Interstate Waste Services bought North Atlantic Waste & Recycling, extending its reach across central and southern Connecticut and advancing a strategy centered on rail and recycling. | Dr. Pixel / Shutterstock
Interstate Waste Services has expanded its Connecticut operations with the acquisition of North Atlantic Waste & Recycling, a family-owned hauler formerly known as Country Disposal.
The deal, announced September 22, brings North Atlantic’s service area, workforce and fleet operations into the Interstate Waste system. Leaders from both companies said the move will preserve community ties while adding new resources.
“We’re excited to welcome North Atlantic Waste & Recycling, a respected family-owned business, to the IWS team,” said Mike DiBella, founder and CEO of Interstate Waste Services, in a statement. “This acquisition strengthens our presence in Connecticut and affirms our ongoing commitment to delivering dependable, community-focused service.”
Mike Couden, owner of North Atlantic, said joining forces with Interstate Waste ensures continuity for employees and customers. “After decades of serving our community as a family-owned business, we’re proud to join forces with Interstate Waste Services,” he said. “IWS shares our commitment to reliability, integrity and putting customers first. This partnership ensures our legacy continues while enhancing the resources and support available to our team and the communities we serve.”
New Jersey-based Interstate Waste said the transaction will integrate North Atlantic’s full-service offerings and equipment into its existing operations, boosting capacity in central and southern Connecticut.
The acquisition is the latest in a series of growth moves for Interstate Waste, which is one of the largest privately held solid waste companies in the US. The company has purchased multiple haulers in recent years, including Seaside Waste Services in New Jersey, Pinto Service in northern New Jersey, Oak Ridge Waste & Recycling in southwestern Connecticut and suburban New York and Marangi Disposal in New York’s Orange and Rockland counties.
The Oak Ridge deal was announced in February 2024 after Interstate Waste completed an equity recapitalization with Ares Management and Littlejohn & Co. in late 2023. Oak Ridge brought a network of transfer stations and material recovery facilities in Connecticut and New York, as well as a waste-by-rail hub in Danbury.
Interstate Waste has also been investing in recycling infrastructure. In April 2025, the company opened a $30 million MRF in North Arlington, New Jersey. That facility, built with Machinex technology, includes artificial intelligence-powered sorting, magnetic separation and glass clean-up systems. It is capable of processing 215,000 tons per year and receives material from New York City’s five boroughs.
At the time of that opening, DiBella said the investment would improve capture rates and divert more material from landfills. Interstate Waste also noted that the North Arlington plant feeds into the company’s waste-by-rail system, which is designed to cut truck trips and lower carbon dioxide emissions.
The company now operates more than 1,000 collection vehicles across the greater New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut markets. Its network includes 33 MRF, transfer and transload facilities, along with a rail-served landfill. Interstate Waste has positioned itself as a leader in using rail to move waste, which the company says reduces road congestion and environmental impact.
The North Atlantic purchase continues that strategy, bolstering the company’s position in Connecticut while allowing the Couden family’s business to remain active under a larger umbrella. Interstate Waste described the deal as a partnership that blends legacy with scale.
“With North Atlantic joining our team, we are not only expanding our service footprint but also reinforcing the principles that have defined both companies for decades,” DiBella said.
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