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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2021</B></FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><B>Registration
No. 333-</B></FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED
STATES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B>SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B>Washington,
D.C. 20549</B></FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 18pt">FORM&nbsp;S-8</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 18pt"><B>REGISTRATION
STATEMENT</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B><I>UNDER</I></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center; background-color: white"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 14pt"><B><I>THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</I></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 24pt"><B><U>Vertex
Energy, Inc.</U></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 50%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>Nevada</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 50%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>94-3439569</U></B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(State
                                         or Other Jurisdiction</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Identification
        No.)</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(IRS
    Employer of Incorporation)</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77058</U></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Vertex
Energy, Inc.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>2019
Equity Incentive Plan</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>2020
Equity Incentive Plan</U></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Full
Title of the Plans)</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Benjamin
P. Cowart</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Chief
Executive Officer</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Houston,
Texas 77058</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>(<U>866)&nbsp;660-8156</U></B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Name,
address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Copy
to:</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">David
M. Loev, Esq.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">John
S. Gillies, Esq.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">The
Loev Law Firm, PC</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">6300
West Loop South, Suite 280</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Bellaire,
Texas 77401</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Telephone:
(713) 524-4110</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Facsimile:
(713) 524-4122</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of &ldquo;<U>large accelerated filer</U>,&rdquo; &ldquo;<U>accelerated
filer</U>,&rdquo; &ldquo;<U>smaller reporting company</U>,&rdquo; and &ldquo;<U>emerging growth company</U>&rdquo; in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 30%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Large
    accelerated filer</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 22%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 27%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Accelerated
    filer</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 19%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Non-accelerated
    filer</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9746;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Smaller
    reporting company</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9746;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Emerging
    growth company</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
&#9744;</FONT></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; background-color: white"></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Title
    of securities to be registered</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Amount
                                         to be</B></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Registered(1)(2)</B></FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Proposed
    maximum offering price per share</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Proposed
    maximum aggregate offering price</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Amount
                                         of</B></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>registration
        fee</B></FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #CCEEFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 40%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 20%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">3,188,962
    shares (3)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 9%; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">1.73</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(4)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 10%; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">5,516,904.26</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 10%; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">601.89</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #CCEEFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">1,500,000
    shares (5)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">1.73</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(4)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">2,595,000.00</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">283.11</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #CCEEFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">811,038
    shares (6)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">0.84</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(7)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">290,816.78</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">37.75</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: #CCEEFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Total</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>5,500,000
    shares</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">8,402,721.04</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">$</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">922.75</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-bottom: 1.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; background-color: white">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; width: 2%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(1)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 98%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">This
    Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the &ldquo;<U>2019 Plan</U>&rdquo;) and the
    2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the &ldquo;<U>2020 Plan</U>&rdquo;) of Vertex Energy, Inc. (the &ldquo;<U>Registrant</U>&rdquo;
    or the &ldquo;<U>Company</U>&rdquo;). An aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the &ldquo;<U>Common
    Stock</U>&rdquo;) may be issued under the 2019 Plan and an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under
    the 2020 Plan (without taking into account the &lsquo;evergreen&rsquo; provisions of such 2020 Plan). Registered in this Registration
    Statement are (a) 3,188,962 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2019 Plan and 1,500,000 shares of
    Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan (see footnotes (3) and (5)), the offer and sale of which are
    being registered herein; and (c) 811,038 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options granted
    under the 2019 Plan (see footnote (6)).</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(2)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">In
    accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities
    that may from time to time be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
    transactions.</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(3)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Represents
    shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Vertex Energy, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(4)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Estimated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act. &nbsp;The
    maximum price per share and the maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the $1.90 (high) and $1.56 (low)
