Dive Brief:

• Tennessee-based Santek Waste Services has acquired two new companies, continuing its growth in the Southeast. Both deals are effective March 1.
• This will include Bates Sanitation's residential customers in Georgia's Cherokee County as well as Major Waste's residential customers in the Texas counties of Montgomery and San Jacinto.
• Last month, Santek also acquired Picklesimer Garbage Service in Georgia.

Dive Insight:

The nearly 30-year-old company currently operates in nine states throughout the Southeast and has been steadily expanding with acquisitions over the past year. Following a $153 million recapitalization in 2015 Santek has increased the pace of its growth, with a particular focus on the Atlanta area after acquiring North Metro Waste last year.

In a statement announcing the deals, Santek said it aims to continue expansion in existing markets and is actively looking for more independent haulers with an interest in selling. This follows recent regional acquisitions by other companies in states such as Florida, Indiana and Illinois. 

Aside from Waste Connections' acquisition of Groot Industries in January, 2017 hasn't brought any sizable deals yet. Waste Connections has also indicated that plans for a West Coast deal are in the works and more opportunities have been identified. Both Waste Management and Republic Services have said they are more focused on tuck-in acquisitions this year, though that could always change if the right opportunity for a larger operation opens up.