Vertex Energy, Inc. operates as an environmental solutions company, primarily dedicated to collecting, processing, and recycling industrial and commercial waste streams throughout the Gulf Coast and Central Midwest regions of the United States. The company's operations are divided into three core segments: Black Oil, Refining and Marketing, and Recovery. The Black Oil segment specializes in acquiring used motor oil, either directly from generators or through a network of regional collectors. This collected oil is then sold for industrial burner fuel or as a raw material feedstock. Additionally, this segment produces and supplies vacuum gas oil to refineries and the marine fuels market, along with base oil products for lubricant manufacturers and distributors. Through its Refining and Marketing segment, Vertex Energy sources various hydrocarbon streams—such as petroleum distillates, transmix, and other chemical products—from pipeline operators, refineries, chemical processing facilities, and other third-party suppliers. These are then converted into end products like gasoline blendstock, pygas, and fuel oil cutter stock, which are sold to oil companies or petroleum trading and blending firms. The Recovery segment focuses on selling recyclable metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous. It also markets Group III base oils and other petroleum-based products, and provides transportation and marine salvage services. Vertex Energy, Inc. was established in 2001 and maintains its headquarters in Houston, Texas.