Waste Sorting Equipment Market Growth & Trends
The global waste sorting equipment market size is anticipated to reach USD 1432.8 million by 2030 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is growing rapidly due to increasing urban populations and the corresponding rise in waste production. As cities expand and industrial activities intensify, there is an urgent need for efficient waste management solutions. This trend is especially pronounced in regions such as Asia Pacific, where countries such as India, China, and Japan are adopting advanced sorting technologies to manage their escalating waste volumes.
Strict environmental laws and government programs aimed at boosting recycling rates and minimizing landfill use are key drivers of market growth. Initiatives such as the European Union’s waste management policies and China’s waste import restrictions are pushing organizations to invest in modern sorting equipment. These regulations help promote sustainable waste handling and support global efforts toward a circular economy.
Technological progress is reshaping the waste sorting sector, with innovations such as AI, robotics, and sensor-based systems improving sorting precision and efficiency. Automation reduces the reliance on manual labor and increases processing capacity, while advanced technologies such as optical and X-ray sorting are enhancing the quality of material recovery across industries such as recycling and mining.
The growing adoption of digital and smart waste management solutions is opening new avenues for market expansion. Integration of IoT, data analytics, and machine learning into sorting equipment allows for improved operational insights and predictive maintenance. In addition, the surge in e-commerce is driving demand for fast and accurate sorting systems in logistics, further fueling market growth worldwide.
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Waste Sorting Equipment Market Report
Waste Sorting Equipment Market Waste Sorting Equipment Market Report Highlights
Based on waste type, the plastic waste segment led the market in 2024. The extensive use of plastics, especially single-use products, along with rising environmental concerns, has prompted governments and industries to embrace advanced sorting technologies to improve recycling efficiency.
Based on operation mode, the automatic segment led the market in 2024 due to their high efficiency, precision, and capacity to manage large volumes of waste with minimal human input, automated systems have become the preferred choice for large-scale waste management facilities and municipalities.
Based on technology, the sensor-based segment led the market in 2024 its capability to rapidly and accurately distinguish between different materials has made it highly effective. By using a range of sensors such as optical, near-infrared, X-ray, and electromagnetic this technology efficiently sorts waste based on attributes such as color, size, and material type.
Based on application, the municipal segment led the market in 2024 driven by the growing volume of municipal solid waste produced by expanding urban populations, governments and municipalities worldwide are making significant investments in advanced sorting technologies.
Based on country, the Germany led the Europe market in 2024 due to advanced waste management system focused on prevention, reuse, and recycling, the country has achieved one of the highest municipal recycling rates globally.
In February 2024 ZenRobotics unveiled its fourth-generation waste sorting robots, ZenRobotics 4.0, featuring enhanced AI capabilities and improved design for optimized recycling operations. The Heavy Picker 4.0 is equipped with the compact ZenBrain recognition system, boosting efficiency by 60–100% and enabling identification of over 500 waste categories.
Waste Sorting Equipment Market Segmentation
Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global waste sorting equipment market on the basis of waste type, operation mode, technology, application and region.
Waste Sorting Equipment Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Plastic Waste
Paper & Cardboard
Metal Waste
Organic Waste
Glass
Others
Waste Sorting Equipment Operation Mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Automatic
Manual
Semi-Automatic
Waste Sorting Equipment Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Sensor-Based Sorting
Magnetic Separation
Mechanical Sorting
Robotic Sorting
Others
Waste Sorting Equipment Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Municipal
Industrial
