Dive Brief:
- Earlier this month, Advanced Disposal acquired Lecanto, FL-based FDS Disposal LLC for an undisclosed amount, marking its first acquisition of 2016.
- The purchase provides Advanced Disposal with many assets, including a hauling facility and a wealth of customers in Citrus County, FL.
- The acquisition quickly follows Advanced Disposal's December purchases of Earth First LLC, Web Waste Inc., and AC Sanitation Inc. Overall, Advanced made 13 hauler acquisitions in 2015.
Dive Insight:
By kicking off 2016 with an acquisition, Advanced Disposal delivered a strong message to the industry that it intends to continue growth, potentially as rapidly as it had in 2015. Although this most recent purchase is within Florida — a state where Advanced is already very well established — the strengthened footprint will allow the company to continue expanding its name and reputation.
Expansion of a good reputation, however, can be tricky when acquiring mid- to large-sized companies or winning municipal contracts with a hefty customer base. This was proven last week when Advanced began servicing the Macon, GA area, and 3,000 customers called in complaints of missed pickups. Although the missed pickups were due to a transition in service, many customers were unforgiving of the errors, stating that they were still paying good money for the pickups to be completed.
As Advanced works to ensure their future transitions are more seamless, it will also continue expanding in other areas — such as CNG.
