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Waste Collection Services in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alexander Govdysh Alexander Govdysh New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS 56211CA

Revenue

$6.8bn

2024

$6.8bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

20,449

Businesses

1,919

Wages

$X.Xbn

Waste Collection Services in Canada industry analysis

The Waste Collection Services industry in Canada has endured mixed results over the past five years. Nonresidential markets have helped the industry, as the continued reopening of commercial offices and businesses continues to accelerate waste output. Notably, according to Statistics Canada, nonresidential waste output rose between 2016 and 2020 (latest data available). In addition, operators benefited from the growing prevalence of public-private partnerships at the municipal level and new regulations that have spiked commercial and industrial demand for waste collection. However, even as the economy recovered following the pandemic, persistent effects of high inflation and rising interest rates offset these positive trends in 2020 amid falling consumer demand and declines in residential construction. Overall, revenue is expected to shrink at a CAGR of 0.2% to an estimated $6.8 billion through the end of 2024, including an anticipated 0.5% boost in 2024 alone. Profit has fallen as price-based competition remains elevated and rising fuel costs expanded operational costs.

Trends and Insights

  • Waste collection companies are investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Strong relations with retailers and consumers to reduce the amount of waste generated continues to be a priority, with methods such as composting and waste diversion encouraged.
  • Based on the latest data available from Statistics Canada, 26.1 million tonnes of solid waste was generated in 2020. Nonresidential sources accounted for 15.2 million tonnes of waste, while 10.9 million tonnes came from residential sources.
  • High-density and economically active areas produce significant waste. This necessitates more industrial establishments to manage the by-products, with popular regions such as Quebec and Ontario generating a bulk of the waste produce.
  • Prices are kept regionally consistent, enhancing business demand. Businesses reduce expenses to win competitively bid municipal contracts, pushing regional competitors' prices lower.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $6.8bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

An increased emphasis on recycling and waste diversion benefited waste collection services

  • There has been a growing emphasis on recycling and waste diversion across Canada, with provinces and municipalities setting ambitious targets to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Waste Collection Services in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Advancements in technology will likely bolster future performance

  • Waste collection services will continue to benefit from technological advancements, including AI-driven route optimization, sensor-based waste monitoring and data analytics for more efficient waste collection and resource allocation.

Biggest companies in the Waste Collection Services in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Waste Connections Inc.
1,223.9
205.7
16.8
Waste Management Inc.
784.0
148.9
19.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Waste Collection Services in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Nonhazardous residential waste collection, Nonhazardous nonresidential waste collection and Nonhazardous waste transfer facility services. Nonhazardous residential waste collection is the largest segment of the Waste Collection Services in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Residential waste collection services remain stable

  • Residential waste collection services are the responsibility of local municipalities that either undertake waste collection themselves or contract out the collection service to private companies.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Waste Collection Services industry in Canada collects hazardous and nonhazardous waste and recyclable materials. Nonhazardous waste includes municipal solid waste (household waste) and industrial and commercial waste. The industry includes transfer stations, where waste is transferred from local vehicles to long-distance vehicles for transport to disposal facilities. This industry does not account for government-provided services of a similar nature.

What's included in this industry?

Nonhazardous residential waste collectionNonhazardous nonresidential waste collectionNonhazardous waste transfer facility servicesNonhazardous consolidation, storage and preparation servicesHazardous waste collection and environmental emergency response services

Companies

Waste Connections Inc.Waste Management Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

VERTICAL INTEGRATIONHAZARDOUS WASTEMUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW)TRANSFER STATIONCURBSIDE COLLECTIONLANDFILLELECTRONIC WASTE

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 562110 - Waste Collection Services in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Waste collection companies are investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Strong relations with retailers and consumers to reduce th...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Based on the latest data available from Statistics Canada, 26.1 million tonnes of solid waste was generated in 2020. Nonresidential sources accounted for 15.2 million tonnes ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

High-density and economically active areas produce significant waste. This necessitates more industrial establishments to manage the by-products, with popular regions such as...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Prices are kept regionally consistent, enhancing business demand. Businesses reduce expenses to win competitively bid municipal contracts, pushing regional competitors' price...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Waste Connections Inc. has been investing in new technologies to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These investments have helped the company to reduce its c...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Waste Connections Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Waste Management Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Waste Connections Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Waste Management Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Waste collection companies comply with various federal and provincial regulations. These laws oversee the handling, transportation and disposal of both hazardous and nonhazar...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Waste collection services have consolidated operations through vertical integration and compliance costs. This integration often helps streamline processes, but fluctuating f...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada is $6.8bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Waste Collection Services in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 1,919 businesses in the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Waste Collection Services market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Waste Collection Services market in Canada are Waste Connections Inc. and Waste Management Inc.

What does the Waste Collection Services in Canada include?

Nonhazardous residential waste collection and Nonhazardous nonresidential waste collection are part of the Waste Collection Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Collection Services in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Waste Connections Inc..

How competitive is the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Waste Collection Services industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.