Ecowaste Solutions acquires Howie’s Enterprises

Ecowaste Solutions Inc. has acquired Howie’s Enterprises, a waste services provider in Manhattan, Kansas. The acquisition, which closed Jan. 30, brings more than 30 employees and approximately 15,000 customers to Ecowaste.

The deal comes shortly after Coppell, Texas-based Ecowaste’s inception. On Jan. 16, Kinderhook Industries LLC, the company’s New York-based private equity owner, merged Cards Recycling and Live Oak Environmental to form Ecowaste, a regional waste management company operating across nine states.

The acquisition aims to further strengthens Ecowaste’s presence in Kansas following the recent addition of Gardner Disposal in the Kansas City metro area, creating a strategic corridor of operations across the state.

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Founded in 1984 by Howard and Joann Wilson, Howie’s Enterprises operates nearly 20 routes daily across Riley, Geary, Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee counties. The company serves the Manhattan-Wamego-Junction City corridor in northeast Kansas with residential and commercial waste collection, roll-off dumpster services and recycling throughout Flint Hills.

“For more than 40 years, Howie’s has been woven into the fabric of Manhattan,” Ecowaste CEO Dustin Reynolds says. “Whether it’s serving the 20,000-plus students at K-State, the pre-game energy in Aggieville on Wildcats game days or families throughout the Flint Hills, Howie’s has been there. That’s the kind of deep community connection you can’t replicate—it’s built on decades of showing up, doing the work right and earning trust.”

Howie’s Enterprises will continue to operate under its established local brand as Ecowaste integrates operations over the coming months. The company’s local team will remain in place, with customers continuing to receive service from the same drivers and staff.

“We’re thrilled to bring that experience and local pride into Ecowaste Solutions as we make our second Kansas flagship acquisition of 2026,” Reynolds says. “Together, we’ll build on that foundation while providing the resources and support to help this team continue serving the Little Apple the way it deserves.”