5 waste and recycling trends to watch in 2024

The evolving M&A market, the rise of EPR, pending PFAS regulations, renewable natural gas and methane reduction are some of the biggest issues facing the industry this year.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 5, 2024

By the numbers: Key 2023 waste and recycling trends

Look back on the year through data points on issues such as labor, M&A, federal funding, state policy and commodity pricing.

By Jacob Wallace , Megan Quinn , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

Republic Services returns to Austin, Texas, market in deal with Integrated Waste Solutions Group

Eight years after the permit for its Sunset Hills Landfill expired, Republic now owns the recently opened 130 Environmental Park Landfill and one of the last independent haulers in the Austin market, Central Texas Refuse.

By Jacob Wallace • Dec. 21, 2023

Circular Services acquires Midwest Fiber, including 5 recycling facilities

Balcones Recycling, part of Closed Loop Partners’ Circular Services platform, will manage the operation. Midwest, a family-owned company, had scaled to include collection and processing operations in multiple states.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 17, 2023

Heritage Environmental Services selling majority stake to EQT Infrastructure

The Indiana-based environmental services company provides a range of options for hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including at multiple disposal sites. This follows Sweden-based EQT’s recent investment in Covanta.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated Dec. 13, 2023

Waste Connections acquiring 30 Canadian E&P facilities from Secure Energy Services

The deal includes numerous oil and gas landfills, injection wells and treatment and disposal facilities. The Canadian government required Secure to divest these assets following its merger with Tervita.

By Megan Quinn • Dec. 11, 2023

What’s next for Hainesport Transportation Group, including Michigan rail project

CEO Darryl Caplan and investment partner Dickson Suit lay out their strategy for how the New Jersey-based company is ramping up its position to transfer more C&D volumes out of the disposal-constrained Northeast.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 7, 2023

Republic Services acquires Indiana hauler, transfer station operator

Wallace Bros. Disposal & Recycling had been a family-run operation since 1996. The transaction is one of multiple to occur in the region in recent years.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 5, 2023

Has the waste and recycling industry’s multiyear M&A boom peaked?

Experts from Stifel, Houlihan Lokey, Comerica Bank, Raymond James, Waste Connections and others weigh in on the latest trends involving valuations, private equity, environmental services, antitrust and more.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 27, 2023

Waste Connections’ Mittelstaedt talks industry changes, improvements during time away from CEO job

Ron Mittelstaedt discussed how trends in sustainability, technology and investor interest are “rapidly changing” the waste industry during a session at the Corporate Growth Conference.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 21, 2023

AmWaste aims to scale with 3i investment after ‘quietly’ becoming sizable Southeast player

An infusion of growth capital by 3i North American Infrastructure helped AmWaste purchase disposal assets in Georgia, with more acquisitions to come. CEO Chip Russell outlines the company’s vision for expansion.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 13, 2023

Leading waste and recycling companies spent $986M on M&A in Q3

WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental and Casella Waste Systems recently reported spending totals and shared their outlooks on the deal environment heading into 2024.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 7, 2023

Casella reports ‘pivotal and exciting’ Q3 due to recent acquisitions and strong pricing

Casella raised revenue guidance and predicted a strong Q4 due to its retrofitted Boston MRF and operations it acquired from GFL.

By Megan Quinn • Nov. 3, 2023

GFL at ‘inflection point’ regarding debt leverage, executives say

The Canada-based company reported slightly elevated debt numbers as it continued to engage in M&A. But executives now believe GFL has a clear path to a better ratio into next year and see more profit potential from EPR.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 2, 2023

GFL Environmental acquires Capital Waste from Kinderhook, building Southeast presence

The transaction, announced during GFL’s Q3 earnings call, comes after the private equity firm fueled Capital’s growth in recent years. GFL CEO Patrick Dovigi said the deal happened after a competitor ran into antitrust delays.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 2, 2023

Clean Harbors revises down guidance but expects better results in 2024

A difficult year for base oil pricing has dragged down the overall business, but executives are optimistic about continued margin expansion in environmental services and the upcoming completion of a major new project.

By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 2, 2023

Q3 earnings results for major waste and recycling companies

Follow the latest results from WM, Republic Services, Waste Connections, GFL Environmental, Casella Waste, Clean Harbors, Stericycle and others.

By Waste Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 9, 2023

Republic Services touts momentum into 2024, including Indianapolis polymer center

CEO Jon Vander Ark said recent price increases and upcoming investments should position the company for favorable margin expansion next year. The company also shared updates on its electric vehicle infrastructure.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 27, 2023

Waste Connections reports Q3 growth despite costs from landfill and employee safety incidents

An ongoing odor issue at a California landfill and a slope failure in Texas could cost about $20M in Q4. Meanwhile, the company is planning employee training to reduce safety incident rates.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 26, 2023

Coastal Waste expands in Florida with multiple waste, recycling acquisitions

The Macquarie-backed company’s acquisition of S&S Waste, In & Out Portables and AFS Recycling broadens its services and allows it to increase the amount of waste it processes internally.

By Megan Quinn • Oct. 18, 2023

Plan for these upcoming waste and recycling conferences

The National Zero Waste Conference is one of the next events on the calendar. Other upcoming events in 2024 will cover recycling, e-waste, MRF innovations, biogas, thermal conversion and more.

By Megan Quinn • Updated Sept. 18, 2024

LRS CEO Spencer talks 100-day plan for leading fast-growing Midwestern company

Matt Spencer says he’ll draw from previous industry experience, including time in the field, and a relationship with Macquarie to help cement a vision for the company’s M&A, infrastructure and safety investments.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 21, 2023

Republic Services expands in Charlotte, North Carolina, area via acquisition

Republic has been more active than any of its competitors in acquisition spending this year. The deal adds an experienced hauler to Republic’s sizable presence in the region.

By Jacob Wallace • Sept. 15, 2023

Casella completes $219M acquisition of Twin Bridges

The deal includes two hauling operations, a new MRF and a transfer station in the Albany, New York, area. Casella also purchased another New York hauler, Taylor Garbage, in August.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 5, 2023

Heritage-Crystal Clean’s $1.2B sale to J.F. Lehman will proceed after no competing offers

After closing a 35-day “go-shop” period this week, the environmental services company remains on track to go private in Q4 through this transaction.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 24, 2023