Atlantic County Utilities Authority

What Atlantic County Utilities Authority does

Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) is a New Jersey county-level government authority founded in 1969, providing integrated environmental services to 27 municipalities across Atlantic County and portions of Cumberland County, New Jersey. ACUA operates three primary facilities: the Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township (housing solid waste disposal, recycling, composting, and administrative functions), a 24/7 wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic City, and the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm (five turbines in Atlantic City). The authority holds NJDEP-certified waste flow control, granting it a captive disposal stream for designated waste types generated within Atlantic County.

The authority's service portfolio spans curbside collection (trash, recycling, yard waste), solid waste disposal at regulated per-ton and per-load rates, single-stream commercial recycling, household hazardous waste drop-off events, and wastewater treatment. Material is converted into sellable products including EcoSoil compost (from 20,600+ tons of annual yard waste), various mulches, and recycled-plastic furniture sold through an e-commerce storefront. Recent infrastructure additions include a renewable natural gas facility (inaugurated October 2025 with SJI and OPAL Fuels, producing 650,000+ MMBtu annually) and a microplastics filtration pilot with PolyGone Systems (launched September 2024, treating 20-30 million gallons of wastewater per day). Revenue derives from tipping fees, municipal recycling contracts, energy sales via pipeline injection, and direct product sales. ACUA is overseen by a Board of Commissioners and operates without private equity ownership or external funding rounds.

Name

Atlantic County Utilities Authority

Legal name

Atlantic County Utilities Authority

Website

https://acua.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ACUA is a New Jersey county-level government authority providing integrated solid waste disposal, recycling, composting, wastewater treatment, and renewable energy services to 27 municipalities across Atlantic and Cumberland Counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste Management & Environmental Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail & Shopping Center Waste Services (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAF), Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ), Environmental Public Health (Food Safety, Water Quality, Sanitation) (BPAIAJAE)

Keywords

• Waste management services
• Wastewater treatment
• Recycling services
• Renewable natural gas
• Composting products

Headquarters

HQ city

Egg Harbor City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Solid Waste Disposal Fees: ACUA charges fees for disposal of various waste types including municipal solid waste, bulky waste, construction & demolition debris, contaminated soil, industrial waste, tires, and asbestos. Fees are assessed per ton, per 100 lbs, or per load depending on waste type.
2. Recycling Collection Services: Free recycling collection for residential customers in many Atlantic County municipalities under municipal recycling contracts. Revenue is derived from municipalities via recycling service agreements.
3. Commercial Recycling Services: ACUA provides commercial recycling collection to businesses in Atlantic County. Many Atlantic County businesses receive free recycling under township recycling contracts. ACUA charges external haulers bringing recycling material at $44.37 per ton.
4. Product Sales (ACUA Store): Sale of recycled-material products including EcoSoil, colored mulch, playground mulch, EcoMulch, EcoRoot mulch, recycled plastic furniture (benches, picnic tables, hex tables), recycling/trash carts, backyard composters, and other items.
5. Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off: Free residential drop-off events for household hazardous waste. Commercial hazardous waste disposal is referred to NJDEP-authorized facilities, with ACUA directing commercial entities to approved vendors.
6. Wastewater Treatment Services: ACUA operates a wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic City serving municipalities in Atlantic County. The facility operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
7. RNG Production & Pipeline Injection: RNG produced at the ACUA landfill is sold/piped to South Jersey Gas for distribution. Revenue is shared between ACUA (as host facility), SJI, and OPAL Fuels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) is a county-level public utilities authority that provides integrated environmental services across Atlantic County and portions of Cumberland County, New Jersey. Its offerings include curbside collection of trash, recycling, and yard waste; solid waste disposal at the Environmental Park facility; 24/7 wastewater treatment; household hazardous waste disposal events; commercial recycling; and renewable energy generation through wind turbines and a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility. It also sells recycled-material products such as EcoSoil compost, mulches, and recycled plastic furniture through its online store.

