Browning-Ferris Industries said Tuesday it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ACCO Waste Paper Cos., the Southwest's largest independent collector and processor of paper for recycling.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by BFI to gain access to markets for recyclable materials. BFI last month announced agreements with other companies for paper and aluminum recycling and last year reached a similar agreement involving plastic.Terms of the ACCO agreement were not disclosed.
"BFI is committed to expanding our involvement in the recycling process as an important part of our contribution to answering today's solid-waste challenges," said James B. Mattly, southwest region vice president.
"Because high transportation costs make paper recyling a very local operation, we are pleased to be taking a major step in Houston and the southwest by acquiring the region's premier waste paper recycling company."
ACCO, founded in Houston more than 40 years ago, collects, separates and processes corrugated cardboard, newspaper and all types of high-grade paper. It has facilities in Houston, San Antonio and Austin.
A specialized fleet of ACCO trucks also collects on-site baled corrugated paper from stores and businesses throughout east, central and south Texas. The company also processes recyclable materials collected by the city of Austin in its 100,000-plus-home curbside program.
Houston-based BFI is one of the largest publicly held companies primarily providing waste services.
"As part of BFI, we expect to handle substantially larger volumes each month," said ACCO President Alan Stein. "We expect our growth to increase as we become more involved in working to recycle a larger portion of BFI's overall waste stream, and as we examine expansion opportunities in other markets."
BFI last month announced an agreement under which Weyerhaeuser Paper Co. will purchase up to 10,000 tons a month of newspaper, cardboard and office paper collected by BFI in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada.
The company also announced in June an agreement under which Alcoa Recycling Co. will buy cans collected by BFI in curbside recycling programs. Last year, Wellman Inc. agreed to accept about 100 tons of plastics from BFI each month for recycling.
BFI currently operates more than 150 curbside recycling programs reaching 1.4 million households nationwide, including those in Utah.