Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC.

What Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC. does

Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC (URT) is a privately held U.S. electronics recycling and IT asset disposition (ITAD) company headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin, founded in 2003 by Jim Cornwell and operating as a subsidiary of Hendricks Holding Company, Inc. The company operates five strategically positioned processing facilities across Wisconsin, Oregon, Texas, and New Hampshire, and has cumulatively processed over 1 billion pounds of electronic and universal waste since inception. URT serves four primary customer segments: enterprise and Fortune 500 companies (secure ITAD, NAID AAA-certified data destruction, asset remarketing), municipalities and government entities (state-mandated e-waste programs, universal waste compliance), retailers (recall and consumer returns processing), and individual consumers (free residential drop-off). Its revenue model blends professional services fees (ITAD contracts, recycling service fees), transaction-based asset recovery (outright equipment purchase and shared-revenue remarketing programs), and mail-back subscriptions through its WasteSecure subsidiary.

URT's core technology stack centers on proprietary physical processing infrastructure rather than software. It includes a multi-tank sink-float plastics separation system processing 6,000 pounds of e-waste plastics per hour with 100% metal recovery, electrostatic separation deployed through a Hanil Eco Solutions partnership for Basel-Convention-compliant PS/ABS polymer separation, and a CRT glass-to-vitrified compound process feeding ceramic tile manufacturers. The company holds e-Stewards v4.1 (11th firm certified), R2v3, NAID AAA, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, and ISO 45001 certifications across all facilities, forming a regulatory barrier layer around its processing operations. In January 2026, URT launched NEXLOOP, a circular materials platform that extends the company's scope from waste processing into engineered PCR resin supply for electronics OEMs, anchored by the NEXLOOP Polymers Alliance with Hanil, Shinil, and BH Tech. Leadership transitioned from founder Jim Cornwell to Ken Thomas as President in January 2021; Billy Espindola was promoted to VP of Sales and Marketing in November 2025.

Name

Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC.

Legal name

Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC.

Website

https://urtsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Universal Recycling Technologies is a U.S. IT asset disposition and electronics recycling firm operating five facilities nationwide, serving enterprises, municipalities, retailers, and consumers with certified secure data destruction, e-waste processing, and circular plastics materials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Asset Disposition and Electronics Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (5621), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

E-Waste (WEEE) Collection, Refurbishment & Recycling (IMAIAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Hardware Recycling (Servers, Storage, Networking) (BPALAIAI), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL), Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL)

Keywords

• Electronics recycling services
• IT asset disposition
• Universal waste recycling
• Secure data destruction
• Circular materials platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Janesville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Asset Recovery / Remarketing: URT purchases used equipment outright from customers or offers shared revenue programs for asset remarketing. Trained experts assess equipment to maximize resale value, helping customers recover capital from obsolete IT assets. Items may be refurbished and resold, or dismantled into resalable commodities.
2. IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) Services: Full-service ITAD including secure data destruction (meeting DoD and NIST requirements), logistics management, asset tracking via bar-code scan technology, and certificate of destruction documentation. Services are provided to Fortune 500 companies and government entities.
3. Universal Waste Recycling Services: Nationwide collection and recycling of lamps, batteries, mercury-containing devices, and lighting ballasts, serving municipalities, businesses, and governments. Revenue generated through service fees for collection, processing, and compliance documentation.
4. Residential Drop-Off (Free): Free residential electronics drop-off at all U.S. locations, offered Monday through Friday. This is a community service rather than a revenue driver, designed to capture materials and build residential engagement.
5. WasteSecure Mail-Back Program: URT's subsidiary WasteSecure offers prepaid pack-and-ship boxes for convenient transport of universal waste items (fluorescent lamps, batteries, ballasts, electronic equipment) to URT for recycling. Provides cost-effective, scalable, and compliant programs for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) provides full-service IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), electronics recycling, and universal waste management (lamps, batteries, ballasts, mercury devices) for enterprises, municipalities, and government clients. The company also operates the NEXLOOP circular materials platform that delivers Basel-compliant recycled plastics to electronics manufacturers, and offers a WasteSecure mail-back program for convenient universal waste collection. Services span secure data destruction, logistics, asset tracking, and asset remarketing.

