Ecology Action Center
The Ecology Action Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental agency serving as the designated solid waste coordinator for Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County, Illinois, delivering recycling, household hazardous waste, energy, clean water, tree planting, and air quality programs to residents and municipal partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersNormal, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ecology Action Center does
The Ecology Action Center (EAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental agency founded in 1970 and headquartered in Normal, Illinois, serving as the designated solid waste agency for Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County. Its portfolio spans recycling information services (RecycleBN.org and the RecycleCoach mobile app), household hazardous waste collection events and PaintCare drop-off sites, energy programs (BN EnergyBright home audits, Grow Solar BN group-buy rooftop solar with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, PureSky Energy community solar subscription, and municipal electricity aggregation advisory), clean water programs (Sugar Creek Stewards, mCLEAN Up Crew, rain barrels, rain gardens, well water testing), Tree Corps (over 20,000 trees planted), community composting (57.4 tons collected in 2024, up 23% YoY), the BNCARE air quality monitoring program, Yard Smart sustainable landscaping certification, and the 2071 long-term endowment fund. The underlying technology is a lightweight content and CRM stack — WordPress, Neon CRM, RecycleCoach app — with no proprietary AI or data platform.
EAC's business model blends anchor government service agreements (City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, McLean County, Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District) with grants (U.S. EPA, Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, Illinois Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial, Rivian, Republic Services), individual donations, the 2071 Fund endowment, and modest fee-based programming (rain barrel workshops at $50-$60, $20 home energy assessments, yard waste collections). The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: workshops, volunteer days, school and municipal partnerships, and co-hosted Power Hour presentations at libraries, museums, and grocery venues. Customer concentration is high across four municipal counterparties, which underwrites predictable mandate-driven funding but creates dependency risk that is partly offset by the long-standing service-agreement relationships and the 50+ year operating history.
Ecology Action Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ecology Action Center
- Legal name
- Ecology Action Center
- Website
- https://ecologyactioncenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Ecology Action Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental agency serving as the designated solid waste coordinator for Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County, Illinois, delivering recycling, household hazardous waste, energy, clean water, tree planting, and air quality programs to residents and municipal partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ecology Action Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Air Quality & Emissions Management (BPAHAJAI)
Keywords
Where Ecology Action Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Normal
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ecology Action Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Government Service Agreements: Service agreements with public agencies (City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, McLean County, Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District) for compliance with environmental mandates and coordination of environmental initiatives. This forms the core funding base for the organization's operations.
- Private Donations: The EAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dependent upon private donations from individuals and organizations to support environmental work. Donations are accepted online and through various fund campaigns.
- Workshop Fees: Fee-based educational workshops including Rain Barrel Workshops at $60 for general public and $50 for EAC Members, generating revenue while providing hands-on environmental education.
- Grant Funding: Funding from foundations and organizations such as Illinois Prairie Foundation, Illinois Farm Bureau, Compeer Financial, Rivian Automotive, Republic Services for specific programs and initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Rain Barrel Workshop - General Public |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Rain Barrel Workshop - EAC Members |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Home Energy Audits |
| Other | One time | Household Hazardous Waste Collection |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ecology Action Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ecology Action Center (EAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental agency that serves as the designated solid waste agency for Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County, Illinois. It provides recycling education and information services, household hazardous waste collection coordination, home energy audits, group solar purchasing, community composting, tree planting, clean water programs, air quality monitoring, and environmental workshops to county residents.
Product overview
The Ecology Action Center is a nonprofit environmental agency serving Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County, Illinois, offering a comprehensive portfolio of community environmental programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include recycling information services (RecycleBN.org/Recycle Coach app), household hazardous waste management programs, energy efficiency and solar initiatives (BN Energy Bright, Grow Solar BN group purchase, community solar with PureSky Energy), tree planting (Tree Corps with 20,000+ trees planted), clean water programs (Sugar Creek Stewards, rain barrels, rain gardens), composting services, air quality monitoring (BNCARE), municipal electricity aggregation advisory, and environmental education (Yard Smart program, Green Awards, workshops). The organization operates primarily as a service-based nonprofit rather than a technology product company, with its programs available through its website, events calendar, and community partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BN EnergyBright: Energy efficiency program offering home energy audits and energy savings resources for Bloomington and Normal residents.
- Tree Corps
- Grow Solar BN
- mCLEAN
- Yard Smart
- BNCARE
- McLean County Green Awards
- RecycleBN
- BN Community Composting
Products and services
- RecycleBN.org / Recycle Coach App
Companies that use Ecology Action Center
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ecology Action Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ecology Action Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA)corePartnership between EAC and MREA for Grow Solar Bloomington-Normal group buy solar program. The program uses volume purchasing power to make solar more accessible and affordable for home, business, and farm owners throughout McLean County. MREA provides solar expertise and program management while EAC provides local community outreach and coordination.
- City of BloomingtoncoreMunicipal partner providing funding through service agreements for environmental compliance and coordination of environmental initiatives. EAC serves as the solid waste agency for the City.
