Natural Upcycling https://naturalupcycling.com Creating a Sustainable Future for Our Community Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:23:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://naturalupcycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/logo-icon.png Natural Upcycling https://naturalupcycling.com 32 32 Natural Upcycling and Shan-Elle Announce US-Based Joint Venture: DFOcycle  https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-and-shan-elle-announce-us-based-joint-venture-dfocycle/ https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-and-shan-elle-announce-us-based-joint-venture-dfocycle/#respond Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:49:53 +0000 https://naturalupcycling.com/?p=1517 Natural Upcycling and Shan-Elle Announce US-Based Joint Venture: DFOcycle 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Natural Upcycling, LLC (“Natural Upcycling”) and Shan-Elle Limited (“Shan-Elle”) are pleased to announce the formation of Dairy Feed OpCo LLC (“DFOcycle” or the “Company”), a US-based joint venture dedicated to providing sustainable and cost-effective dairy waste management solutions.  This partnership brings together decades of experience and innovation to address the growing need for responsible and efficient dairy waste processing.  

DFOcycle specializes in manufacturing high-value whole milk powder for young animal feed rations.  The Company operates in conjunction with Natural Upcycling, utilizing its extensive feedstock relationships, infrastructure and logistical expertise across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. 

Key features of DFOcycle’s services include: 

  • Efficient and reliable dairy waste collection and transportation 
  • State-of-the-art processing facilities 
  • Cutting-edge technologies for waste transformation 
  • Focus on minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource recovery 
  • Comprehensive solutions tailored to the specific needs of the customer 

Natural Upcycling, a leader in the sustainable organics management industry, has been providing food waste collection, depackaging, recycling, and zero waste consulting solutions for over 10 years.  Natural Upcycling’s commitment to landfill diversion and the use of advanced technologies like Tiger Depack has solidified its position as a pioneer in food waste solutions.  

Shan-Elle, with over 35 years of experience in the Canadian dairy industry, has established itself as a leader in processing fluid dairy by-products.  Shan-Elle’s commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative solutions has earned it a reputation for excellence in dairy waste reclamation.  

The strategic partnership of these two industry leaders focused on the US combines Shan-Elle’s deep expertise in dairy waste processing with Natural Upcycling’s extensive infrastructure, technological capabilities, and broad geographic reach.  DFOcycle is committed to being a trusted partner for dairy manufacturers, logistics chains, resellers, and producers, providing sustainable and cost-effective solutions that help them achieve their environmental and economic goals.

For questions or inquires, please contact Michael Shantz, General Manager at [email protected] or 716-422-0123.

]]> https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-and-shan-elle-announce-us-based-joint-venture-dfocycle/feed/ 0 Natural Upcycling Acquires Food Scrap Recycling Company Curbside Compost https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-acquires-food-scrap-recycling-company-curbside-compost/ https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-acquires-food-scrap-recycling-company-curbside-compost/#respond Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:23:16 +0000 https://naturalupcycling.com/?p=1513 ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Natural Upcycling (“Natural Upcycling” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the acquisition of Ridgefield, CT based Curbside Compost. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Leading Natural Upcycling is Co-Founder and CEO Harry Cohen, a veteran in the environmental services industry. Harry Cohen, remarked, “it is with great excitement that I announce the acquisition of Curbside Compost by Natural Upcycling. We are pleased to work with Nick Skeadas and the Curbside Compost team as we build Natural Upcycling, the leading platform in the food and organics recycling sector. The acquisition of Curbside Compost helps deepen Natural Upcycling’s client base in the Connecticut and New York markets. Furthermore, this acquisition addresses the region’s need to divert food waste from incinerators and landfills.”

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Ridgefield, CT, Curbside Compost is a leading provider of food scrap recycling and soil delivery services to municipalities, institutions, businesses and residents in Connecticut and New York. Curbside Compost Founder, Nick Skeadas is an environmental advocate on a mission to improve food donation, increase recycling of food residual and reduce waste across the food supply chain.

Founder of Curbside Compost, Nick Skeadas, remarked, “I’m excited to have an opportunity to advance the growth of food scrap recycling and soil delivery across theNortheast and mid-Atlantic. With resources and support from Natural Upcycling, we are positioned to make an even greater impact. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with Harry and the Natural Upcycling team as we continue the mission to decrease waste and pollution and produce healthy soil to offer back to the earth. The collective experience of the Natural Upcycling management team with the Curbside Compost team provides an excellent foundation to grow food waste prevention solutions acrossthe region.”