Product overview

Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) operates as a full-lifecycle electronics solutions provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of services centered around IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), electronic waste recycling, and universal waste management. The core offering includes IT Asset Disposition services with secure data destruction, electronic waste recycling, and universal waste handling for lamps, batteries, and mercury-containing devices. URT's flagship platform is NEXLOOP, a circular materials platform that extends beyond traditional recycling into engineered circular materials for electronics manufacturers. Supporting modules include the WasteSecure Mail-Back Program for convenient universal waste collection, data destruction services, and a Retailer Return Program for recalls management. The company operates multiple state-of-the-art facilities nationwide and holds dual e-Stewards and R2v3 certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WasteSecure: A subsidiary of URT providing cost-effective solutions for the disposal of fluorescent lamps, batteries, ballasts and electronic equipment through prepaid pack-and-ship boxes.
• NEXLOOP

Products and services

• IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) Full-service IT asset disposition and equipment recycling service providing secure collection, transportation, data destruction, and proper recycling to help enterprises turn obsolete electronic and computer assets into revenue.
• Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Recycling Comprehensive electronics recycling services providing convenient, efficient, and reliable disposal of electronic waste while ensuring hazardous materials do not end up in landfills.
• Universal Waste Recycling Nationwide collection and recycling for universal waste including lamps, batteries, mercury-containing devices, and lighting ballasts, processed in compliance with local, state, federal and industry requirements.
• NEXLOOP Circular Materials Platform A circular materials platform that delivers traceable, performance-driven circular materials to electronics manufacturers with compliance oversight, materials engineering, and flexible supply chain integration. Addresses recycled-content mandates, carbon and Scope 3 reporting, global compliance, and brand risk.
• WasteSecure Mail-Back Program A convenient mail-back program offering prepaid pack-and-ship boxes for transporting universal waste items including fluorescent lamps, batteries, ballasts, and electronic equipment to URT for recycling.
• Retailer Return Program A specialized program for retailers handling product recalls and consumer returns, providing secure shipments, detailed product tracking, convenient reporting, and comprehensive recycling and disposal.
• Plastic Separation and Recycling System A proprietary multi-tank sink-float plastics separation system that processes e-waste plastics at 6,000 pounds per hour, recovers 100% of metal contaminants, and produces clean granulated polymers (Polystyrene, ABS, Polyethylene, Polypropylene) for circular materials applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 billion+ pounds of electronic and universal waste processed since 2003
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, minor and major.

