The waste-to-energy industry in California encompasses a variety of innovative companies harnessing waste products to generate renewable energy. These firms employ cutting-edge technologies and processes to convert waste into usable forms of power, like electricity and heat, significantly decreasing the state's reliance on non-renewable energy sources. The industry is primarily characterized by waste management and resource recovery companies that offer integrated services including recycling, composting, processing, or innovative technologies to promote sustainability. As an essential component in the state's push for a greener economy, the waste-to-energy sector in California is poised for substantial expansion in the coming years.


Top 23 waste to energy companies in California

1. Recology

  • Website: recology.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 1920
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn

Recology is a waste management and resource recovery company that operates in California, Oregon, and Washington. They provide integrated services to over 2.5 million individuals and 100,000 commercial customers. Their goal is to maximize waste diversion and minimize landfill usage. Recology offers composting, recycling, and landfill services. They are committed to a world without waste and aim to transform discarded materials into reusable resources. Their operations involve collection, processing, and innovative technologies to promote sustainability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


2. Clean Energy

  • Website: cleanenergyfuels.com
  • Headquarters: Newport Beach, California, United States
  • Founded: 1997
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Debt
  • LinkedIn

Clean Energy Fuels is a company that produces and sells renewable natural gas, a clean alternative fuel. They help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide sustainable energy solutions for various industries.


3. Generate

  • Website: generatecapital.com
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2014
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Private Equity
  • LinkedIn

Generate is a leading sustainable infrastructure platform delivering affordable, reliable resource solutions to companies, communities, and cities. They build, own, operate, and finance sustainable resource infrastructure, including battery storage, solar energy, energy efficiency, fuel cells, and organic waste management.


4. Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc.

  • Website: fulcrum-bioenergy.com
  • Headquarters: Pleasanton, California, United States
  • Founded: 2007
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

Fulcrum BioEnergy is a clean energy company that is pioneering the creation of renewable, drop-in transportation fuels from landfill waste. They are committed to making waste to fuels a reality and investing in communities across the U.S. They have established strategic partnerships with industry leaders in waste services, aviation, fuel logistics, and energy, and are backed by leading financial institutions in renewable infrastructure.


5. CP Manufacturing, Inc.

  • Website: cpmfg.com
  • Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
  • Founded: 1977
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

CP Manufacturing is a leading recycling equipment manufacturer that offers recycling sorting separation systems and equipment. They provide exceptional service, machine quality, and on-time delivery. Their material recovery facilities are backed by the best service in the industry, ensuring clean end-products. With a focus on waste recycling equipment, they specialize in construction and demolition recycling, single-stream recycling, e-waste recycling, and waste-to-energy. As a world leader in separation technology, CP Manufacturing helps increase diversion rates and contributes to a safer and more efficient industry.


6. Sierra Energy

  • Website: sierraenergy.com
  • Headquarters: Davis, California, United States
  • Founded: 2004
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Series A
  • LinkedIn

Sierra Energy is a company that specializes in FastOx gasification technology, which turns various types of waste into clean synthesis gas without burning or creating new waste byproducts. They offer licensing of their gasification isle and provide a knowledge base to learn more about gasification. They focus on converting waste into renewable energy and fuels in a safe and responsible manner.


7. Greenleaf Power

Greenleaf Power is a renewable energy company that focuses on energy production and storage in the US and Canada. They offer biomass, battery storage, and carbon capture solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


8. ADP Holdings, Ltd

ADP Holdings, Ltd. is a company specializing in hydrogen renewable fuels, plasma gasification, and integrated green technologies. They offer innovative solutions for waste to energy projects, including the Arizona, California, and Indiana waste to energy projects. ADP Holdings has a team of experts and strategic business partners who provide cutting-edge technologies in the field. Contact ADP Holdings for inquiries about projects, technology, or investment prospectus.


9. Bioforcetech Corporation

  • Website: bioforcetech.com
  • Headquarters: South San Francisco, California, United States
  • Founded: 2012
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Bioforcetech is a technology company that specializes in drying biosolids and organic waste to produce nutrient-rich organic material. Their sustainable and automated BioDryer technology promotes a circular economy and can be used to create fertilizer or soil amendments. They offer complete design, manufacturing, and commissioning services tailored to clients' needs, helping them achieve their sustainability goals efficiently.


