Bob Morse, a VP and Senior Community Business Banker, MidCountry Bank; husband and wife team: President Andy Rausch, E-Z Recycling and Tanya Rausch, CEO of the marketing and digital agency Generate 360.
Delivering products to the market is a top priority for food and beverage companies.
Yet waste happens — whether it’s expired food or beverages, mislabeled packaging or production hiccups. For companies committed to sustainability, simply throwing these products away isn’t a solution.
That’s where E-Z Recycling comes in. Founded in 1986, by Chris Reinhardt, the company, which is based in St. Paul, has evolved from a curb-side recycling service into a key partner for manufacturers, food producers, distributors, and breweries striving to achieve zero landfill goals.
In 2021, when current owner and President Andy Rausch began working with the company as a business consultant, he quickly developed a strong appreciation for the industry and the company’s mission.
“When I began working with Chris and gaining a deeper understanding of the business, it was clear that E-Z Recycling had a strong foundation and a track record of meeting customer expectations,” said Andy. “I recognized that my background and leadership experience aligned well with the company’s goals, particularly in identifying opportunities for operational improvements and growth.”
Before moving forward with the acquisition on of E-Z Recycling, current owner and President Andy Rausch discussed the business opportunity with his wife, Tanya, who is CEO of the marketing and digital agency Generate 360.
As the business evolved, so did its leadership. Reinhardt made the decision to transition ownership and day-to-day operations to Andy, allowing him to shift his focus to support E-Z Recycling’s growth through business development initiatives.
Before moving forward, Andy discussed the business opportunity with his wife, Tanya, who is CEO of the marketing and digital agency Generate 360. He then reached out to Bob Morse, a VP and Senior Community Business Banker at MidCountry Bank, whom he had met through community projects within the White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce.
“When I was looking for a banker, I wanted someone who knew us,” Andy said. “I knew the process wouldn’t be easy — acquiring the company involved significant financial responsibility. We needed a banking partner who could see our long-term vision and was committed to finding solutions that would guide us through the process. Thanks to that support, we were able to successfully secure the loans.”
Navigating the acquisition
MidCountry Bank is a preferred lender with the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Morse helped the Rausches secure SBA loans to purchase the business. They used an SBA 7(a) loan to purchase and operate the business and an SBA 504 loan to acquire the land and building.
The process wasn’t simple. There were a lot of requirements, including site assessments and testing, which added time and complexity to the deal. Thanks to the perseverance from the Rausches and Morse, the sale successfully closed in 2023.
“Helping entrepreneurs acquire and grow businesses like E-Z Recycling is a key part of MidCountry Bank’s mission as a Minnesota-based community bank,” Morse said.
“Their experience was a natural fit,” Morse said of the Rausches. “It wasn’t a matter of making the numbers work. They fit the parameters, and we knew we had a success story. We just had to complete the process.”
“I knew the process wouldn’t be easy — acquiring the company involved significant financial responsibility. We needed a banking partner who could see our long-term vision and was committed to finding solutions that would guide us through the process. Thanks to that support, we were able to successfully secure the loans.” — President Andy Rausch, E-Z Recycling
Going bigger … and greener
E-Z Recycling has steadily advanced toward its growth objectives, driven by strategic planning, operational improvements, team development, and a strong commitment to sustainability.
The company specializes in handling products that are expired or unsellable due to damage, manufacturing defects or labeling errors. Instead of shipping these products to landfills or incinerators, E-Z Recycling separates them from their packaging, sorts the materials, and maximizes recovery through advanced recycling processing. Plastic bottles, for example, may be turned into new bottles, composite decking material, or even textile fibers for clothing. The food and beverage waste are converted into renewable energy, supporting both environmental sustainability and circular economy goals.
“Our focus is on recycling, sustainability, and supporting a circular economy,” Tanya said. “We work to keep unsellable products out of landfills by redirecting them into productive use, through material recovery that supplies resources for new products or byproducts, and by sending food and beverage waste for conversion into renewable energy. It’s a meaningful way to reduce environmental impact while helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals.”
Since the acquisition, Andy has continued to invest in team development, implement new processes, and upgrade equipment to enhance operational efficiency while expanding the range of products the company is able to recycle.
In a true example of spousal collaboration, Tanya’s company, Generate 360, is leading E-Z Recycling’s marketing efforts — including new branding, a redesigned website, and business development strategies. The agency also created a custom sustainability report format, which E-Z Recycling now uses for each customer to demonstrate the environmental benefits of its recycling services.
“Our customers don’t want to deal with unsellable products that need to be diverted from the supply chain,” Andy said. “However, when we can show them how their unsellable inventory is contributing to the circular economy, it helps make significant progress toward achieving their zero landfill and sustainability goals.
To learn more about E-Z Recycling visit E-ZRecycling.com or call 651-789-0123