EcoHub

What EcoHub does

EcoHub is a privately-held sustainable product manufacturer that operates a closed-loop waste processing and manufacturing platform for municipal solid waste. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, the company's core offering is a 1-Bin collection system that consolidates residential and commercial waste into a single stream, removing the need for source separation by citizens. Waste is delivered to EcoHub facilities and processed through proprietary separation technology (MaxDiverter™ and VictaSort™) into 30+ reusable feedstock categories, with on-site manufacturing converting recovered fiber, plastics, metals, and organics into finished products marketed under the EcoTissue™, EcoTowel™, and EcoBoard™ brands, plus renewable natural gas and nutrients via anaerobic digestion. The technology is protected by 34 issued patents across 10 jurisdictions covering 660+ claims and is supported by an integration stack with Siemens, Stadler, TOMRA, KRONES, Steinert, Anaergia, Kadant, and others.

The company's primary customer base is city governments and municipal authorities seeking to reduce landfill and recycling costs (claimed 50-75% reduction) and achieve zero-waste goals. Revenue mechanics span four channels: (1) service fees from municipal waste-processing contracts, (2) sale of value-added finished products manufactured from recovered feedstocks, (3) long-term off-take revenue through a CellMark commodities-trading partnership that markets all outputs, and (4) potential technology licensing of the patented MaxDiverter™ platform. Go-to-market is sales-led, with direct engagement of city officials, formal RFP responses (including Houston's One Bin for All RFP, where EcoHub was the unanimous 2015 winner), and pursuit of competitive municipal grants such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Mayor's Challenge.

EcoHub's most significant commercial opportunity to date — a proposed $1B privately financed facility for Houston with projected $200M-$300M annual city savings — was cancelled in 2015-2016 due to political factors and remains uncontracted. The company currently operates its original Western Placer County, CA facility (2,500 tons/day since 1996), with MaxDiverter™ technology also deployed in Granada, Spain (v1.5) and Oslo, Norway (v2.0). The organization is small (1-10 employees), founder-controlled by George Gitschel, and continues to pursue large-scale municipal infrastructure partnerships as its primary growth vector.

Name

EcoHub

Legal name

EcoHub, LLC

Website

https://ecohub.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EcoHub is a sustainable product manufacturer that operates closed-loop municipal waste processing facilities, converting mixed solid waste into value-added products for city governments seeking zero-waste and cost-reduction outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waste Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Waste Collection (5621)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organics-to-Energy & CHP from Biogas (On-site Power/Heat) (EUAIAEAG), Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)

Keywords

• Waste recycling systems
• Circular economy manufacturing
• Mixed waste processing
• Sustainable product manufacturing
• Municipal waste management

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Waste Processing and Manufacturing: EcoHub monetizes the discarded materials stream through its closed-loop backend manufacturing and conversion technology. The company converts waste into value-added sustainable products (EcoTissue™, EcoTowel™, EcoBoard™) that are sold back into local communities. This generates revenue through the sale of manufactured products derived from processed waste.
2. Municipal Waste Processing Contracts: EcoHub enters into service agreements with city governments to process their waste streams. The company saves municipalities 50% to 75% or more on landfilling and recycling costs while providing zero waste solutions. Revenue is generated through service fees paid by municipalities for waste processing.
3. Commodities Trading: Through partnership with CellMark, EcoHub sells recovered materials and outputs on a long-term off-take basis. CellMark purchases and markets all outputs from EcoHub facilities.
4. Technology Licensing: EcoHub's technology is protected by 34 patents. The company may license its proprietary systems (MaxDiverter™, closed-loop processes) to other operators or municipalities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EcoHub operates a 1-Bin waste collection, processing/recovery, and sustainable product manufacturing system for city governments and municipalities. Using its proprietary MaxDiverter and VictaSort automated separation technologies, the company processes up to 100% of the mixed municipal solid waste stream into 30+ reusable feedstock categories and manufactures finished sustainable products (EcoTissue, EcoTowel, EcoBoard) on-site at eco-industrial campuses. EcoHub monetizes this through municipal service contracts, product sales, and a long-term commodities off-take agreement with CellMark.

