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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001432093-09-000272.txt : 20090731
<SEC-HEADER>0001432093-09-000272.hdr.sgml : 20090731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090731121105
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001432093-09-000272
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090708
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090731
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090731

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cowart Benjamin P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001457168

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-53619
		FILM NUMBER:		09976169

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2506 DEEP OAK COURT
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77059

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Vertex Energy Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000890447
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REFUSE SYSTEMS [4953]
		IRS NUMBER:				943439569
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1331 GEMINI STREET
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77058
		BUSINESS PHONE:		866-660-8156

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1331 GEMINI STREET
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77058

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WORLD WASTE TECHNOLOGIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040830

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940831
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000890447</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Vertex Energy Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTNR.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001457168</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cowart Benjamin P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1331 GEMINI STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77058</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>480000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4199488</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-07-15</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-07-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-07-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>824478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 8, 2009, Mr. Cowart jointly with his wife, gifted and aggregate of $480,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock (80,000 shares each) to certain of their relatives.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On July 15, 2009, the Issuer's Board of Directors approved the grant of 80,000 Stock Options to Benjamin P. Cowart in consideration for services rendered as a Director of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Benjamin Cowart</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----