India Medical Waste Management Market

India Medical Waste Management Market Overview:

The India medical waste management market size reached USD 1.37 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 3.45 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 10.01% during 2025-2033. Rising healthcare infrastructure, increasing medical waste volume, stringent government regulations, growing awareness of hazardous waste disposal, technological advancements in waste treatment, and the emergence of specialized service providers are key factors propelling market growth. The demand for sustainable disposal solutions and adherence to environmental safety norms further drive the industry.

India Medical Waste Management Market Trends:

Adoption of Advanced Segregation and Disposal Technologies

Medical waste segregation and disposal technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are implementing automated waste segregation systems to improve efficiency and reduce human intervention. For instance, in February 2025, the Government of India (GoI) launched India's first indigenous Automated Bio Medical Waste Treatment Plant, "Sṛjanam," at AIIMS New Delhi. Developed by CSIR-NIIST, this innovative rig disinfects waste without incinerators and transforms biomedical waste into soil additives, handling 400kg daily. This eco-friendly technology addresses India's 743-tonne daily biomedical waste challenge. Innovations such as autoclave sterilization, microwave-based treatment, and pyrolysis are gaining traction, replacing conventional incineration methods. These technologies enhance safety, minimize environmental impact, and enable resource recovery, such as energy generation from waste. Additionally, the integration of IoT-enabled tracking systems ensures better monitoring and regulatory compliance. With regulatory authorities emphasizing proper classification and disposal mechanisms, healthcare institutions are investing in modernized waste management solutions, reducing biohazard risks while maintaining cost efficiency and sustainability in waste treatment.

Growing Preference for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

Public-private partnerships are serving to enhance the medical waste management infrastructure in India. Government institutions are increasingly associating with private waste management entities to make the collection, treatment, and disposal processes more efficient. These alliances facilitate enhanced investment in advanced treatment facilities, abiding by the changing regulatory frameworks. Private actors introduce knowledge regarding waste processing based on advanced technology and international standards to enhance efficiency. This model minimizes the financial load on government institutions while encouraging accountability and innovation. As healthcare needs increase, PPPs are improving the nation's ability to treat biomedical waste efficiently, resulting in the creation of more centralized waste treatment facilities. This cooperative strategy ensures efficient handling of wastes while addressing safety and environmental requirements. For example, an Integrated Waste Management City will come up in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur by September 2025 for encouraging waste management in a sustainable manner. Spreading over 40 acres at Suthni village, the project will handle different types of wastes and make charcoal and Bio-CNG from them. The project has a Dry Waste Plant (500 TPD), Wet Waste Plant (200 TPD), and a Hazardous Waste Plant. It has been implemented under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme and is anticipated to create jobs, increase revenue, and be a technical training center.

Expansion of Circular Economy Practices in Waste Management

India's medical waste management industry is shifting towards adopting principles of circular economy, focusing on waste repurposing and recovery of resources. Firms are looking for means to recycle components of medical wastes, like packaging and syringes made from plastics, for minimizing environmental pressure. Sterilization techniques advanced enough to render materials safe to reuse in applications other than medicinal are being accepted. The environmental pressure for switching to green solutions, like medical supplies that biodegrade easily, is also helping minimize wastes. Additionally, waste-to-energy innovations are helping hospitals and waste disposal sites derive energy from biomedical waste in an effort to boost sustainable development efforts. In accordance with a greater awareness of sustainability in the environment, regulations should encourage circular economy models by offering incentives toward reducing waste and optimizing resources across the industry. For example, in October 2024, Google revealed that it is using AI to enhance waste management in India with its CircularNet AI model, which was created in partnership with Saahas Zero Waste. The technology improves plastic waste identification, enhancing sorting accuracy and recycling efficiency. A pilot test achieved 85% accuracy in waste detection, which increased revenue by 10-12%. By streamlining recycling processes and minimizing landfill waste, the initiative helps India's circular economy, with a goal to handle more than 500 tonnes of waste every day by 2026 while encouraging sustainability.

India Medical Waste Management Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the region/country level for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on treatment site and treatment.

Treatment Site Insights:

• Onsite
  • Collection
  • Treatment and Disposal
  • Recycling
  • Others
• Offsite
  • Collection
  • Treatment and Disposal
  • Recycling
  • Others

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the treatment site. This includes onsite (collection, treatment and disposal, recycling, and others) and offsite (collection, treatment and disposal, recycling, and others).

Treatment Insights:

• Incineration
• Autoclaving
• Chemical Treatment
• Others

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the treatment have also been provided in the report. This includes incineration, autoclaving, chemical treatment, and others.

Regional Insights:

• North India
• South India
• East India
• West India

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North, South, East, and West India.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

India Medical Waste Management Market News: 

• In February 2025, Kerala launched nPROUD (New Programme for Removal of Unused Drugs), India’s first government-backed initiative for collecting and disposing of expired medicines. Led by the State Drugs Control Department, the project will provide disposal facilities at designated locations, preventing environmental pollution and antimicrobial resistance. Initially implemented in Kozhikode, it will expand statewide. Local bodies will assist in collection, with scientific processing conducted at Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited (KEIL) under environmental regulations.

India Medical Waste Management Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the India medical waste management market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the India medical waste management market on the basis of treatment site?
• What is the breakup of the India medical waste management market on the basis of treatment?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the India medical waste management market? 
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the India medical waste management market?
• What is the structure of the India medical waste management market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the India medical waste management market? 

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the India medical waste management market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the India medical waste management market.
• Porter's Five Forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the India medical waste management industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.