From Landfills to Roads: The Garbage Revolution

Summary

Living Your Legacy Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title: From Landfills to Roads: The Garbage Revolution
Host: Ray Gutierrez
Guest: Benjamin Horvat, Founder of Lewis Structures LLC
Release Date: May 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the innovative journey of Benjamin Horvat, entrepreneur and founder of Lewis Structures LLC, who is pioneering a radical solution to municipal solid waste. Benjamin’s company is transforming landfill-bound plastic garbage into a product called MSWAG (Municipal Solid Waste Aggregate), a high-performing construction material that promises both environmental and economic benefits. The conversation uncovers the entrepreneurial spirit behind turning literal trash into a valuable resource for roads, buildings, and infrastructure.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Genesis of MSWAG

• What is MSWAG?
  Benjamin explains that MSWAG is a plastic-based aggregate created from municipal solid waste, initially focusing on cosmetic and automotive plastics. Unlike traditional aggregates, it meets or exceeds existing specifications for materials used under roads and in concrete.
  • "We're transforming that into an aggregate that meets specifications for under roads, potentially as a replacement for gravel in construction. And it's called municipal solid waste aggregate, which is MSWAG." — Benjamin Horvat (02:00)

How It Works — From Landfill to Construction Site

• Factory Details:
  The first facility launched in Oostburg, Wisconsin, processes up to 10 tons of cosmetic waste daily, producing lightweight, valuable gravel-like aggregates.

  • "I'm launching my first factory in Oostburg, Wisconsin... with 17,000 square feet, about half a million dollars of equipment...we are in production presently taking cosmetic waste at about 5 to 10 tons a day and then transforming it into a plastic aggregate." — Benjamin (02:50)

• Process Description:
  The process involves washing, drying, pulverizing, and extruding waste plastics, resulting in gravel-shaped, lightweight, and durable plastic aggregates.

  • "It becomes like a sawdust mixed with plastic and brought through a plastic extruder...it actually looks like gravel. It's a lightweight gravel and it's 10 times as valuable than regular gravel in civil engineering." — Benjamin (03:27)

Why MSWAG is More Than “Recycling”

• Difference from Traditional Recycling:
  Benjamin draws a distinction between simply collecting and actually repurposing waste. Most recycling leads to incineration for energy or ends up in landfills, not into new products.
  • "When we say recycling, what we mean is collecting...most of the time it is literally dump and landfill like everything else. But...MSWAG is a product for recyclables and for the municipal solid waste of society." — Benjamin (04:53)

Innovation & Market Landscape

• Market Competition and Uniqueness:
  While lightweight aggregates from other waste (like glass) exist, MSWAG stands out for its durability and performance under heavy use.

  • "A plastic aggregate made from waste is very durable. So we can actually use a lighter weight aggregate for the regular gravel that's out there." — Benjamin (06:03)

• Pitching to Industry:
  The main industrial hurdle is contamination, which Lewis Structures solves through a patented hydrothermal washing process that removes organics and encapsulates contaminants, rendering the product safe and inert.

  • "We have a hydrothermal washing and drying process...that allows all of the organics...to be solubilized into the water...Otherwise we've historically been told you never can use garbage, you can't use it in construction. And, and we have a way to wash all of the soluble and semi soluble organics out and then encapsulate whatever else." — Benjamin (06:57)

Solving Microplastics & Environmental Threats

• Microplastics Issue:
  MSWAG directly addresses society's growing anxiety over microplastics, removing the threat by sequestering plastics from the environment in stable aggregates.

  • "Anytime when you are making aggregate out of microplastics, you're removing it essentially from the environment where it affect us. And so we are a wonderful solution for reducing microplastics contamination in society." — Benjamin (00:00, repeated at 09:10)

• Preventing Water Contamination:
  Landfill plastics usually leach into wastewater and potentially drinking water, but MSWAG's process locks plastics away from this cycle.

