\nFlorida Express<\/a>\u00a0says it has \u201cthe largest fleet of privately owned environmental service trucks in Central Florida.\u201d It also operates the Southside C&D Landfill as well as the United American Recycling facility.
\nFlorida 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<\/a> and transfer Florida Express\u2019 franchise agreement<\/a> to the company.<\/p>\n
Dive Insight:<\/p>\n
This is the latest acquisition in the state for Waste Connections, including the recent purchase of Miami-based Great Waste<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n Florida Express was founded in 2001 by the Paglia family<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n John Paglia III, who learned through the family business as a driver and other positions,\u00a0was promoted to president in 2021.\u00a0He\u2019s been active in the National Waste & Recycling Association\u2019s Florida chapter and also serves as a board member of the trade group\u2019s Future Industry Leaders Alliance.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cthe driver\u2019s office.\u201d He also said the family\u2019s goal for the company was \u201cnot to sell it and grow it and make something that we can pass on.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Cole Rosengren\/Waste Dive<\/p>\n During a recent podcast interview with Waste Today<\/a>, Paglia described the family\u2019s \u201cservant leadership\u201d approach to management, which is also a priority for Waste Connections.\u00a0He said the company had grown to an estimated 150 employees.<\/p>\n Paglia also described plans for an expanded hauling and maintenance facility, along with other \u201copportunities to scale and grow,\u201d including potential acquisitions. Florida Express had 63 vehicles<\/a> as of late August, according to federal records.<\/p>\n During the hearing, commissioners confirmed that John Paglia III will run local operations after the acquisition.<\/p>\n Waste Connections asked the Marion County Board of Commissioners to approve the transaction<\/a> \u201cas 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.\u201d The company also said it will continue operating under the Florida Express name and \u201cplans to bring new technology, equipment and resources to the market.\u201d A projected closing date was not included in the submitted documents.\u00a0<\/p>\n Florida Express will be a notable addition to Waste Connections\u2019 current footprint in Florida<\/a>, which includes landfills, hauling locations and recycling facilities in multiple southern counties.\u00a0<\/p>\n County staff noted during the hearing that Waste Connections already handles Marion County\u2019s waste at its nearby Heart of Florida Landfill which it acquired in 2018<\/a>. The company also previously acquired hauler Good Fellas<\/a>, which operated in the area.\u00a0Marion County will have 11 approved franchise haulers<\/a> available to service an estimated 170,000 homes in its unincorporated areas.<\/p>\n![\"Five](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Z3M6Ly9kaXZlc2l0ZS1zdG9yYWdlL2RpdmVpbWFnZS90aHVtYm5haWxfSU1HXzk0ODEuanBn.webp.webp\"\/)
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