Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy

What Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy does

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E) is a public joint powers board established by Ramsey and Washington counties in Minnesota to manage municipal solid waste as a resource stream. The organization operates the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport, MN, a single facility that processed 359,338 tons of trash in 2025 (against a ~450,000-ton design capacity, or roughly 13% of Minnesota's total municipal solid waste). The facility uses AI-enabled robotics and mixed-waste processing to recover recyclable metals and food scrap bags, then converts remaining material into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) that is supplied to Xcel Energy's Red Wing and Mankato power plants, generating electricity equivalent to powering approximately 12,048 homes annually.

R&E's revenue model is anchored by tipping fees ($142 per ton in 2026) charged to the 80+ haulers and self-haulers delivering waste, supplemented by county environmental charges assessed by Ramsey and Washington counties (28%-53% on residential/non-residential service in Ramsey; 35% in Washington), mattress disposal fees, and special item fees. The organization distributes services through five approved transfer stations (WM Saint Paul, Republic Blaine, Dem-Con Blaine, SKB Malcolm Ave, Walter's Blaine) plus the central Newport facility, and runs a portfolio of programs including Food Scraps Pickup, BizRecycling (with grants up to $50,000), Building Material Reuse Grants, Food Recovery Partners, and Mattress Recycling in partnership with Second Chance Recycling.

The organization is currently executing a major capital expansion: a $92 million regional anaerobic digestion facility in Louisville Township, Scott County, developed with Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy and expected to be operational in 2027. The facility will process up to 75,000 tons of organic waste annually into renewable natural gas and biochar (with demonstrated PFAS-reduction properties), positioning R&E as the first facility in the U.S. to produce both outputs from food waste. Operations are governed by a board of Ramsey and Washington county commissioners with ex officio representation from the City of Newport and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Trista Martinson was appointed as R&E's first executive director in June 2024.

Name

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy

Legal name

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy

Website

https://recyclingandenergy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy is a public joint powers board operating the R&E Center in Newport, Minnesota, processing roughly 450,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually from two counties using AI-enabled sorting and refuse-derived fuel production for Xcel Energy, with a $92 million anaerobic digestion facility under construction for 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Waste-to-Energy Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (56211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recycling & E-Waste Collection/Hauling (HSAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Waste-to-energy services
• Municipal solid waste processing
• Recycling and resource recovery
• Refuse-derived fuel production
• Waste reduction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tipping Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from tipping fees charged to waste haulers for disposing of trash at the R&E Center. In 2026, the tipping fee is $142 per ton. This covers the full cost of operations including labor, equipment, transporting and marketing recyclables and refuse-derived fuel, landfilling what cannot be recycled or used as fuel, maintenance and insurance.
2. County Environmental Charges: Ramsey County assesses a 28% service charge on residential waste and 53% on non-residential waste. Washington County assesses a 35% service charge on residential and business waste. These fees support waste management efforts including household hazardous waste collection and yard waste collection.
3. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Sales: The planned anaerobic digestion facility will produce RNG (renewable natural gas) for utility companies to utilize in their systems as a renewable energy source for homes, businesses, industry and vehicles.
4. Mattress Disposal Fees: Residents pay $20 plus tax per mattress for disposal at the R&E Center. Alternative recycling and reuse options are available at reduced or no cost through partnerships.
5. Special Item Fees: The R&E Center assesses special fees for items that are unacceptable or difficult to manage, including tires, appliances, and other special materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy operates the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport, Minnesota, processing approximately 450,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually from Ramsey and Washington counties. The facility recovers recyclable metals and food scrap bags from the waste stream and converts remaining material into refuse-derived fuel supplied to Xcel Energy power plants. R&E also administers residential and business programs including food scraps pickup, mattress recycling, building material reuse grants, and BizRecycling business assistance.