  • "Landfill plastics are eventually degraded into the nasty stuff at the bottom of it...And that eventually goes to a wastewater treatment plant and it goes into our drinking water. So instead when you encapsulate...the plastics into an aggregate...you're removing it from the environment." — Benjamin (08:25–09:10)

Business Readiness & Regulatory Hurdles

• Stage of Business:
  Patents and trademarks are secured through 2039, production is ramping up, and early tests show promising technical results (e.g., lighter, high-strength concrete).

  • "We're fully patented, we're trademarked, so we have secured market control till 2039...We're performing test trials in concrete and we've met basically a 4000 psi concrete with putting our aggregate as a replacement for virgin aggregate." — Benjamin (09:55, 10:17)

• Regulatory Resistance:
  Adoption by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and civil engineers takes time due to safety concerns, but the technical data is strong.

  • "There is some resistance with DOT just...because they're, they're careful...But I think the facts are in the compressive strength and the material that it has a 44 shear strength...All of these things are the characteristics that they need to go through." — Benjamin (11:34)

Economic and Social Impact

• Cost Dynamics:
  With garbage as the input, there is potential for low costs, but Benjamin signals a focus on environmental benefit and market pricing to reflect the innovation.

  • "If it's revolutionary product. Yeah. If it's lighter weight, we'll, we'll figure out what the market can bear for the prices. But I think the environmental benefit is massive." — Benjamin (12:39)

• Vision for Landfill Excavation:
  Benjamin imagines recomissioning iconic landfills (like Fresh Kills in NYC) for real estate development by first mining them for materials, turning urban blight into opportunity.

  • "Oh, well, I'd love to excavate landfills, maybe particularly the Fresh Kills one. That's New York City beachfront property...If we could scrape that out, make it into gravel and then put high rise condos in there..." — Benjamin (13:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "So you basically said, hold my beer, I'm going to turn that [garbage] into pavement." — Ray Gutierrez (04:22)

• "There is no spoon. Sorry." — Benjamin Horvat, referencing the Matrix, on microplastics stats (08:25)

• "You've literally turned one man's garbage into someone else's gold." — Ray Gutierrez (14:13)

• "We're a wonderful solution for reducing microplastics contamination in society." — Benjamin Horvat (00:00 / 09:10)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00-00:12 – Benjamin introduces MSWAG’s solution for microplastics
• 02:50-03:27 – Description of first factory & initial process
• 04:53-05:53 – Explains MSWAG versus traditional recycling
• 06:03 – Differentiation from other aggregates/market landscape
• 06:57-07:40 – Addressing contamination and safety
• 08:25-09:10 – Microplastics, water contamination, and environmental impact
• 09:55-10:17 – Patents, production readiness, and technical performance
• 11:34-12:39 – Regulatory challenges and cost/market strategy
• 13:30-14:13 – Vision for urban landfill reclamation

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Conclusion and Ways to Connect

Benjamin’s vision demonstrates how entrepreneurship can tackle some of society’s biggest environmental challenges, turning literal trash into infrastructural treasure. His process not only reduces landfill waste and microplastics but also provides civil engineering with a new, superior, and environmentally responsible material.

• Learn More / Connect:
  Website: LewisStructures.com
  Facility: 217 N 10th St., Oostburg, Wisconsin

Final Host Note:
Ray encourages listeners to follow Benjamin’s journey and, humorously, to send chocolate mint cookies to the factory as a show of support (15:02-15:07).

Transcript

[Benjamin Horvat]

Anytime when you are making aggregate out of microplastics, you're removing it essentially from the environment where it affect us. Wow. And so we are a wonderful solution for reducing microplastics contamination in society.

[Narrator]

Benjamin Horvat is a resource recovery entrepreneur, waste to materials technology innovator and circular economy developer. And the founder of Lewis Structures llc, known for transforming municipal solid waste into reusable plastic based aggregate material called mswag.

