Charah Solutions
Charah Solutions provides environmental services, ash management, and byproduct recycling to U.S. coal-fired power utilities, distributing supplementary cementitious materials through a 25-site MultiSource network and executing environmental risk transfer and ash pond closure projects for enterprise customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Charah Solutions does
Charah Solutions, Inc. is a Kentucky-incorporated, privately held environmental services and byproduct recycling company founded in 1987 by Charles and Janet Price and headquartered in Louisville, KY. The company serves the U.S. power generation industry — primarily coal-fired electric utilities and independent power producers — providing mission-critical services across the coal combustion residual (CCR) lifecycle, including ash pond management and closure, landfill design/construction/operations, FGD and gypsum management, dry fly ash conversion, limestone grinding, structural fill projects, and Environmental Risk Transfer (ERT) services in which Charah assumes ownership of environmental liabilities and remediation assets in exchange for property value.
The company's technical core is the proprietary EnviroSource® thermal fly ash Beneficiation process — capable of reducing LOI to <3%, ammonia to <60 ppm, and mercury to <100 ppb, processing both wet and dry fly ash at lower cost than competing technologies with modular scalability from 40,000 to 200,000 tons per year — complemented by the patent-pending EnviroDitch™ rim ditch and PondX® bottom-ash slurry interception systems, plus branded downstream products MultiCem™ slag cement and MultiPozz™ pozzolan. Distribution runs through the MultiSource® materials network of 25+ nationwide locations (barge, rail, and truck transload terminals), and a consumer packaged-goods line (PROJECT MIX lightweight concrete) sold through The Home Depot in 20 Virginia locations under a QUIKRETE co-branded joint venture (Charah Dry Mix LLC).
Revenue is generated through long-term managed-services contracts with utilities (often bundled), transaction-based byproduct sales of supplementary cementitious materials to ready-mix concrete producers, project-based construction services for structural fills and landfill work, and ERT-driven value capture from acquired environmental liabilities. Named enterprise customers include Duke Energy, Vistra (Miami Fort and Zimmer since 2017), Consumers Energy (via subsidiary MERG), Progress Energy, AmerenUE, Louisville Gas & Electric, and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. Operations span 40+ North American locations with 600+ employees, supported by a wholly owned subsidiary (MERG), a QUIKRETE joint venture (Charah Dry Mix LLC), and a third-party subcontractor prequalification program with Avetta.
Charah Solutions firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charah Solutions
- Legal name
- Charah Solutions, Inc.
- Website
- https://charah.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Charah Solutions provides environmental services, ash management, and byproduct recycling to U.S. coal-fired power utilities, distributing supplementary cementitious materials through a 25-site MultiSource network and executing environmental risk transfer and ash pond closure projects for enterprise customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charah Solutions industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Services for Power Generation (CCR Management and Byproduct Recycling)
- NAICS
- Cement and Concrete Product Manufacturing (3273), Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing (3274)
- SIC
- Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cementitious Binders & Additives (Fly Ash, Slag, Silica Fume, Lime) (IMADAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Sludge & Byproduct Management (BPALAHAG)
Keywords
Where Charah Solutions is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Charah Solutions business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Environmental Services and Ash Management: Service fees for comprehensive ash management including pond management, closure services, landfill operations, and environmental compliance. Revenue generated through long-term contracts with utilities for turnkey environmental solutions.
- Byproduct Sales (SCMs): Sale of coal combustion products including Class C and Class F fly ash, bottom ash, gypsum, slag cement, and pozzolan to concrete producers and cement manufacturers through the MultiSource distribution network.
- Environmental Risk Transfer (ERT) Services: One-stop services for power plant decommissioning, demolition, and remediation where Charah takes ownership of environmental liabilities and site remediation in exchange for property and asset value.
- Industrial Raw Materials Sales: Global sourcing and sales of industrial raw materials including iron ore, mill scale, steel slag, industrial slag, abrasives, and cement manufacturing materials to industrial customers worldwide.
- Construction and Engineering Services: Construction services for structural fills, landfill construction, pond reconstruction, and water management systems. Revenue from project-based construction contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for environmental services |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Charah Solutions product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Charah Solutions provides environmental services and byproduct recycling to the power generation industry, including ash pond management and closure, landfill design and operations, environmental risk transfer, FGD and gypsum management, dry fly ash conversion, and limestone grinding. It also sells supplementary cementitious materials (Class C/F fly ash, MultiCem™ slag cement, MultiPozz™ pozzolan, bottom ash, gypsum) through its MultiSource® distribution network to ready-mix concrete producers, plus industrial raw materials (iron ore, mill scale, steel slag) to global industrial customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ash Pond Management & Closure Service Comprehensive ash pond management and closure services including both closure-by-removal and cap-in-place solutions for utilities subject to EPA Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) regulations. Services cover impoundment draining, excavation, transportation, beneficial reuse, and regulatory documentation.
