RecycleNation
RecycleNation is a free U.S. recycling search platform with the world's largest recycling database (100,000+ data points), serving 10M+ lifetime consumers and 300,000+ monthly visitors via web and mobile apps under parent ERI.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersFresno, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What RecycleNation does
RecycleNation is a free, consumer-facing recycling search platform founded in 2007 and headquartered in Fresno, California, operated as a strategic subsidiary under ERI (Electronic Recyclers International). Its core product is a location-based search engine backed by what the company describes as the world's largest recycling database — over 100,000 unique data points covering 50+ items across 12+ material categories — accessible via website, iOS, and Android applications. In May 2026 the company launched RecycleAI, a conversational AI layer that allows users to ask natural-language questions about recycling locations and practices, along with a dedicated AI Search surface.
The platform is monetized indirectly: consumer search is free, business listings are free, and the company previously offered a public API and customizable embeddable widgets for B2B integration, both of which have since been discontinued. Monetization today rests on unspecified widget/partner arrangements, brand reach, and indirect B2B conversion routed through the parent ERI organization. RecycleNation supports customer segments across individual consumers (primary), businesses, government entities, and non-profits, with distribution through its own properties, app stores, partner websites, and named alliances with Staples, Best Buy, Call2Recycle, TerraCycle, and the ERI-affiliated Impact podcast.
Operationally, RecycleNation is a small team of seven named contributors led by co-founders drawn from the ERI leadership bench — John Shegerian (Co-Founder/Chairman/CEO), Tammy Shegerian (Co-Founder/President/CRO), Kevin J. Dillon (Co-Founder/CMO/CSO), and Aaron Blum (Co-Founder/CCO/COO) — with revenue, headcount, and funding all undisclosed and no independent funding rounds on record.
RecycleNation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RecycleNation
- Legal name
- RecycleNation
- Website
- https://recyclenation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- RecycleNation is a free U.S. recycling search platform with the world's largest recycling database (100,000+ data points), serving 10M+ lifetime consumers and 300,000+ monthly visitors via web and mobile apps under parent ERI.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where RecycleNation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fresno
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
RecycleNation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Consumer Free Service: Free recycling search tool for consumers, monetized indirectly through traffic, brand reach, and potential B2B conversions.
- Business Listings: Free business listings allowing recycling-related businesses to be included in the database and search results.
- Widget/API Tools for Businesses: Widget integration tools for businesses (retailers, municipalities, organizations) to embed recycling search on their websites. Formerly offered API access.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free consumer access |
| Freemium | Others | Free business listings |
| Other | Others | Widget/B2B tools |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
RecycleNation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RecycleNation provides a free, AI-enhanced online recycling search platform that helps individual consumers locate nearby facilities to recycle specific items and materials. Its core is a proprietary recycling database with 100,000+ data points covering 50+ materials across categories such as electronics, plastics, glass, metals, paper, hazardous waste, and household items, delivered through a website, iOS and Android mobile apps, and the RecycleAI conversational search assistant launched in 2026.
Product overview
RecycleNation is a free online recycling search platform and informational resource operated by ERI (Electronic Recyclers International). The core product is the Recycle Search feature, which provides access to what RecycleNation claims is the world's largest recycling database with over 100,000 unique data points covering 50+ different items and materials. The platform is available via website and mobile applications (iOS and Android). The flagship AI feature is RecycleAI, a first-in-industry conversational AI assistant launched in 2026 that allows users to ask natural language questions about recycling. Additional offerings include the RecycleNation Blog (educational content), State Guidelines (regulatory directory), and previously offered API and widget tools (no longer accessible). RecycleAI powers the AI Search interface, while the core search remains the primary functional product for finding recycling locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Recycle Search Core search feature that lets users find the nearest recycling locations by entering an item and their location, spanning 12+ material categories (Automotive, Construction, Electronics, Glass, Metal, Paper, Plastic, Hazardous, Organic Waste, Household, Holiday, Packaging) and 50+ specific items and materials drawn from the 100,000+ data point recycling database.
- RecycleNation Mobile App (iOS) Apple App Store application that provides access to RecycleNation's recycling location search platform on iOS devices for on-the-go lookups.
- RecycleNation Mobile App (Android) Google Play Store application that provides access to RecycleNation's recycling location search platform on Android devices for on-the-go lookups.
- RecycleAI First-in-industry conversational AI feature providing an interactive, AI-driven conversation window that lets users ask questions, receive assistance, and get advice on anything recycling-related; functions as a 'recycling concierge' integrated into the RecycleNation platform.
- AI Search AI-powered search interface that lets users search for recycling locations and information using conversational AI, powered by RecycleAI technology.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10+ million customers helped find recycling locations since 2007
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use RecycleNation
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
RecycleNation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
RecycleNation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ERI (Electronic Recyclers International)coreERI is the parent company of RecycleNation, providing strategic direction and operational support for the recycling platform. ERI is a leading electronics recycling company.