[Benjamin Horvat]

The landfill material that's dumped and wasted all across the world can be put under roads as a construction aggregate that needs specification that is actually better than what we're using now.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Do you feel like you're going to come in considerably cheaper because your source is literally garbage?

[Benjamin Horvat]

We'll figure out what the market can bear for the prices, but I think the environmental benefit is massive. The reduction of the carbon footprint, reduction of emissions, reductions of weight transporting gravel on the road or concrete block on the road. Lots of really good stuff in the future. It spans the globe like a super high cold Internet Elvis. Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone.

[Sam]

It's not over until I win the

[Ray Gutierrez]

Living your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary.

[Sam]

The impossible has been. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Welcome to another episode of the Living your Legacy podcast. Joining me today is Benjamin Horvat. He has got quite the journey. I've heard a couple of slangs, a couple of. Sir, what brings you to inside success today, my friend?

[Benjamin Horvat]

Lewis Structures is a groundbreaking solution for municipal solid waste. We're starting with cosmetic waste and potentially car plastic, but we are transforming that into an aggregate that meets specifications for under roads, potentially as a replacement for gravel in construction. And it's called municipal solid waste aggregate, which is MSW AG or mswag.

[Ray Gutierrez]

That's what it was. Mswag. Would you be officially the founder of the mswag?

[Benjamin Horvat]

I am.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, the founder of mswag. So talk to me like I'm five. When I think of asphalt, when I think of roads, I think of F1 and the years that it took for Las Vegas to turn regular pavement into things that F1 cars can drive on. That's the F1 pivot. You, sir, what is your mission? What do you do day to day?

[Benjamin Horvat]

I'm launching my first factory in Oostburg, Wisconsin.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Wow.

[Benjamin Horvat]

At 217 N 10th St with 17,000 square feet, about half a million dollars of equipment. That's used. But we are in production presently taking cosmetic waste at about 5 to 10 tons a day and then transforming it into a plastic aggregate that is usable in construction. But eventually we'll be able to wash and dry and pulverize and then mix with waste plastic. Regular garbage from dumpsters.

[Ray Gutierrez]

What?

[Benjamin Horvat]

And no way. And so it becomes like a sawdust is mixed with plastic and brought through a plastic extruder. And when it's melted and chopped into pieces, it actually looks like gravel. It's a lightweight gravel and it's 10 times as valuable than regular gravel in civil engineering. And. And in the end, it has huge benefits for under roads. It's actually stronger under roads, stronger otherwise. And so we're really excited that potentially the landfills of the future can be

[Ray Gutierrez]

a source of construction.

[Benjamin Horvat]

A source of construction, and they can be put under ropes. The landfill material that's dumped and wasted all across the world can be put under roads as a construction aggregate that needs specification that is actually better than what we're using now.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Isn't that insane? You found. You found a problem and as an entrepreneur, you found the solution. It's quite literally sitting there. It's a big pile of shit. I always found it funny that you've got these giant ton trucks just beep beep on these giant piles of. And you basically said, hold my beer, I'm going to turn that into pavement.

[Benjamin Horvat]

We're going to turn it into gravel. Gravel, sorry, gravel that can be used in pavement. Yeah.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Right on. So how does this different from recycling? Like, not talk to me like I'm four. Like, don't you mean recycling, sir?

[Benjamin Horvat]

I love the fact that you, you're asking that question. Because most of the time when we say recycling, what we mean is collecting. So people wash their recyclables and then they put it in the recycle bin. Oftentimes that, yeah.

[Ray Gutierrez]

You're like, there's the good deed of the day. I'm going to heaven. Much more to that.

[Benjamin Horvat]

Right. Once that goes in a dump truck or a garbage truck. Not typically. Not a dump truck.

[Ray Gutierrez]

A waste management vehicle.

[Benjamin Horvat]

Yeah.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Yes, sir.

