Vanguard Renewables looks to expand hauling, logistics with key hire

Vanguard Renewables Hires President for Organics Solutions Business

Dive Brief:

• Vanguard Renewables has hired Kent Bartley as the president of its organics solutions business, a division that will focus on expanding its hauling fleet and logistics operation. Bartley brings experience from roles at Patriot Environmental Services, Clean Harbors, and Envirosystems.
• In his new role, Bartley will oversee Vanguard’s efforts to control the feedstock for its anaerobic digesters. The company is adding depackaging operations in the Midwest, and Bartley will manage the growing availability of organics for Vanguard.
• Vanguard has decided to kick off a logistics group, funded by BlackRock, to support its digesters across the United States. Bartley believes that increased involvement from customer sites will benefit the company.

Dive Insight:

Vanguard Renewables is following a trend in the organics recycling industry by focusing on logistics and depackaging. Denali recently announced a depackaging partnership with Walmart, and Divert is expanding its integrated facilities nationwide, combining depackaging with anaerobic digestion.

Vanguard’s growth has been supported by BlackRock, which acquired the company two years ago. This investment has allowed Vanguard to accelerate the rollout of new anaerobic digestion sites. The company’s strategy is to build sites in a geographically connected manner, starting with locations in the Northeast and Midwest.

The addition of a logistics network will complement Vanguard’s existing network of digesters. The company plans to use a fleet of trucks to handle various forms of feedstocks, scaling up the fleet across its network. Vanguard currently partners with transportation subcontractors but aims to internalize those operations for greater profitability.

Customers are increasingly seeking a “one-stop shop” for logistics and waste management, rather than multiple vendors. Vanguard aims to meet this demand by offering comprehensive services for all types of waste.

Vanguard also plans to expand its depackaging capabilities to process a wider range of feedstocks. The company already has a depackaging facility in Massachusetts and is building two more in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Additional facilities are expected to come online in the mid-Atlantic and other regions.

While Vanguard remains focused on organic growth, Bartley acknowledges the potential for acquisitions that align with the company’s culture and network. This could include small haulers and depackaging facilities.

In the future, Vanguard envisions the ability to handle various types of waste, including separated organic waste from households. As the digestion network grows, the company is expanding its marketing efforts to attract more customers and aims to become a household name in the waste industry.

“At any level, at any size,” Bartley said, “I could envision us, when our infrastructure’s at its peak, that we could pretty much do anything that had to do with food waste, and be able to take all of it.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The article discusses Vanguard Renewables’ expansion into controlling the feedstock for its anaerobic digesters, which aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) as anaerobic digestion is a renewable energy source. The company’s focus on logistics and depackaging operations connects to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) as it involves building a hauling fleet and managing a growing diet of organics. Additionally, Vanguard’s goal of turning waste into renewable or recyclable waste relates to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The company’s efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling contribute to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by minimizing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable land use.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• SDG 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• SDG 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests

The article highlights Vanguard Renewables’ focus on anaerobic digestion, which contributes to SDG 7.2 by increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix. The company’s expansion into logistics and depackaging operations aligns with SDG 9.4 as it involves upgrading infrastructure and making it sustainable. Vanguard’s goal of turning waste into renewable or recyclable waste supports SDG 12.5 by reducing waste generation through recycling and reuse. The company’s efforts to minimize environmental impacts and promote sustainable land use relate to SDG 13.2 and SDG 15.2.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of anaerobic digestion sites: This indicator can measure the expansion of renewable energy generation and progress towards SDG 7.2.
• Number of depackaging facilities: This indicator can measure the upgrade of infrastructure and progress towards SDG 9.4.
• Amount of waste diverted from landfills: This indicator can measure the reduction of waste generation and progress towards SDG 12.5.
• Marketing budget and customer acquisition: These indicators can measure the company’s efforts to promote renewable energy and progress towards SDG 13.2 and SDG 15.2.

By tracking these indicators, Vanguard Renewables can assess its progress in achieving the identified targets under the relevant SDGs.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: wastedive.com