Strategic Focus: Waste Management And Recycling

Access this research

Access all Sustainable Supply Chains content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance

Executive Summary

With over two billion tonnes of waste produced annually, and associated costs reaching $361 billion, the waste management and recycling sector is being called to action. Organizations are pursuing a variety of strategies aimed at progressing towards a circular economy. Investment in digital tools and technologies will be key to drastically reducing waste and valuing secondary materials as a resource. Chief sustainability officers (CSOs) should use this report to assess their current strategies and practices in waste management and recycling, and to discover ways in which innovative technologies can improve their sustainability performance.
Increasing waste generation rates are driving firms to invest in circular solutions
Limitations in traditional waste management practices inhibit sustainable transformation
Innovative technology developments targeting a circular economy for waste are on the rise
Firms should adopt strategies to support effective waste management and sustainability performance improvement
Figure 1. Transactions in the waste management and recycling industry 2023-2024
Figure 2. Distribution of actor roles and responsibilities across the waste hierarchy
Figure 3. Corporate commitments to supporting a circular economy for waste
Figure 4. Environmental impacts from unsustainable waste management
Figure 5. Innovative technologies for smart waste management and recycling
Figure 6. Benefits of implementing sustainability into waste management

About the Authors

Jessie Wilson

Jessie Wilson

Industry Analyst

Jessie is an Industry Analyst at Verdantix, with a research agenda spanning ESG reporting, the circular economy and supply chain sustainability. Jessie has a BSc in Geography ...

View Profile
Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

View Profile

Other related content

Webinar
Industrial Transformation Leaders
Asset Maintenance Software
Field Services Management
Industrial Analytics & Data Management
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Sustainable Supply Chains
Corporate Risk Leaders
Enterprise Risk & GRC
Corporate Energy Leaders
Digital Transformation Leaders
The Industrial Agility Imperative: Tech...

Industrial firms around the world are being hammered by operational dislocations and disruptions. Labour shortages, supply chain chokepoints, fast-changing import tariffs, rapid sh...

Upcoming / 25 March, 2026

Webinar
Corporate Energy Transition Solutions
Corporate Energy Leaders
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Sustainable Supply Chains
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
5 Must-Haves For An Effective Energy Re...

Energy price volatility, grid instability and geopolitical risk are exposing how vulnerable many organisations’ energy strategies really are. Energy, procurement, operations and su...

Upcoming / 12 March, 2026

Blog
Sustainable Supply Chains
What To Expect From Supply Chains In 20...

2026 has begun amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. US actions in Venezuela’s oil sector could reshape global energy markets and supply chain dynamics. At the same time, the p...

03 February, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
How To Calculate The Real ROI Of Sustai...

Over 80% of executives now expect sustainability investments to demonstrate measurable financial returns. Yet many sustainability teams still struggle to quantify the ROI of sustai...

Upcoming / 04 March, 2026

Podcast
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Sustainable Supply Chains
Enterprise Risk & GRC
Corporate Risk Leaders
Industrial Transformation Leaders
Hidden In Plain Sight: Why Proving Orig...

Episode 30 Global supply chains are under immense stress. Whether it’s a case of sanctioned goods and impure materials or unethical labour practices, the potential for hidden ri...

27 January, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
All Aboard The Omnibus: What Sustainabi...

As the EU Sustainability Omnibus Package is being finalised, join us to find out what action you need to take now, and how to prioritise in an era of rapid change. Find out: What t...

Upcoming / 24 February, 2026