[Benjamin Horvat]

Most of the time it is literally dump and landfill like everything else. Yeah. But if it's not, then it's not really made into a product. It's typically melted down or it's incinerated for energy. And so we have the whole waste energy industry, but that's not really making a product. And when we think of recycling, I think most people are thinking, okay, we're making a product out of it. Sure, we have a product. MSWAG is a product for recyclables and for the municipal salad waste of society. Wow.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Is there anyone else in the space doing what you're doing or about to do what you're about to do?

[Benjamin Horvat]

Sir?

[Ray Gutierrez]

Anyone else stood there and looked at the giant pile of garbage and said, I'm going to make that into the future?

[Benjamin Horvat]

There's a company that's been really successful at taking glass and making it into a glass aggregate. But if you picture a glass aggregate probably wouldn't work to take a pounding under roads, it would just turn to dust. And other lightweight aggregates are out there. But there's a scientist that said, you've created the seventh aggregate of the usa. And actually lightweight aggregate is normally, like I said, not durable. But a plastic aggregate made from waste is very durable. So we can actually use a lighter weight aggregate for the regular gravel that's out there.

[Ray Gutierrez]

So finally, all those ET Atari cartridges will be used for something. They're just sitting in landfills. You're going to compress them. That's great. How do you sell this vision? Do you walk into corporate rooms with a bag of garbage and melt it into a product? How does this work?

[Benjamin Horvat]

I think really what the industry wants is a couple of different things. Mainly it's about contamination. We have a hydrothermal washing and drying process that can be at very high tonnage and that allows all of the organics, all of the baby poop, all of the contamination of basically semi soluble or soluble organics from a chemistry standpoint, to be solubilized into the water. And eventually we can beneficially use that water for its nutrient rich content. But that has to happen. Otherwise we've historically been told you never can use garbage, you can't use it in construction. And, and we have a way to wash all of the soluble and semi soluble organics out and then encapsulate whatever else would be contamination, like heavy metals. And so we have a list from the EPA of all the things that are potentially hazardous and we take care of all of that, even though they're in a landfill. So once it goes through our process, it is clean and it won't leach. So we gotta tell that story. And then I think there's the issue of microplastics. A lot of people are concerned, you know, you hear that we have the equivalent of a plastic spoon in our head of plastic contaminants. There is no spoon. Sorry.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Right.

[Benjamin Horvat]

But that amount of plastic is what the articles have been saying. So it's Becoming a really hot issue. And our solution is a solution for microplastics. You get microplastics from maybe cosmetic process that you put on your face or something that you cook with or maybe plastic bottles. But the other big thing is landfills. That landfill plastics are eventually degraded into the nasty stuff at the bottom of it. The leachate is what it's called. And that eventually goes to a wastewater treatment plant and it goes into our drinking water.

[Ray Gutierrez]

I was just going to say where does that end up? I'm sure it ends up somewh right back into our system.

[Benjamin Horvat]

Yeah, yeah. So instead when you encapsulate and sequester is another word, the plastics into an aggregate and you put it in concrete in a road or you put it in underneath the road. Anytime when you are making aggregate out of microplastics, you're removing it essentially from the environment where it affect us. And so we are a wonderful solution for reducing microplastics contamination in society.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Jesus, that's amazing. Where are you in the phase of the life cycle of the company? Are you still in educating? Are you building, are you executing? Where are you in the cycle of your brand, your company, your idea, your vision?

[Benjamin Horvat]

Yeah, so we're fully patented, we're trademarked, so we have secured market control till 2039. So we're really happy about that for the nation. We are just getting into production now, so we're optimizing a couple machines but we've.

[Ray Gutierrez]

How excited are you?

