Industry News

Municipal Recycling, Financial

BLT Enterprises to invest $10M at California MRF

BLT Enterprises, a privately held waste management and industrial real estate investment company, will invest $10 million in improvements at its Fremont, California, recycling and transfer station.

The 187,000-square-foot facility, located at 41149 Boyce Road in Fremont, serves the municipal solid waste needs of Fremont, Newark and Union City, California. It also handles public disposal, recycling and household hazardous waste disposal.

Santa Monica, California-based BLT Enterprises says the improvements include installing state-of-the-art robotics and advanced sorting technology that uses artificial intelligence- (AI-) enabled optical sorters to significantly improve the efficiency of the facility’s recycling efforts.

BLT says more than $3 million in improvements had been completed at the facility as of Sept. 30, with several more still in progress.

The firm secured $10 million in financing from City National Bank with the help of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The investment will go toward interior and exterior improvements to the material recovery facility, including an upgrade to its existing solar power system and the addition of two robots and five optical sorting machines.

The investment also led to substantial improvements to the facility’s employee amenities. BLT says it has created modernized gathering spaces, upgraded the facility’s restrooms and updated the site’s interior and exterior paint and fixtures. The site’s solar panels were replaced with more efficient models that BLT says provide clean power to more than 65 percent of the facility.

The optical sorters and robots have been purchased and are undergoing training to optimize their capabilities. BLT plans to have them installed and fully operational by year-end. The sorters will use sensors and AI to identify and sort recyclables, including plastic, paper and metal.

Earnings

Companies remain active on acquisition front during Q3

As third-quarter financial reports rolled out in November, one thing is clear: Companies continue to spend big on acquisitions.

Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc. reported growth in revenue to $4.21 billion, though operating and net income decreased slightly to $836 million and $550 million, respectively. The company says it invested more than $1 billion in strategic acquisitions and will continue to pursue small and midsized deals into 2026.

“Our acquisition pipeline remains supportive of continued activity in both the recycling and waste and waste and environmental solutions businesses,” CEO John Vander Ark says.

Waste Connections Inc., headquartered in Toronto, reported what it described as “better-than-expected” results. Its net income decreased 7 percent to $286 million, and the company says its $2.46 billion revenue is above expectations. The firm has accrued about $300 million in annualized revenue from acquisitions closed or under definitive agreement year to date.

“Superior execution drove better than expected financial results in the third quarter, bolstered by continued improvement in operating trends,” Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, president and CEO of Waste Connections, says.

Houston-based WM Inc. reported increased sales, but net income and operating income decreased. Sales rose to $3.83 billion, while income from operations decreased to $989 million and net income fell to $603 million.

CEO Jim Fish says, “Our collection and disposal business continues to be the engine behind our growth, contributing more than half of the year-over-year increase in operating EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization].

“The businesses drove strong organic revenue growth, and we’re particularly pleased with our ability to attract robust disposal volumes to our network.”

Casella Waste Systems Inc. reported a 17.9 percent gain in revenue ($485.4 million), 20.5 percent gain in operating income ($29.4 million) and a 73 percent gain in net income ($10 million) during the third quarter of 2025.

The Rutland, Vermont-based firm has completed eight acquisitions so far in 2025, adding about $105 million in annualized revenue. The company’s Mountain State Waste transaction is projected to close at the beginning of 2026 and will contribute about $30 million of annualized revenues.

“I’m extremely proud of the team for once again overcoming challenges and demonstrating the strength of our operating model and our strategic execution,” CEO John W. Casella says.

GFL Environmental Inc. reported increases in revenue and net income for the third quarter of 2025, causing it to raise its full-year guidance for the second time this year.

The Vaughan, Ontario-based firm reported CA$1.69 billion ($1.19 billion) in revenue, up 9 percent against the same period in 2024. Net income increased to CA$108.1 million ($76.4 million) compared with CA$41.7 million ($29.5 million) in 2024.

GFL has deployed more than CA$650 million ($459.9 million) in mergers and acquisitions for 2025 and anticipates more deals to close in the first quarter of 2026. 

Organics

Hawaii Organics Compost opens green waste recycling facility

Hawaii Organics Compost LLC (HOC) opened a green waste and clean wood pallet recycling facility Sept. 2.

Based in Waikapu, Hawaii, the site will recycle valuable organic resources back into the community. HOC says it’s the largest operation of its kind on Maui.

“This is a win-win solution for Maui residents, local businesses and the environment,” HOC Manager Jenny Sullivan says. “We’re committed to keeping green waste and wood pallets out of the landfill, turning them into landscape, agricultural and construction materials for the island.”

Residents can drop off the following materials at the facility: tree trimmings, unpainted and untreated lumber pallets, leaves or branches, logs or tree stumps, garden clippings, roots without soil or rocks and sod without dirt. HOC says large container bins are available and can be filled at residential and worksites. The full list of materials not allowed is available on HOC’s website.

The company says it offers recycled products along with eco-friendly pickup and delivery options for residential and commercial customers. The permitted facility is designed to receive and process commercial and residential green waste in addition to commercial clean wood pallets. 

The site features an extensive screening system to prevent receiving and processing hazardous or undesirable materials. HOC says it only accepts source-separated items, and no mixed loads are allowed.

The company says the site provides a cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternative to landfilling green waste and clean wood pallets. The firm says, for several years, much of the green waste generated on the island has been received and processed and landfilled by Maui County.

Accepted materials are processed on-island into compost, topsoil, mulch, sustainable firewood and other custom blends for purchase on-site. 

HOC says bags of compost are available for sale, while the company offers delivery of large orders.

Commercial Recycling

TDS celebrates zero-waste achievement at Austin’s Q2 Stadium

Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), a solid waste company based in Creedmoor, Texas, and the official waste and recycling partner for Austin FC, achieved a zero-waste initiative at Q2 Stadium during the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Skills Challenge and MLS All-Star Game.

In collaboration with Austin FC, MLS and environmental consulting partner Okapi Environmental Services (OES), Q2 Stadium achieved a 94 percent waste diversion rate from the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T July 22 and the MLS All-Star Game July 23.

TDS says attendees at both games properly sorted their waste into the correct eco stations, following signage and engaging with TDS Trash Goalies.

“Achieving a 94 percent diversion rate during MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and the MLS All-Star Game is a testament to the commitment of our fans, volunteers and operations team,” says Nick Otte, vice president of stadium operations at Austin FC. “With the support of TDS and Okapi Environmental Services, Q2 Stadium continues to set the standard for sustainability in Major League Soccer.”

The initiative’s success resulted from year-long planning with the Q2 Stadium Operations team, TDS says, to ensure sustainability was integrated into the events’ infrastructure and operational blueprint.

A detailed sustainable materials strategy also contributed to the success. Every item entering the stadium was evaluated for its full end-of-life outcome, whether it could be reused, donated, recycled or composted, minimizing landfill.

“This achievement is the result of meticulous planning, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to environmental responsibility,” says Rick Fraumann, vice president of sales and growth at TDS. “We believe zero waste is not just a goal but a standard that can be met when innovation meets collaboration.”

OES helped track and verify waste volumes via the EcoVisor dashboard, ensuring accuracy in diversion measurement and providing insights into fan behavior and material flow.

In 2024, TDS and OES helped Q2 Stadium become the world’s first soccer-specific stadium to earn Total Resource Use and Efficiency, or TRUE, Certification.