Product overview

EcoHub is a single, unified waste management platform centered on its closed-loop circular integration system. The core offering is the EcoHub 100% Recycling platform—a 1-Bin collection, processing, and sustainable product manufacturing system. The platform integrates the MaxDiverter and VictaSort automated separation technologies to process waste into 30+ reusable feedstock categories. EcoHub operates three product divisions—EcoTowel, EcoTissue, and EcoBoard—that manufacture finished sustainable products from recovered materials. The EcoProtein subsidiary focuses on indoor farming through duckweed research in partnership with Rutgers. Key programs include One Bin for All (single-bin collection) and Smarter Waste (separation and manufacturing). The company also operates Mixed Waste MRF (Material Recovery Facility) with 2,500 ton/day capacity. EcoHub's model transforms waste into economic value while achieving zero waste goals for municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MaxDiverter: First true automated mixed waste separation system guaranteed to mechanically separate and recover all elements of the waste stream at 95%+ performance efficiency
• VictaSort
• One Bin for All
• EcoTowel
• EcoTissue
• EcoBoard
• EcoProtein

Products and services

• EcoHub 100% Recycling Platform A 1-Bin waste collection, processing/recovery, and sustainable product manufacturing system sold to city governments. Collects all residential and commercial waste in a single bin and uses proprietary MaxDiverter and VictaSort separation technologies to process up to 100% of the waste stream into 30+ reusable feedstock categories, then manufactures finished sustainable products on-site. Reduces landfilling/recycling costs by 50–75%, creates 1,200 jobs per facility, and saves cities from needing new landfill infrastructure.
• One Bin for All Program A single-bin waste and recycling collection program for homes, apartments, retail, commercial, and industrial customers that eliminates the need for citizens to separate materials like plastics from food waste or lawn trimmings, designed for city-wide deployment.
• MaxDiverter Waste Separation System The first true automated mixed waste separation system, guaranteed and bonded to mechanically separate and recover all elements of the waste stream at 95%+ performance efficiency to 95%+ purity with 97% operational reliability. Available in multiple versions (v1.0, v1.5, v2.0) deployed globally; protected by 34 issued patents.
• EcoTissue Products Sustainable tissue products manufactured on-site at EcoHub facilities from waste-derived feedstock using through-air-drying (TAD) technologies under the leadership of CTO Lee Reisinger.
• EcoTowel Products Sustainable towel products manufactured on-site at EcoHub facilities from waste-derived feedstock using through-air-drying (TAD) technologies under the leadership of CTO Lee Reisinger.
• EcoBoard Products Sustainable board/paper products manufactured on-site at EcoHub facilities from recovered fiber using KADANT pulp mill technology under the leadership of CTO Lee Reisinger.
• EcoProtein Indoor Farming (Subsidiary) An EcoHub indoor farming subsidiary focused on duckweed research and sustainable protein production from waste streams, collaborating with Distinguished Professor Dr. Eric Lam at Rutgers University's Lam Lab.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces carbon emissions by 4 metric tons for every 1 ton of Municipal Solid Waste processed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, support and innovation.

