Cards Recycling acquires Texas-based AWT Sanitations

Cards has acquired its fifth Texas-based company, AWT Sanitations, in the past 18 months. This tuck-in acquisition not only densifies Cards’ geographic service area but also pushes further into the new territory of East Texas. With this acquisition and the addition of the service area expansion, Cards says it is in contention to be the Dallas area’s leading independent waste company.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

AWT is a longtime local provider of residential subscription, commercial and roll-off services in Farmersville, Texas, which is located just northeast of Dallas. Cards says this acquisition affirms Fayetteville, Arkansas-based firm’s position as a leading independent waste and recycling provider in East Texas.

AWT was led by Haden Ledford, Amelia Wickes and Ashley Ledford, whose core principles stemmed from placing the customer first and operating the firm as a family. This acquisition adds roughly 6,000 subscription customers and 12 trucks to Cards’ fleet and more than 8,000 containers to the growing company.

“We’ve had our sights on this company for a long time. AWT’s subscription presence was truly impressive,” CEO Dan Christensen says. “This addition to our growing Cards family is logical and strategic. This purchase expands our service area and strengthens our presence in east Dallas. With the addition of customers, employees, equipment, etc., Cards will be able to continue providing the same exceptional quality of service to AWT customers and further expand services, especially in the east Texas area.”  

Cards is coming off its recent acquisition of Trash Hog LLC, a solid waste collection company with offices in Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Trash Hog LLC operated under the names Trash Hog of Arkansas, Shorts Trash, Ideal Refuses and Automated Waste Services, had more than 17,500 municipal, residential subscription, commercial and industrial customers throughout Cards service area and was the ninth transaction since February 2023.

Since being bought by Kinderhook Industries LLC in March, Cards has acquired several other companies, including Barnes Waste Disposal, Homeland Waste Management, County Recycling Services, Ozark Waste Solutions, J&J Refuse LLC, Johns Refuse LLC, Whittinghill Disposal Services, and Raintree Disposal.

“We’ve got plenty to talk about right now, and it’s not only on the acquisition front,” Cards Chief Revenue Officer Dustin Reynolds says. “We’re extremely proud to open our Springdale, Arkansas, transfer station after nearly three years of planning. This state-of-the-art facility is the largest of its kind in the state of Arkansas and will allow us to process waste and yard debris effective Aug. 14th. Our material recovery recycling facility is expected to open in the summer of 2024 where we will utilize brand new sorting technology to process all waste streams and meet our company sustainability efforts.”

Cards Recycling is a leading regional provider of solid waste hauling, transfer, and disposals services. Cards offers residential, commercial, roll-off, portable restroom, recycling and disposal for homes, businesses and contractors. CARDS platform consists of owned hauling facilities, transfer stations, recycling centers (including composting) and landfills. This acquisition has allowed CARDS to continue its growth strategy while becoming the leading provider of waste and recycling services in the Mid-South.