- Environmental Risk Transfer (ERT) Services One-stop ERT services for power plant decommissioning, demolition, and remediation in which Charah Solutions (via subsidiary MERG) takes ownership of environmental liabilities and site remediation in exchange for property and asset value. Enables utilities to retire coal-fired plants and shed long-tail environmental obligations.
- MultiSource® Materials Network National distribution system of 25+ sourcing locations using barge, rail, and truck logistics that ensures continuous and reliable supply of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to ready-mix concrete producers throughout the United States. Includes barge terminals (LaPlace, Sulphur, Vicksburg) and rail terminals (Hopedale, Worcester).
- EnviroSource® Fly Ash Beneficiation Technology Proprietary thermal process technology that improves fly ash quality by reducing loss on ignition (LOI) to under 3%, ammonia to under 60 ppm, and mercury to under 100 ppb. Processes both wet and dry fly ash at lower cost than competing technologies, with modular design scalable from 40,000 to 200,000 tons per year.
- MultiCem™ Slag Cement Proprietary slag cement product distributed through the MultiSource® network for use in concrete production, providing strength, durability, and improved finish in ready-mix concrete applications.
- MultiPozz™ Pozzolan Proprietary pozzolan product manufactured using grinding technology that converts natural pozzolans into highly desirable input for Portland cement production, providing strength, durability, improved finish, and consistent performance in concrete.
- PROJECT MIX Lightweight Concrete Mix Patent-pending lightweight concrete mix made with PriceLite® aggregate from bottom ash, featuring innovative two-handled plastic packaging. Sold exclusively through 20 The Home Depot locations in Virginia, with 55% recycled materials content and lighter 29-lb bag yielding the same concrete output as a standard 40-lb bag.
- GreenFill™ Structural Fill Service Structural fill service that beneficially uses coal combustion byproducts (CCBs) for construction applications including recreational fields and facilities, airport expansion projects, and commercial development. Demonstrated savings of approximately $12 million and avoidance of 3.5 million cubic yards of borrow excavation at Asheville Regional Airport.
- PondX® Bottom Ash System System that intercepts bottom ash slurry and removes bottom ash before recycling water back to the plant for reuse, eliminating disposal impoundments and reducing water demands for power plants.
- FGD Management & Operations Operations and maintenance of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems at power plants, including bundled service offerings at Vistra's Miami Fort Station since 2018.
- Landfill Design, Construction & Closure Design, construction, and closure services for landfills, including structural fills, landfill construction, pond reconstruction, and water management systems. Includes both new build and cap-in-place closure solutions such as the Duke Energy Brickhaven 20-million-ton landfill consolidation.
- Raw Materials Sales & Services Global sourcing and sales of industrial raw materials including iron ore, mill scale, steel slag, industrial slag, abrasives, and cement manufacturing materials to industrial customers worldwide. Includes complete logistics capabilities via sea-going bulk carriers, river barges, railcars, and trucks.
- Dry Fly Ash Conversion Conversion services that transform wet-handled fly ash into dry fly ash to meet modern concrete specifications and reduce reliance on ash impoundments.
- Limestone Grinding & Supply Limestone grinding and supply services supporting power plant operations and emissions management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saves approximately $12 million compared to traditional fill methods (Asheville Airport project)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Charah Solutions
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Charah Solutions technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Charah Solutions partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.corePartnership to recycle 150,000 tons of fly ash annually through 2026, supporting sustainable coal combustion byproduct management for the cooperative's power generation operations.
- Consumers EnergycoreEnvironmental Risk Transfer partnership for closure and reclamation of ash ponds at retired B.C. Cobb Generating Facility along Lake Michigan. Charah Solutions, through subsidiary MERG, took ownership of the ash ponds and is excavating approximately 650,000 cubic yards of CCR materials for beneficial use as fill material at J.C. Weadock Landfill. Transportation by fleet of 150 covered rail cars and covered trucks.
- Duke EnergycoreStrategic partnership for coal combustion product management including Asheville Regional Airport structural fill project using ash from Duke Energy's Asheville Steam Station. Also Brickhaven operations for landfill closure and consolidation. Duke Energy provides coal combustion byproducts while Charah manages beneficial use and environmental compliance.
- VistracoreBundled service offering at Miami Fort and Zimmer Power Plants in Ohio since January 2017, including CCR operations, CCP sales, and FGD system operations and maintenance. Charah expanded fly ash supply footprint into Northeast via rail and deep South via barge shipments.
- Progress EnergycorePartnership for beneficial use of coal combustion by-products from Asheville Plant in engineered fill projects including Asheville Regional Airport expansion. Progress Energy commits to environmental responsibility by seeking safe reuse of by-products.
- AmerenUEcoreJoint concrete packaging facility at Labadie Power Plant recycling 60,000 tons of ash annually for concrete mix production sold at The Home Depot. Partnership won Missouri Waste Control Coalition Outstanding Achievement Award.
