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E Waste Recycling Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global e waste recycling market is worth USD 34.6 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 74.6 bn by 2036, growing at a 8.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Iron and base metals is the largest by material segment.

USD 34.6 bnMarket size 2026
USD 74.6 bnForecast 2036
8.0%CAGR 2026-2036
ChinaLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global e waste recycling market is worth USD 34.6 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 74.6 bn by 2036, growing at a 8.0% CAGR. China is the largest country market and Iron and base metals is the largest by material segment.

ScopeRecycling of end-of-life electronics: collection, dismantling and processing of electrical and electronic equipment, valued at recovered materials sold and recycling fees.
IndustryChemicals and Materials
Value 2025USD 32.0 bn
Value 2026USD 34.6 bn
Value 2036USD 74.6 bn
CAGR 2026-20368.0%
Volume 202615.5 million tonnes
Volume 203630.3 million tonnes
Average price 2026USD 2,229 per tonne
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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E Waste Recycling market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global e waste recycling market is forecast to grow from USD 34.6 bn in 2026 to USD 74.6 bn by 2036, more than doublingGlobal market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 8.0%
E Waste Recycling market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 32.0 bn; 2026: USD 34.6 bn; 2027: USD 37.3 bn; 2028: USD 40.3 bn; 2029: USD 43.5 bn; 2030: USD 47.0 bn; 2031: USD 50.8 bn; 2032: USD 54.8 bn; 2033: USD 59.2 bn; 2034: USD 64.0 bn; 2035: USD 69.1 bn; 2036: USD 74.6 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 8.0%.202534.6 bn202650.8 bn203174.6 bn20368.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 34.6 bn
2027USD 37.3 bn
2028USD 40.3 bn
2029USD 43.5 bn
2030USD 47.0 bn
2031USD 50.8 bn
2032USD 54.8 bn
2033USD 59.2 bn
2034USD 64.0 bn
2035USD 69.1 bn
2036USD 74.6 bn

E Waste Recycling market segmentation

By material

Exhibit 2Iron and base metals is the largest segment by material, with 42.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by material
E Waste Recycling market share by material, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by material. Iron and base metals: 42.0%; Gold and silver: 30.0%; Plastics and glass: 14.0%; Other recovered materials: 14.0%.Iron and base metals42.0%Gold and silver30.0%Plastics and glass14.0%Other recovered materials14.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Iron and base metals42.0%38.6%USD 14.5 bn7.1%
Gold and silver30.0%33.2%USD 10.4 bn9.1%
Plastics and glass14.0%13.5%USD 4.8 bn7.6%
Other recovered materials14.0%14.8%USD 4.8 bn8.6%

By source

Exhibit 3IT and telecom equipment adds the most revenue by source, growing from USD 11.1 bn in 2026 to USD 24.7 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by source, 2026 and 2036 forecast
E Waste Recycling market by source, 2026 and 2036Revenue by source in 2026 and 2036. IT and telecom equipment: USD 11.1 bn in 2026, USD 24.7 bn in 2036, change +124%; Small appliances and batteries: USD 6.9 bn in 2026, USD 17.7 bn in 2036, change +156%; Large household appliances: USD 9.0 bn in 2026, USD 16.7 bn in 2036, change +86%; Consumer electronics: USD 7.6 bn in 2026, USD 15.5 bn in 2036, change +104%.20262036 forecastChangeIT and telecom equipment+124%11.1 bn24.7 bnSmall appliances and batteries+156%6.9 bn17.7 bnLarge household appliances+86%9.0 bn16.7 bnConsumer electronics+104%7.6 bn15.5 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
IT and telecom equipment32.0%33.1%USD 11.1 bn8.4%
Large household appliances26.0%22.3%USD 9.0 bn6.4%
Consumer electronics22.0%20.8%USD 7.6 bn7.4%
Small appliances and batteries20.0%23.8%USD 6.9 bn9.9%

By process

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Mechanical shredding and sorting44.0%40.0%USD 15.2 bn7.0%
Hydrometallurgical recovery22.0%26.0%USD 7.6 bn9.8%
Pyrometallurgical smelting26.0%23.0%USD 9.0 bn6.7%
Refurbishment and reuse8.0%11.0%USD 2.8 bn11.5%

By equipment type

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
IT and telecom equipment28.0%26.0%USD 9.7 bn7.2%
Large household appliances24.0%20.0%USD 8.3 bn6.0%
Screens and displays14.0%12.0%USD 4.8 bn6.3%
Cooling and freezing equipment14.0%14.0%USD 4.8 bn8.0%
Small appliances12.0%12.0%USD 4.1 bn8.0%
Solar panels and batteries8.0%16.0%USD 2.8 bn15.8%

By business model

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Material sales44.0%46.0%USD 15.2 bn8.5%
Processing fees38.0%34.0%USD 13.1 bn6.8%
Take-back and ITAD services18.0%20.0%USD 6.2 bn9.1%

Top 25 countries for e waste recycling by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 71.5% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 89.8%.