Product overview

Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E) is a joint powers organization operated by Ramsey and Washington counties in Minnesota that manages waste as a resource stream. The core product is the Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) in Newport, which processes approximately 450,000 tons of trash annually to recover recyclable metals and convert remaining material into refuse-derived fuel for Xcel Energy power plants. Supporting the core facility are multiple programs including the Food Scraps Pickup Program (residential food waste collection), BizRecycling (business waste assistance), Building Material Reuse Grants, Food Recovery Partners, Mattress Recycling, Compost Market Development, and educational campaigns on battery disposal, sharps disposal, and propane tank safety. The organization also partners on a $92 million anaerobic digestion facility (expected 2027) to process food scraps into renewable natural gas and biochar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recycling & Energy Center (R&E Center) Main processing facility in Newport, MN handling approximately 450,000 tons of trash annually from Ramsey and Washington counties; recovers recyclable metals and food scrap bags and produces refuse-derived fuel for Xcel Energy power plants.
• Food Scraps Pickup Program Residential curbside food scraps collection program using durable compostable food scrap bags; bags are separated from trash at the R&E Center and composted. Program rolling out to all residents of Ramsey and Washington counties by end of 2027.
• BizRecycling Program helping businesses, nonprofits, schools, multi-unit residential properties and institutions reduce waste and recycle better through free on-site consultations, technical assistance, and grants up to $50,000.
• Building Material Reuse Grants Grants supporting deconstruction and salvage techniques for residential and commercial properties. Residential grants up to $5,000, commercial up to $10,000, structural moves up to $15,000, and used building material installation grants up to $5,000.
• Food Recovery Partners Program funding food rescue, gleaning, and food bank partners to divert edible food from the waste stream to people in need, with annual funding up to $40,000-$50,000 based on recovery volumes.
• Mattress Recycling Program Mattress recycling and reuse options for residents, delivered through partnership with Second Chance Recycling; process captures up to 95% of mattress materials for recycling.
• Compost Market Development Financial and technical assistance for organizations using compost in earthwork, landscaping, and gardening projects in Ramsey and Washington counties.
• Food Waste Reduction Program Educational resources helping residents reduce household food waste through tips on food storage, freezing, meal planning, and shopping strategies.
• Battery Disposal (Be a Battery Hero) Campaign educating residents on safe battery disposal with drop-off locations and multilingual educational materials to prevent fires at waste facilities.
• Sharps Disposal (Stick it to Sharps) Campaign promoting safe disposal of syringes, needles and lancets through county environmental centers to protect waste workers and the public.
• Propane Tank Disposal Program promoting safe disposal of propane tanks and gas cylinders through free drop-off at county environmental centers for Ramsey and Washington county residents.
• R&E Center Tours Free guided and virtual tours of the R&E Center facility, including presentations, participatory activities, and facility observation areas for groups and individuals.
• Partner Resource Hub Online resource hub providing downloadable materials including logos, graphics, videos, social media captions, and newsletter content for partner organizations to share waste reduction messaging.
• Regional Anaerobic Digestion Facility

