Industry News

Mergers & Acquisitions

WM completes acquisition of Stericycle

Houston-based waste and recycling firm WM has completed its $7.2 billion acquisition of Stericycle Inc., an Illinois-based medical waste company. The transaction valued the company at $62 per share.

The merger, first announced in June, cleared a final regulatory hurdle in October when it received approval from the Competition Bureau of Canada under the Canadian Competition Act.

“I am pleased to welcome the talented Stericycle team to WM,” says Jim Fish, president and CEO of WM. “The completion of this acquisition advances our growth strategy, builds on our sustainability initiatives and aligns with our long-term financial goals.

“This acquisition provides a complementary business platform in medical waste, a sector with attractive near- and long-term growth dynamics, and secure information destruction services to further our leading suite of comprehensive waste and environmental solutions,” he adds.

Rafa Carrasco will lead the new WM Healthcare Solutions division, comprised of the regulated medical waste and secure information destruction businesses.

Those new business units will benefit from a range of synergies in joining WM, the company says, including leveraging the waste management company’s expertise in logistics, technology-enabled cost optimization and its leading waste disposal network.

“With today’s announcement, WM is well-positioned to win in the growing medical waste industry and deliver tailored and effective solutions in secure information destruction that further our sustainability leadership,” says Carrasco, who also is WM’s senior vice president of enterprise strategy.

“We look forward to delivering on the compelling strategic and financial benefits of the combined business while protecting the health, safety and well being of the communities we serve,” he adds.

At the time of WM’s announcement of its intent to acquire Stericycle, Fish stated, “We are committed to maximizing value for all our stakeholders … The acquisition of Stericycle [broadens] the scope of our service offerings, bringing together the leader in solid waste and a premier company in regulated medical waste services.”

Waste to Energy

WTE market predicted to reach a value of $73B by 2031

Market intelligence firm SkyQuest estimates that the global waste-to-energy (WTE) market will reach a value of $73.83 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 percent from 2024 to 2031. Rising energy requirements from the end-use sector combined with favorable regulatory policies supporting effective waste management and power production are predicted to be the biggest drivers of market growth in the next few years.

As conventional energy resources are depleted, governments are shifting priorities toward commercializing alternative energy sources, including WTE technologies, SkyQuest says. Moreover, the industry is undergoing growth spurts because of the introduction of environmental regulations related to reducing carbon emissions by transitioning away from using fossil fuels.

The thermal category has the highest share of sales. Incineration has seen a huge rise in overall market revenues and is largely responsible for this domination, especially given that thermal conversion methods typically are simple and easy to apply.

Agricultural waste accounts for the greatest share of the WTE market because sizeable gasification and pyrolysis processes often are used. Global agricultural output is predicted to grow in the market because of increased crop residues, manure and silt waste. This could be further complemented with agricultural byproducts containing pesticides and herbicides to enhance this potential as a reliable feedstock in the WTE landscape, according to SkyQuest.

Given rising economic activities and subsequent waste generation, the Asia-Pacific region has become the largest market leader. Furthermore, numerous governments are encouraging the construction of WTE projects. Asia Pacific is expected to capture the largest share during the forecast period.

For instance, SkyQuest says, Japan has been one of the leading countries in the Asia-Pacific market. Japan’s success in converting waste to energy is driven by its highly efficient solid waste management system. Additionally, strong financial support from national and local governments fuels small and large projects. The nation also aims to roll out the latest technologies to recycle all types of waste into materials while protecting the environment.

Facilities

Athens Services celebrates opening of Operations and Sustainability Center in California

Athens Services, an Industry, California-based waste collection and recycling company, recently celebrated the opening of its new Operations and Sustainability Center in Thousand Oaks, California, with elected leaders, local officials and members of the Industry community.

Athens Services says the new facility will play a major role in its operations in the region, serving as a hub for in-person customer support and recycling education.

More than 100 people attended the Oct. 16 ribbon-cutting event.

“We are excited to officially open our new Operations and Sustainability Center, which will deepen our presence in Thousand Oaks as we work in partnership with the city to serve our 40,000 business and residential customers,” Athens Services Senior Executive Vice President Gary Clifford says. “This advanced center will help streamline and modernize our operations as we embrace ‘The Athens Way,’ delivering exceptional service in Ventura County with a superb team while fostering a healthy and sustainable environment.”

Athens Services became the exclusive residential and commercial waste collection and recycling provider for Thousand Oaks in 2022. The company reports it received a reliability rate above 99 percent and established a Senate Bill 1383-compliant citywide organics recycling program since beginning operations.

“Having reliable and efficient waste collection and recycling service is important to all of our residents and businesses,” Thousand Oaks Mayor Al Adam says. “Athens Services’ new Operations and Sustainability Center is an important investment in Thousand Oaks that will enable Athens to continue providing successful service in the city. We are pleased to see Athens extending its commitment to our community.”

Located on more than 4 acres, the new facility includes approximately 4,000 square feet of offices and 13,400 square feet of maintenance space, including double-deep truck bays, a wash bay and compressed natural gas parking stalls.

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Organics

Minneapolis suburb launches curbside organics collection through Republic

Maple Grove, a suburb of Minneapolis in Minnesota’s Hennepin County, will launch a new curbside organics collection program managed by Republic Services, a Phoenix-based waste and recycling firm, beginning Jan. 6, Hoodline reports.

Residents already participating in organics recycling with their waste haulers automatically will be transferred to the new city program. Those who would like to begin organics recycling are encouraged to sign up through the city of Maple Grove to coordinate cart delivery.

A mandatory charge for organics collection by waste haulers will cease when the program officially begins. Instead, households will find organics recycling charges consolidated with their utility bill, which the city says is an effort to simplify payment responsibilities.

Curbside collection of organics will occur weekly, aligning with the city’s existing recycling schedules.

Landfills

Study: More can be done to reduce landfill methane emissions

U.S.-based environmental advocacy group Industrious Labs says mandatory methane collection systems at large municipal solid waste landfills represent one path toward lowering emissions in the landfill sector.

In a 34-page report released by the group in October, Industrious Labs notes that many landfills are not required to install gas collections systems. Industrious Labs cites an analysis by the Washington-based Environmental Integrity Project from earlier this decade, which indicates that of the 10 highest emitting landfills in the country in 2021, only eight are required to install and operate gas collection systems, while two don’t meet current federal thresholds.

The group also says capture systems can be put in place earlier to be more effective at preventing emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas.

In this case, Industrious Labs cites Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) research that shows 50 percent of carbon in food waste degrades into methane within its first three-and-a-half years in a landfill.

However, EPA rules allow five years to pass before landfill operators are required to expand gas collection systems to include newly filled areas.

“As a result, 61 percent of methane generated by landfilled food waste is released into the air, where it has an immediate planet-warming impact,” Industrious Labs says. “Diverting organic waste alone can only address new emissions, not the methane generated from previously landfilled waste.”

Landfill operators throughout the U.S., including Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. and Houston-based WM, have been investing in landfill methane capture and energy conversion services for several years.

“Republic Services is investing in sustainability innovation to provide decarbonization solutions,” Republic Services Senior Vice President Tim Oudman said in October when the company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Keller Canyon Landfill in California as it ramped up a landfill-gas-to-renewable natural gas plant.

Such efforts can be encouraged by additional EPA regulation and support,  Industrious Labs says.

“By committing to update landfill emissions regulations in 2025, EPA has taken a significant step toward addressing the urgent climate and public health harms posed by landfilled waste,” the group continues. “Now, the agency must draft rules that address gaps, improve oversight and ensure accountability.”