[Benjamin Horvat]

I'm actually more excited than what I actually am. My nose is to the grindstone. I believe it sir. But yeah, we're taking the aggregate and we're performing test trials in concrete and we've met basically a 4000 psi concrete with putting our aggregate as a replacement for virgin aggregate. So when you, when you make concrete, you have sand, you have cement and you have gravel. And we can replace the gravel component with MSW AG. It makes the concrete 20 lighter. And so we believe that there's a real opportunity here. And so when we show these specifications to companies, I believe there's going to be a lot of buy in because we're using a major recycled component in some really, really big industries, whether it's just the gravel industry or the concrete industry and really the, excuse me, the waste industry.

[Ray Gutierrez]

I was going to say when does the government, when does the government muck everything up and add all these rules and regulations to your grand vision? Because I almost feel like, well this is great, but only used for roads and sidewalks. We can't use it for homes. Have you faced that resistance yet? Do you expect, expect some sort of resistance?

[Benjamin Horvat]

There is some resistance with DOT just, just because they're, they're careful, you know, when, when lives are on, on the line in a road or whatever, they, they're slow to adopt new technologies. But I think the facts are in the compressive strength and the material that it has a 44 shear strength with it, which is great. It doesn't leach. All of these things are the characteristics that they need to go through. And it's been reviewed by UW Madison to, to meet all these, expect all these specifications. And so we'll have some additional trials for sure in the next couple of years to verify all that. But once, once it's there, then I believe the industry decision makers, the civil engineering firms and everything can start saying as an alternative, you can use this type of concrete, you can use this type of aggregate for this road project, for this bridge. And are you coming in?

[Ray Gutierrez]

Are you coming. Do you feel like you're going to come in considerably cheaper because your source is literally garbage?

[Benjamin Horvat]

That's a, that's a good question. I think overall, as a company, we don't want to undersell ourselves. Sure, of course. So if it's, if it's revolutionary product. Yeah. If it's lighter weight, we'll, we'll figure out what the market can bear for the prices. But I think the environmental benefit is massive. The reduction of the carbon footprint, reduction of emissions, reductions of weight of transporting gravel on a road or concrete blocks on a road. Lots of really good stuff in the future.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Ben, what do you think we're going to start finding when we start excavating these landfills that have been around for decades? Like, you know, it's like going into the darkest parts of the ocean. You're going to start finding creatures without eyeballs and stuff. What do you think we're going to find down there and underneath this iceberg of garbage once we start excavating?

[Benjamin Horvat]

Oh, well, I'd love to excavate landfills, maybe particularly the Fresh Kills one. That's New York City beachfront property. Oh, wow. So, you know, we have this entire island that could be gorgeous homes. Right? I mean, who would like to have.

[Ray Gutierrez]

There's a really bad junk in there

[Benjamin Horvat]

somewhere, but yeah, they've been dumping the nasty stuff there so long that there's, it's virtually like an untouched dump right across the lane of the New York high rises. And if we could scrape that out, make it into gravel and then put high rise condos in there. Maybe I should have a non disclosure before we.

[Ray Gutierrez]

I'm just gonna nod and smile. Yeah, no, but you're. That's. I love the brilliant vision because you're just like, well, I'm going to grab all of this and turn it into condos. So you've literally turned one man's garbage into someone else's gold. So, Ben, congratulations on that. I'm very excited for you. I'm excited to learn more about you through your episode. To Humble beginnings. Man, I have a really good feeling about this. I've always said all these Amazon boxes. Why is Amazon launching their own garbage truck service that collects all this shit and then they just make more boxes? But entrepreneur thinking, Ben, you're on the right path. Thank you so much for your time and energy. Where can folks find you and learn more about your journey?

[Benjamin Horvat]

LewisStructures.com is our website and you can Google our facility, 217 N. 10th St. In Oostburg, Wisconsin.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Send cookies. Do you like any specific kind of cookies?

[Benjamin Horvat]

Chocolate mint.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Send chocolate mint cookies. And with that concludes another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast. I'm Ray Gutierrez for Inside Success.

[Sam]

Sam.