21 waste management startups creating sustainable solutions (2025)

Top waste managamenet startups

Complete list of waste management startups that are worth knowing:

Shelf Engine

Founded in 2015, Shelf Engine offers food businesses an automated system to improve the ordering of perishable ingredients and reduce waste. Their technology uses machine learning algorithms to predict optimal amounts to purchase daily for items with short expiration dates.

The Shelf Engine platform calculates future sales volume, lead time, seasonal demand, and other factors to determine the ideal order size for meats, dairy, produce, bakery items, and more. This ensures businesses have enough stock day-to-day without over ordering goods that could soon expire and be discarded.

Zaak Technologies

Founded in 2020, Zaak Technologies developed a patented process to convert thermal power plant fly ash into a sand alternative called Lypors.

Zaak serves the infrastructure and construction industry in India. Customers utilize Lypors for development projects as a replacement for sand. This diverts waste from landfills and reduces sand mining.

Electrobac

Founded in 2020, Electrobac developed smart bins that identify and collect electronic waste. Their devices digitize and streamline recycling.

Electrobac serves households, businesses and municipalities globally. Users conveniently dispose of e-waste for compliant recycling. This aims to increase waste diversion while capturing value.

Roadrunner Recycling

Founded in 2021, Roadrunner Recycling makes recycling pickup greener through custom logistics optimization. Their platform plans efficient routes and operations.

Roadrunner Recycling serves municipalities and waste providers. Clients receive tailored solutions lowering fuel costs and environmental impact. This progresses sustainability initiatives.

Recycling Technologies Limited

Founded in 2011, Recycling Technologies Limited developed units that process hard-to-recycle plastic into oil and wax for reuse. Their technology retrofits to operational facilities.

Recycling Technologies Limited serves waste management providers globally. Clients install their systems to enhance recycling capabilities and improve material recovery rates. This progresses sustainability initiatives.

Waste Resource Technologies

Founded in 2019, Waste Resource Technologies is focused on sustainably repurpose disposed materials once considered unrecoverable. Their technologies reprocess organic and plastic waste.

Waste Resource Technologies serves municipalities and businesses managing organic and plastic waste. Clients utilize their systems to beneficially reuse trash otherwise destined for landfills. This progresses sustainability goals.

Resourcify

Founded in 2020, Resourcify improves waste operations by centralizing data online. Their software consolidates service details, weights, invoices and more.

Resourcify serves commercial waste generators and haulers in the UK. Users gain a unified hub monitoring services, analyzes patterns and identifies savings. This aims to reduce waste and costs.

Nordsense

Founded in 2016, Nordsense improves waste collection efficiency using real-time fill data. Their platform monitors and analyzes bin levels.

Nordsense serves waste management companies and municipalities globally. Clients gain actionable visibility to enhance routing, staffing and scheduling. This aims to reduce operating costs.

Apeel Sciences

Founded in 2012, Apeel Sciences utilizes natural plant extracts to enable longer, safer fresh food shelf life. Their formulations coat produce to manage moisture and oxidation.

Apeel Sciences partners with growers, retailers and food suppliers globally. Partners apply Apeel coatings to produce, which extends salable life by slowing deterioration. This progresses sustainability initiatives.

Rubicon

Founded in 2008, Rubicon modernizes waste management by bringing data to the industry. Their software delivers analytics and efficiencies.

Rubicon serves private and public sector waste generators and haulers globally. Clients use their solutions to convert waste data into cost savings and sustainability gains. This progresses environmental goals.

GDP Environmenta

Founded in 2009, GDP Environmental drives sustainability through expertise and technologies tailored for environmental needs. Their offerings include consulting, software and infrastructure.

GDP Environmental serves public and private sector clients pursuing green initiatives. Customers leverage their tailored solutions to progress strategic environmental goals through innovation. This progresses sustainability programs.

RecycleGO

Founded in 2019, RecycleGO optimizes recycling by tracing materials and engaging consumers. Their software integrates blockchain, analytics and incentives.

RecycleGO serves municipalities and businesses managing waste and recycling programs. Clients utilize their systems to increase and reward recycling while tracing downstream use. This progresses circular economy initiatives.

The SWEEP Standard

Founded in 2019, The SWEEP Standard sought to drive systems-level progress in recycling and waste management through an independent evaluation program. Their assessments benchmark and recognize leadership.

The SWEEP Standard serves public and private sector materials management organizations. Participants utilize the certification to demonstrate, verify and improve their sustainability, ethics and contributions. This progresses industry transformation.

wastePal

Founded in 2020, wastePal simplifies waste services and provide sustainability insights by centralizing data online. Their software coordinates haulers, pickups and analytics.

wastePal serves restaurants and other waste generators and haulers in cities across Canada. Users seamlessly schedule on-demand waste collection while tracking sustainability metrics in one place. This aims to reduce waste and costs.

Sourgum Waste

Founded in 2020, Sourgum Waste simplifies dumpster rental by centralizing haulers and rentals online. Their software coordinates equipment supply and pricing.

Sourgum Waste serves contractors and project managers in metropolitan markets across the US. Users access transparent competitive rentals from local providers. This aims to save time and costs.

Glacier

Founded in 2020, Glacier drives recycling viability by bringing AI sorting within reach of most plants. Their mobile robot integrates computer vision and grippers to separate streams.

Glacier serves recycling facilities and manufacturers utilizing recycled materials. Clients employ the sorting robot to lower processing costs and improve quality. This expands recycling profitability and adoption.

Yellowsack

Founded in 2018, Yellowsack captures more recyclable materials at construction sites through tailored waste solutions. Their durable bags facilitate collection and hauling.

Yellowsack serves contractors across the US generating construction debris. Clients utilize their bags and coordinated pickups to easily recycle waste generated onsite. This progresses job site sustainability.

TekRevol

Founded in 2011, TekRevol helps clients achieve success through quality digital products and services. Their expertise spans UX design, engineering and emerging tech.

TekRevol serves organizations across sectors like retail, media and software. Clients rely on their technical capabilities and collaborative agile process to bring ideas to life. This aims to drive business growth through technology.

Haul It A Day

Founded in 2019, Haul It A Day makes dumpster rental more accessible through smaller bins bookable online anytime. Their software matches projects to optimal dumpster sizes.

Haul It A Day serves homeowners and contractors in metropolitan areas across the US. Users enjoy 24/7 rental access, compact bins fitting tight spaces, and responsive assistance. This provides convenience and simplicity.

Stellar3

Founded in 2021 through a merger, Stellar3 is focused on driving sustainability by converting disposed resources into renewable circular alternatives. Their facilities utilize pyrolysis to reprocess waste.

Stellar3 serves municipalities and businesses managing waste streams. Clients rely on their solutions to extract value from trash, turning residuals into renewable fuels, carbon black, oil and energy. This progresses sustainability goals.

CurbWaste

Founded in 2020, CurbWaste modernizes waste operations by unifying data online. Their software coordinates route planning, customer service, analytics and more.

CurbWaste serves private and public sector waste haulers across North America. Clients gain optimized routing, customer service, billing and fleet analytics from one connected platform. This aims to drive efficiency and sustainability.

Conclusion

Waste is an issue affecting communities around the world, generating greenhouse gases and pollution when it goes untreated or is disposed through outdated methods. These outdated methods have been challenged lately with a steady growth of groundbreaking waste management startups. From robotic recycling sorters to platforms connecting companies to reuse waste materials, these startups showcase creative ways to extract value while reducing environmental footprints.