• STADLERcoreTechnology or IntegrationSTADLER is described as the World's #1 recycling systems integrator. EcoHub has unprecedented performance guarantees from STADLER for recycling system integration.
• SIEMENScoreTechnology or IntegrationSIEMENS automation and simulation systems control EcoHub and report 100% of input/output data in real time. SIEMENS is described as a world leader in industrial scale automation and controls technology.
• CELLMARKcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCellMark has agreed to purchase and market all outputs of EcoHub on a long-term off-take basis. CellMark is described as the World's #1 commodities trader.
• WATCH WATERsupportTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub is partnered with Watch-Water to provide water treatment for full recycled reuse and zero discharges. Watch-Water is described as the World's #1 green wastewater treatment company.
• KRONEScoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes KRONES plastic washing-drying-pelletizing integrated systems for all recovered plastics. KRONES is described as the World's #1 plastics processing systems integrator.
• TOMRAcoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes TOMRA for all optical sorting and recovery of materials. TOMRA is described as the World's #1 optical sorting technology provider.
• STEINERTcoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes STEINERT for all FE (Ferrous) & NR (Non-Ferrous) metal recovery. STEINERT is described as the World's #1 metal recovery technology provider.
• SCOTT EQUIPMENT COsupportTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes SCOTT to prepare all recovered organics for anaerobic digestion. SCOTT is described as the World's #1 supplier of de-packaging equipment.
• ANAERGIAcoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes Anaergia anaerobic digestion integrated systems to produce renewable natural gas (RNG), organic nutrients, and clean water outputs from processed organic waste. Anaergia is described as the World's #1 anaerobic digester company.
• RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (Lam Lab)innovationStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcoHub and its indoor farming company EcoProtein™ are collaborating with Distinguished Professor Dr. Eric Lam, working in conjunction with Lam Lab at Rutgers University - the world's leading experts in duckweed research.
• KLEAN INDUSTRIESsupportTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes KLEAN INDUSTRIES for its solid waste to renewable energy generation. KLEAN INDUSTRIES is described as the global leader in clean & green renewable energy.
• KADANTcoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoHub utilizes KADANT Pulp Mills to produce clean dry paper pulp from its recovered fiber. KADANT is described as the global leader in fiber processing for over 150 years.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Anaergia: Anaergia is a global leader in anaerobic digestion and organics-to-RNG systems. EcoHub uses Anaergia as its organic processing partner, but Anaergia also independently offers integrated waste-to-resource facilities that compete directly for municipal organics contracts, making it both a supplier and a partial competitor.
• Stadler Anlagenbau: Stadler is the world's #1 recycling systems integrator, providing full MRF design and build services to EcoHub. Stadler independently builds turnkey mixed-waste and single-stream recycling facilities that compete with EcoHub's full-stack offering.
• TOMRA: TOMRA is the world's leading provider of optical sorting technology for recycling and waste streams, used by EcoHub's MaxDiverter system. TOMRA also sells complete sorting solutions and recycling systems directly to MRFs and municipalities, overlapping with EcoHub's value proposition at the sorting/recovery stage.
• Bulk Handling Systems (BHS): BHS is a major designer and manufacturer of sorting, conveying, and processing equipment for MRFs and recycling facilities. It competes with EcoHub on the equipment/integration layer that enables mixed-waste processing at municipal scale.
• Machinex Recycling: Machinex designs and manufactures sorting and recycling systems including MRFs, optical sorters, and full recycling plant integrations. It directly competes with EcoHub's integrated MRF + closed-loop manufacturing model for municipal and C&D recycling contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: Republic Services is one of the two largest U.S. waste haulers and recycling operators, offering collection, transfer, recycling, and disposal services. It is the dominant incumbent municipal waste contractor that EcoHub's One Bin for All model is designed to disrupt.
• Veolia Environnement: Veolia is a global environmental services leader operating across waste management, recycling, water treatment, and circular economy solutions in dozens of countries. It overlaps with EcoHub on waste-to-resource and circular economy services at a much broader global scale.
• Covanta Holding: Covanta is the largest owner/operator of waste-to-energy facilities in North America, processing municipal solid waste into energy. It competes with EcoHub for municipal waste streams but via incineration rather than closed-loop material recovery.
• Waste Management Inc. Waste Management is the largest U.S. provider of waste management and recycling services, including landfill, transfer, MRF, and organics processing operations. It represents the entrenched status-quo incumbent whose single-stream recycling programs EcoHub's one-bin/closed-loop approach seeks to replace.

Emerging players

• AMP Robotics: AMP Robotics applies AI and computer vision to waste sorting and recycling automation, serving MRFs and municipal recyclers. It represents the technology-driven emerging competitor in advanced mixed-waste sorting that EcoHub's MaxDiverter/VictaSort also targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecohub_usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 EcoHub