List of Publicly Traded Recycling Companies
Explore a comprehensive directory of waste management and recycling stocks leading the circular economy on major U.S. exchanges in 2026.
This List of Publicly Traded Recycling Companies provides essential data on the firms transforming global waste into valuable resources through advanced recovery technologies. Investors often compare these stocks against broader Environmental Services Companies to gauge market performance and sustainability trends. In 2026, the sector has seen significant consolidation as large-cap leaders integrate automated sorting and battery recycling into their core operations. To evaluate specific performance metrics, you can utilize our Recycling Comparison Widget to view real-time data side-by-side. This directory tracks over 20 stocks ranging from specialized metal recyclers to global solid waste giants.
Key Takeaways
The industry is led by three major entities with a combined market cap exceeding $190 billion, providing significant stability for investors in the Waste Management (WM) Details profile.
Despite high capital expenditures, the recycling sector maintains healthy profit margins averaging 11.48%, driven by service price increases and efficiency gains.
Emerging players like GFL and Enviri (NVRI) are capturing market share by focusing on specialized industrial waste and hazardous material recovery.
While the industry average yield is 0.65%, established firms like the Republic Services (RSG) Profile offer consistent income growth through quarterly distributions.
Top List of Publicly Traded Recycling Companies by Market Cap (2026)
The following table ranks the largest recycling and waste management stocks by market capitalization, representing over $235 billion in total industry value.
| Rank | Ticker | Company | Industry | Market Cap | YTD % | P/E Ratio | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WM | Waste Management | Waste Services | $89.15B | +0.03% | 34.11 | 1.45% |
| 2 | RSG | Republic Services | Waste Services | $65.20B | +0.12% | 31.05 | 1.20% |
| 3 | WCN | Waste Connections | Waste Services | $42.04B | -0.05% | 38.40 | 0.70% |
| 4 | GFL | GFL Environmental | Waste Services | $15.31B | +1.20% | 28.50 | 0.15% |
| 5 | CLH | Clean Harbors | Hazardous Waste | $13.70B | +0.85% | 24.10 | 0.00% |
| 6 | CWST | Casella Waste | Waste Services | $6.59B | +0.45% | 42.15 | 0.00% |
| 7 | NVRI | Enviri Corp | Specialized Recycling | $1.47B | -1.10% | 18.90 | 0.00% |
| 8 | RDUS | Radius Recycling | Metal Recycling | $842.00M | -2.30% | 12.40 | 2.10% |
| 9 | QRHC | Quest Resource Holding | Waste Management | $41.11M | +0.10% | 15.20 | 0.00% |
| 10 | AQMS | Aqua Metals | Battery Recycling | $18.36M | -5.40% | N/A | 0.00% |
List of Publicly Traded Recycling Companies — Complete Company List
List of Publicly Traded Recycling Companies Listed on Major U.S. Exchanges
Recycling: Large-Cap Stocks
- Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) (Solid waste, recycling)
- Waste Management, Inc. (WM) (Solid waste, recycling)
- Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN) (Solid waste, recycling)
Recycling: Mid-Cap Stocks
- Clean Harbors, Inc. (CLH) (Hazardous and non-hazardous material management services, used oil recycling, industrial services, oil & gas services)
- Covanta Holding Corporation (CVA) (Waste-to-energy facilities; metal recycling)
- Darling Ingredients, Inc. (DAR) (Recycles bio-nutrients and converts these into ingredients)
Recycling: Small-Cap Stocks
- Aqua Metals, Inc. (AQMS) (IPO in July 2015: Lead acid battery recycling technology)
- Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (CWST) (Solid waste, recycling: motor oil, petroleum by-products)
- Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (HCCI) (Industrial and hazardous waste services)
- Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (SCHN) (Metal recycling)
Recycling: Micro-Cap Stocks
- Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCI) (Retail and recycling centers)
- China Recycling Energy Corporation (CREG) (Industrial by-products)
- Industrial Services of America, Inc. (IDSA) (Metal recycling)
- Quest Resource Holding Corporation (QRHC) (Recycling: wide range of items including cardboard, glass, metal, motor oil, paper, plastics and tires)
- Vertex Energy, Inc. (VTNR) (Used motor oil, petroleum by-product streams)
Risks & Considerations
Commodity Price Volatility
Recycling profitability is heavily tied to the market price of scrap metal, paper, and plastic, which can fluctuate wildly based on global demand.
High Capital Requirements
Building and maintaining advanced recovery facilities requires massive upfront investment, which can strain the balance sheets of smaller micro-cap firms.
Regulatory Changes
Changes in environmental laws or municipal waste contracts can significantly impact revenue streams and operational costs for regional recyclers.
Operational Contamination
High rates of non-recyclable materials in sorting streams increase processing costs and lower the value of the final recovered product.