Product overview

Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) provides a comprehensive suite of environmental services across Atlantic and Cumberland Counties in New Jersey. The core offerings include curbside collection of trash, recycling, and yard waste; solid waste disposal at the Environmental Park facility; and 24/7 wastewater treatment operations. ACUA processes collected yard waste into EcoSoil and various mulch products sold through its store. The organization operates renewable energy infrastructure including wind turbines and an RNG facility, and has received recognition for its alternative fuel fleet. ACUA also provides commercial recycling programs, household hazardous waste disposal events, and community education through workshops. Recent additions include microplastics analysis services and participation in wastewater microplastics removal technology through partnership with PolyGone Systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACUA Environmental Park: The main facility location in Egg Harbor Township where solid waste disposal, recycling, composting, and administrative offices are located.
• Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm
• EcoSoil
• EcoMulch
• Supercan

Products and services

• Curbside Collection Residential curbside collection services for trash, recycling, and yard waste across multiple municipalities in Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. Includes weekly, biweekly, or as-needed pickup depending on municipality, plus valet collection for shore residents in Brigantine, Longport, Margate, and Ventnor.
• Solid Waste Disposal Disposal services for various waste types at the ACUA Environmental Park facility in Egg Harbor Township, including municipal solid waste, bulky waste, construction & demolition debris, contaminated soil, industrial waste, tires, and asbestos. Fees assessed per ton, per 100 lbs, or per load depending on waste type.
• Wastewater Treatment and Disposal

Quantifiable outcome

• RNG facility produces over 650,000 MMBtu annually, reducing over 346,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• OPAL FuelsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025OPAL Fuels partnered with SJI and ACUA to develop and operate a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the ACUA landfill in Egg Harbor Township. The plant produces over 650,000 MMBtu of RNG annually, injected into South Jersey Gas pipelines to serve transportation markets. OPAL Fuels manages the facility's operations, and the project reduces over 346,000 metric tons of carbon emissions per year.
• SJI (South Jersey Industries)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025SJI, an energy infrastructure holding company, partnered with OPAL Fuels and ACUA to inaugurate the RNG plant at the ACUA landfill. SJI oversees the integration of RNG supply into South Jersey Gas pipelines, enabling the renewable fuel to reach end consumers in the transportation sector.
• South Jersey GascoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 October 2025South Jersey Gas receives RNG produced at the ACUA landfill facility through its pipeline network for distribution as a renewable fuel product to transportation and energy customers in South Jersey.
• New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition (NJCCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025NJCCC and ACUA formalized a partnership to expand clean transportation and workforce initiatives in South Jersey. ACUA administers the Atlantic County Clean Communities Program under this partnership, which includes litter prevention, community cleanups, and environmental education activities.
• PolyGone SystemsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024PolyGone Systems, a Princeton University spinout founded by Nathaniel Banks and Yidian Li, launched a microplastics monitoring and removal pilot at ACUA's wastewater treatment facility in September 2024. The pilot treats 20-30 million gallons of water per day and removes 580 million plastic particles annually. A phase 2 expansion is planned for May 2026. ACUA received a Governor's Environmental Excellence Award jointly with PolyGone for this project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority: New Jersey county-level MUA providing solid waste disposal, recycling, and wastewater services to Camden County municipalities. Directly comparable in mandate, governance structure, and service mix to ACUA.
• Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission: New Jersey regional sewerage authority operating one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the US, serving multiple municipalities. Comparable public-authority structure and wastewater treatment focus.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management, Inc. Largest US solid waste and recycling services company, operating collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal infrastructure nationwide. Comparable in core solid waste and recycling operations but as a private-sector incumbent.
• Republic Services, Inc. Second-largest US solid waste and recycling services company with a national network of landfills, transfer stations, and recycling centers. Comparable in waste and recycling services, broader geographic footprint.
• Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company serving the Northeastern US. Comparable in integrated solid waste and recycling service mix, though privately competitive rather than public.
• Clean Harbors, Inc. Leading US provider of environmental and industrial services including hazardous waste collection and disposal. Comparable in hazardous waste drop-off services and regulated waste handling.
• Veolia North America: Major environmental services operator providing water, wastewater, and waste management services to municipalities across North America. Comparable in municipal wastewater and integrated environmental services.

Emerging players

• Covanta Holding Corporation: Waste-to-energy and environmental services company operating facilities that convert waste into renewable energy. Comparable in landfill-gas-to-energy and waste-derived renewable energy themes.

Regional players

• New Jersey American Water: Investor-owned water and wastewater utility serving customers across New Jersey. Comparable in regulated utility status and wastewater treatment operations in the same geography.

Others

• OPAL Fuels: Renewable natural gas company that co-developed and operates ACUA's landfill RNG facility. Relevant as ACUA's flagship infrastructure partner and comparable in landfill-gas-to-RNG business model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ACUA_Green

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atlantic County Utilities Authority