Grantee Research Project Results
End-to-End Platform for Recycled Waste Traceability
EPA Contract Number: 68HERC22C0021Title: End-to-End Platform for Recycled Waste Traceability
Investigators: Charles, Dani
Small Business: Veriflux Corp
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022
Project Amount: $99,700
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I (2022) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Veriflux is intended to provide differential visibility across waste supply chains, be they disposed waste, recycled waste or waste feedstock for renewable energy. Our goal in providing traceability is to increase efficiencies throughout the supply chain, identify new and expanded opportunities for diversion and reuse, and assist government at the federal, state and local level with ensuring and enforcing compliance with environmental policies, regulations and incentives (e.g., RINs, credits, etc.).
Our team has already developed a beta traceability mobile app and web portal for waste collection, processing and recycling for a number of liquid waste types (wastewater, tallow, trap/brown grease and used cooking oil). We are in the process of rolling that out to pilot users in the used cooking oil (UCO) recycling industry. As part of Phase I, our objectives are to: (a) explore other waste types to include food waste and other material wastes that can be diverted for biomass or other reuse, (b) expand the user functionality to include waste brokers and supply-chain end-users, (c) explore validating transactions on Veriflux via a digital ledger (blockchain), and (d) ensure the data exportability/shareability aligns with needs among commercial entities (e.g. renewable energy producers) and federal, state and local government agencies.
As demonstrated in our project proposal, Veriflux is both innovative and technically feasible; it fills a major void in the market; our team’s technical expertise perfectly position us to execute on our Phase I technical approach; and our past performance successfully transitioning SBIR-funded innovations showcases our capacity to commercialize Veriflux and have a meaningful environmental impact across the U.S. recycling system.
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.