2021 highlights from the waste and recycling industry's M&A bonanza

In a major year of acquisition activity, catalysts have included pending tax changes, more expensive environmental standards and pandemic fatigue. Stay up to date with our original reporting and insight on key deals.

By The Waste Dive Team • Updated Dec. 21, 2021

Macquarie backs LRS, ramping it up for even more Midwest expansion

CEO Alan Handley said the company's active M&A pace will accelerate with the new funding. The deal marks an exit by prior investors such as Goldman Sachs and Ironwood Capital.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 9, 2021

High-profile bill to regulate recyclability labels signed in California

Legislation approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and backed by California's largest recyclers, will bar manufacturers from using the ubiquitous "chasing arrows" symbol unless the state certifies their products as widely recyclable.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Oct. 6, 2021

Republic Services purchases ACV Enviro for environmental services expansion

The acquisition of this New Jersey-based operation follows CEO Jon Vander Ark's prior comments about growing the company's environmental services business, including hazardous waste.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 2, 2021

Recycling Partnership grants could boost curbside polypropylene acceptance by 6%

The Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has awarded $4.2 million to date for equipment upgrades as consumer product companies look to bounce back from last year's recyclability access downgrade by How2Recycle.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 7, 2021

Tesla made electric trucks 'cool.' Now fleets face financial hurdles.

Total cost of ownership for electric trucks is more attractive than diesel, executives said at ACT Expo, but issues around charging are significant.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 1, 2021

Waste Connections acquiring E.L. Harvey & Sons in notable New England expansion

E.L. Harvey, a multigenerational Massachusetts operation, has a large collection fleet along with sizable recycling and transfer facilities. Waste Connections aims to grow the company's annual revenue of $110 million.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Sept. 2, 2021

Brand commitments contributing to higher recycled HDPE prices

The recent run of strong pricing, especially for HDPE natural, has caught recyclers' attention. At least one expert believes market dynamics have decoupled recycled resin and virgin prices.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 26, 2021

Vaccine mandates set for waste and recycling workers in multiple cities

While major private-sector employers haven't announced any vaccine mandates to date, government employees in New York, Philadelphia, Denver and elsewhere face new requirements.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Aug. 25, 2021

Natural gas trucks: A fit for all fleets?

There are multiple factors to consider even before examining overall cost, including range needs and infrastructure access, one executive said.

By Amanda Loudin • Aug. 19, 2021

New York adopts commercial waste safety rules as local industry prepares for bigger shift

After years of scrutiny, local haulers now must follow new labor and vehicle safety requirements within the city. It's the latest in a series of reforms leading up to commercial waste franchise zones.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 18, 2021

Waste industry monitors service disruptions amid spread of delta variant

Local news reports reveal coronavirus-driven worker absences and pickup delays reminiscent of earlier in the pandemic. Industry leaders are still encouraging vaccinations and some cities require them for their own employees.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 16, 2021

Resource Recycling Conference highlights role of markets, labor and climate in municipal recycling

Panelists at last week's virtual event discussed how positive market shifts for certain postconsumer plastics and fiber grades are influencing MRF investment decisions, while labor availability is a key issue in servicing local programs.

By Megan Quinn , Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Aug. 10, 2021

Waste Connections seeing 'record' seller enthusiasm for M&A, multiple West Coast deals in works

Like competitors, the company has largely recovered lost pandemic business and is raising prices to stay ahead of wage pressures. To date, 14 acquisitions have closed and many more are in this year's pipeline, leaders said.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 5, 2021

Q2 earnings: Solid waste companies raise annual expectations, weigh in on labor issues

Major companies saw strong results from recycling and highlighted active M&A opportunities. Catch up on takeaways from Waste Management, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems.

By Waste Dive Team • Updated Aug. 5, 2021

Casella anticipates further expansion into Connecticut after Willimantic acquisition

The Northeast company touted "productive conversations" with other potential sellers in the region, and it estimated the McKean Landfill could come online in Pennsylvania by the end of 2022, during its latest earnings call.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 2, 2021

Republic Services Q2: 'no pause' on M&A after Santek, eyeing environmental solutions deals

The labor shortage and coronavirus pose some uncertainty, the company acknowledged, but it raised guidance based on strong recovery trends. Executives also discussed new landfill gas and recycling opportunities.

By Maria Rachal • July 30, 2021

GFL launches renewable energy platform, forecasts ample M&A opportunities

While Canada's economic recovery is expected to roll into next year, the company is already seeing pre-pandemic volumes in other areas and big free cash flow gains. A new focus on landfill gas projects may boost that trend.

By Cole Rosengren • July 29, 2021

Waste Management Q2 bolstered by economic recovery, even with labor, supply chain strains

The company saw record recycling results and plans to accelerate investment in that area this year. It also increased its annual guidance yet again, seeing further potential to recover business affected by the pandemic.

By Cole Rosengren • July 27, 2021

Waste Management's first chief sustainability officer aims to expand recycling, organics revenue

In her first Waste Dive interview since starting the new role, Tara Hemmer describes sustainability as a "growth lever" for the industry giant. She also weighs in on the landfill emissions debate, plastics and waste reduction.

By Cole Rosengren • July 26, 2021

SWEEP adds Bay Area partners to growing SMM certification pilot

Also in this week's municipal news roundup: recycling and organics program developments from Cleveland, New York City and Rochester, New York, and still more labor shortages disrupting collection services.

By Maria Rachal • July 23, 2021

Noble Environmental acquires GFL landfills, collection assets in Pennsylvania region

The deal is a major expansion for Noble, one of the state's largest private haulers. GFL acquired the sites as part of the Waste Management-Advanced Disposal divestiture package last year.

By Cole Rosengren • July 22, 2021

New association aims to build pipeline of truck drivers, technicians

The Next Generation in Trucking Association has a nationally registered apprenticeship program, which it says can help employers retain drivers.

By S.L. Fuller • July 20, 2021

Progress report: State waste and recycling policies gain notable traction this year

State lawmakers have made significant headway on laws about EPR, recycled content mandates and plastic products. Other bills are still in play, and experts anticipate even more possible changes in 2022.

By Megan Quinn • July 19, 2021

City hiring woes and solutions; New $16B pitch for recycling infrastructure

In this week’s municipal news roundup: Denver and St. Louis feel the effects of labor shortages, and leaders in Portland, Oregon, seek to widen their worker candidate pools.

By Maria Rachal • July 16, 2021