NAICS 562213 Quarterly Industry Report
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 562213Sector: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators (NAICS 562213) draws on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], U.S. Census Bureau, and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, waste-to-energy analysts, and business brokers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the solid waste combustors and incinerators industry.
Share of Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
0%
By establishment count, 2022 Census[2]
NAICS Sector
56
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators (NAICS 562213) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in operating combustors and incinerators for the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. These waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities burn municipal solid waste at high temperatures, reducing volume by approximately 90 percent while generating electricity and steam as saleable byproducts. About 75 operating WTE facilities process roughly 30 million tons of waste annually across the United States.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics[5] tracks employment across the waste management sector, with combustor operations requiring specialized operators, maintenance technicians, and environmental compliance staff. Covanta (now Reworld), Wheelabrator (part of WIN Waste Innovations), and several municipal authorities operate the majority of domestic WTE capacity. Facility construction costs exceed $200 million for a modern plant, creating extreme barriers to new market entry. Revenue comes from waste tipping fees and electricity or steam sales, with power purchase agreements providing long-term revenue stability.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $47.0 million in average annual receipts. Clean Air Act standards for large municipal waste combustors require advanced emissions controls including acid gas scrubbers, particulate filters, mercury controls, and continuous emission monitoring systems. The Northeast corridor and Florida host the densest concentration of WTE facilities due to limited landfill space and higher disposal costs that make combustion economically competitive. Ash residuals from combustion require landfill disposal, creating ongoing relationships between WTE facilities and landfill operators.
What's Included in This Industry
- Municipal solid waste incineration and combustion
- Waste-to-energy electricity generation
- Steam production from waste combustion
- Emissions control and monitoring systems
- Ash and residue management and disposal
- Waste receiving, storage, and feed preparation
- Combustion system operation and maintenance
- Environmental compliance and air quality monitoring
- Metal recovery from combustion residuals
- Combined waste collection and combustion operations
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 56 |
| Subsector | Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562 |
| Industry Group | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 5622 |
| NAICS Industry | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 56221 |
| National Industry | Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators | 562213 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 562212 | Solid Waste Landfill | Solid Waste Landfills provide alternative disposal through burial while combustors reduce waste volume through thermal processing, with ash residuals from combustion still requiring landfill disposal |
| 562219 | Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal | Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment includes composting and anaerobic digestion that offer biological alternatives to thermal combustion for organic waste stream management |
| 562211 | Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal | Hazardous Waste Treatment operates specialized incineration at higher temperatures with stricter emission controls for toxic materials, compared to municipal waste combustion of standard garbage |
| 562111 | Solid Waste Collection | Solid Waste Collection delivers municipal garbage to combustion facilities, with collection routes and waste volume commitments driving the feedstock supply for waste-to-energy operations |
| 562119 | Other Waste Collection | Other Waste Collection handles construction debris and specialty materials that may require sorting before combustion, as some materials are unsuitable for standard WTE processing |
| 562998 | All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management Services | All Other Miscellaneous Waste Management includes material separation and recovery activities that complement combustor operations by removing non-combustible items from waste feed streams |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 21.7% | 10 |
| 3 | New York | 13.0% | 6 |
| 4 | Florida | 13.0% | 6 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 10.9% | 5 |
| 6 | Texas | 10.9% | 5 |
| 7 | Ohio | 8.7% | 4 |
% Of Establishments
0%
22%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses operate waste combustors?
Major operators include Reworld (formerly Covanta) and WIN Waste Innovations. About 75 facilities process roughly 30 million tons annually per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Municipal authorities also operate public WTE plants, particularly in the Northeast and Florida.
How do waste-to-energy facilities generate revenue?
Revenue comes from waste tipping fees and electricity or steam sales per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5]. Power purchase agreements with local utilities provide long-term electricity revenue stability. Recovered metals from ash processing create additional income.
What is the SBA size standard for Waste Combustors?
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], NAICS 562213 has a size standard of $47.0 million in average annual receipts. This determines eligibility for SBA loans, federal contracting set-asides, and small business programs.
What NAICS codes are related to waste combustors?
Related codes include NAICS 562212 (Landfills), NAICS 562219 (Other Treatment), NAICS 562211 (Hazardous Treatment), NAICS 562111 (Solid Waste Collection), and NAICS 562998 (Other Waste Management) per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
Where are waste combustors concentrated geographically?
The Northeast corridor and Florida host the densest concentration due to limited landfill space and higher disposal costs. States like Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York rely heavily on WTE for waste management capacity.
What activities are included in NAICS 562213?
Core activities include waste incineration, electricity generation, steam production, emissions control, ash management, waste receiving and processing, combustion system operation, environmental monitoring, and metal recovery per the U.S. Census Bureau[4].
Can waste combustor businesses get SBA loans?
Yes, firms meeting the $47.0 million size standard qualify for SBA 7(a) loans[7] covering emissions control upgrades, equipment replacement, and working capital. The capital intensity of combustion operations creates ongoing equipment financing needs.
What emissions controls are required?
Clean Air Act standards require acid gas scrubbers, particulate baghouse filters, mercury controls, and continuous emission monitoring systems per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5]. Modern facilities invest heavily in pollution control technology to meet increasingly strict air quality standards.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [8]504/CDC loans sba.gov
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