RecycleSmart’s rapid raise shows Australians are willing to invest in convenient, circular solutions to the waste crisis.
Australian startup RecycleSmart – dubbed the “Uber for Waste” – is riding a wave of public support, raising $711,000 just days into its latest equity crowdfunding campaign.
The campaign, launched on Birchal, is the company’s third foray into the world of crowd-sourced investment and forms a key part of its national growth strategy. RecycleSmart is aiming to raise more than $1 million in total to scale its operations and expand its presence across Australia.
Founded on a mission to make recycling simple, RecycleSmart provides on-demand pickup for hard-to-recycle household items – including common household items like soft plastics, polystyrene, e-waste, and blister packs. These are the types of materials that typically end up in landfill because they can’t go into standard kerbside bins. 
With over 1.4 million kilograms of waste already diverted from landfill, RecycleSmart’s service is helping Australians reduce their environmental footprint without the usual barriers of complexity, distance, or confusion.
At the core of its model is a digital-first, app-based experience that allows users to schedule waste pickups with a few taps. The service is already active in partnership with more than 15 local councils in New South Wales, with strong demand now emerging from councils and communities in other states – including both metro and regional areas.
“We started with a simple idea: make recycling easy,” said Giorgio Baracchi, CEO and Co-founder of RecycleSmart. “Since then, we’ve grown into a national movement, helping people recycle those everyday items that don’t belong in the kerbside bin. Whether it’s blister packs, polystyrene or coffee capsules, we’re proving that convenience and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.”
The early momentum of the Birchal campaign suggests Baracchi’s vision is resonating with Australians eager to be part of a practical climate solution. With more than $711,000 raised the campaign is tracking strongly toward its seven-figure target – and reflects growing mainstream appetite for climate-focused investments.
Baracchi says the raise is not only about capital, but also about building a community of passionate backers who can help scale the mission nationwide.
Among the most notable of those partnerships is one recently inked with Qantas Loyalty, allowing Frequent Flyers to earn Qantas Points by recycling through RecycleSmart. The collaboration blends sustainability with the everyday reward systems many Australians already use, helping to make environmentally conscious behaviour both easy and appealing.
“Our partnership with Qantas Loyalty is a testament to the impact we’re making and the trust we’ve built in the industry,” said Baracchi. “This is more than just a business deal, it’s a validation of our vision to make recycling a seamless, rewarding experience for everyone.”
RecycleSmart’s “Power Pickup” service is available from just a bit of spare change, with users able to book collections via a smartphone app or website. The company sorts, separates, and delivers collected materials to specialist recyclers who can process them correctly – keeping them out of landfill and giving them a second life.
For local councils, the model represents a cost-effective, tech-enabled way to offer residents access to more advanced recycling options without the burden of building costly new infrastructure. With the federal government’s National Waste Policy pushing for stronger reuse and recovery targets, many councils are actively exploring partnerships with startups like RecycleSmart to accelerate their own environmental goals.
RecycleSmart’s first crowdfunding campaign launched in 2021, raising $1 million from everyday Australians. A second round followed in 2022, adding another $1 million to the war chest. Combined with private backing from Prisma Capital and growing commercial partnerships, the company now finds itself well-positioned to lead a new era in household waste management.
The latest Birchal campaign is currently in the Offer Phase, meaning investors can review the company’s pitch documents and formally invest in exchange for equity.
With over $2 million already raised across previous rounds, and fresh momentum behind the current raise, RecycleSmart is banking on the idea that most people want to do their bit for the planet – they just need the tools and the simplicity to get started.
RecycleSmart’s raise comes at a time of growing interest in climate tech, with sustainable startups attracting a record volume of investor interest in recent years. According to Clean Energy Ventures, Australia’s climate tech sector attracted more than $1.5 billion in funding in 2023 – a figure that’s expected to grow as more people seek impact-aligned investments.
For now, RecycleSmart is focusing on what it does best: making it easier for households to recycle right – and scaling up to ensure that every soft plastic, old tablet, and used blister pack has somewhere better to go than the bin.