Co-Founder and CEO of Natural Upcycling, Harry Cohen, further stated, “Nick and the Curbside Compost team have been building their company into a regional leader for almost a decade and bring a high level of experience to an industry undergoing rapid transformation and growth. Curbside Compost has been built upon excellent service and communication and their work supports the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from food waste.” Natural Upcycling continues to seek acquisition opportunities in the food and organics recycling industry, particularly those located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

About Natural Upcycling
Natural Upcycling was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.Natural Upcycling prides itself on being a leader in the sustainable organics management industry, including food waste collection, depackaging, recycling, certification, facilities management and zero waste consulting solutions. Natural Upcycling services commercial and industrial customers and municipalities across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

For questions or inquiries, please contact Amanda Logsdon at (585) 584-3124 or email [email protected].

About Curbside Compost
Curbside Compost recovers food scraps and delivers compost in an effort to restore the nutrient and carbon cycle to CT and NY soil. Curbside Compost reduces emissions by taking advantage of the natural process of decomposition. When composted, the abundant nutrients and organic matter in food scraps are captured and applied to land where they help build and conserve healthy soils. Curbside Compost collects from municipalities, institutions, businesses, schools, healthcare industry, residents and events in an effort to compost all food remains, including dairy, meat, fish and bones.For questions or inquiries, please contact Nick Skeadas at (203) 493-4062 or email [email protected].

]]> https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-acquires-food-scrap-recycling-company-curbside-compost/feed/ 0 Trailcreek and Plexus Invest in Natural Upcycling in Partnership with Noblehurst Green Energy and Harry Cohen https://naturalupcycling.com/trailcreek-and-plexus-invest-in-natural-upcycling-in-partnership-with-noblehurst-green-energy-and-harry-cohen/ Mon, 30 Dec 2024 17:07:28 +0000 http://zmp.b2f.mytemp.website/?p=1468 ]]>

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Lower middle-market investment firms Trailcreek Capital Group (“Trailcreek”) and Plexus Capital (“Plexus”) are pleased to announce an investment in Natural Upcycling (“Natural Upcycling” or the “Company”) in partnership with Noblehurst Green Energy and Harry Cohen. 

Read the Full Article >

]]> Organics haulers and recyclers look to standardize as they eye growth https://naturalupcycling.com/natural-upcycling-partners-with-sharing-excess/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 16:26:01 +0000 https://thisismadlab.com/website_d83d7db0/?p=1289

Natural Upcycling News

Organics haulers and recyclers look to standardize as they eye growth

“With private capital continuing to flow into the organic space, more companies are looking to find ways to standardize and repeat their success across markets.”

Read the article
]]> Natural Upcycling Partners with Sharing Excess https://naturalupcycling.com/naturalupcycling24-ceocfomagazine-interview-2/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:22:35 +0000 https://thisismadlab.com/website_d83d7db0/?p=915

Natural Upcycling

Natural Upcycling Partners with Sharing Excess

We’re thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration between Sharing Excess and Natural Upcycling, a leader in the organic waste management industry, to tackle one of the most frustrating and solvable challenges in the food system: preventing perfectly edible food from ever ending up in landfills. 

This partnership is not just innovative; it’s transformational. The owner of Natural Upcycling recognized a troubling reality in the waste industry: sometimes companies throw away large quantities of perfectly edible food rather than donating it, simply because they don’t have the time or capacity to find an alternative solution. Driven by the belief that good food should never be destined for landfills, Natural Upcycling reached out to Sharing Excess, and together, we’ve developed a game-changing model for food rescue and organic recycling. 

Here’s how it works: 

✅ Rescuing Edible Food: When Natural Upcycling receives food they believe is too good for compost or recycling, they perform quality checks on its shelf life. If the food passes inspection, they notify Sharing Excess so we can redistribute it to communities and organizations who need it most. Food once inadvertently earmarked for landfill is now feeding people instead—at scale. 

✅ Closing the Loop: When Sharing Excess receives food donations that, despite good intentions, don’t meet our quality and dignity standards, Natural Upcycling ensures this inedible product is recycled organically into compost, animal feed, and other sustainable purposes. Together we are creating a food hub model that follows the EPA Food Waste Scale. 

This closed-loop system is a win-win for the environment and our communities. We’ve already rescued well over ten million pounds of edible food together – a bold representation of what it means to radically partner with purpose, blending compassion and innovation to make food waste prevention an industry standard. 

