USF startup wins green-business award

TAMPA — Trash2Cash-Energy LLC, a University of South Florida startup company, was named a finalist at the 2013 Southeast Region Finals of the Cleantech Open, the world's largest accelerator for clean-technology companies.

According to Cleantech, the five finalist companies were selected from among 20 companies who entered the Southeast regional accelerator of the Cleantech Open this year. Trash2Cash Energy was both named as a finalist and recognized with the Sustainability Award.

Trash2Cash has licensed a technology process from USF that converts natural landfill gas to hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline, diesel, or aviation fuel, specific to their customers' needs. USF Assistant Professor John Kuhn, Professor Babu Joseph, USF student Syed Gardezi and recent USF graduates Timothy Roberge and Devin Walker founded the company in 2012.