The Recycling Partnership

What The Recycling Partnership does

The Recycling Partnership is a U.S. national nonprofit founded in 2014 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that mobilizes funding, data, and technical assistance to improve residential recycling across more than 9,000 community programs. Its core asset is the National Recycling Database, a first-of-its-kind dataset covering 97-99% of the U.S. population that underpins a suite of free digital tools: the Circular Packaging Assessment Tool, Plastic IQ (co-developed with SYSTEMIQ), the Recycling Program Solutions Hub, the Recycle Check dynamic labeling platform, and the Recycling Confidence Index. The organization runs a community-led go-to-market, distributing grants (~$50M deployed to 370 communities since 2014), contamination-reduction toolkits, and technical assistance to local governments and MRFs, while engaging brands and policymakers through coalitions and policy advocacy.

The business model is nonprofit, funded by more than 80 corporate partners (Procter & Gamble, Arconic, Milliken, Niagara Cares, Primo Brands, the Walmart Foundation, and others), foundation grants, and federal programs such as the EPA SWIFR grant. Revenue is generated through corporate contributions, foundation grants, and government pass-through funding, with services and digital tools provided free of charge to communities. The organization also operates three material-specific coalitions—PET, Polypropylene, and Film & Flexibles—that aggregate brand, MRF, and municipal stakeholders around targeted infrastructure investments; coalitions have deployed $19M (PP), $6.5M+ (PET), and ~$5M (Film & Flexibles) respectively.

The Partnership serves five primary verticals: local governments and community recycling programs (primary), MRFs and processors, brands and packaging designers, material producers and recyclers, and policymakers. Cumulative impact since 2014 includes 2 billion+ pounds of recyclables diverted, 2.6 million+ metric tons of CO2e avoided, and 2 million+ recycling carts deployed. The organization is in a leadership transition, with founder/CEO Keefe Harrison departing after 12 years effective July 31, 2026, and a national CEO search underway.

Name

The Recycling Partnership

Legal name

The Recycling Partnership

Website

https://recyclingpartnership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Recycling Partnership is a U.S. national nonprofit that improves residential recycling through data, grants, and technical assistance to 370+ communities, 9,000+ recycling programs, and 80+ corporate funders, operating the National Recycling Database and three material-specific coalitions (PET, Polypropylene, Film & Flexibles).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycling Infrastructure and Circular Economy Services

NAICS

Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-site Recycling Programs (Single-Stream, Source-Separated) (BPABALAB), Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA), Film & Flexible Plastics Recycling (LDPE/LLDPE, Multilayer) (EUAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Recycling infrastructure grants
• Circular packaging solutions
• Recycling program data
• Material recovery facilities
• Recycling coalition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Falls Church

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Brand Funding Partnerships: The Recycling Partnership receives funding from more than 80 companies including Procter & Gamble, Arconic, Milliken & Co., Niagara Cares, and Primo Brands who invest in the system to make their packaging more circular and meet sustainability goals
2. Foundation and Government Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as the Walmart Foundation and government programs including EPA's SWIFR grant program to fund community recycling improvements
3. Philanthropic Contributions: The nonprofit has provided nearly $50 million in grants to 370 communities since 2014, funded through donations and contributions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Recycling Partnership is a national nonprofit that provides grants, technical assistance, and free digital tools to U.S. communities, materials recovery facilities, brands, and policymakers to improve residential recycling. It operates the National Recycling Database covering 9,000+ community programs, deploys community grants and material-specific coalitions (PET, Polypropylene, Film & Flexibles), and runs the Recycling Policy Accelerator to advance circular economy policy.

Product overview

The Recycling Partnership operates as a non-profit organization mobilizing people, data, and solutions across the recycling value chain to reduce waste and environmental impact while unlocking economic benefits. The organization functions as a platform plus coalition model with interconnected products and programs. Core products include the National Recycling Database (covering 99% of U.S. population across over 9,000 community programs), the free Recycling Program Solutions Hub for local recycling staff, the Circular Packaging Assessment Tool for brands to evaluate packaging recyclability, and Plastic IQ for plastic packaging strategy. These are complemented by the Recycling Confidence Index for tracking public trust, Recycle Check dynamic labeling platform, and contamination toolkits. The organization also manages three material-specific coalitions (Film and Flexibles, PET, and Polypropylene Recycling Coalitions) that drive targeted improvements and grants. Policy initiatives include the Recycling Policy Accelerator and CIRCLE Act advocacy. The portfolio spans data tools, community grants, behavior change research, material-specific coalitions, and policy advocacy—all working together to advance the circular economy for packaging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Recycling Participation Fund: An investment model that helps communities increase recycling participation and accelerate progress toward recycling rate goals.
• Recycling Confidence Index
• Center for Sustainable Behavior & Impact
• Film and Flexibles Recycling Coalition
• PET Recycling Coalition
• Polypropylene Recycling Coalition

