Chicago-area recycler makes acquisition

Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), a Morton Grove, Illinois-based recycling and waste diversion firm, has announced the acquisition of Heartland Recycling, a recycling firm headquartered in Forest View, Illinois.

With the acquisition of Heartland, LRS says it will be able to process more than 1.5 million tons of material per year. The company adds that with the deal it will control and process more municipal solid waste than any other privately held company in Illinois and will have an expanded footprint in Chicago.

Currently LRS operates four material recovery facilities (MRFs) and transfer stations in the Chicago area. The acquisition will increase the revenue of LRS to more than $100 million and will add nearly 10 percent to its existing workforce.

One of the predecessor companies of LRS was Recycling Systems Inc., which built and operated two mixed construction & demolition (C&D) debris recycling plants that LRS now operates.

Heartland processes more than 600,000 tons of discarded materials per year, operates two MRFs and serves more than 500 municipal and commercial customers.

“The acquisition of Heartland is a defining moment for LRS and validates our leadership position as one of the Midwest's largest independent diversified waste services companies,” says Alan Handley, CEO of LRS. “We welcome Heartland customers and employees to the LRS family and we remain committed to realizing aggressive and profitable growth, both organically and through strategic acquisition.”

LRS, which has been providing hauling and recycling services in the Chicago area for more than 12 years, offers recycling and waste diversion programs, rolloff container services and waste removal to businesses and residential homeowners throughout the Chicago area.