Market overview
The global composting market is worth USD 11.7 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 21.9 bn by 2036, growing at a 6.5% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Yard and garden waste is the largest by feedstock segment.
| Scope | Processing of organic waste into compost: windrow, aerated static pile and in-vessel composting of food scraps, garden waste and biosolids, covering processing fees and sales of compost products. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Services and Utilities |
| Value 2025 | USD 11.0 bn |
| Value 2026 | USD 11.7 bn |
| Value 2036 | USD 21.9 bn |
| CAGR 2026-2036 | 6.5% |
| Volume 2026 | 219 million tonnes |
| Volume 2036 | 355 million tonnes |
| Average price 2026 | USD 53.2 per tonne |
| Report price | Starts from USD 1,999 |
| Published | November 2026 |
Request a free sample of this report
Composting market size and forecast, 2026-2036
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Year | Market value |
|---|---|
| 2026 | USD 11.7 bn |
| 2027 | USD 12.4 bn |
| 2028 | USD 13.2 bn |
| 2029 | USD 14.1 bn |
| 2030 | USD 15.0 bn |
| 2031 | USD 16.0 bn |
| 2032 | USD 17.0 bn |
| 2033 | USD 18.1 bn |
| 2034 | USD 19.3 bn |
| 2035 | USD 20.6 bn |
| 2036 | USD 21.9 bn |
Composting market segmentation
By feedstock
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yard and garden waste | 34.0% | 29.7% | USD 4.0 bn | 5.1% |
| Food waste | 30.0% | 36.4% | USD 3.5 bn | 8.6% |
| Agricultural residues and manure | 22.0% | 21.1% | USD 2.6 bn | 6.1% |
| Biosolids and other | 14.0% | 12.8% | USD 1.6 bn | 5.6% |
By method
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windrow | 44.0% | 38.5% | USD 5.1 bn | 5.1% |
| Aerated static pile | 24.0% | 24.2% | USD 2.8 bn | 6.6% |
| In-vessel | 22.0% | 26.7% | USD 2.6 bn | 8.6% |
| Vermicomposting and other | 10.0% | 10.6% | USD 1.2 bn | 7.1% |
By operator type
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal facilities | 41.0% | 37.0% | USD 4.8 bn | 5.4% |
| Private commercial operators | 43.0% | 46.0% | USD 5.0 bn | 7.2% |
| Farm and community sites | 16.0% | 17.0% | USD 1.9 bn | 7.2% |
By plant capacity
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5,000 tonnes a year | 26.0% | 22.0% | USD 3.0 bn | 4.7% |
| 5,000 to 25,000 tonnes a year | 39.0% | 38.0% | USD 4.5 bn | 6.2% |
| Over 25,000 tonnes a year | 35.0% | 40.0% | USD 4.1 bn | 7.9% |
By end use of compost
| Segment | Share 2026 | Share 2036 | Value 2026 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | 43.0% | 42.0% | USD 5.0 bn | 6.2% |
| Landscaping and horticulture | 27.0% | 26.0% | USD 3.1 bn | 6.1% |
| Home gardening | 16.0% | 15.0% | USD 1.9 bn | 5.8% |
| Land reclamation and erosion control | 14.0% | 17.0% | USD 1.6 bn | 8.6% |
Top 25 countries for composting by revenue
Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 73.0% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 93.2%.
