Robert Wheatley, Chief Revenue OfficerVLS is a leader in waste management and railcar and barge cleaning services. It specializes in custom-made sustainable solutions for converting non-hazardous waste into energy and other specialty cleaning services.
What sets the company apart in the industry is its ability to deliver high-quality service driven by its principles of operational excellence. Its exceptional operations and comprehensive waste management solutions ensure a swift and secure waste-to-energy transformation. This commitment to efficiency underscores VLS’s reliability and industry-leading safety record in waste management.
“Our comprehensive solutions enable us to convert a broader list of waste materials to energy than our competitors, allowing us to offer a higher level of service to customers,” says Keith Rensink, director of marketing at VLS Environmental Solutions.
A pioneer in the waste-to-energy space, VLS takes pride in its legacy of innovation. By converting waste into energy resources, it minimizes the exploitation of natural resources like fossil fuels and coal. This fosters sustainability and reduces clients’ contribution to landfills.
In an industry where comprehensive solutions are rare, VLS emerges as a versatile partner capable of handling industrial waste across textiles, automotive, and chemical manufacturing sectors. This is achieved by emphasizing customer centricity and extending its services to various parts of the country. The company has expanded its horizons by setting up new facilities or retrofitting old ones, providing clients with better access to local alternatives.
In one instance, VLS was approached by an auto manufacturer in Greenville, South Carolina, which faced a challenge in managing and disposing of the waste generated at their facility. The company built a facility outside Greenville that handled every last mile of the waste produced. This helped the client strengthen their zero landfill goals and reduce costs significantly. Since then, VLS has built three new dedicated facilities to meet the growing demands of the automotive industry.
VLS’s state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with impressive capabilities, including advanced right-sizing shredders and cutting-edge tools to transform diverse waste materials into a form suitable for energy production. Adopting a meticulous approach, it blends the waste with other materials to meet the specifications required by cement kilns to ensure a high-quality fuel.
“Our ability to compete with landfills and replace fossil fuels with materials like waste economically benefits the customers,” says Robert Wheatley, chief revenue officer at VLS Environmental Solutions.
Our comprehensive solutions enable us to convert a broader list of waste materials to energy than our competitors, allowing us to offer a higher level of service to customers
At the core of its operations lies a transparent and precise engineering methodology. Every waste material is carefully sized, processed, blended, tested, and quality-checked by a dynamic safety team to ensure the safe use and disposal of the products.
Another distinctive aspect is the outstanding organizational culture rooted in operational efficiency and sustainable growth. Its enthusiastic and experienced team has been key to achieving tremendous growth in a short period
Beyond its core waste-to-energy initiatives, VLS also provides tailored solutions for wastewater treatment, rail car and barge cleaning, and repairs. These services contribute to ensuring the continued movement of high-value products and facilitate a circular economy by keeping the assets clean, safe, and sustainable.
Recognizing the limited options in waste management and the need to impose adequate measures for waste disposal, VLS continues to strategically expand its facilities. Through constant innovative efforts and sustainable solutions, it aims to ensure customer satisfaction and minimize environmental impact by aligning with broader environmental, social, and governance principles.
