Arc GLOW is apparently set to sell its garbage collection and recycling business to Casella Waste Systems.
The Arc board has not yet approved the transaction, and the terms of the sale are not available.
The Batavian made multiple attempts to reach Martin Miskell, the CEO of Arc GLOW, for comment.
Joseph Fusco, a vice president with Casella, said, "We don't comment on rumors or reports of rumors."
Casella is a publicly-traded company, and Security and Exchange Commission regulations can prevent people with direct knowledge of acquisitions and mergers from discussing such transactions. There may also be non-disclosure agreements in place.
The Batavian spoke with multiple Arc-connected sources about the sale of the trash business to confirm that a deal is in the works.
According to a source, Arc GLOW listed the business for sale some time ago and fielded multiple offers before settling on Casella.
Arc of Genesee (which merged this year into Arc of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) was the exclusive garbage collection service for the City of Batavia for nearly 30 years until in 2013, when the City Council agreed to allow, or require, city residents to contract individually for waste and recycling collection.
According to sources, Arc has lost money on its trash and recycling business for several years.
Arc provides services, including multiple employment opportunities, for people with disabilities.
One source said Arc employees are worried that Arc clients employed by the trash business will lose their jobs once the transaction is final.
"There are multiple people in the trash/recycling (business) worried about losing their jobs," the source said. "Arc is supposed to be an inclusive employer with the goal of servicing the community."
Fusco was given an opportunity to address that concern during a phone interview and declined.
The source also said employees have other worries:
- Loss of the drive-in recycling service for recycling and redemption; and
- Employees who receive trash and recycling services from Arc will lose their discount.
There's no information available on when the Arc board might be asked to approve the deal or when the sale might be final.
Casella acquired two local trash haulers in 2019, Trash Away and PSI Disposal.
Waste Management is the other trash hauler with a significant presence in Genesee County.
Top photo: File photo of Arc garbage collection from 2013.
Photos by Howard Owens
The Arc Recycling Center, 3785 West Main Street Road, Batavia.
File photo. Interior of the recycling center.
File photo: Protest at City Hall in 2013 over the proposal to end the trash contract with Genesee Arc.
File photo: A packed City Council chamber for a discussion in 2013 of the Arc contract.
