Dive Brief:
Waste Connections is acquiring Florida Express Environmental, a family-owned company in the Ocala area, according to multiple sources and local government documents. The companies did not respond to requests for comment.
Florida Express says it has “the largest fleet of privately owned environmental service trucks in Central Florida.” It also operates the Southside C&D Landfill as well as the United American Recycling facility.
Florida Express services various residential and commercial clients throughout Alachua and Marion counties. The Marion County Board of Commissioners approved requests on Nov. 4 to make Waste Connections a franchise hauler and transfer Florida Express’ franchise agreement to the company.
Dive Insight:
This is the latest acquisition in the state for Waste Connections, including the recent purchase of Miami-based Great Waste. The company reported in October it had closed or signed definitive agreements for deals worth $300 million in annualized revenue across its portfolio so far this year.
Florida Express was founded in 2001 by the Paglia family, which traces its roots back to a waste company in Rockland County, New York, run by John Paglia Sr. His sons, John Jr. and Michael, continued that tradition by working at multiple waste and recycling companies. The two currently serve as CEO and COO, respectively, of Florida Express.
John Paglia III, who learned through the family business as a driver and other positions, was promoted to president in 2021. He’s been active in the National Waste & Recycling Association’s Florida chapter and also serves as a board member of the trade group’s Future Industry Leaders Alliance.
Speaking at WasteExpo in 2023, John Paglia III said the company then serviced an estimated 40,000 residential accounts and the majority of that work was automated collection. He spoke about why Florida Express prioritized investing in the quality and appearance of its trucks more than some competitors do, calling them “the driver’s office.” He also said the family’s goal for the company was “not to sell it and grow it and make something that we can pass on.”
From left to right: Sean Jennings, John Paglia III, Charles Lomangino, Bill Rumpke Jr. and Michael E. Hoffman speak during a session at the WasteExpo Investor Summit in Las Vegas on May 1, 2023.
Cole Rosengren/Waste Dive
During a recent podcast interview with Waste Today, Paglia described the family’s “servant leadership” approach to management, which is also a priority for Waste Connections. He said the company had grown to an estimated 150 employees.
Paglia also described plans for an expanded hauling and maintenance facility, along with other “opportunities to scale and grow,” including potential acquisitions. Florida Express had 63 vehicles as of late August, according to federal records.
During the hearing, commissioners confirmed that John Paglia III will run local operations after the acquisition.
Waste Connections asked the Marion County Board of Commissioners to approve the transaction “as it will help facilitate the reach of a nationally recognized company which has resources it would like to invest in Marion County to further grow what Florida Express started and achieved.” The company also said it will continue operating under the Florida Express name and “plans to bring new technology, equipment and resources to the market.” A projected closing date was not included in the submitted documents.
Florida Express will be a notable addition to Waste Connections’ current footprint in Florida, which includes landfills, hauling locations and recycling facilities in multiple southern counties.
County staff noted during the hearing that Waste Connections already handles Marion County’s waste at its nearby Heart of Florida Landfill which it acquired in 2018. The company also previously acquired hauler Good Fellas, which operated in the area. Marion County will have 11 approved franchise haulers available to service an estimated 170,000 homes in its unincorporated areas.
The Florida market has also seen many other transactions in the past few years by Coastal Waste & Recycling, FCC Environmental Services, GFL Environmental, Waste Pro, WM and others.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from a Nov. 4 Marion County Board of Commissioners meeting.