All large private waste management companies are members of the BDE, such as the market leaders Remondis, Veolia and Alba. Overall, the sector is regional and medium-sized. Numerous water supply and wastewater disposal companies as well as municipal cleaning companies are also organised in the association.

More than 500 experts from the member companies work in the expert committees on topics from the fields of waste treatment, recycling management and water supply and wastewater disposal. As an employers' association, the BDE is the collective bargaining partner of the United Services Union for collective agreements and pay scales. The further development of apprenticeships in the waste management and recycling industry as well as further training have been integrated in a separate educational institution, the Bildungswerk, since 1992.

In Bavaria, the Association of Bavarian Waste Management Companies (VBS) exists as an independent association. The VBS is a corporate co-opted member of the BDE. The BDE is divided into five regional representations, which are coordinated from Berlin. Among other things, it has set up specialist sections for logistics, waste treatment, biological treatment processes, hazardous waste management, recycling management, water management and the Small Collective Bargaining Commission. Interdepartmental working groups exist for EU affairs, environmental legislation and law, taxes and competition, occupational safety and quality management, education, BDE juniors. The member companies of the BDE generate the majority of the turnover of private companies in Germany in the fields of wastewater disposal, waste collection and recycling, and the removal of environmental pollution.