Waste Connections, Inc.

The company was founded in 1997 by a group of professionals in Washington and Idaho with industry-related experience: James Cutler, Brad Bishop, Frank Cutler and Ron Mittelstaedt. Waste Connections, Inc. expanded very quickly. Within about a year of its founding the company decided to go public, launching its IPO in May 1998. The company then slowly expanded into California and the western United States. As of 2011, It had operations in 32 of the 50 U.S states. In December 2011, the company announced that it was moving its headquarters from Folsom, CA to The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Chief Executive Officer, Ron Mittelstaedt, cited California's high taxes and dysfunctional legislature as key reasons for the move.

In September 2012, it acquired R360 Environmental Solutions, a Texas waste company specializing in the oil industry. In January 2016, Waste Connections bought Progressive Waste Services of Canada for $2.67 billion. Under the deal, Waste Connections shareholders received 70% of the new company, which moved its tax headquarters to Canada. It later re-branded its Canadian division Waste Connections of Canada.

The company completed 24 acquisitions in 2024 and 13 in 2023. This was part of a broader industry trend of large companies like Waste Management and Republic Services acquiring smaller firms. The 2024 acquisitions added $750 million in annualized revenues to Waste Connections. Notable acquisitions include Royal Waste Services and Waste-Away. The Royal Waste Services entrenches Waste Connections as one of the largest commercial waste companies in New York City. As part of the 2024 acquisitions, Waste Connections added 30 facilities to its Canadian portfolio.