Exhibit 4China is the largest country market at USD 7.6 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 44.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
E Waste Recycling market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. China: USD 7.6 bn, 22.0%; United States: USD 5.2 bn, 15.0%; Japan: USD 2.4 bn, 7.0%; Germany: USD 2.1 bn, 6.0%; India: USD 2.1 bn, 6.0%; United Kingdom: USD 1.2 bn, 3.5%; France: USD 1.2 bn, 3.5%; South Korea: USD 1.0 bn, 3.0%; Brazil: USD 1.0 bn, 3.0%; Netherlands: USD 864 mn, 2.5%.China7.6 bn 22.0%United States5.2 bn 15.0%Japan2.4 bn 7.0%Germany2.1 bn 6.0%India2.1 bn 6.0%United Kingdom1.2 bn 3.5%France1.2 bn 3.5%South Korea1.0 bn 3.0%Brazil1.0 bn 3.0%Netherlands864 mn 2.5%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1ChinaUSD 7.6 bn22.0%USD 17.2 bn8.5%
2United StatesUSD 5.2 bn15.0%USD 10.1 bn7.0%
3JapanUSD 2.4 bn7.0%USD 4.1 bn5.4%
4GermanyUSD 2.1 bn6.0%USD 3.7 bn6.0%
5IndiaUSD 2.1 bn6.0%USD 6.7 bn12.5%
6United KingdomUSD 1.2 bn3.5%USD 2.2 bn6.0%
7FranceUSD 1.2 bn3.5%USD 2.2 bn6.0%
8South KoreaUSD 1.0 bn3.0%USD 2.0 bn6.9%
9BrazilUSD 1.0 bn3.0%USD 2.5 bn9.4%
10NetherlandsUSD 864 mn2.5%USD 1.6 bn6.6%
11BelgiumUSD 836 mn2.4%USD 2.3 bn10.5%
12SwedenUSD 750 mn2.2%USD 1.6 bn8.0%
13SwitzerlandUSD 601 mn1.7%USD 1.3 bn7.9%
14AustriaUSD 515 mn1.5%USD 1.1 bn7.6%
15CanadaUSD 456 mn1.3%USD 985 mn8.0%
16AustraliaUSD 415 mn1.2%USD 940 mn8.5%
17SpainUSD 380 mn1.1%USD 821 mn8.0%
18ItalyUSD 356 mn1.0%USD 724 mn7.3%
19PolandUSD 332 mn1.0%USD 791 mn9.1%
20SingaporeUSD 314 mn0.9%USD 739 mn8.9%
21MalaysiaUSD 297 mn0.9%USD 731 mn9.4%
22TurkeyUSD 283 mn0.8%USD 679 mn9.1%
23MexicoUSD 273 mn0.8%USD 679 mn9.5%
24ThailandUSD 263 mn0.8%USD 627 mn9.1%
25VietnamUSD 252 mn0.7%USD 686 mn10.5%
Rest of worldUSD 3.5 bn10.2%USD 7.6 bn8.0%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 36% of the USD 40.1 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
E Waste Recycling market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 34.6 bn. China: +USD 9.6 bn; United States: +USD 5.0 bn; India: +USD 4.6 bn; Japan: +USD 1.7 bn; Germany: +USD 1.7 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 13.5 bn; Rest of world: +USD 4.1 bn. Market value 2036: USD 74.6 bn.Market value 202634.6 bnChina+9.6 bnUnited States+5.0 bnIndia+4.6 bnJapan+1.7 bnGermany+1.7 bn20 other countries+13.5 bnRest of world+4.1 bnMarket value 203674.6 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Umicore
  • Boliden
  • Sims Limited
  • Aurubis
  • Veolia
  • Glencore
  • Mitsubishi Materials
  • JX Metals
  • Sumitomo Metal Mining
  • GEM Co

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Attero Recycling
  • Stena Recycling
  • Li-Cycle
  • Dowa Holdings
  • Kuusakoski
  • Remondis
  • Sipi Metals
  • Cimelia Resource Recovery

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • Electronic Recyclers International
  • Hi-Tech Recycling
  • Cyclic Materials
  • Mint Innovation
  • Blue Whale Materials

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 e waste recycling 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 8.0% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by material, by source, by process, by equipment type, by business model. 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.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the e waste recycling market?

The global e waste recycling market is estimated at USD 32.0 bn in 2025 and USD 34.6 bn in 2026.

How fast will the e waste recycling market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 74.6 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 8.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 40.1 bn.

Which country is the largest market for e waste recycling?

China is the largest market by revenue at USD 7.6 bn in 2026, 22.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 44.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 12.5% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which e waste recycling segment is largest?

In the by material split, Iron and base metals is the largest segment with 42.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading e waste recycling companies?

Global leaders include Umicore, Boliden, Sims Limited, Aurubis.

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