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% landfill diversion rate achieved in 2024
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2024R&E partnered with Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC (formed between Dem-Con Companies and Kanadevia Inova) to build a regional anaerobic digestion facility in Louisville Township, Scott County. The $92 million facility will process up to 75,000 tons of organic waste annually from Ramsey and Washington counties, producing carbon-negative RNG and biochar. Construction began in fall 2025 with completion expected in 2027.
• Second Chance RecyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership to offer mattress recycling options to Ramsey and Washington County residents. Second Chance's process captures up to 95% of mattress materials for recycling. Over 50,000 mattresses have been recycled since inception. Residents can access discounted curbside collection through city programs or schedule directly with Second Chance.
• Kanadevia Inova (formerly Hitachi Zosen Inova)coreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal anaerobic digestion technology provider with nearly 100 digesters operating in North America and Europe. Partnered with Dem-Con Companies to provide technology for the regional anaerobic digestion facility.
• Dem-Con CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-generation family business with decades of expertise in managing waste and recycling facilities in Minnesota. Operating partner for the anaerobic digestion facility and operator of Dem-Con Blaine Transfer Station serving R&E.
• Xcel EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXcel Energy receives refuse-derived fuel from R&E Center for electricity production at their power plants in Red Wing and Mankato. This partnership is essential to the waste-to-energy system, generating enough electricity to power approximately 12,048 homes annually.
• Hennepin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHennepin County collaborates with Ramsey and Washington counties through the Partnership on Waste and Energy for joint legislation, policy development, communication, outreach, planning, and evaluation of waste processing technologies. This partnership is governed by a joint powers agreement.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)minorOthersMPCA provides regulatory oversight, policy guidance, and has been involved in grant funding through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. R&E Board includes ex officio representation from MPCA.
• City of NewportminorOthersThe R&E Center is located in Newport, MN. The City Council provides ex officio representation on the R&E Board. The city distributes vouchers for free bulky item disposal to Newport households annually.
• Transfer Station Partners (WM, Republic, SKB, Walter's)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive transfer stations operate under R&E waste delivery agreements: WM Saint Paul Transfer Station (309 Como Ave, Saint Paul), Republic Transfer Station (10320 Naples St NE, Blaine), Dem-Con Blaine Transfer Station (3280 99th Court NE, Blaine), SKB Malcom Ave Transfer Station (630 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis), and Walter's Transfer Station (10191 Xylite St NE, Blaine). These provide the same $142/ton tip fee for haulers with agreements.
• Food Recovery Partners (Open Cupboard, The Good Acre, Basic Needs Inc., White Bear Area Food Shelf, St. Paul Farmers Market)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive food recovery organizations partner with R&E to divert edible food from the waste stream to people in need. Partners include Open Cupboard (2.4M lbs rescued 2025), The Good Acre/LEAFF (165,000 lbs produce recovered 2025), Basic Needs Inc. (262,000 lbs planned 2026), White Bear Area Food Shelf, and St. Paul Farmers Market. Combined, these partners recover millions of pounds of food annually, diverting from landfills and reducing hunger.
• Bridging (Mattress Reuse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMattress reuse partner accepting donations of mattresses in good condition (no rips, tears, or stains) for redistribution. Drop-off and pickup options available.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hennepin County Energy Recovery Center (HERC): Operated by Hennepin County, HERC is the most direct peer to R&E — a county-government-owned waste-to-energy facility serving Hennepin County's municipal solid waste. R&E and HERC already collaborate through the Partnership on Waste and Energy joint powers entity on legislation and planning.
• Covanta Holding Corporation: North America's largest pure-play waste-to-energy operator, owning and operating over 40 facilities that combust post-recycled residual waste to generate electricity. Closely comparable to R&E's RDF production model feeding Xcel Energy power plants.
• WIN Waste Innovations (formerly Wheelabrator Technologies): Operates a network of waste-to-energy facilities across the U.S., converting post-recycled municipal solid waste into electricity and steam. Same business model and end-market (utility offtake) as R&E's RDF-to-Xcel pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Management, Inc. Largest waste services company in North America and one of R&E's primary partners — WM operates the Saint Paul Transfer Station under R&E's waste delivery agreement. Comparable in collection, transfer, and disposal infrastructure though WM is a much broader portfolio operator.
• Republic Services: Second-largest U.S. waste services company, operating the Republic Transfer Station in Blaine under R&E's waste delivery agreement. Comparable as a major hauler and transfer station operator serving the same Minnesota geography.
• Veolia (formerly SUEZ Environmental Services): Global environmental services operator with municipal waste processing, materials recovery, and anaerobic digestion capabilities. Comparable to R&E across waste processing, energy recovery, and organics/AD lines of business.
• Stericycle: Specialized waste services provider including secure waste destruction, regulated waste streams, and sharps/battery disposal — categories in which R&E operates public disposal programs (Stick it to Sharps, Be a Battery Hero). Comparable in regulated waste management services.

Regional players

• Dem-Con Companies: Third-generation Minnesota-based waste and recycling company that is R&E's primary partner for the $92M AD facility and operates the Dem-Con Blaine Transfer Station under R&E's waste delivery agreement. Closely comparable as a regional processor serving the Twin Cities market.
• Casella Waste Systems: Regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management operator in the Northeast U.S. Comparable to R&E as a vertically integrated regional operator with collection, transfer, recycling, and organics processing capabilities.

Emerging players

• Clean Harbors: North America's largest hazardous waste management company. Comparable to R&E's environmental services orientation (PFAS destruction in the waste stream, household hazardous waste collections), though Clean Harbors specializes in higher-hazard industrial waste streams.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RecyclingAndEnergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ramsey-washington-recycling-&-energy-board
• Instagraminstagram.com/recyclingandenergy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy