Why Your Trash is Worth $33 Million

Awareness about responsible waste management has been on the rise over the years, but now it is on fire. In fact, it is 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Startup Sierra Energy, which vaporizes trash in order to produce clean energy and fuel, recently raised $33 million in a Series A investment round.

The company heats trash with a technology called FastOx. It uses a blast furnace and pure oxygen to create a chemical gas reaction with the waste’s carbon. The gas is also reusable for electricity, renewable diesel, ethanol and fertilizer, according to Sierra Energy. If trash is left untreated, it breaks down and releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that the company says is 84 times more climate-warming than CO2.

Investors in the company include billionaires Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff and Richard Branson, according to Fast Company. The investment round was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

For the latest energy news, head to our industry page! Make sure to follow us on Twitter at @EnergyMKSL.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

imposter syndrome
Busting Imposter Syndrome Through Presence, Community, and the Power of Delegation
December 10, 2025

Many of us know the feeling: you rack up accomplishments, hit the milestones you once dreamed of, and still there’s a quiet voice asking, “Am I really good enough?” Imposter syndrome has a way of showing up even in our strongest moments, often right when we’re stepping into new opportunities or chapters of growth. And…

Read More
Inside Breaking Down the New Behavioral Threat Assessment Report
Breaking Down the New National Behavioral Threat Assessment Report
December 9, 2025

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews guest expert Will Durgin to discuss the newly released Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Report from the National Threat Assessment Center and Homeland Security. They explore how this report differs from previous NTAC…

Read More
Trades
HVAC Safety Reform with Fallon Dyle: Rethinking Chemical Practices and Tackling Hidden Health Hazards in the Field
December 9, 2025

As HVAC systems evolve and health concerns take center stage, the industry is being forced to reckon with more than just performance specs. A growing threat from resilient biofilms, coupled with widespread misinformation about chemical cleaners like bleach, is pushing technicians and manufacturers to reexamine how they approach safety and maintenance. Reports have emerged…

Read More
creative
How an Underdog Mindset, Creative Discipline, and People-First Leadership Helped Cecil Cross Build Lasting Professional Equity
December 9, 2025

More and more, the creative journey looks less like a straight line and more like a series of pivots, setbacks, and surprising new opportunities. As layoffs, industry shifts, and unpredictable career turns reshape what a “typical” creative path looks like, many professionals are being pushed to turn uncertainty into momentum. Many are asking how to…

Read More