Harvest Power
| File:Harvest Power Logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Recycling, alternative energy, soil, mulch |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Headquarters | Waltham, Massachusetts |
Area served | Canada and the United States |
Key people | Mark Weidman, CEO Paul Sellew, founder |
| Website | harvestpower.com |
Harvest Power, Inc. was a privately owned company based in Waltham, Massachusetts that specialized in managing organic waste by transforming food and yard debris into products such as biofuel, compost, mulch, and fertilizer. In 2014, it earned recognition from Fast Company as one of the globe’s most innovative enterprises. The organization discontinued its Orlando operations in August 2020 and formally dissolved in April 2021.
History
Established in 2008 by entrepreneur Paul Sellew, Harvest Power attracted investment from notable venture capital firms including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Waste Management, Inc., True North Venture Partners, Industry Ventures, Generation Investment Management, and DAG Ventures. By early 2014, the company managed a network of 40 facilities across North America, which included bioenergy plants, yard waste drop-off centers, soil and mulch distribution hubs serving landscapers, contractors, and homeowners, along with packaging operations. Kathleen Ligocki assumed the role of CEO in 2014, overseeing a business that reported $130 million in revenue for 2013. In 2015, Waste360 ranked Harvest Power as the 29th largest waste and recycling company based on its 2014 financial performance.
Approach
Harvest Power operated within a circular economy framework by repurposing food waste into energy sources and nutrient-dense soil amendments. This approach tapped into an underutilized resource for municipalities and corporations seeking to minimize landfill dependency. Regions including New York City, Massachusetts, and California have implemented policies to redirect food waste toward renewable energy generation and soil enhancement projects, complementing Harvest Power’s focus on anaerobic digestion technologies.
Facilities
By 2013, Harvest Power had introduced three anaerobic digestion facilities throughout North America as part of its strategic expansion in bioenergy production. Its Orlando, Florida site processes approximately 100 tons of food waste daily from Walt Disney World, generating biogas to fuel a combined heat and power plant with a capacity of seven megawatts—thereby reducing landfill contributions and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In British Columbia, the company operates the continent’s largest commercial high-solids anaerobic digester, handling 40,000 tons annually of food scraps and yard trimmings to comply with local landfill restrictions. The London, Ontario facility serves commercial food waste producers such as supermarkets and dining establishments.
In addition to bioenergy production, Harvest Power distributed soil products, mulches, and fertilizers through major retail outlets including Lowe's, The Home Depot, Walmart, along with independent garden centers—broadening its market reach within sustainable landscaping supplies.