To Natural Upcycling: thank you for redefining what’s possible in the waste management industry and for your unwavering commitment to feeding people instead of landfills. This is what meaningful impact looks like. �� 

Together, we’re proving that partnerships can create systemic change. Let’s continue setting the standard for what’s possible in this space. �� ➡ �� 

#Partnership #FoodRescue #Sustainability #NaturalUpcycling #SharingExcess #FoodWaste #CircularEconomy #CommunityImpact #FeedingPeopleNotLandfills

]]> Natural Upcycling Featured in CEOCFO Magazine https://naturalupcycling.com/ceocfo-magazine/ Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:39:14 +0000 https://thisismadlab.com/website_d83d7db0/?p=818

Natural Upcycling

Recycling Food Waste and Converting it into Resources Such as Electricity or Natural Gas while Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promoting Cleaner Air

Harry S. Cohen

CEO/FOUNDER

Natural Upcycling
www.naturalupcycling.com

Contact:

Harry S Cohen
585-584-3124
[email protected]

Interview conducted by:
Lynn Fosse, Senior Editor
CEOCFO Magazine

CEOCFO: Mr. Cohen, what is Natural Upcycling?
Mr. Cohen: Natural Upcycling is a food waste recycling business serving the mid
Atlantic and northeast regions.

CEOCFO: Would you explain food recycling?
Mr. Cohen: Both in the U.S. and globally, a significant portion of food is wasted. This waste accounts for 30-35% of everything we discard. Traditionally, food waste is sent to landfills, where it generates methane gas—a greenhouse gas that’s highly harmful to the environment. By keeping food waste out of landfills, we not only address environmental issues but also contribute to the fight against food insecurity.

Our process involves collecting organic materials from sources like grocery stores and food manufacturers. We then process this waste through anaerobic digestion or composting.

Anaerobic digestion, a method widely used in Europe, has gained popularity in the U.S. It allows us to harness bacteria to break down methane, converting it into resources such as electricity or natural gas. Composting is also highly sustainable, allowing food waste to decompose naturally and return nutrients to the soil, which is beneficial for landscaping, gardens, and agriculture.

Natural Upcycling
CEOCFO: What is the interest today from businesses and potential clients?

Mr. Cohen: Many organizations are increasingly focused on social and environmental responsibility. There’s a strong demand for zero-landfill initiatives and sustainable practices. Not only does this align with corporate social responsibility, but it can also be economically advantageous in the right market. The greatest impact is in the food waste sector, where we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner air.

Mr. Cohen: Food waste collection is unlike traditional waste management. Though food recycling has become more mainstream in recent years, it still presents unique challenges. For example, food waste can produce strong odors and attract pests, so we’ve invested in specialized, waterproof trucks with built-in cleaning systems to maintain high standards.

Another challenge is contamination—when non-organic materials end up in the waste stream. While this was initially a major issue, we’ve since invested in technology that effectively separates inorganic matter, allowing us to capture more organic waste without requiring extensive pre-sorting on the customer’s end.

Mr. Cohen: Food waste can come in various packaging forms, including plastic containers, cans, and bottles. We typically provide customers with designated receptacles for food waste, separate from other recycling streams like cardboard or mixed paper.

“We pride ourselves on being a customer-centric organization. Our goal is to provide reliable, timely solutions to our clients’ unique challenges.” Harry S. Cohen

Our team educates clients extensively on the process. While this requires more time during implementation, it’s essential for success. We also continue to engage and motivate our customers to keep contamination low, ensuring the quality of the materials we process.

Mr. Cohen: Word-of-mouth has been a tremendous asset for us, especially through our partnerships with major grocery retailers. We’ve seen growth by expanding our services to include private-label suppliers and other behind-the-scenes partners of these grocery chains. Additionally, we are leveraging social media to build brand awareness.

Our success also relies heavily on a dedicated team—clean trucks, efficient service, and committed employees who take pride in their work. Happy clients and a positive reputation fuel our growth.

Mr. Cohen: Human resources are always a focus for us. We’ve committed to paying well and creating a balanced work environment that values both productivity and quality of life. This has contributed to our low turnover rate, which we’re very proud of.

As we expand, our biggest challenge will be maintaining our strong culture. Growth means integrating new people who align with our values, and that’s where we’re focusing our HR efforts.

Mr. Cohen: We’re based in Rochester, New York, but we currently service the northeast and mid-Atlantic states. Our next target is the southeastern U.S., where population growth supports an expansion in waste recycling services. Long term, we see potential to operate on both coasts, given the more progressive recycling policies in these regions.

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