- Call2RecyclecoreBattery and electronic waste recycling organization partner that provides recycling location data and promotes battery recycling initiatives.
- StaplesminorMajor retailer partner providing recycling drop-off locations for electronics and other materials through RecycleNation's search database.
- Best BuyminorElectronics retailer partner providing recycling drop-off locations featured in RecycleNation's database for electronics recycling.
- TerraCyclecoreWaste management and recycling company partner providing specialized recycling solutions and location data for hard-to-recycle materials.
- Impact PodcastminorImpact with John Shegerian podcast featuring sustainability leaders and environmental discussions, hosted by RecycleNation's Founder/Chairman.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RecycleNation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- How2Recycle: How2Recycle is a standardized labeling system that educates consumers on recyclability at the package level, addressing consumer confusion about what is recyclable. It overlaps with RecycleNation's content mission of clarifying recyclability rules, though it focuses on packaging labels rather than location lookup.
- Recyclebank: Recyclebank operates recycling rewards and engagement programs with municipalities and brands, addressing consumer recycling behavior at a different layer of the value chain. It is comparable to RecycleNation as a consumer-facing recycling brand but monetizes through municipal contracts and incentive programs rather than traffic and partnerships.
Direct peers
- Earth911: Earth911 is the most established consumer-facing recycling directory in the US, offering location search across materials similar to RecycleNation. It is a direct competitor in the recycling-search vertical with comparable product surface area (web search, mobile app, educational content) and similar freemium monetization approach.
- TerraCycle: TerraCycle specializes in hard-to-recycle materials and operates its own drop-off and mail-in programs with a public-facing location database. RecycleNation lists TerraCycle programs in its search results, but TerraCycle also competes as a standalone destination for specialized recycling information.
- Call2Recycle: Call2Recycle operates a battery and e-waste drop-off location finder with a network of collection sites, closely overlapping RecycleNation's electronics and battery recycling search functionality. The two organizations also have an explicit partnership, but compete for consumer attention on battery recycling queries.
- Recycle Coach: Recycle Coach provides recycling information apps for municipalities and haulers, including material search and collection-day reminders. It overlaps with RecycleNation's recycling-location search and government/municipality segment, but monetizes primarily through municipal SaaS contracts rather than consumer traffic.
Broad incumbents
- ERI (Electronic Recyclers International): ERI is RecycleNation's parent company and the largest US e-waste recycler, offering IT asset disposition and electronics recycling services. While not a direct consumer-directory competitor, ERI provides the operational recycling infrastructure that RecycleNation's database draws from and competes for category mindshare in electronics recycling.
- Waste Management (WM): WM is the largest waste services company in North America, operating recycling facilities, haulers, and consumer-facing tools such as 'Where Does It Go?' search. Its scale, household brand recognition, and integrated hauler relationships make it a broad incumbent that competes for recycling-related consumer search queries.
- Sims Lifecycle Services: Sims Lifecycle Services is a major global IT asset disposition and electronics recycling provider, comparable to ERI. It operates at scale in commercial e-waste recycling and represents the type of operational competitor that could launch or partner with a consumer recycling-information platform comparable to RecycleNation.
- Republic Services: Republic Services is a major US waste and recycling hauler offering consumer recycling education and material-search tools through its website and Recycle Right program. Comparable to WM as a broad incumbent with the resources to compete in consumer recycling information if it chooses to invest further in that category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
RecycleNation social profiles
Digital presenceRecycleNation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
RecycleNation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RecycleNation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
RecycleNation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
RecycleNation 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 RecycleNation
What does RecycleNation do?
RecycleNation provides a free, AI-enhanced online recycling search platform that helps individual consumers locate nearby facilities to recycle specific items and materials. Its core is a proprietary recycling database with 100,000+ data points covering 50+ materials across categories such as electronics, plastics, glass, metals, paper, hazardous waste, and household items, delivered through a website, iOS and Android mobile apps, and the RecycleAI conversational search assistant launched in 2026.
Is RecycleNation a public or private company?
RecycleNation is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was RecycleNation founded?
RecycleNation was founded in 2007.
Where is RecycleNation based?
RecycleNation is headquartered in Fresno, United States, in the North America region.
How does RecycleNation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consumer Free Service is the primary driver. The others are business Listings and widget/API Tools for Businesses.
Who are RecycleNation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are How2Recycle and Recyclebank. Direct peers are Earth911, TerraCycle, Call2Recycle and Recycle Coach. Broad incumbents are ERI (Electronic Recyclers International), Waste Management (WM), Sims Lifecycle Services and Republic Services.
Does RecycleNation have an API?
Yes. RecycleNation previously offered a public/partner-facing API and customizable widget tools that allowed businesses, consumers, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations to integrate recycling search features into their own websites and applications. The API offered customization options for tailored recycling search functionality. Access to the API and widget is no longer available as noted on the API page: 'Please note that we no longer offer access to our API or customizable widget.' Developer documentation is at recyclenation.com/recycling-api.