Vanguard Renewables Expands Midwest Footprint with E-Z Recycling Acquisition

ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vanguard Renewables, a national leader in organics recycling and renewable energy production, today announced the acquisition of E-Z Recycling, a Minnesota-based food and beverage waste recycling company. The move adds critical depackaging capabilities to Vanguard Renewables’ growing anaerobic digestion network, enabling the transformation of food waste into renewable energy while helping customers meet compliance, reduce risk, and advance sustainability goals.

Minnesota is a hub for food and beverage manufacturing, supported by strong logistics and a regulatory environment focused on reducing landfill waste through organics recycling and improved packaging recovery. Vanguard Renewables already operates an anaerobic digestion facility in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region and recently announced a second in Meeker County through a partnership with CenterPoint Energy, where food waste is converted into renewable natural gas (RNG) for local energy systems.

“This acquisition represents our commitment to creating a fully integrated, circular solution for food and beverage companies across the Midwest,” said Mike O’Laughlin, CEO of Vanguard Renewables. “By adding E-Z Recycling into our network and combining their depackaging expertise with our anaerobic digestion infrastructure, we’re expanding the solutions available to our customers while setting a new standard for sustainability and compliance in the region.”

Located in St. Paul, E-Z Recycling is one of the region’s leading depackaging facilities. The site currently processes up to 125 tons of food and beverage waste per day across three full processing lines, with recent upgrades expected to increase capacity to more than 300 tons daily. The facility includes 7,200 square feet of processing space and access to more than 25,000 square feet of storage, providing secure destruction, advanced material recovery, and chain-of-custody documentation to ensure compliance and brand protection for customers. As part of Vanguard Renewables, the site will also serve as a convenient new outlet for customers seeking reliable, cost-effective organics recycling solutions in the Twin Cities area.

“For more than 40 years, we’ve built our business on doing what’s right for our customers, our community, and the environment,” said Andy Rausch, Owner of E-Z Recycling. “Joining Vanguard Renewables strengthens our operations, expands the ways we can support customers, and accelerates our impact across the Midwest and beyond. Our shared commitment to these values gives me confidence in the future, and we’re excited to begin this next chapter.”

Rausch will remain actively involved as Principal Operations Manager, continuing to lead operations of the facility.

About Vanguard Renewables:

Vanguard Renewables is a leading U.S. environmental solutions company and producer of biomethane from organic waste. Headquartered in Weston, Massachusetts, the company provides end-to-end organics recycling solutions including depackaging, processing, and anaerobic digestion that converts food, beverage, and agricultural waste into renewable natural gas. Vanguard Renewables is rapidly scaling its footprint, operating sites across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast while developing additional facilities nationwide. By diverting organic waste from landfills, the company is reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale while supporting critical domestic energy infrastructure and regenerative agriculture for America’s farms. Learn more at www.vanguardrenewables.com