Industry news, deal announcements, market analysis, and fundraising guides for waste management and circular economy founders and investors.
The first wave of mass-market EV batteries is reaching end-of-life. With 1.2 million tons of lithium-ion batteries expected to retire by 2030, the recycling opportunity is massive—and investors are paying attention.
Amsterdam-based Circuion closed a $47M Series B to expand its AI vision systems for electronic waste sorting, targeting 50,000 MT annual processing capacity across new EU and Southeast Asian facilities.
The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new clothing. Why fiber-to-fiber recycling is the next big waste-tech opportunity.
The fashion industry generates 92 million tons of textile waste annually, with less than 1% recycled into new clothing. Why fiber-to-fiber recycling is the next big waste-tech opportunity.
Lisbon-based FibreLoop closed a $54M Series B led by WasteVC to build the world's first industrial-scale enzymatic textile recycling facility.
The first wave of mass-market EV batteries is reaching end-of-life. With 1.2 million tons of lithium-ion batteries expected to retire by 2030, the recycling opportunity is massive—and investors are paying attention.
Reno-based Lithium Loop closed a $62M Series B for its hydrometallurgical EV battery recycling process, recovering 95%+ of critical minerals at 40% less energy than competitors.
Waste and circular economy startups raised $4.1 billion in Q1 2026, with battery recycling, chemical recycling, and waste-to-energy leading deal volume. Here's our quarterly market analysis.
Amsterdam-based Circuion closed a $47M Series B to expand its AI vision systems for electronic waste sorting, targeting 50,000 MT annual processing capacity across new EU and Southeast Asian facilities.
EPA's new PFAS drinking water limits trigger mandatory remediation at thousands of sites. The destruction technology market is nascent, capital-intensive, and perfectly suited for venture investment.
The EU Battery Regulation mandates minimum recycled content starting 2031. For waste-tech investors, this creates a predictable, regulation-driven demand floor for recycled critical minerals.
Research Triangle Park-based HazGuard closed a $26M Series A for its mobile PFAS destruction technology, with EPA regulations creating a $30B+ remediation market.
14 US states have passed EPR laws for packaging, with 8 more considering legislation in 2026. Here's every state's status, what's covered, and what it means for waste-tech startups.
What waste-tech founders need to know about raising venture capital in 2026—from the metrics investors care about to the pitfalls that kill deals.
One-third of all food produced globally is wasted—worth $1.2 trillion annually. From farm-level prevention to anaerobic digestion, here's the complete landscape of food waste innovation.
From robotic sorting to route optimization, AI is making waste management smarter, cheaper, and more effective. Here are the five most impactful applications we're seeing in our portfolio and beyond.
C&D waste is the largest waste stream in the US by weight—over 600 million tons annually. Robotic sorting, AI classification, and material marketplaces are finally making it investable.
Is waste-to-energy part of the solution or a lock-in to the linear economy? Our nuanced take on where WtE makes sense—and where it doesn't—for investors.
The plastic credit market grew 300% in 2025 to $400M. We break down how plastic credits work, the quality tiers, and why this emerging market creates opportunities for waste-tech startups.
China controls 60% of rare earth mining and 90% of processing. Recycling REEs from e-waste, coal ash, and mining tailings is becoming a national security imperative—and a VC opportunity.
Landfill methane capture, composting, and recycling all generate quantifiable emission reductions. Here's how waste-tech startups can monetize carbon credits alongside their core business.