    sale price of the Registrant&rsquo;s Common Stock as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on February 23, 2021, which date
    is within five business days prior to filing this Registration Statement.</FONT></TD></TR>

<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(5)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify; width: 98%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Represents
    shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Vertex Energy, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(6)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Represents
    shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options granted to employees of the Registrant under the 2019
    Plan with an exercise price of (a) $1.00 per share (125,000 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on October
    29, 2019); (b) $0.86 per share (269,153 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on June 19, 2020); and (c) $0.78
    per share (416,885 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on June 19, 2020).</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(7)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Estimated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, and based upon
    the weighted average price at which such options (see footnote (6)) may be exercised.</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>


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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>EXPLANATORY
NOTE</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt; background-color: white">This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Vertex Energy, Inc. (&ldquo;<U>we</U>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<U>us</U>&rdquo;, &ldquo;<U>our</U>&rdquo;,
the &ldquo;<U>Company</U>&rdquo; or &ldquo;<U>Registrant</U>&rdquo;) has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register:</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 96%; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9679;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">811,038&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="background-color: white">shares
    of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options previously granted under the 2019 Plan; </FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9679;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">3,188,962&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="background-color: white">shares
    of Common Stock reserved for future awards under the </FONT>2019 Plan and</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&#9679;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">1,500,000&nbsp;<FONT STYLE="background-color: white">shares
    of Common Stock reserved for future awards under the 2020 Plan.</FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>PART
I</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Items
1 and 2, from this page, and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Part II, Item 3 of this prospectus, constitute
a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
1. Plan Information.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">The
Company will provide each recipient (the &ldquo;<U>Recipients</U>&rdquo;) of an award under the 2020 Plan and 2019 Plan with documents
that contain information related to the 2020 Plan and 2019 Plan, and other information including, but not limited to, the disclosure
required by Item 1 of Form S-8, which information is not required to be and is not being filed as a part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The foregoing information
and the documents incorporated by reference in response to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute
a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. A Section 10(a) prospectus will be given to each
Recipient who receives shares of Common Stock covered by this Registration Statement, in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) under
the Securities Act.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">We
will provide to each Recipient a written statement advising of the availability of documents incorporated by reference in Item
3 of Part II of this Registration Statement (which documents are incorporated by reference in this Section 10(a) prospectus) and
of documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act without charge and upon written or oral
request by contacting:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Mr.
Chris Carlson</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chief
Financial Officer</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Vertex
Energy, Inc.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Houston,
Texas 77058</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(866)
660-8156</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: right"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>


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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>PART
II</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">The
following documents filed with the Commission by the Company are incorporated by reference into this registration statement on
Form S-8 (the &ldquo;<U>Registration Statement</U>&rdquo;) and are made a part hereof:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; width: 0.25in; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(a)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Our&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000162828020002802/a12312019-vtrndocument.htm">Annual
    Report on Form 10-K</A>&nbsp;for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020;</FONT></TD>
    </TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    </TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;(b)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Our&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000182/vtnr-def14a_061720.htm">Definitive
    Proxy Statement</A>&nbsp;on Schedule 14A for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    </TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;(c)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Our
    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000162828020007732/a0331202010-qdocument.htm">March
    31, 2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000162828020012381/a0630202010-qdocument.htm">June
    30, 2020&nbsp;</A>and&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000162828020016131/vtnr-20200930.htm">September
    30, 2020</A>, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021, August 11, 2021 and November 10, 2021, respectively;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    </TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(d)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Our
    Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000021/vtnr-8k_011020.htm">January
    13, 2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000044/vtnr-8k_011720.htm">January 22,
    2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000055/vtnr-8ka_011720.htm">January 24,
    2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000093/vtnr-8ka_011720.htm">March 2, 2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000175/vtnr-8k_042220.htm">April
    24, 2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000181/vtnr-8k_042520.htm">April 29,
    2020</A>,&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000189/vtnr-8k_050420.htm">May 6, 2020</A>,
    <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000225/vtnr-8k_061720.htm">June 23, 2020</A>, <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000426/vtnr-8k_112720.htm">December
    1, 2020</A>, <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000461/vtnr-8k_122920.htm">December 31, 2020</A>,
    <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069521000028/vtnr-8k_012621.htm">February 1, 2021</A> and <A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069521000030/vtnr-8k_020221.htm">February
    2, 2021</A>; and</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 0.25in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 6pt; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;(e)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A NAME="a_Hlk64196270"></A>The
    description of our common stock contained in our&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000121478213000090/vertex8a12b.htm">Registration
    Statement on Form 8-A</A>, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2013 (File No. 001-11476)&nbsp;pursuant to Section 12(b)&nbsp;of
