Second-largest carbon removal agreement to date: Microsoft will purchase up to 4.9 million tonnes of permanent CO₂ removal from Vaulted Deep over 12 years, marking a major step forward for scalable carbon removal infrastructure.
Biosolids innovation at commercial scale: Vaulted’s method uses deep well injection to permanently sequester organic waste underground, addressing both climate and public health challenges.
Infrastructure expansion backed by results: Vaulted has already sequestered 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ and diverted 69,000 tonnes of organic waste, with recent upgrades at its Kansas facility tripling capacity and driving local job growth.
Vaulted Deep has signed a landmark agreement with Microsoft to deliver up to 4.9 million tonnes of durable carbon dioxide removal by 2038, representing the second-largest carbon removal deal on record. The offtake agreement marks a major milestone not only for the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector, but also for the biosolids management industry, which has seen little innovation in over half a century.
Vaulted’s approach centers on deep well injection: securely storing organic waste—such as biosolids, manure, food residues, and industrial sludges—into geologic formations thousands of feet underground. This method not only locks away carbon for over 10,000 years but also helps prevent methane emissions and environmental contamination from PFAS and other trace pollutants.
“As carbon removal moves beyond pilots and prototypes, there is growing demand for solutions that can scale safely and address real-world problems,” said Julia Reichelstein, co-founder and CEO of Vaulted Deep. “Vaulted offers a dual solution: it meets urgent waste management needs and drives measurable climate and public health improvements. This agreement reflects a broader shift in how carbon removal is being deployed.”
The deal will enable Vaulted to scale its operations across the U.S., building on its permitted and operational infrastructure that is already delivering quantifiable results. Since launching in August 2023, Vaulted has removed nearly 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ and diverted more than 69,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfilling, incineration, or surface application.
Vaulted’s model has gained traction in Hutchinson, Kansas, where the company recently completed a major expansion of its Great Plains facility. The site now manages 75% of the City of Derby’s biosolids and works with regional farmers to process excess manure. In its first 18 months, the facility created 18 full-time jobs and brought in more than $5 million in local economic investment. The July upgrade has tripled the site’s processing capacity, enabling further hiring and expanded partnerships with haulers.
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“Vaulted Deep provides a differentiated, scalable approach to permanent carbon removal with low technology risk,” said Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft. “Its work delivers immediate climate benefits while stimulating local economies and addresses long-standing environmental challenges that communities face every day. We support this solution as part of our broader effort to accelerate durable, high-integrity carbon removal.”
Vaulted’s technology has been safely operating since 2008 and is certified by the carbon registry Isometric, ensuring each credit issued reflects a scientifically validated tonne of carbon with over 1,000 years of durability. The method has been successfully deployed in Los Angeles, managing 20% of the city’s biosolids for the past 15 years.
With over one billion tons of excess organic waste produced in the U.S. each year, Vaulted is actively seeking new municipal, agricultural, and industrial partners to scale its solution—one that merges climate action, public health, and economic development into a single, proven platform.
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