Machinery, E&C and Waste: Waste Channel Checks: Fundamentals Intact

Research evidence excerpt

Machinery, E&C and Waste: Waste Channel Checks: Fundamentals Intact

Landfill and transfer volumes were slightly below expectations due to timing and

acquisition integration factors, not demand erosion.

• Contract structure: The private hauler revenue base is approximately ~40%

restricted (contracted/indexed) and ~60% open market, consistent with industry

peers. Residential business is largely municipal and contract-based, with pricing

reset annually (typically October 1), creating a lag versus inflation between resets.

Some commercial services are also embedded within these municipal contracts. In

contrast, stand-alone commercial and all disposal-related revenues (landfills,

transfer stations, MRFs) are largely open market, allowing full pricing flexibility. The

industry continues to push for waste-specific indices (~5%) over general CPI (~3%),

and Mr. Hyres stated that the operator is expanding open-market subscription

residential services in rural Southeast markets to increase pricing control (focused

corporate initiative over the past ~1.5-2 years).

• Capital spending on trucks: Mr. Hyres stated that the operator’s capital spending

remains steady and consistent, reflecting a philosophy of planning for long-term

growth rather than reacting to short-term trends. The company operates three

regional refurbishing facilities, extending truck life by ~4-5 years, and continues to

order trucks proactively given ~6-12 month lead times. The fleet is a mix of diesel

and CNG, with CNG adopted where required by large municipal contracts. Mr. Hyres

stated that the company has no intention of adopting EV trucks, citing battery

weight reducing payload capacity and operating efficiency, and has declined

contracts that would require EV adoption.