LRS acquires Sunshine Sanitation

LRS, an independent waste diversion, recycling and portable services provider based in Rosemont, Illinois, has acquired Sunshine Sanitation, a Rochester, Minnesota-based provider of municipal solid waste (MSW) and recycling, commercial waste and recycling and roll-off container services based. Financial terms were not disclosed and the transaction is effective immediately.  

Founded in 2001 by longtime Tory Keefe, Sunshine Sanitation serves residential, commercial and roll-off customers in Minnesota's Rochester, Stewartville, Byron, Racine, Grand Meadow, Leroy, Rock Dell, Wabasha, Plainview, Kellogg, Spring Valley and Pleasant Grove cities. It also has an MSW and construction and demolition transfer station in Stewartville.  

LRS says Keefe and all Sunshine employees will remain with the company as it continues to invest time and resources into expanding the LRS Rochester footprint while committing to the same level of exceptional customer service.  

"The decision to sell any family-owned business is never easy, but ultimately we trusted and felt comfortable handing off our legacy to LRS based on the company's commitment to customer experience, sustainability, and a proven track record of successful acquisition integrations," Keefe says. "We believe our legacy, customers and employees will be in great hands with LRS, coupled with the company's shared and unyielding commitment to delivering an exceptional customer-first experience."  

LRS President and CEO Alan T. Handley says the deal will enable LRS to expand operations and services to the next level and build on the infrastructure built by Keefe and Sunshine employees.  

"Rochester is the fastest growing MSA in Minnesota, and we look forward to expanding platform investments in our waste diversion, recycling and portable services lines of business,” Handley says.  

The company says the acquisition of Sunshine Sanitation highlights LRS' commitment to ongoing investments in the state. LRS first entered Minnesota in early 2021 with the Minneapolis-area acquisitions of Atomic Recycling and Jimmy's Johnnys. Later in 2021, LRS acquired the following assets from GFL Environmental as part of a divestiture of assets previously owned by WM: a transfer station in Rochester, the Rolling Hills Landfill in Buffalo and a collections operation in St. Cloud.   

In 2022, LRS announced the acquisitions of Junoll Services in South Bend, Indiana, and Auburn Disposal, serving Chicago's South Side communities.