17 sep
by Grace Kaetterhenry
News
By: Adam Redling , August 18, 2020 - Waste Today
The balance of power in the North American waste market is always shifting thanks to fervent merger and acquisition activity. As such, being able to get a snapshot of the industry’s largest haulers helps offer perspective on the market for a given point in time.
The editors of Waste Today compiled the Top 50 Haulers List by combing through public records, sending a survey to companies in the publication’s database, soliciting feedback via the publication’s website and e-newsletter, and speaking with industry analysts. Rankings are based on the largest revenues of 2019.
*Following the publication of our list, ACV Enviro, Rahway, New Jersey, reported 2019 revenue of $190,000,000.
Key takeaways
North America’s largest waste haulers stretch from coast to coast, generating tens of billions of dollars in revenue. Here are some key takeaways from this year’s list.
Companies on our list generated a total of $52.7 billion in revenue in 2019. Of this, $46.2 billion came from those in the top 10.
The companies on our list represent 22 different states, plus Canada.
The states with the most haulers on our list include Texas and Florida (five); California (four); and Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio all with three.
Waste Management , Republic , and Waste Connections remained as the top three companies in revenue year over year on Waste Today’s Top Haulers List. All three increased revenues from those reported in 2018: Waste Management ($15.46 billion up from $14.91 billion), Republic Services ($10.3 billion up from $10.04 billion), and Waste Connections ($5.39 billion up from $4.92 billion).
US Ecology is the lone company to enter the top 10 that was not represented in the top 10 of last year’s list.
There are only two non-U.S.-based companies to make the list—Ontario, Canada-based Waste Connections and GFL Environmental , respectively.
A note on the list
Defining the term “hauler” was not straightforward. While many on the list are typical residential and commercial waste hauling companies, some provide a range of other special waste, recycling and environmental services offerings. Waste Today magazine chose to define haulers simply as those that own their own vehicles to collect waste and transport it for processing. This list does not include companies that solely transport recyclable materials.
Because of the list’s parameters, many revenues include additional services, including landfill operation, recycling processing and more.
If your company was not included on this list and you wish to participate in the next iteration, we welcome you to reach out to Waste Today Editor Adam Redling via email at aredling@gie.net.