    the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 0.25in; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">All
documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date
of filing this Registration Statement and prior to such time as the Company files a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents, except for the documents, or portions thereof, that are &ldquo;<U>furnished</U>&rdquo; rather than filed
with the SEC.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for the purpose of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently
filed document which is also, or is deemed to be, incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
4. Description of Securities</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Not
applicable.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">The
validity of the securities offered herein have been passed upon by The Loev Law Firm, PC.&nbsp;&nbsp;David M. Loev, the President
and sole owner of The Loev Law Firm, PC, beneficially owns 15,350 shares of common stock of the Company.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">As
authorized by <U>Section 78.751</U> of the Nevada Revised Statutes, we may indemnify our officers and directors against expenses
incurred by such persons in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, involving such persons in their capacities as officers and directors, so long as such persons
acted in good faith and in a manner which they reasonably believed to be in our best interests. If the legal proceeding, however,
is by or in our right, the director or officer may not be indemnified in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which he
is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to us unless a court determines otherwise.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Under
Nevada law, corporations may also purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person
who is or was a director or officer (or is serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation)&nbsp;for any
liability asserted against such person and any expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director or officer. These financial
arrangements may include trust funds, self-insurance programs, guarantees and insurance policies.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Additionally,
our Bylaws, as amended (&ldquo;<U>Bylaws</U>&rdquo;), state that we shall indemnify every (i)&nbsp;present or former director,
advisory director or officer of us, (ii)&nbsp;any person who while serving in any of the capacities referred to in clause (i)&nbsp;served
at our request as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another
foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and (iii)&nbsp;any
person nominated or designated by (or pursuant to authority granted by)&nbsp;the Board of Directors or any committee thereof to
serve in any of the capacities referred to in clauses (i)&nbsp;or (ii)&nbsp;(each an &ldquo;<U>Indemnitee</U>&rdquo;).</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Our
Bylaws provide that we shall indemnify an Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties (including excise and similar taxes), fines,
amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding in which
he was, is or is threatened to be named as a defendant or respondent, or in which he was or is a witness without being named a
defendant or respondent, by reason, in whole or in part, of his serving or having served, or having been nominated or designated
to serve, if it is determined that the Indemnitee (a)&nbsp;conducted himself in good faith, (b)&nbsp;reasonably believed, in the
case of conduct in his official capacity, that his conduct was in our best interests and, in all other cases, that his conduct
was at least not opposed to our best interests, and (c)&nbsp;in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that in the event that an Indemnitee is found liable to us or is found
liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the Indemnitee, the indemnification (i)&nbsp;is limited to
reasonable expenses actually incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the proceeding and (ii)&nbsp;shall not be made in respect
of any proceeding in which the Indemnitee shall have been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance
of his duty to us.&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Except
as provided above, the Bylaws provide that no indemnification shall be made in respect to any proceeding in which such Indemnitee
has been (a)&nbsp;found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted
from an action taken in the Indemnitee&rsquo;s official capacity, or (b)&nbsp;found liable to us. The termination of any proceeding
by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or on a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not of itself determinative
that the Indemnitee did not meet the requirements set forth in clauses (a)&nbsp;or (b)&nbsp;above. An Indemnitee shall be deemed
to have been found liable in respect of any claim, issue or matter only after the Indemnitee shall have been so adjudged by a
court of competent jurisdiction after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom. Reasonable expenses shall include, without limitation,
all court costs and all fees and disbursements of attorneys&rsquo; fees for the Indemnitee. The indemnification provided shall
be applicable whether or not negligence or gross negligence of the Indemnitee is alleged or proven.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Neither
our Bylaws nor our Articles of Incorporation include any specific indemnification provisions for our officers or directors against
liability under the Securities Act. Additionally, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"></P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
    <!-- Field: /Page -->

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
7. Exemption From Registration Claimed</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Not
applicable. </FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
8. Exhibits</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; width: 14%; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>Exhibit
    No.</U></B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; width: 2%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: bottom; width: 84%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B><U>Description
    of Exhibit</U></B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCEEFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069519000442/ex10-1.htm"><FONT STYLE="background-color: #CCEEFF">Vertex
    Energy, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)</FONT></A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.2</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000225/ex10-3.htm">Form
    of 2019 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the
    Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCECFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.3</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex4-3.htm">Form
    of 2019 Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (included with this registration statement)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.4</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/890447/000158069520000225/ex10-2.htm"><FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Vertex
    Energy, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)</FONT></A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCECFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.5</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex4-5.htm">Form
    of 2020 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement (included with this registration statement)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">4.6</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex4-6.htm">Form
    of 2020 Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (included with this registration statement)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCECFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">5.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex5-1.htm">Opinion
    of The Loev Law Firm, PC (included with this registration statement)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">23.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex23-1.htm">Consent
    of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (included with this registration statement)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: #CCECFF">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">23.2</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A HREF="ex5-1.htm">Consent