Products and services

• National Recycling Database First-of-its-kind resource offering detailed, localized recycling information from more than 9,000 unique community recycling programs across the U.S., covering communities with at least 2,500 households and representing 97-99% of the U.S. population.
• Recycling Program Solutions Hub Free interactive digital resource for local recycling staff and program leaders to access critical recycling program data, optimize programs, and manage community data accuracy, powered by the National Recycling Database.
• Circular Packaging Assessment Tool
• Plastic IQ Free data-driven digital resource created by The Recycling Partnership and SYSTEMIQ to help U.S. companies develop effective plastic packaging strategies and prioritize solutions to advance circularity.
• Recycle Check Dynamic labeling platform delivering real-time, localized disposal instructions on packaging across the U.S., providing consumers with accurate, zip code-specific recycling information.
• What Can I Recycle Chatbot Chatbot that provides residents with accurate, up-to-date information about packaging by zip code based on the National Recycling Database.
• Community Grants Program Grant opportunities for U.S. communities and recycling facilities to improve access, collections, operations, and processing; nearly $50 million has been provided to 370 communities since 2014.
• Recycling Participation Fund Investment model that helps communities increase recycling participation and accelerate progress toward recycling rate goals, backed by major corporations and deployed in priority regions.
• Recycling Policy Accelerator Program bringing together public and private partners to pursue policy solutions that create a more circular economy through smart recycling policy advocacy, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidance.
• Recycling Confidence Index Longitudinal study tracking public confidence in recycling across 10 measured factors, providing quantifiable tracking of public trust over time.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased state recycling rate from 14% to 25% in Michigan through sustained investment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Circular Action Alliance (CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Producer responsibility organization submitting California program plan under SB 54; The Recycling Partnership issued statement supporting the plan's advancement of implementation
• Cascade EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Manufacturing partner for Flint, Michigan cart rollout, joining with Mayor Neeley, EGLE, and The Recycling Partnership for 68,000+ free curbside carts
• Hampton Roads Planning District CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Working with The Recycling Partnership as subawardee on $1.96 million EPA grant to conduct cart tagging program across 32,000 households in Virginia
• Leadpoint USAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2026Labor provider for Hampton Roads cart tagging program, providing personnel for contamination reduction outreach
• Republic ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Waste management partner in Oregon Clean Cart program with Deschutes County Solid Waste, City of Bend, and Cascade Disposal
• FCC Environmental ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Recipient of $4.25 million grant from The Recycling Partnership for Houston MRF retrofit to improve film and flexible packaging recovery, partially funding equipment from Van Dyk Recycling Solutions including Tomra optical sorters
• How2RecyclecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2026Industry consortium that designated polypropylene cups as 'Widely Recyclable' through collaboration with Starbucks, WM, NextGen Consortium, and The Recycling Partnership
• NextGen ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2026Industry initiative managed by Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy, co-leading polypropylene recycling designation with How2Recycle and The Recycling Partnership
• StarbuckscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Collaborated with WM, How2Recycle, The Recycling Partnership, and NextGen Consortium to achieve 'Widely Recyclable' designation for polypropylene cups, enabling 60%+ household access
• WMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 February 2026Collaborated on polypropylene cup recycling initiative; invested $1.4 billion since 2022 in sorting automation at nearly 40 facilities, with 90%+ able to process polypropylene
• Flexible Film Recycling AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member participating in discussions on film and flexible packaging recycling barriers at Northeast Recycling Council webinar
• US Flexible Film InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member participating in discussions on film and flexible packaging recycling barriers at Northeast Recycling Council webinar
• DelterracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member participating in discussions on film and flexible packaging recycling barriers at Northeast Recycling Council webinar
• Circular Action Alliance (CAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational packaging producer responsibility organization coordinating responsible end market verification standards across Oregon, California, and Colorado with state regulators and Association of Plastic Recyclers

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Closed Loop Partners: Closed Loop Partners is an investment firm and innovation platform funding circular economy and recycling infrastructure. Most comparable peer to TRP — both fund MRF upgrades, run material-specific coalitions (NextGen, PET), deploy multi-million dollar grants, and partner with brands like P&G and Starbucks on recycling initiatives.
• Keep America Beautiful: Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit focused on litter prevention, recycling education, and community beautification across the U.S. Direct peer in mission and structure — both are nonprofit recyclers education-focused national organizations that partner with municipalities and corporate sponsors.
• How2Recycle: How2Recycle is an industry coalition that designates packaging recyclability (e.g., 'Widely Recyclable' for PP cups). Closely collaborates with TRP and replaces a similar upstream role of providing standardized recyclability guidance to brands, retailers, and packaging designers.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management (WM): WM is the largest U.S. waste and recycling hauler operating hundreds of MRFs. Strategic partner to TRP (e.g., PP cup recyclability initiative, Oregon Clean Cart). Comparable as incumbent recycler TRP seeks to influence, with broader operations but less specialization in policy and community grants.
• Republic Services: Republic Services is a major U.S. waste and recycling hauler partnering with TRP on community contamination-reduction programs (Oregon Clean Cart). A broad incumbent offering recycling collection that overlaps with TRP's community program focus, but operates for-profit across the full waste value chain.

Emerging players

• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC): SPC is an industry working group under GreenBlue focused on sustainable packaging design. Adjacent player that overlaps with TRP's Circular Packaging Assessment Tool and How2Recycle-style label guidance, but focused upstream on packaging design rather than community-level recycling infrastructure.
• As You Sow: As You Sow is a nonprofit that uses shareholder advocacy to push corporations on packaging waste and recycling. Complementary to TRP — both push for EPR and circular economy — but As You Sow pressures companies through SEC filings rather than grants and community programs.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Plastic Pollution Coalition is a global nonprofit alliance working to end plastic pollution. Adjacent mission (circular economy, EPR advocacy) but more upstream and advocacy-focused than TRP, which is operationally focused on community recycling infrastructure and grants.

Regional players

• Casella Waste Systems: Casella is a regional Northeast U.S. waste and recycling hauler running recycling programs in many communities TRP serves. Comparable as a downstream recycling operator focused on a specific geography, similar in operating ethos (resource renewal) but commercial rather than nonprofit.

Others

• Resource Recycling: Resource Recycling is an industry publication tracking U.S. recycling news, policy, and technology. Thematic peer — covers the same ecosystem and audience (municipalities, MRFs, brands) but is a media organization rather than a program operator or grantmaker.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCsszdB7PiQ3Ck2z33zBCh3A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-recycling-partnership
• Xx.com/recypartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/recyclingpartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about The Recycling Partnership