Waste Management Services in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
London, United Kingdom
Last Updated: August 2024
SIC E39.000Revenue
£2.4bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
£XXX.Xm
Employees
20,480
Businesses
1,661
Wages
£XXX.Xm
Waste Management Services in the UK industry analysis
The Waste Management Services industry plays a vital role in ensuring that residential and commercial development sites meet regulatory standards regarding contamination. Waste companies provide a range of services, including the remediation and decontamination of soil, groundwater and surface water, the cleaning of pollution such as oil spills and the safe treatment of toxic materials. Interest in site preparation, the level of public concern over environmental issues, weather conditions and the level of government expenditure all play a vital role in driving waste management companies' performance. Revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 12.1% to £2.4 billion over the five years through 2024-25, including projected revenue growth of 15.4% in 2024-25.
Trends and Insights
- Construction demand bounces back post-pandemic. As it recovers from the pandemic, demand from the construction sector is climbing, with contractors seeking out waste management companies for work on brownfield sites.
- Building boom lifts soil and water clean-up demand. Surging housebuilding activity, driven by the UK’s housing shortage and facilitated by greater powers for local councils, has amplified interest in soil and groundwater remediation services.
- High populations and access to London draw companies to the South. Home to numerous construction projects and benefitting from major transport links, the South East and South West offer cheaper rents and ample space, making them an attractive base.
- Competition hinges on service quality and eco-friendliness. Companies battle to offer high-quality services with the least environmental impact, leveraging technology, their reputation and a wide service offering.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 12.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £2.4bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Global oil prices remain high, elevating exploration activity, leading to more oil spill incidents
- The slump in global oil and gas supply because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict caused prices to shot up in 2022-23, advancing exploration investment. Global oil prices remain high stated at $US77.03 (£55.53) in July 2024, meaning more exploration activity is carried out because the returns are high.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Stricter waste management laws drive the need for soil and groundwater remediation
- UK waste management laws are becoming stricter, even after Brexit. Waste management companies must comply with UK regulatory standards for treating contaminated soil, groundwater and waste and removing and transporting other toxic substances.
Biggest companies in the Waste Management Services in the UK
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (£m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Oil Spill Response Ltd | 72.8 | |
CH2M Hill International Nuclear Services Ltd | 26.2 | |
Vertase FLI Ltd | 23.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Waste Management Services in the UK
Products & Services
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Soil and groundwater remediation, Industrial plant and site decontamination and Surface water decontamination. Soil and groundwater remediation is the largest segment of the Waste Management Services in the UK.
Trends and Insights
Housebuilding activity elevates interest in soil and groundwater remediation
- Waste companies are charged with removing harmful substances from soil and water. They use a variety of mechanical, chemical and biological methods to remove pollutants from soil are carried out before construction begins.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Non-Hazardous Waste Collection in the UK
- Non-Hazardous Waste Treatment & Disposal in the UK
International industries
- Global Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
- Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in the US
- Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in Canada
- Waste Treatment and Disposal Services in Australia
- Waste Remediation and Materials Recovery Services in New Zealand
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this industry offer remediation and other waste management services. These services include decontaminating soil and industrial plants, cleaning up oil spills, and removing asbestos, lead paint and other toxic materials.
What's included in this industry?
Soil and groundwater remediationIndustrial plant and site decontaminationOil spill and other pollution clean-upsSurface water decontaminationAsbestos, lead paint and other toxic material abatementCompanies
Oil Spill Response LtdCH2M Hill International Nuclear Services LtdVertase FLI LtdPurchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
REMEDIATIONBROWNFIELD SITEEX SITUASBESTOS ABATEMENTIndustry Code
SIC 39.00 - Waste Management Services in the UK
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
Construction demand bounces back post-pandemic. As it recovers from the pandemic, demand from the construction sector is climbing, with contractors seeking out waste manageme...
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
Building boom lifts soil and water clean-up demand. Surging housebuilding activity, driven by the UK’s housing shortage and facilitated by greater powers for local councils, ...
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 populations and access to London draw companies to the South. Home to numerous construction projects and benefitting from major transport links, the South East and South...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, 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
Competition hinges on service quality and eco-friendliness. Companies battle to offer high-quality services with the least environmental impact, leveraging technology, their ...
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
Climbing oil prices give Oil Spill Response a boost. Rising oil exploration due to surging prices is propelling clean-up demand, driving revenue and profit growth.
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 Oil Spill Response Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of CH2M Hill International Nuclear Services Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Vertase FLI Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Oil Spill Response Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for CH2M Hill International Nuclear Services Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Vertase FLI Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Environmental regulations shape waste management operations. They put compliance at the core of operations, dictating that providers must have certified waste carriers, maint...
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
Supply chain issues constrict waste companies’ returns. Supply chain disruptions are increasing operating costs, as seen with Oil Spill Response Ltd, where extended lead time...
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 (2018-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2018-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
- Assets (2018-2022)
- Liabilities (2018-2022)
- 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)
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 the UK include:
- Office for National Statistics
- Office for Budget Responsibility
- Bank of England
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?
The market size of the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £2.4bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in 2024?
There are 1,661 businesses in the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 9.6 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 12.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Waste Management Services in the UK market in United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Waste Management Services market in United Kingdom are Oil Spill Response Ltd, CH2M Hill International Nuclear Services Ltd and Vertase FLI Ltd
What does the Waste Management Services in the UK in United Kingdom include?
Soil and groundwater remediation and Industrial plant and site decontamination are part of the Waste Management Services in the UK industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Waste Management Services in the UK in United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Oil Spill Response Ltd.
How competitive is the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom?
The level of competition is low and increasing in the Waste Management Services in the UK industry in United Kingdom.