    of The Loev Law Firm, PC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)</A></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top; background-color: white">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">24.1</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Power
    of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Item
9. Undertakings</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(a)
The Company hereby undertakes:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if
the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the Form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the &ldquo;<U>Calculation of Registration Fee</U>&rdquo; table in the effective registration statement; and</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">However,
paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each filing of the registrant&rsquo;s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan&rsquo;s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the
opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
our company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A NAME="a_Hlk64194588"></A><B>SIGNATURES</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Houston, Texas, on February 25, 2021.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>VERTEX
    ENERGY, INC.</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 50%; padding-bottom: 2.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 3%; padding-bottom: 2.5pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>By:</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 47%; padding-bottom: 2.5pt; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">/s/
    Benjamin P. Cowart</FONT></TD>
    </TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Benjamin
    P. Cowart</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chief
    Executive Officer</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Principal
    Executive Officer)</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>By:</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
    Chris Carlson</I></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chris
    Carlson</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chief
    Financial Officer</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Principal
    Financial and Accounting Officer)</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><A NAME="page_33"></A>KNOW
ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Benjamin P. Cowart and Chris
Carlson, or any one of them, with full power of substitution, re-substitution and authority to act in the absence of the other,
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

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    <DIV STYLE="page-break-before: always; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 6pt"><P STYLE="margin: 0pt">&nbsp;</P></DIV>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 25%; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Signature</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 49%; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-left: 0.2pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Title</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 1%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 24%; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><B>Date</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
        Benjamin P. Cowart</I></FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0 0pt 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chief
        Executive Officer</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Benjamin
    P. Cowart</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Principal
    Executive Officer) and Chairman</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
    Chris Carlson</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chief
    Financial Officer</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Chris
    Carlson</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-left: 0.2pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">(Principal
    Financial and Accounting Officer)</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
    Dan Borgen</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Dan
    Borgen</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 4.95pt"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">David
    Phillips</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
    Timothy C. Harvey</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Timothy
    C. Harvey</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
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                                         Christopher Stratton</U></I></FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Christopher
        Stratton</FONT></P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><I>/s/
    James P. Gregory</I></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt; padding-left: 0.25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">Director</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-top: 4.95pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">February
        25, 2021</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">James
    P. Gregory</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; vertical-align: top"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "vtnr-s8_021821.htm", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 127233}]
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As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2021
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Vertex
Energy, Inc.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada
94-3439569
(State
                                         or Other Jurisdiction
Identification
        No.)
(IRS
    Employer of Incorporation)
1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250, Houston, Texas 77058
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
Vertex
Energy, Inc.
2019
Equity Incentive Plan
2020
Equity Incentive Plan
(Full
Title of the Plans)
Benjamin
P. Cowart
Chief
Executive Officer
1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250
Houston,
Texas 77058
(
866) 660-8156
(Name,
address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy
to:
David
M. Loev, Esq.
John
S. Gillies, Esq.
The
Loev Law Firm, PC
6300
West Loop South, Suite 280
Bellaire,
Texas 77401
Telephone:
(713) 524-4110
Facsimile:
(713) 524-4122
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "
large accelerated filer
," "
accelerated
filer
," "
smaller reporting company
," and "
emerging growth company
" in Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act.
Large
    accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated
    filer
☐
Non-accelerated
    filer
☒
Smaller
    reporting company
☒
Emerging
    growth company
☐
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
☐
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
    of securities to be registered
Amount
                                         to be
Registered(1)(2)
Proposed
    maximum offering price per share
Proposed
    maximum aggregate offering price
Amount
                                         of
registration
        fee
Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share
3,188,962
    shares (3)
$
1.73
(4)
$
5,516,904.26
$
601.89
Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share
1,500,000
    shares (5)
$
1.73
(4)
$
2,595,000.00
$
283.11
Common
    Stock, par value $0.001 per share
811,038
    shares (6)
$
0.84
(7)
$
290,816.78
$
37.75
Total
5,500,000
    shares
$
8,402,721.04
$
922.75
(1)
This
    Registration Statement on Form S-8 relates to the 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (the "
2019 Plan
") and the
    2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the "
2020 Plan
") of Vertex Energy, Inc. (the "
Registrant
"
    or the "
Company
"). An aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "
Common
    Stock
") may be issued under the 2019 Plan and an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under
    the 2020 Plan (without taking into account the 'evergreen' provisions of such 2020 Plan). Registered in this Registration
    Statement are (a) 3,188,962 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2019 Plan and 1,500,000 shares of
    Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan (see footnotes (3) and (5)), the offer and sale of which are
    being registered herein; and (c) 811,038 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options granted
    under the 2019 Plan (see footnote (6)).
