U.S. Food Waste Management Market Overview

Valued at USD 17.76 billion in 2024, the U.S. food waste management market is projected to reach USD 18.70 billion in 2025 and USD 30.01 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.40% during the forecast period 2025–2034. Key players include Casella Waste Systems, Inc.; Covanta Ltd. (Covanta Holding Corporation); Divert, Inc.; Hulsey Environmental Services; Organix Recycling; Recycle Track Systems (RTS); Republic Services, Inc.; Rumpke; Shapiro Enterprises (Skip Shapiro Enterprises); Suez North America; Veolia North America; and Waste Management, Inc. (WM).

Fruits and Vegetables Lead by Waste Type

By waste type, fruits and vegetables held a 39.83% revenue share in 2024. This stream is the largest contributor to the market's revenue base, which makes it a priority for collection, processing, and recovery operations. Organizations serving this segment must handle material that is perishable and bulky, underscoring the importance of efficient logistics and processing capacity.

Municipalities and Households Dominate by Source

By source, municipalities and households accounted for a 37.47% revenue share in 2024. The prominence of this segment reflects the scale of food discarded in everyday consumption and the role of local programs in organizing collection. Public policy supports the sector: the USDA committed USD 10.2 million in 2022 to pilot food waste reduction and composting projects.

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Anaerobic Processes and Fertilizers Post Fastest Growth

By process, the anaerobic segment is projected to grow at a 5.7% CAGR, the fastest among process segments. Facilities built around anaerobic digesters convert organic material into usable outputs, though they require high upfront and operating costs, which the report identifies as a challenge limiting adoption. By application, fertilizers are also projected to grow at a 5.7% CAGR. The report highlights that demand for organic fertilizers and renewable natural gas creates revenue from converted waste, helping offset the economics of advanced facilities.

Waste-to-Energy Support

Federal programs are encouraging energy recovery. In 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy and NREL selected 20 communities for the Waste-to-Energy Technical Assistance Program. Waste-to-energy initiatives of this kind give municipalities technical guidance for turning waste streams into energy resources, and they support the broader opportunity for operators offering conversion technologies.

Competitive Developments

Operators are also expanding service models. In July 2025, Divert, Inc. partnered with United States Cold Storage on a recycling program that converts unsold food and beverage products into renewable energy and soil amendments. Initiatives like this show how waste handlers are linking collection with downstream recovery to create additional value from material that would otherwise be disposed of.

Competitive Landscape

Named participants include Casella Waste Systems, Covanta, Divert, Hulsey Environmental Services, Organix Recycling, Recycle Track Systems, Republic Services, Rumpke, Shapiro Enterprises, Suez North America, Veolia North America, and Waste Management. The field combines large national waste handlers with specialist recycling and food recovery companies. By segment, the report covers waste type, process, source, and application, giving stakeholders a structured view of where revenue is concentrated: fruits and vegetables by waste type, municipalities and households by source, and anaerobic processing and fertilizer applications by growth rate.

Operational and Investment Considerations

Operators must balance the revenue potential of converted waste against the cost of advanced facilities. High upfront and operating costs limit adoption of technologies such as anaerobic digesters, while demand for renewable natural gas and organic fertilizers helps create returns. Public support, including the USDA pilot funding and the Department of Energy and NREL program, can help reduce risk for communities and operators exploring conversion pathways.

Strategic Outlook

For B2B stakeholders, a 5.40% CAGR points to steady, policy-supported expansion. Companies that combine collection reach with processing capability, particularly in anaerobic conversion and fertilizer production, are well positioned to benefit from the U.S. food waste management market through 2034.

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