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Circular Economy Innovation Competition
About The Circular Economy Innovation Competition
The Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) is powering the Circular Economy Innovation Competition for its fourth year. WPWMA is seeking solutions to utilize recoverable waste products that currently end up in landfills. This isn't just about sustainability—it's about creating real economic value from untapped resources.
$20,000 in funding for innovators who can transform waste into value.
This competition offers more than funding—participants receive mentorship to refine their concepts and connections to industry partners who can help scale their solutions.
Information Session - Wednesday, January 21st
Join us on Jan. 21st at 12 pm PST to learn more about the Circular Economy Innovation Competition!
Join us for an information session on the Western Placer Waste Management Authority: Circular Economy Innovation Competition – an opportunity for innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations, technologies, and businesses while receiving mentorship, and the opportunity to win prize money and in-kind services.
If you are an innovator, researcher, or entrepreneur looking to or already working to turn waste into repurposed value we want to hear from you. The Circular Economy Innovation Competition is a new competition providing innovative ideas, technologies, and startups in the circular economy and waste space with the opportunity to compete for $20,000 in an in-person pitch event the week of April 27th, 2025.
What WPWMA is Looking For
- Technologies that maximize material recovery
- Solutions that reduce transportation and energy costs
- Innovations that enhance revenue streams
- Systems for waste water leaching and treatment
- Material traceability solutions
- Approaches that reduce dependency on volatile international markets
Key Dates
Key Dates 📅
- Application Deadline: February 27, 2026
- Finalist Notification: Week of March 9
- Pitch Competition: April 29, 2026 (tentative)
2025 Winner: CRDC Global
After the judges deliberated, CRDC Global was announced as the winner of:
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$20,000 Cash Prize
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In-kind Services: Strategic Vision & Execution Planning with Mike Brown, Pinnacle Business Guide
CRDC GLOBAL is changing the destiny of hard-to-recycle plastic waste in North America with RESIN8™ recycled content, a new category of green building materials that lightens the environmental footprint of plastic disposal, so people and planet can prosper. (Ross Gibby)
Winners of Innovator Award
During deliberation, the judges came to an agreement to award two additional $1,000 Innovator Awards to two local Sacramento area finalists: Lorna M Designs, a company that recycles inner tube waste into high-quality backpacks, purses and wallets; and @FLUID, a company that recycles textile waste into products for pets including beds and toys.
Fox 40 New Coverage of the 2025 Circular Economy Innovation Competition
Our 2025 Finalists
Here are the Circular Economy Innovation Competition Finalists for 2025! Nine finalists were selected to take the stage and compete for $20K in cash awards from the Western Placer Waste Management Authority as well as in-kind support from Mike Brown, CEO of Impact Grove Corporation.
Our Finalists:
- Biochosen: turns organic waste into biodegradable and compostable packaging materials. (Mohammad Tajparast)
- TerraNova Bio: is revolutionizing polyurethane (PUR) recycling with a sustainable solution. (Jacob Somera)
- Ecofirebuster: is a next-generation, biodegradable wildfire retardant that leverages nanotechnology and circular economy principles by integrating waste-derived biochar and eco-friendly biopolymers. (Lakpa Sherpa)
- ENTEIN Alternative: grows high quality black soldier fly larvae as animal feed and pet food protein supplements. (William Burns)
- EcoAct Tanzania: Developed a chemical free technology to convert ocean waste plastics and post-consumer packaging waste into quality sustainable materials for furniture, building and construction applications (Christian M.)
- CRDC GLOBAL: is changing the destiny of hard-to-recycle plastic waste in North America with RESIN8™ recycled content, a new category of green building materials that lightens the environmental footprint of plastic disposal, so people and planet can prosper. (Ross Gibby)
- Nexstera Tech: the future of unified waste intelligence. With AI-driven detection, we cut contamination, prevent overfill, and ensure enforcement where it matters. (Penny Lane Case)
- Lorna M Designs: transforms reclaimed textiles like jeans, tablecloths, and bicycle inner tubes into stylish, functional fashion bags and clothing. (Lorna Miser)
- FLUID: transforms through innovative systems, we repurpose textiles into pet beds, donate usable items, and responsibly dispose of waste, reducing landfill impact and fostering sustainable habits. (Teresa Delgado)
Join us on April 16th to hear them pitch and compete for the prize money!
About The Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA)
The Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA)s mission is to create solutions and transform waste into a resource for a sustainable environment and prosperous economy. The WPWMA’s communities use a mixed waste approach to recycling – where residents and businesses toss all waste in a single bin that is sorted for recyclable and compostable materials for them at the WPWMA’s Materials Recovery Facility. As recycling markets can be volatile and demands for non-traditional recyclable materials arise, the WPWMA has been able to quickly adapt – “mining” through the entire waste stream for valuable commodities and items that many may not assume are “recyclable.”
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