(2)
In
    accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement shall be deemed to cover any additional securities
    that may from time to time be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
    transactions.
(3)
Represents
    shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Vertex Energy, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
(4)
Estimated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act.  The
    maximum price per share and the maximum aggregate offering price are based on the average of the $1.90 (high) and $1.56 (low)
    sale price of the Registrant's Common Stock as reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on February 23, 2021, which date
    is within five business days prior to filing this Registration Statement.
(5)
Represents
    shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Vertex Energy, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.
(6)
Represents
    shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options granted to employees of the Registrant under the 2019
    Plan with an exercise price of (a) $1.00 per share (125,000 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on October
    29, 2019); (b) $0.86 per share (269,153 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on June 19, 2020); and (c) $0.78
    per share (416,885 options to purchase shares of common stock granted on June 19, 2020).
(7)
Estimated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act, and based upon
    the weighted average price at which such options (see footnote (6)) may be exercised.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This
Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Vertex Energy, Inc. ("
we
", "
us
", "
our
",
the "
Company
" or "
Registrant
") has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register:
●
811,038
shares
    of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options previously granted under the 2019 Plan;
●
3,188,962
shares
    of Common Stock reserved for future awards under the
2019 Plan and
●
1,500,000
shares
    of Common Stock reserved for future awards under the 2020 Plan.
PART
I
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
Items
1 and 2, from this page, and the documents incorporated by reference pursuant to Part II, Item 3 of this prospectus, constitute
a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item
1. Plan Information.
The
Company will provide each recipient (the "
Recipients
") of an award under the 2020 Plan and 2019 Plan with documents
that contain information related to the 2020 Plan and 2019 Plan, and other information including, but not limited to, the disclosure
required by Item 1 of Form S-8, which information is not required to be and is not being filed as a part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. The foregoing information
and the documents incorporated by reference in response to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute
a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act. A Section 10(a) prospectus will be given to each
Recipient who receives shares of Common Stock covered by this Registration Statement, in accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) under
the Securities Act.
Item
2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
We
will provide to each Recipient a written statement advising of the availability of documents incorporated by reference in Item
3 of Part II of this Registration Statement (which documents are incorporated by reference in this Section 10(a) prospectus) and
of documents required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act without charge and upon written or oral
request by contacting:
Mr.
Chris Carlson
Chief
Financial Officer
Vertex
Energy, Inc.
1331
Gemini Street, Suite 250
Houston,
Texas 77058
(866)
660-8156
PART
II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The
following documents filed with the Commission by the Company are incorporated by reference into this registration statement on
Form S-8 (the "
Registration Statement
") and are made a part hereof:
(a)
Our
Annual
    Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2020;
(b)
Our
Definitive
    Proxy Statement
on Schedule 14A for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020;
(c)
Our
    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March
    31, 2020
,
June
    30, 2020
and
September
    30, 2020
, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021, August 11, 2021 and November 10, 2021, respectively;
(d)
Our
    Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on
January
    13, 2020
,
January 22,
    2020
,
January 24,
    2020
,
March 2, 2020
,
April
    24, 2020
,
April 29,
    2020
,
May 6, 2020
,
June 23, 2020
,
December
    1, 2020
,
December 31, 2020
,
February 1, 2021
and
February
    2, 2021
; and
(e)
The
    description of our common stock contained in our
Registration
    Statement on Form 8-A
, filed with the SEC on February 12, 2013 (File No. 001-11476) pursuant to Section 12(b) of
    the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All
documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date
of filing this Registration Statement and prior to such time as the Company files a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents, except for the documents, or portions thereof, that are "
furnished
" rather than filed
with the SEC.
Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for the purpose of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently
filed document which is also, or is deemed to be, incorporated herein by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.
Item
4. Description of Securities
Not
applicable.
Item
5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
The
validity of the securities offered herein have been passed upon by The Loev Law Firm, PC.  David M. Loev, the President
and sole owner of The Loev Law Firm, PC, beneficially owns 15,350 shares of common stock of the Company.
Item
6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
As
authorized by
Section 78.751
of the Nevada Revised Statutes, we may indemnify our officers and directors against expenses
incurred by such persons in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, involving such persons in their capacities as officers and directors, so long as such persons
acted in good faith and in a manner which they reasonably believed to be in our best interests. If the legal proceeding, however,
is by or in our right, the director or officer may not be indemnified in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which he
is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to us unless a court determines otherwise.