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
| # | Country | Value 2026 | Share 2026 | Value 2036 | CAGR 2026-36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | USD 2.3 bn | 20.0% | USD 5.0 bn | 7.9% |
| 2 | United States | USD 2.1 bn | 18.0% | USD 3.9 bn | 6.4% |
| 3 | Germany | USD 1.0 bn | 9.0% | USD 1.5 bn | 3.9% |
| 4 | Italy | USD 583 mn | 5.0% | USD 941 mn | 4.9% |
| 5 | France | USD 583 mn | 5.0% | USD 1.1 bn | 6.9% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | USD 466 mn | 4.0% | USD 832 mn | 6.0% |
| 7 | Japan | USD 350 mn | 3.0% | USD 503 mn | 3.7% |
| 8 | Spain | USD 350 mn | 3.0% | USD 679 mn | 6.8% |
| 9 | Netherlands | USD 350 mn | 3.0% | USD 547 mn | 4.6% |
| 10 | Canada | USD 350 mn | 3.0% | USD 679 mn | 6.8% |
| 11 | Australia | USD 332 mn | 2.9% | USD 608 mn | 6.2% |
| 12 | South Korea | USD 293 mn | 2.5% | USD 536 mn | 6.2% |
| 13 | India | USD 258 mn | 2.2% | USD 659 mn | 9.8% |
| 14 | Brazil | USD 226 mn | 1.9% | USD 506 mn | 8.4% |
| 15 | Austria | USD 199 mn | 1.7% | USD 366 mn | 6.2% |
| 16 | Belgium | USD 175 mn | 1.5% | USD 322 mn | 6.3% |
| 17 | Poland | USD 154 mn | 1.3% | USD 282 mn | 6.3% |
| 18 | Sweden | USD 135 mn | 1.2% | USD 250 mn | 6.3% |
| 19 | Denmark | USD 119 mn | 1.0% | USD 219 mn | 6.3% |
| 20 | Mexico | USD 105 mn | 0.9% | USD 234 mn | 8.4% |
| 21 | Switzerland | USD 92 mn | 0.8% | USD 169 mn | 6.2% |
| 22 | Turkey | USD 82 mn | 0.7% | USD 149 mn | 6.2% |
| 23 | Ireland | USD 71 mn | 0.6% | USD 131 mn | 6.3% |
| 24 | Indonesia | USD 63 mn | 0.5% | USD 140 mn | 8.3% |
| 25 | Taiwan | USD 56 mn | 0.5% | USD 101 mn | 6.0% |
| Rest of world | USD 788 mn | 6.8% | USD 1.5 bn | 6.5% |
Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.
Competitive landscape
Group 1: Global leaders
- Veolia
- Waste Management
- Remondis
- Republic Services
- Waste Connections
- SUEZ
- FCC Environment
Group 2: Regional and specialist players
- Synagro
- Recology
- Renewi
- Cedar Grove Composting
- WeCare Organics
- GFL Environmental
- Ragn-Sells
- Biffa
Group 3: Emerging and niche players
- Vermont Compost Company
- Atlas Organics
- Compost Crew
- Bootstrap Compost
Research methodology
Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the composting market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.
The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 6.5% is calculated from the resulting values.
The market is divided by feedstock, by method, by operator type, by plant capacity, by end use of compost. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.
Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.
Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the composting market?
The global composting market is estimated at USD 11.0 bn in 2025 and USD 11.7 bn in 2026.
How fast will the composting market grow?
It is forecast to reach USD 21.9 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2026, an increase of USD 10.2 bn.
Which country is the largest market for composting?
China is the largest market by revenue at USD 2.3 bn in 2026, 20.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 47.0%.
Which country is growing fastest?
Among the ten largest markets, China is growing fastest at 7.9% a year from 2026 to 2036.
Which composting segment is largest?
In the by feedstock split, Yard and garden waste is the largest segment with 34.0% of 2026 revenue.
Who are the leading composting companies?
Global leaders include Veolia, Waste Management, Remondis, Republic Services.
Need the full report?
Request a sample to see the structure, tables and country detail.
Request a free sampleRelated markets in Services and Utilities
- Parking ManagementUSD 11.8 bn · 7.5% CAGR
- Biogas PlantUSD 11.9 bn · 8.5% CAGR
- Biomedical Waste ManagementUSD 12.2 bn · 6.0% CAGR
- Water Network ManagementUSD 12.5 bn · 8.5% CAGR
- Waste to Energy PlantUSD 12.7 bn · 5.5% CAGR
- Geothermal EnergyUSD 12.8 bn · 7.5% CAGR
- Car SharingUSD 10.5 bn · 10.5% CAGR
- Predictive Maintenance ServiceUSD 10.5 bn · 22.0% CAGR