Top 11 Waste Sorting startups in USA

Mar 18, 2026
|
1
Rubicon Global
Funding: $501.7M
Rubicon provides affordable waste and recycling solutions for businesses seeking a smarter, sustainable alternative. Using technologies such as visual recognition and machine learning, the company conducts an initial screening of a client’s waste streams to identify types of waste and quantities, develops a waste separation system, and then tailors a waste collection schedule.
2
AMP Robotics
Funding: $266.1M
AMP Robotics creates robotic systems that sort recyclable material at a fraction of the cost of current technology.
3
Sortera
Funding: $111.4M
Sortera uses AI to recover valuable aluminum from scrap piles and produce affordable, high-quality metal alloys. Sortera's computer-vision-based sensor-based sorter can both upgrade raw material streams (shredded old automotive parts and appliances) and remove unwanted contaminants. The upgraded streams can then be used to manufacture new products. This technology is revolutionary because it enables domestic (US) production of new raw materials from existing automotive industry streams. Sortera's main facility in Markle, Indiana, currently processes approximately 100 million pounds of shredded metal annually to produce blends of aluminum with other elements that make them stronger and more durable.
4
Smarter Sorting
Funding: $65.1M
Smarter Sorting is a machine learning for waste. Smarter Sorting allows municipalities to take waste of extreme negative value and use our proprietary software to sort that waste into high value commodities that are sold into established markets.
5
Glacier
Funding: $20.5M
Glacier is on a groundbreaking journey to end waste – starting with recycling robotics, and with even more ambitious plans on the horizon.
6
EverestLabs
Funding: $21.4M
Everestlabs.AI develops an AI-based robotics technology to recover valuable recyclables.
7
Tribogenics
Funding: $19.7M
Tribogenics offers miniature x-ray solutions for applications in the recycling
8
Lasso Loop Recycling
Funding: $150K
Lasso Loop Recycling develops the home recycling solution that collects, cleans and sorts garbage for recycling.
9
rStream Recycling
Funding: $100K
rStream Recycling pushes the limits of high-tech sustainability by leveraging recent advances in machine vision and novel hardware to automate waste sorting
10
rStream
Funding: $100K
rStream Recycling is a waste automation company that provides robotics solutions for recycling and composting processes.
11
MyMatR
Funding: $10K
MyMatR has developed an IoT smart waste container, equipped with artificial intelligence, automatic sorting, reduction technology, and waste stream data analytics.
  See also:
Editor: Marjana Bačić
Marjana Bačić is a senior editor for RecyclingStartups. She has has more than 5 years experience covering the recycling industry. Marjana graduated from University of Belgrade, where she edited Recycling and Sustainable Development Journal. She has helped several non-profit organizations dedicated to promoting environmental education and sustainability. She also participates in beach clean-up initiatives and advocates for sustainable practices in local businesses. In her free time, Marjana enjoys hiking in the scenic Montenegrin countryside, practicing yoga for mindfulness, and experimenting with plant-based recipes in her kitchen. You can contact Marjana at marjanabacic(at)recyclingstartups(dot)com