NOVUS: A Story of Innovation

NOVUS … Past

The NOVUS story began its evolution in 1985 when William H. “Bill” Winters founded Waste Reduction Systems, Inc. (“WRS”). Bill’s vision was to identify a specific industry where he and his team could make a positive impact through innovation, market timing, strategic partnerships and operational discipline. Since inception, the Company has been focused on providing various unique solid waste management and recycling solutions to large waste generators.

Initially, WRS’ was involved in the rental and management of industrial waste compaction equipment. This business broadened rapidly over the next ten years into a fully integrated solid waste management company with two (2) waste collection and transportation operations, two (2) commercial material recovery facilities, four (4) permitted disposal sites, and a solid waste and material handling equipment distribution company. WRS, considered a pioneer in the industry, achieved a number of significant accomplishments during its thirteen years of operation, including; (i) owning and managing the largest privately-held municipal solid waste landfill in Houston, Texas, (ii) opening the first material recovery facility in the State of Texas, and (iii) developing a public/private partnership with the Southern Brazoria County Clean Cities Coalition to manage solid waste and recycling issues in a five (5) county area. In addition, WRS won several environmental leadership awards and was recognized as the 83rd fastest growing company in America in 1992.

Between 1994 and 1998, the solid waste industry experienced a period of significant consolidation with large public companies acquiring thousands of independent operators. WRS participated in the consolidation of the industry, provided significant returns to its shareholders, yet retained its core management team and infrastructure from which to grow its unique wood recycling business. WRS changed its name to NOVUS in 1998, to better reflect its philosophy and approach to business. Wasting no time, NOVUS expanded its wood business beyond Southeast Texas to North Texas and Arkansas in 1999 with the acquisition of Nature Reclaimed, Inc.


NOVUS … Present and Future

NOVUS’ most highly valued asset is its management team of creative, innovative, energetic and high-integrity professionals. By drawing on 15 years of experience in the solid waste management industry and ten (10) years in the wood recycling business, NOVUS has re-deployed its most valuable resource to explore new opportunities in the global recycled biomass business. NOVUS is focused on assisting existing industries and emerging technologies that require large quantities of reliable, high quality biomass feedstocks on a long-term basis. Through the development of a professional wood gathering process and comprehensive industry information system, NOVUS and its partners intend to provide valuable procurement and delivery infrastructure to biomass intensive markets.

One such market is the Renewable Energy industry. At a time of increased dependence on foreign oil, rising oil prices, deregulation of electricity utilities, and world-wide concern about greenhouse gas emissions, NOVUS developed a business case for biomass feedstock procurement to serve utility and non-utility power-producers. WoodFuel.com, LP was formed in April 2000, as a partnership between NOVUS Systems, Inc. and its managers to market renewable energy feedstock to power producers by creating a virtual pipeline networking wood fuel buyers and wood fuel suppliers at a national level. WoodFuel.com quickly realized that it is not a national business, but a global one. WoodFuel.com is marketing its business through web-based channels, as well as strategic alliances with emerging-technology partners in areas including wood gasification, ethanol manufacturing and biofuels development.

Competing demand for various biomass feedstocks has accelerated the need for a professional wood gathering function. BioLea$e, LP was formed to provide creative equipment financing to qualified wood recycling operators throughout the United States. BioLea$e customers benefit from membership in the NOVUS and WoodFuel.com network by utilizing the shared knowledge base and becoming the backbone of a national wood gathering function. NOVUS Wood Group, LP continues its market expansion through selective and innovative alliances with operators who connect through the extensive NOVUS network. 

NOVUS’ team has earned a reputation for the development of innovative products, beginning with the development of “wave action barriers” for which the Company received the Coastal America Partnership Award for Environmental Excellence in 1999. This tradition continues with the introduction of Eco-Dune™ to the product lines in July 2000. Eco-Dune™ is a dune restoration process that accelerates the fight against beach erosion by utilizing natural material to establish or rebuild strong, stable dunes along the nation’s coastlines, in a cost-effective, non-invasive and expedient manner.