In Episode 345 of The Green Insider, host Mike Nemer sits down with Brandon Lapsys, President at Viably, to unpack the rapidly evolving waste and recycling industry. With nearly 20 years of experience, Brandon shares his journey from collecting cans and newspapers as a Scout to leading an organization dedicated to diverting waste from landfills and creating new circular economies.
Brandon breaks down how innovative technologies—like Harp Renewables’ 24-hour aerobic food waste digesters—are helping businesses, hospitals, grocers, and municipalities turn organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer right at the source. Tune in to hear why shrinking landfill capacity, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, and construction & demolition (C&D) recycling are shaping the next major wave of sustainability infrastructure.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The Genesis of Viably: How Brandon’s lifelong “leave it better than you found it” mindset inspired Viably—a name rooted in doing “something worth doing”—and its evolution from equipment distribution to manufacturing and turnkey waste solutions.
- 24-Hour Food Waste Digestion: A deep dive into Viably’s partnership with Ireland-based Harp Renewables, featuring technology that reduces food waste volume by roughly 80% and converts it into usable fertilizer within 24 hours.
- Anaerobic Digestion & RNG: How Viably supports large-scale renewable natural gas (RNG) and power generation projects through pre-treatment, shredding, screening, and digestate management.
- Shrinking Landfills & Market Drivers: Why an estimated 30% of U.S. landfills are projected to close over the next decade, and how state-level policies and EPR laws are accelerating domestic recycling markets.
- Growth Areas in Recycling: Why Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste and battery recycling represent two of the fastest-growing movements in the U.S. waste sector.
- Navigating Market Headwinds: How U.S. manufacturing requirements, rental vs. purchase trends, and state-level initiatives are influencing capital investments in 2026 and beyond.
Key Quotes:
“The meaning or the genesis for the name [Viably] is ‘something worth doing.’ We like to think we’re doing something good every day by helping our customers find solutions to recycle, divert from landfill, develop new commodities, and find new end markets.” — Brandon Lapsys
“Waste is local. You have to remember all waste is local. Most waste is generated local, it’s processed local… There’s been a big focus here in the U.S. of finding more in-home markets, keeping the commodities here, and putting them back in the value chain.” — Brandon Lapsys
Resources & Links:
- Learn more about Viably: https://www.thinkviably.com
- Learn more about eRENEWABLE: https://www.erenewable.com
- Subscribe to The Green Insider and please don’t forget to leave a five-star review wherever you get yours from.
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