a booking.

Official details: Stericycle

8. Enviri Corporation

Enviri Corporation, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides environmental services for industrial customers. Its businesses include Clean Earth, which handles specialised waste, and Harsco Environmental, which serves industries such as steel production.

Industrial operations can produce materials that need careful treatment or recovery. Steel manufacturing, for example, creates by-products that require handling before disposal or reuse. Harsco Environmental works with metal producers to process industrial materials and recover useful resources where possible.

Enviri’s services are more specialised than regular rubbish collection. A factory may need a waste solution that fits its production process, the materials it generates and the rules that apply to its operations. The company assesses those needs through its industrial and environmental service businesses.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Industrial waste services, specialised waste processing and metal recovery
Fees and costs	Depend on material type, volume and service requirements
Service access	Industrial customers and organisations with specialised waste needs
Best suited to	Manufacturers and industrial sites that need waste treatment or material recovery

Enviri may be worth considering for an industrial waste project. Explain the materials your site produces and ask which of its businesses can provide the right service.

Official details: Enviri Corporation

9. Casella Waste Systems

Casella Waste Systems is based in Rutland, Vermont, and serves customers mainly in the northeastern United States. Its services include waste collection, recycling, organics management and other waste-related operations.

The company works with households, businesses and communities that need regular waste services. Depending on the area, customers may have access to recycling collection and programmes for organic materials such as food scraps. These services help separate materials that can be processed or reused from general rubbish.

Local service options matter here. A town may have a particular recycling schedule, while a business may need larger containers or more frequent collection. Customers should check the services offered in their area rather than assume every Casella location provides the same options.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Regional waste collection, recycling and organics services
Fees and costs	Depend on service type, location and waste volume
Service access	Residential, commercial and municipal customers in supported areas
Best suited to	Homes and businesses in the northeastern USA that need regular waste services

Casella is worth checking if your property falls within its service area. Ask about collection schedules, recycling rules and the options available for food waste or other organic materials.

Official details: Casella Waste Systems

10. Recology

Recology is an employee-owned waste management company based in San Francisco, California. It works with communities and businesses, particularly in the western USA, on waste collection, recycling and composting.

Its services include programmes that collect recyclable materials and organic waste. Food scraps and other accepted organics can go through composting rather than follow the same route as general rubbish. Recology also works with local communities on waste reduction and resource recovery programmes.

The company has a strong regional focus, so its services are not available everywhere in the country. Collection rules also vary between local programmes. Residents and businesses need to check which materials their local service accepts and how to prepare them for collection.

Parameter	Details
Unique offering	Community recycling, composting and resource recovery
Fees and costs	Depend on the local programme and service arrangement
Service access	Households, businesses and communities in supported areas
Best suited to	Customers in Recology’s service areas who need recycling and composting

Recology may suit customers in the western USA who want waste collection alongside recycling or organics services. Check local coverage and follow the collection rules for your area.

Official details: Recology

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the largest waste management company in the USA?

WM is the largest company on this list by the approximate annual revenue figures provided. It collects waste from homes and businesses and operates recycling facilities, transfer stations and landfills across North America.

2. Which waste management companies serve businesses?

WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections and GFL Environmental provide services for commercial customers in the areas they cover. Clean Harbors focuses on specialised industrial and hazardous waste. The right provider depends on the type and amount of waste your business produces.

3. Which companies handle hazardous waste?

Clean Harbors specialises in hazardous and industrial waste services. Veolia North America also provides waste treatment and specialised environmental services. Stericycle handles regulated medical waste. Businesses should confirm that a provider accepts their specific materials before arranging collection.

4. Are WM and Stericycle separate companies?

No. WM acquired Stericycle, so Stericycle is part of WM’s business rather than an independent competitor. Stericycle’s services focus on regulated waste, medical waste and secure document destruction.

5. Which companies provide recycling along with waste collection?

WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella and Recology offer waste and recycling services in their respective service areas. The materials they accept and the collection options they provide vary by location.

6. What is the difference between waste management and recycling?

Waste management covers the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste. Recycling focuses on recovering materials so people or businesses can use them again. A waste management company may provide recycling alongside other services, including landfill operations and specialised waste treatment.

7. Which waste management companies serve the northeastern USA?

Casella Waste Systems has a strong presence in the northeastern USA. WM, Republic Services and other national providers also serve many locations, depending on local operations. Check the service area before requesting a quote.

8. How should a business choose a waste management company?

Start with the type and volume of waste your business produces. Then compare local coverage, collection schedules, accepted materials and costs. If your business produces medical, hazardous or industrial waste, choose a provider with services designed for those materials.