Under
Nevada law, corporations may also purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person
who is or was a director or officer (or is serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation) for any
liability asserted against such person and any expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director or officer. These financial
arrangements may include trust funds, self-insurance programs, guarantees and insurance policies.
Additionally,
our Bylaws, as amended ("
Bylaws
"), state that we shall indemnify every (i) present or former director,
advisory director or officer of us, (ii) any person who while serving in any of the capacities referred to in clause (i) served
at our request as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another
foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and (iii) any
person nominated or designated by (or pursuant to authority granted by) the Board of Directors or any committee thereof to
serve in any of the capacities referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) (each an "
Indemnitee
").
Our
Bylaws provide that we shall indemnify an Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties (including excise and similar taxes), fines,
amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any proceeding in which
he was, is or is threatened to be named as a defendant or respondent, or in which he was or is a witness without being named a
defendant or respondent, by reason, in whole or in part, of his serving or having served, or having been nominated or designated
to serve, if it is determined that the Indemnitee (a) conducted himself in good faith, (b) reasonably believed, in the
case of conduct in his official capacity, that his conduct was in our best interests and, in all other cases, that his conduct
was at least not opposed to our best interests, and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that in the event that an Indemnitee is found liable to us or is found
liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the Indemnitee, the indemnification (i) is limited to
reasonable expenses actually incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the proceeding and (ii) shall not be made in respect
of any proceeding in which the Indemnitee shall have been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance
of his duty to us.
Except
as provided above, the Bylaws provide that no indemnification shall be made in respect to any proceeding in which such Indemnitee
has been (a) found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted
from an action taken in the Indemnitee's official capacity, or (b) found liable to us. The termination of any proceeding
by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or on a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not of itself determinative
that the Indemnitee did not meet the requirements set forth in clauses (a) or (b) above. An Indemnitee shall be deemed
to have been found liable in respect of any claim, issue or matter only after the Indemnitee shall have been so adjudged by a
court of competent jurisdiction after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom. Reasonable expenses shall include, without limitation,
all court costs and all fees and disbursements of attorneys' fees for the Indemnitee. The indemnification provided shall
be applicable whether or not negligence or gross negligence of the Indemnitee is alleged or proven.
Neither
our Bylaws nor our Articles of Incorporation include any specific indemnification provisions for our officers or directors against
liability under the Securities Act. Additionally, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item
7. Exemption From Registration Claimed
Not
applicable.
Item
8. Exhibits
Exhibit
    No.
Description
    of Exhibit
4.1
Vertex
    Energy, Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2019, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)
4.2
Form
    of 2019 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement (Filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the
    Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)
4.3
Form
    of 2019 Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (included with this registration statement)
4.4
Vertex
    Energy, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference)(File No. 001-11476)
4.5
Form
    of 2020 Equity Incentive Plan Stock Option Agreement (included with this registration statement)
4.6
Form
    of 2020 Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (included with this registration statement)
5.1
Opinion
    of The Loev Law Firm, PC (included with this registration statement)
23.1
Consent
    of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (included with this registration statement)
23.2
Consent
    of The Loev Law Firm, PC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power
    of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)
Item
9. Undertakings
(a)
The Company hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if
the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the Form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "
Calculation of Registration Fee
" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
However,
paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.
(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the
opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
our company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Houston, Texas, on February 25, 2021.
VERTEX
    ENERGY, INC.
By:
/s/
    Benjamin P. Cowart
Benjamin
    P. Cowart
Chief
    Executive Officer
(Principal
    Executive Officer)
By:
/s/
    Chris Carlson
Chris
    Carlson
Chief
    Financial Officer
(Principal
    Financial and Accounting Officer)
KNOW
ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Benjamin P. Cowart and Chris
Carlson, or any one of them, with full power of substitution, re-substitution and authority to act in the absence of the other,
as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and
thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute or substitutes,
may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/
        Benjamin P. Cowart
Chief
        Executive Officer
February
        25, 2021
Benjamin
    P. Cowart
(Principal
    Executive Officer) and Chairman
/s/
    Chris Carlson
Chief
    Financial Officer
February
        25, 2021
Chris
    Carlson
(Principal
    Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/
    Dan Borgen
Director
February
        25, 2021
Dan
    Borgen
Director
David
    Phillips
/s/
    Timothy C. Harvey
Director
February
        25, 2021
Timothy
    C. Harvey
/s/
                                         Christopher Stratton
Christopher
        Stratton
Director
February
        25, 2021
/s/
    James P. Gregory
Director
February
        25, 2021
James
    P. Gregory