• GreenSight TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2026URT entered into an agreement to use GreenSight Technologies' Quote Engine, an AI-powered pricing intelligence tool designed to support ITAD procurement teams evaluating incoming devices. The partnership signals growing demand for data-driven solutions in the IT asset disposition sector.
• Hanil Eco SolutionsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerURT and Hanil Eco Solutions collaborate to achieve Basel Convention compliance in e-plastics recycling. Hanil provides electrostatic separation equipment using triboelectric charging to cleanly separate PS and ABS polymers for 100% Basel-compliant outputs. URT provides secure electronics feedstock, processing, compliance oversight, and full chain-of-custody transparency. URT has invested $5MM+ since 2016 in the partnership infrastructure.
• ShinilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShinil is an alliance partner within the Nexloop Polymers Alliance, providing advanced plastics compounding and formulation support for electronics manufacturing applications.
• BH TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBH Tech is an alliance partner within the Nexloop Polymers Alliance, specializing in injection molding and electronics component manufacturing, enabling Nexloop materials to be integrated into real-world electronics production.
• E-StewardscoreOthersURT is certified to the e-Stewards Standard v4.1, the industry's leading standard for ethical and environmentally responsible electronics recycling. URT was the 11th company ever to earn this certification.
• SERI (Sustainable Electronics Recycling International)coreOthersURT holds R2v3 certification created by SERI, recognizing electronics industry evolving standards for data protection, people, and planet protection.
• NAID (National Association of Information Destruction)coreOthersURT holds NAID AAA Certification at each facility, a quality standard for secure information destruction verified through comprehensive scheduled and unannounced audits.
• Schnitzel Bear Studios (Carolyn Adkins)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerURT partnered with Milwaukee-based illustrator Carolyn Adkins of Schnitzel Bear Studios for original artwork featured on event posters and promotional materials for the nationwide Earth Day collection campaign.
• SamsungmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerURT partnered with Samsung (an e-Stewards Enterprise) to host a free community electronics recycling event in Madison, WI. Samsung brings its TCL Cares Program and nationwide e-waste infrastructure (1,700+ drop-off locations) to support the partnership. Samsung collects and repurposes/recycles an average of 100 million pounds of e-waste annually in the U.S.
• TCLmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerURT partnered with TCL for a two-day Earth Day collection event as part of the TCL Take-Back Tour, a multi-year program reflecting TCL's commitment to sustainable solutions and earning the EPA's Special Sustainability Leadership Award in 2021.
• MRM (Manufacturers Recycling Management)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMRM, founded by electronics manufacturers in 2007 to assist manufacturers in managing electronics recycling programs, serves as TCL's end-to-end sustainability solutions provider and co-host of the TCL Take-Back Tour collection events with URT.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Electronic Recyclers International (ERI): ERI is one of the largest U.S. e-waste recyclers and ITAD providers, offering similar electronics recycling, IT asset disposition, and certified downstream processing. Directly comparable on enterprise ITAD, residential drop-off, and e-Stewards/R2 certifications.
• Sims Lifecycle Services: Sims Lifecycle Services (part of Sims Limited) is a major global ITAD and e-waste recycling player serving enterprise and government clients. Closely comparable on Fortune 500 ITAD, secure data destruction, and certified recycling operations.
• Wisetek: Wisetek is an ITAD and e-waste recycling company serving enterprise clients worldwide with secure data destruction, asset remarketing, and certified recycling. Directly comparable in ITAD service model, enterprise customer base, and certification stack.
• Sage Sustainable Electronics: Sage Sustainable Electronics is a U.S. ITAD and e-waste recycler serving enterprise and government clients with certified, environmentally responsible disposition services. Closely comparable in mission, certification stack, and customer base to URT.
• HOBI International: HOBI International is a mid-market IT asset disposition and e-waste recycler offering enterprise ITAD, data destruction, and remarketing. Directly comparable in ITAD service offerings, customer segments, and circular-economy positioning.
• Sipi Asset Recovery: Sipi Asset Recovery is a North American ITAD provider specializing in enterprise IT asset disposition, data destruction, and precious-metals recovery. Closely comparable on enterprise ITAD, secure data destruction, and certified downstream processing.

Broad incumbents

• Iron Mountain (ITAD division): Iron Mountain is a broad information-management incumbent with a significant ITAD/data destruction arm serving large enterprises. Overlaps with URT on secure data destruction, IT asset disposition, and enterprise compliance but operates across a much wider portfolio.
• Veolia North America (Environmental Solutions): Veolia is a global environmental services incumbent operating hazardous waste, recycling, and electronic-waste management services. Overlaps with URT on hazardous/universal waste and e-waste but at much broader scale and scope.

Emerging players

• EcoLights: EcoLights is a smaller recycler focused on lamp and universal waste recycling (fluorescent lamps, ballasts, batteries). Comparable to URT's WasteSecure universal-waste stream and mail-back offerings, though narrower in scope.
• Call2Recycle: Call2Recycle is a U.S. battery and consumer electronics stewardship organization that operates collection and recycling programs for batteries and small electronics. Comparable to URT's universal-waste and residential drop-off streams, though organized as a stewardship program rather than a for-profit recycler.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urtrecycles
• Facebookfacebook.com/universalrecyclers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universal-recycling-technologies-llc.

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC.