Allied Waste Industries History and Evolution

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Two women sorting glass and plastic waste in an indoor recycling center.
Credit: pexels.com, Two women sorting glass and plastic waste in an indoor recycling center.

Allied Waste Industries has a rich history that spans decades. The company was founded in 1937 by Fred L. Morgan Sr. in Phoenix, Arizona.

Allied Waste Industries started as a small waste management company, but it quickly grew to become one of the largest waste management companies in the United States. By the 1990s, the company had expanded to over 1,000 locations across the country.

The company's early success can be attributed to its focus on providing reliable and efficient waste management services to its customers. This focus allowed Allied Waste Industries to build strong relationships with its customers and establish a reputation for excellence in the industry.

Throughout its history, Allied Waste Industries has continued to evolve and adapt to changing market conditions and customer needs.

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Company History

Allied Waste Industries was founded on a philosophy of rapid expansion, with a 53% increase in landfill area in 1993. The company's growth accelerated under the leadership of Van Weelden and Ramsey.

Credit: youtube.com, Jerry Schnitzius, former general manager of Allied Waste in San diego, CA

In 1996, Allied Waste made the biggest deal in the industry by acquiring the North American solid waste unit of Laidlaw, Inc. for $1.5 billion, bringing in 17 new markets and making AWI the fourth largest trash-disposal company in the United States.

The acquisition brought AWI's annual revenues from $169 million to approximately $1 billion, but also increased the company's debt-to-capital ratio to 82%. Despite this, Ramsey was confident in the decision, stating that the company wouldn't have taken on the risk if it didn't think it could manage the debt.

Allied Waste continued to grow, acquiring Browning-Ferris Industries, Inc. (BFI) in 1998 for a roughly $9 billion offer, making AWI the second largest waste disposal company in the United States.

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Roots: 1987-1990

In 1987, the company was founded by a group of entrepreneurs with a vision to revolutionize the industry.

The founders' experience in the field dates back to the early 1980s, where they worked on various projects that laid the groundwork for the company's future success.

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Expansion and Growth (1993–1996)

Drone shot capturing the expansive urban landscape and development in Gurugram, India.
Credit: pexels.com, Drone shot capturing the expansive urban landscape and development in Gurugram, India.

In 1993, Allied Waste's landfill area increased by 53 percent, showing the company's rapid expansion under the leadership of Van Weelden and Ramsey.

The company's headquarters was relocated from Houston to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1993, a strategic move likely made to adapt to changing market conditions.

New acquisitions in the early 1990s helped Allied Waste expand its role in established markets like Illinois, and gain new major markets such as Georgia and St. Louis, Missouri.

AWI acquired Southern States Environmental Services, Inc. and related companies in Georgia, and Midwest Waste Inc. and related companies in St. Louis, Missouri, marking significant milestones in the company's growth.

In 1996, Allied Waste made a major acquisition by purchasing the North American solid waste unit of Laidlaw, Inc. for $1.5 billion, which brought AWI into 17 new markets and made it the fourth largest trash-disposal company in the United States.

This acquisition led to a significant increase in AWI's annual revenues, shooting from $169 million to approximately $1 billion.

Focus Shift: 1999 Onward

Side view of a vintage blue truck loaded with recyclable waste on a sunny day.
Credit: pexels.com, Side view of a vintage blue truck loaded with recyclable waste on a sunny day.

In 1999, Allied Waste's purchase of BFI was a major triumph, but it also brought significant financial burdens. The company's size tripled in a short period, making it difficult to divest assets quickly.

Van Weelden, CEO of AWI, emphasized the importance of controlling costs and delivering margins on a larger asset base. He stated that the focus would be on operating efficiently.

AWI targeted an internalization rate of around 70 percent, aiming to increase it from 57 percent. This goal was ambitious, considering the rate had dropped to 50 percent after the Laidlaw acquisition.

To achieve this goal, AWI implemented cost-cutting measures, including reducing headcount. The company cut 2,900 jobs in 2000, which helped to control costs.

The economic recession in 2001 and the tragic events of September 11 had a significant impact on AWI's financial performance. Net income dropped to $0.13 per share in the third quarter of 2001, compared to $0.27 per share in the same quarter of 2000.

A large truck carrying bales of compressed plastic waste on a sunny city street in Mexico.
Credit: pexels.com, A large truck carrying bales of compressed plastic waste on a sunny city street in Mexico.

Despite these challenges, AWI generated $480 million in free cash flow and reduced its debt by $389 million in 2001. This was a remarkable achievement, given the economic conditions.

The company's focus on cost-cutting and internalization helped it to recover from the recession. By the end of 2001, AWI's internalization rate had increased to 67 percent.

Key Information

Allied Waste Industries was a leading waste management company that operated in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1970.

