Company
Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste
services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer,
disposal and recycling services in mostly secondary markets in the
Western and Southern U.S. The Company serves more than one million
residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of
operations in 23 states. We also provide intermodal services for
the movement of containers in the Pacific Northwest.
Our corporate strategy targets secondary and suburban markets that have strong demographic growth trends and where competitive barriers to entry can be developed. We seek to avoid highly competitive, large urban markets and target markets where we can provide either non-integrated or integrated solid waste services under exclusive arrangements, or markets where we can be integrated and attain high market share. We are a leading provider of solid waste services in most of our markets, and approximately 50% of our revenues are derived from market areas where we have franchise or exclusive rights to provide our waste services.
We believe the solid waste service business is a local business managed by professionals living and working in the communities we serve. We strive to provide service excellence for those communities that place their trust in our company and are always dedicated to putting our customers first. We look to technology and growth to help our customers, employees and shareholders "Connect with the Future". As a public company we have the resources to meet every customer's needs in a cost effective and environmentally compatible manner. We understand the markets, the philosophy and the unique needs of the customers we serve whether they be industry, commercial accounts, municipal jurisdictions or individual subscribers.
Background
The company was founded in 1997 by a dedicated group of industry
professionals with over 50 years of industry experience through the
purchase of five operations in Washington and Idaho from
Browning-Ferris Industries. The company rapidly expanded into the
California market in early 1998 and now has operations throughout
23 states located primarily in the Western and Southern United
States.
Waste Connections went public in May of 1998 and is traded on the NYSE exchange under the symbol WCN.
Growth
Waste Connections has grown through a combination of both organic
growth in our existing markets and acquisitions of selected
companies in high growth markets. Operations of acquired companies
are typically enhanced through the introduction of modernized
fleets, technology, management support and the capital that comes
from being part of a publicly traded company. We look to grow
rapidly within a market through expanding the range of services we
offer and by helping our local managers to continue the success
they have built locally by expanding into adjacent regions. As we
grow, whether by acquisition or by internal growth, we seek to
constantly upgrade our level of customer service. At the same time
we look to retain the local name and goodwill associated with the
companies and the entrepreneurs who helped to build
them.
Customers
Our customers range from individual residential subscribers to
county contracts and include industrial and commercial accounts,
contracts with homeowners associations, apartment owners and mobile
home operators. We have a market based strategy for serving our
customers to provide the most cost effective solution depending on
local regulations and solid waste management practices. Where
collection services are governed by exclusive franchise agreements,
municipal contracts, or in the case of Washington, G certificates,
the company focuses on excellence in collection services, transfer
and recycling services. In other markets, not governed by these
types of agreements, we can best serve our customers and provide
the most cost-effective solution through having an integrated
company with collection, transfer and disposal.
Safety And The
Environment
We are committed to improve the environment for the future of the
communities we live in and serve. We believe that our services play
an integral part of improving the environment and we are always
mindful of having the most cost-effective waste management
solutions for our customers. In addition, we are committed to the
safety of our workers and have programs in place to continually
upgrade our risk management and environmental policies.
Technology
All our sites are linked with one another and to the corporate
offices via a wide area network that allows real time communication
for exchanging financial, customer service and internal data. The
company employs a customer service, dispatch and routing platform
that is Windows based and is both comprehensive and user friendly,
allowing for rapid changes to accommodate our ever-changing
customer needs. It is our objective to move from a highly paper
intensive business towards a more automated environment for
internal and external transactions and in the process improve
overall efficiency. The company also seeks to implement utilization
of automated equipment when appropriate and cost effective for our
customers.