Waste Services of Florida Acquires Choice Environmental Services

Waste Services of Florida Inc. has acquired Choice Environmental Services Inc., for $123.25 million in cash. Choice Environmental is a solid waste management company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Waste Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Toronto-based waste management company Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd.

"As one of the largest independent waste and recycling service providers in Florida, Choice Environmental brings residential, commercial and industrial collection operations, along with transfer and material recovery facilities, that are well-positioned in southern and central Florida," says Joseph Quarin, vice chairman and CEO of Progressive Waste Solutions. "We are very pleased to add these assets, which strongly complement our existing collection and disposal footprint in Florida, to our growing network."

Choice Environmental, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swisher Hygiene, generates annual revenue of about $72 million through six collection operations, one municipal solid waste transfer station and one MRF. The company, in business since 2004, serves more than 150,000 residential and 7,500 commercial customers in the Southeastern, Southwestern and Central Florida regions. The company has 320 employees and more than 150 collection vehicles.