Waste Management acquires hauling routes in Arizona

Company also idles recycling facility in suburban Chicago.

Houston-based Waste Management Inc. (WM) has acquired the hauling routes of Norton Environmental, Flagstaff, Arizona, a recycling and solid waste operator.

The acquisition does not include service to the city of Flagstaff residents served by municipal trash and recycling trucks.

WM has operated in Arizona for 50 years. A spokesperson for WM says the transaction will strengthen the firm’s operations in northern Arizona. Norton’s decision to sell its collection routes has been billed as a step to strengthen its operations in other areas.

“Safety is our top priority at Waste Management, and we are making sure we can service all our new and existing customers safely and efficiently,” says Adam Serrano, WM district manager for northern Arizona. “This means some people will have a new pickup day, but we’re doing everything we can to make sure residents are aware of the change to prevent any disruption to their routine.” 

WM also has closed its DuPage County (Illinois) Recycling Center in suburban Chicago. A spokesperson for the company says the facility has been idle since late December 2017, when WM’s lease for the building came to an end.

WM's Lisa Disbrow says material that was processed at the DuPage facility is being redirected to other company facilities and to some third-party plants.

The DuPage County Recycling Center had been in operation for around 25 years.