The company was acquired by Waste Management, Inc. in 2007 for $4.4 billion. This deal marked a significant shift in the industry, creating one of the largest waste management companies in North America.

Allied Waste Industries had a strong presence in the western United States and Canada, with a network of landfills, transfer stations, and recycling facilities.

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Headquarters Location

Our headquarters is located at 15880 North Greenway-Hayden Loop Suite 100.

You can find us in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the specific address of 85260.

Compare to Competitors

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Allied Waste Industries has a competitor in Holding d'Infrastructures des Metiers de l'Environnement, a French company that manages water services within the utilities sector.

Founded in 2007, Holding d'Infrastructures des Metiers de l'Environnement provides support to local authorities and industrial companies in the engineering, construction, and operation of water projects.

This company is based in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France, which is a significant location for its operations.

Subsidiaries and Mergers

Allied Waste Industries had several principal subsidiaries, including Allied Waste Industries of Illinois, Allied Waste North America, and Allied Waste Systems.

Browning-Ferris Industries was also one of the company's subsidiaries.

In 2008, Republic Services proposed to merge with Allied Waste Industries, creating the second-largest waste hauling and disposal company in the US. The merger was subject to certain divestiture requirements, which were approved by the DOJ and seven state attorneys general.

The combined company will have annual revenue of about $9 billion and a total market capitalization of about $12 billion, serving over 13 million customers in 40 states and Puerto Rico.

Principal Subsidiaries

Credit: youtube.com, Mergers and Acquisitions

Allied Waste Industries has a complex corporate structure with multiple subsidiaries.

The company has several key subsidiaries, including Allied Waste Industries of Illinois, which operates in the state of Illinois.

Allied Waste North America is another significant subsidiary, overseeing the company's operations across North America.

Allied Waste Systems is also a notable subsidiary, handling various aspects of waste management.

Browning-Ferris Industries is a subsidiary that has been mentioned in corporate filings, indicating its importance within the company.

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Republic Services Merger

Republic Services proposed to merge with Allied Waste Industries in 2008, creating the second- and third-largest players in the disposal industry.

The merger was valued at $6.07 billion, with Republic Services paying Allied Waste shareholders $14.04 per share, a nearly 4% premium to Allied's closing stock price.

Republic Services will pay Allied Waste shareholders 0.45 worth of a Republic share for each share held, valued at $14.04 per share based on Republic's Friday closing stock price of $31.19.

Credit: youtube.com, Republic Services merger with Allied Waste

The combined company will have annual revenue of about $9 billion and a total market capitalization of about $12 billion, serving over 13 million customers in 40 states and Puerto Rico.

More than 35,000 employees will work for the combined company, which will be led by Republic Chairman and Chief Executive James E. O'Connor.

Allied's Don Slager will become president and chief operating officer of the combined company, and the new company's board will consist of 11 members.

The merger is expected to close by the fourth quarter, and add to Republic's earnings per share in the first year after closing.

Republic Services is expected to continue its current annual dividend of 68 cents per share, and the combined company will be named Republic Services Inc. and traded under the ticker symbol 'RSG' on The New York Stock Exchange.

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Regulatory and Financial

Allied Waste Industries, a leading waste management company, had a complex regulatory landscape to navigate.

Man in Waste Collector Uniform with Garbage Bag
Credit: pexels.com, Man in Waste Collector Uniform with Garbage Bag

The company was subject to various federal and state regulations, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Allied Waste Industries had to comply with these regulations, which governed the handling and disposal of hazardous waste.

The company's financial performance was heavily influenced by the costs associated with complying with these regulations.

In 2002, Allied Waste Industries reported a net income of $104.8 million on revenue of $3.4 billion.

The company's financials were affected by the high costs of waste disposal and the need to invest in new technologies to meet regulatory requirements.

Allied Waste Industries' financial stability allowed it to maintain a strong credit rating and access the capital markets for funding.

The company's bond rating was upgraded from BBB to BBB+ by Standard & Poor's in 2001, reflecting its improved financial performance.

About the Company

Allied Waste Industries was founded in 1989 by a group of entrepreneurs.

Credit: youtube.com, Allied Waste Commercial with Bob St. Clair

The company started as a small waste management firm in the Midwest.

Allied Waste Industries was acquired by Waste Management in 2008.

This acquisition marked a significant shift in the company's operations and strategy.

As a result, Allied Waste Industries' assets and operations were integrated into Waste Management's existing network.

The combined company now serves over 21 million customers across North America.

Minnie Dietrich

Senior Assigning Editor

Minnie Dietrich is an accomplished Assigning Editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in journalism, she has honed her skills in curating engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences. Throughout her career, Minnie has demonstrated expertise in assigning and editing articles across a range of categories, including technology, finance, and lifestyle.

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