EC Waste acquires fellow Puerto Rican hauling firm

EC Waste, the Puerto Rican portfolio company of the London-based 3i Group, has acquired Andrés Reyes Burgos (ARB) Inc., a fellow Puerto Rico-based provider of waste collection and environmental management services.

The transaction marks the third acquisition for EC Waste since 3i invested in the firm in 2021, and the company says the acquisition will help EC Waste build scale and strengthen its capabilities in Puerto Rico.

“ARB enhances EC Waste’s technical capabilities, expands its geographic footprint and supports the acceleration of its digitalization and sustainability agenda,” 3i says.

According to 3i, EC Waste will begin integrating ARB's operations into its own residential, commercial, and industrial nonhazardous solid waste sector operations.

“The combined business will expand geographic coverage in traditionally underserved areas in Puerto Rico using real- time monitoring, intelligent routing systems and web and mobile applications to enhance customer service,” 3i says.

EC Waste intends to provide commercial customers in the ARB operating regions with more economical waste management solutions while enhancing environmental compliance and improving public health in Puerto Rico, the group adds.

“We are very pleased to continue to invest in the environmental-services sector in Puerto Rico,” says Rob Collins, managing partner and head of North American Infrastructure at 3i Group. “We believe this acquisition will continue EC Waste’s excellent performance in serving both businesses on the island and the public.”

“We have found in EC Waste an ally with vision,” says Siria Reyes, CEO of ARB. “Together, we can scale our solutions and impact more communities, faster.”

The previous EC Waste acquisitions in Puerto Rico were of Ecosystems in 2023 and AA Waste in 2022.

EC Waste also is expanding its infrastructure, having added a fifth landfill through acquisition and increasing its number of transfer stations from two to four, and is investing in fleet modernization, expanding its recycling programs and engaging in landfill gas collection.

“This integration strengthens our operational capacity, expands our coverage and allows EC Waste the opportunity to offer more efficient and technological services to all of Puerto Rico," EC Waste CEO Mark Johnson says.