- The Home DepotmajorExclusive retail partnership for PROJECT MIX lightweight concrete mix sold in 20 Virginia locations. Innovative packaging and lighter product (29 lb bag equals 40 lb regular bag yield) made with PriceLite aggregate from bottom ash, containing 55% recycled materials.
- The QUIKRETE CompaniesmajorJoint venture with Charah Dry Mix LLC to manufacture and distribute selected products under QUIKRETE brand, expanding distribution of bagged concrete products.
- AvettaminorPartnership with subcontractor prequalification and compliance management service to ensure safe and sustainable workplace. All subcontractors must complete Avetta Prequalification and Safety Review process including insurance, EHS criteria, OSHA Forms, and EMR verification.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Charah Solutions competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Waste Management Inc. National environmental services giant with landfill, recycling, and remediation operations. While not a direct SCM competitor, Waste Management overlaps with Charah on ash pond closure, landfill construction, and CCR remediation services.
- Eagle Materials: U.S. cement, wallboard, and concrete producer with gypsum and cement operations overlapping Charah's gypsum management and fly ash utilization businesses — particularly in coal-adjacent industrial markets.
- QUIKRETE Companies: Largest U.S. manufacturer of packaged concrete products and Charah's joint-venture partner in Charah Dry Mix LLC. Comparable in the downstream consumer/contractor concrete channel and overlapping on PROJECT MIX-style lightweight aggregate products.
- Holcim US: Major U.S. cement and concrete producer with growing focus on sustainable SCMs and low-carbon cement. Vertical integration makes Holcim both a customer for some SCMs and a competitor in downstream concrete and alternative cementitious products.
- Titan America: Vertically integrated cement and aggregates producer in the eastern U.S. with significant fly ash and slag cement operations — competes with Charah for both SCM supply to ready-mix customers and downstream concrete specification.
- Boral Resources (legacy fly ash business): Boral's North American fly ash and construction materials division historically competed with Charah in utility-grade SCM marketing and concrete materials, offering broader construction materials portfolio at scale.
Direct peers
- Salt River Materials Group: A Phoenix-based fly ash marketing and concrete materials company serving utilities and ready-mix producers across the western U.S. — competing for the same SCM contracts and benefiting from the same EPA CCR tailwind.
- SEFA Group: The largest direct competitor in fly ash recycling and marketing, operating beneficiation facilities and a national supply network for supplementary cementitious materials to concrete producers — overlapping directly with Charah's core MultiSource business and EnviroSource technology positioning.
- FlyAshDirect: Specialty fly ash and SCM supplier serving ready-mix concrete producers nationwide, directly competing with Charah's MultiSource distribution network in regional concrete specification markets.
Others
- Charah Dry Mix LLC: The QUIKRETE/Charah joint venture itself functions as a peer entity in the packaged concrete mix space, distributing bagged products under the QUIKRETE brand and representing a distinct go-to-market for Charah's recycled-content concrete products.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Charah Solutions social profiles
Digital presenceCharah Solutions financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charah Solutions leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Charah Solutions subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Charah Solutions funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charah Solutions 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 Charah Solutions
What does Charah Solutions do?
Charah Solutions provides environmental services and byproduct recycling to the power generation industry, including ash pond management and closure, landfill design and operations, environmental risk transfer, FGD and gypsum management, dry fly ash conversion, and limestone grinding. It also sells supplementary cementitious materials (Class C/F fly ash, MultiCem™ slag cement, MultiPozz™ pozzolan, bottom ash, gypsum) through its MultiSource® distribution network to ready-mix concrete producers, plus industrial raw materials (iron ore, mill scale, steel slag) to global industrial customers.
Is Charah Solutions a public or private company?
Charah Solutions is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Charah Solutions founded?
Charah Solutions was founded in 1987. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Charah Solutions based?
Charah Solutions is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Charah Solutions make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Environmental Services and Ash Management is the primary driver. The others are byproduct Sales (SCMs), environmental Risk Transfer (ERT) Services, industrial Raw Materials Sales and construction and Engineering Services.
Who are Charah Solutions's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Waste Management Inc., Eagle Materials, QUIKRETE Companies, Holcim US, Titan America and Boral Resources (legacy fly ash business). Direct peers are Salt River Materials Group, SEFA Group and FlyAshDirect. Charah Dry Mix LLC is listed as an others.
Does Charah Solutions have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charah Solutions.
What industry is Charah Solutions in?
Charah Solutions's product category is Environmental Services for Power Generation (CCR Management and Byproduct Recycling). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMADAAAH, Cementitious Binders & Additives (Fly Ash, Slag, Silica Fume, Lime), with a secondary code of BPALAHAG, Industrial Sludge & Byproduct Management. Its NAICS code is 3273 and its SIC code is 2800.