Turning municipal solid waste into clean energy takes science, discipline and storytelling that wins public trust. That blend defines Todd Smith, chief communications officer of WāstAway, a green tech company in Morrison, Tennessee, that transforms everyday refuse into negative carbon footprint biofuels and other usable outputs.
Smith brings a veteran brand strategist’s mindset to a complex industrial platform. He translates engineering into plain language, connects civic leaders with plant operators and frames benefits so communities understand why the work matters. Inside the company, he aligns media, policy and partner outreach with plant milestones so progress is visible without hype. Outside of it, he meets questions head on, explaining how proprietary systems including the Cellulator feed a process that consistently converts material once destined for landfills into fuels that power real facilities.
WāstAway’s purpose is direct. The enterprise designs technology that converts municipal waste into clean energy pathways, including engineered biofuels suitable for large thermal users and renewable natural gas produced through anaerobic digestion. Smith turns that purpose into narrative clarity, shaping materials that show how feedstock moves through preparation, treatment and stabilization before it becomes a fuel customers can count on. He emphasizes documented quality, safety practices and a research cadence that keeps the process improving.
Career chapters before WāstAway formed a tool kit suited to this moment. Smith led an award-winning marketing firm, served in senior communications posts and advised national campaigns. The range taught him how to synthesize complex issues quickly and build coalitions that last. Academic roots in journalism, marketing and English from Baylor University sharpened craft and pace. That background lets him support scientists in the lab, executives in the boardroom and local officials who must answer constituents with confidence.
Recognition as a Titan 100 Honoree reflects influence that travels far beyond press releases. Colleagues point to a leader who sets clear expectations, honors timelines and treats every stakeholder with respect. Smith views his remit as stewardship of trust for a company scaling solutions that address environmental responsibility and industrial reliability at the same time.
Accomplishments include advancing WāstAway’s profile as the platform expanded and helping position its fuels for use by cement plants, steel mills, pulp mills and other heavy energy consumers. He supports teams that document performance, capture field results and share lessons with partners who manage demanding thermal environments. As the company’s pipeline grows, he ensures communications keep pace with commercial delivery.
Asked which capability he would learn in an instant, Smith chooses chemical engineering. He believes deeper fluency in process science would sharpen cross-functional collaboration and accelerate the translation of breakthroughs into messages stakeholders can embrace.
Steady and clear, Smith tells the story straight, earns confidence through proof and spotlights how WāstAway turns a daily challenge into reliable power. Working with that disciplined rhythm, Smith emerges as a defining communicator in clean technology, helping WāstAway show communities what becomes possible when waste is transformed into fuel.