10. Kore Infrastructure

Kore Infrastructure is a waste-to-energy company utilizing carbon negative pyrolysis process to convert organic waste into renewable energy. Its commercial-scale facility in downtown LA produces renewable biogas and ultra-green hydrogen for vehicular applications. Kore is sponsored by SoCalGas and the South Coast Air Quality Management District with strategic partnerships in energy, waste management, and transportation sectors.


11. Remediation Earth, Inc.

Remediation Earth offers advanced thermal conversion technologies that turn various waste materials into alternative energy products including fuel, electrical power and valuable by-products such as activated carbon and agri-char.


12. Liquid Bread Gastropub

The company is a sustainable energy technology firm, working towards generating energy from waste. They specialize in converting biomass waste into clean energy solutions, thereby contributing towards a cleaner and greener environment.


13. H Cycle, LLC

  • Website: hcycle.com
  • Headquarters: Mountain View, California, United States
  • Founded: 2021
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • LinkedIn

H Cycle produces low-carbon hydrogen using innovative waste processing technology. The process helps achieve landfill diversion targets and reduce methane emissions, while serving the demand for low-carbon hydrogen in various downstream sectors.


14. 350 Bay Area

  • Website: 350bayarea.org
  • Headquarters: Berkeley, California, United States
  • Founded: 2012
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • LinkedIn

350 Bay Area is a grassroots organization that advocates for a just and socially equitable transition to clean energy. They support climate action through community resources, education, and outreach.


15. Inhabitat.com

  • Website: inhabitat.com
  • Headquarters: El Segundo, California, United States
  • Founded: 2005
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Inhabitat is a website that showcases sustainable design, technology, and architecture for a resilient future. They offer a wide array of content that educates and inspires readers on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.


16. Technikon

  • Website: technikon.us
  • Headquarters: Sacramento, California, United States
  • Founded: 2000
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Technikon provides independent, third party analysis of technologies, enabling agencies, investors, and buyers to assess the risk and cost of purchasing waste-to-energy and fuels hardware. They specialize in renewable energy technology validation and testing, project development, permitting, community relations, and sustainability consulting.


17. Clear Blue Environmental

Clear Blue Environmental Solutions is a company that provides innovative and sustainable environmental solutions. They offer a wide range of services and products aimed at reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and promoting eco-friendly practices.


18. Napa Climate NOW!

Napa Climate NOW! is a grassroots, non-partisan group of concerned Napa residents. We advocate a just and socially equitable transition to clean energy, reducing emissions of highly potent climate pollutants, restoring natural climate systems, safeguarding oceans, seas, rivers and other waterways, protecting land and sea ice, and preventing harm due to climate change to the health and well-being of all life on earth. We are committed to efforts to stabilize the climate by 2030 and ultimately, to restore the climate for the generations yet to come. The work we do, the education we provide and the information we share are based on the latest climate science. Napa Climate NOW! is an affiliate of 350 Bay Area.


19. SCS Engineers

SCS Engineers is a company that offers environmental consulting and engineering services. They specialize in solid waste management, renewable energy, and environmental remediation.


20. Rentech

  • Website: rentechinc.com
  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Founded: 1981
  • Headcount: 501-1000
  • Latest funding type: Post Ipo Equity
  • LinkedIn

Rentechinc is a company specializing in biofuels and renewable energy solutions. They offer a wide range of products and services including bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and wood pellet fuel. Invest in their biofuel solutions to promote a greener alternative and reduce living expenses.


21. Service by Medallion

Service by Medallion is an award-winning facility support services company, servicing corporate campuses throughout the West primarily focusing on the greater Bay Area. They deliver 'best in class' industry-leading programs through real-time response, innovation, performance analytics, technology, and expertise.


22. FASTECH - Fueling and Service Technologies, Inc.

  • Website: fastechus.com
  • Headquarters: Buena Park, California, United States
  • Founded: 1994
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

FASTECH is an energy solutions company specializing in alternative energy such as hydrogen, RNG, CNG, LNG, and propane. With expertise in conventional fuel and renewable energy, FASTECH offers end-to-end engineering, procurement, and construction solutions. They have built a reputation as a trusted EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) partner in the industry. FASTECH is committed to innovating new products and solutions that make the energy industry safer, greener, and more efficient.


23. Cana Technology, Inc.

  • Website: cana.com
  • Headquarters: Downtown Redwood City, California, United States
  • Founded: 2019
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Latest funding type: Series Unknown
  • LinkedIn

Cana is a company focused on building a more sustainable future.


Want to find more waste to energy companies?


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...and a lot more!