- Town of NormalcoreMunicipal partner providing funding through service agreements for environmental compliance and coordination of environmental initiatives. EAC serves as the solid waste agency for the Town. Partner in municipal electricity aggregation program.
- McLean CountycoreCounty government partner providing funding through service agreements for environmental compliance and coordination of environmental initiatives. EAC serves as the solid waste agency for the County.
- Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation DistrictcorePublic agency partner supporting Sugar Creek Stewards clean water programming. Joint funding for watershed restoration and native vegetation along stream buffers.
- PureSky EnergycoreCommunity solar partnership providing 10% discount on Ameren supply rate for EAC-recommended program. EAC promotes community solar subscription to residents as an alternative to rooftop installation.
- IL Prairie Community FoundationminorHost of Ecology Action Center Endowment Fund, enabling donors to support long-term environmental needs of the community.
- Green Top GroceryminorHost venue for Grow Solar BN Power Hour presentations teaching community about group solar purchasing benefits.
- McLean County History MuseumminorHost venue for Grow Solar BN Power Hour presentations in the community.
- Bloomington Public LibraryminorCommunity partner hosting Solar Power Hour presentations as part of Grow Solar BN program.
- Midwest FiberminorLocal recycler providing recycling services and funding for downtown Bloomington recycling bins. Partner in anti-contamination initiatives.
- Area Disposal Service Inc.minorLocal waste disposal and recycling company, donor for downtown recycling receptacles.
- Henson Disposal and RecyclingminorLocal waste disposal and recycling company, donor for downtown recycling receptacles.
- Republic ServicesminorWaste management company and sponsor of household hazardous waste collections.
- Sugar Creek Stewards PartnerscoreProgram supported by Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District, City of Bloomington, and Town of Normal for restoring native vegetation along Sugar Creek stream buffers.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ecology Action Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seven Generations Ahead: Illinois-based nonprofit that delivers community sustainability education, recycling, and environmental programs in the Chicago region. Closely comparable to EAC in mission, programming mix, and nonprofit operating model.
- Delta Institute: Chicago-based nonprofit working on Great Lakes watershed, recycling markets, and community sustainability. Comparable in scale, mission, and program design to EAC's water and waste work.
- Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO): Government-designated solid waste agency coordinating recycling, household hazardous waste, and education across Lake County, Illinois. A near-perfect functional analog to EAC's role in McLean County.
- Openlands: Regional land conservation and environmental nonprofit serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Comparable as an Illinois-based environmental nonprofit delivering community-facing conservation and education programs.
- Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA): Wisconsin-based nonprofit that runs group solar purchase programs and renewable energy education across the Midwest. MREA is EAC's actual partner on Grow Solar BN and is a directly comparable peer for solar and clean energy programming.
- Prairie Rivers Network: Illinois nonprofit focused on clean water, watershed stewardship, and policy advocacy. Highly comparable to EAC's Sugar Creek Stewards, mCLEAN, and clean water programs at a state-level scale.
- Resource Recycling Systems (RRS): Michigan-based consultancy and program operator that helps governments plan and execute recycling and solid waste programs. Comparable to EAC's solid waste planning and recycling rate tracking work, with a broader geographic footprint.
- PaintCare: National paint stewardship program operating 300+ drop-off sites in Illinois, including four in McLean County that partner with EAC. Directly comparable for paint and household hazardous waste stewardship activities.
- Illinois Recycling Association: State-level trade and advocacy organization for recycling and waste reduction in Illinois. Comparable to EAC's recycling education, planning, and policy-adjacent work, but with a state-wide scope.
Broad incumbents
- EarthShare: National environmental federation that aggregates workplace giving for hundreds of environmental nonprofits, including smaller community-based organizations. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler for environmental nonprofits like EAC, though operating at a much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ecology Action Center social profiles
Digital presenceEcology Action Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ecology Action Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ecology Action Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ecology Action Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ecology Action Center
What does Ecology Action Center do?
The Ecology Action Center (EAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental agency that serves as the designated solid waste agency for Bloomington, Normal, and McLean County, Illinois. It provides recycling education and information services, household hazardous waste collection coordination, home energy audits, group solar purchasing, community composting, tree planting, clean water programs, air quality monitoring, and environmental workshops to county residents.
Is Ecology Action Center a public or private company?
Ecology Action Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ecology Action Center founded?
Ecology Action Center was founded in 1970. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ecology Action Center based?
Ecology Action Center is headquartered in Normal, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ecology Action Center make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Government Service Agreements are the primary driver. The others are private Donations, workshop Fees and grant Funding.
Who are Ecology Action Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seven Generations Ahead, Delta Institute, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO), Openlands, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA), Prairie Rivers Network, Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), PaintCare and Illinois Recycling Association. EarthShare is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ecology Action Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ecology Action Center.
What industry is Ecology Action Center in?
Ecology Action Center's product category is Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAH, Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration, with a secondary code of BPAHAJAI, Air Quality & Emissions Management. Its NAICS code is 92411 and its SIC code is 4953.