The waste recycling services market has grown from $58.53 billion in 2023 to $62.22 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. Such historic growth can be attributed to:

PS International designs, engineers, and delivers peak-performance oil-water separators with supporting lift stations and specialty tanks for industrial and commercial wastewater treatment. The company serves a diversified customer base that includes contractors and resellers in the industrial and commercial markets in the US and abroad.

Premier Grease Recycling & Services LLC is a waste oil and removal company headquartered in Abilene, Texas. The company provides recycling services to their clients, supplemental container system installation, and repairs at client facilities.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Dublin-based Macro Works by environmental consultancy APEM.

Macro Works is a landscape consultancy firm specialising in the landscape & visual impact assessment (LVIA) of proposed developments, particularly in large scale infrastructure projects such as wind farms, solar farms, road schemes, and water/electrical transmission. The company also produces photomontages, 3D visual simulations, glint & glare reports, and landscape design.

APEM provides independent environmental consultancy and expert advice to a wide range of industries including water, renewables, power & utilities, marine & ports, transport, construction, and development. The company provides digital aerial wildlife surveys, specialist marine, freshwater, terrestrial ecology, and geospatial services to organisations across the world.

APEM has offices in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Germany, and the USA. Since receiving private equity investment from WestBridge in 2019, APEM has seen its revenue grow from £10m to a forecast c.£60m in the current financial year, employing 540 people across five divisions.

Earlier this week, APEM announced it had secured a +£50m debt package and additional accordion from Tikehau Investment Management UK, with an additional £7.5m working capital facility from Virgin Money to accelerate its ambitious growth strategy.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Canterbury-based Herrington Consulting to Cambridge-based Environmental Protection Services (EPS).

Established in 2005, Herrington Consulting offers a comprehensive service offering with expertise across four areas: flood risk management, surface water and drainage management, daylight and sunlight impact assessments, and coastal engineering and risk management. Employing state-of-the-art computer modelling to unlock some of the most technically challenging sites the company has the ability to serve a range of clients including architects, local authorities, and housing developers.

Established 20 years ago, EPS has extensive experience through a diverse range of geotechnical and environmental consultancy projects for a diverse range of clients in the residential, retail, industrial and petrochemical sectors. The company offers a UK wide geographical coverage from its offices in Cambridge, Leeds, Bristol, and Glasgow.

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Huco Consulting, Inc and Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. The reasons for targeting were strategic expansion and the added value that Huco would bring to the table.

As a business owner, you may have noticed an increase in conversations regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies in the workplace and B Corp status. Even though these policies are being implemented more frequently with larger companies, many small and mid-size business owners are not fully aware of what these policies are, what they mean, and how they are affecting investor behavior and M&A transactions. Let’s start by breaking down exactly what ESG is. 

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the sale of Worcestershire-based Ecology Solutions to Nottingham-based Phenna Group.

Established in 1996, Ecology Solutions is an ecology and environmental planning practice. The group offers an unrivalled turnkey service, supporting all stages from site assessment to public inquiry and implementation. The group’s expertise with legal processes, including presenting evidence in the courts and at public inquiries, has positioned it at the forefront of its marketplace and sees it maintain an enviable and unique profile within the Planning and Environment Bar, which is not replicated anywhere in the sector.

Established in 2018, Phenna provides investment and strategic leadership to companies in the testing, inspection, certification, and compliance (TICC) sector. Its aim is to build a global portfolio of independent TICC businesses.

Ecology Solutions is the group’s sixth acquisition in 2021 and the fifth business in its rapidly expanding Infrastructure & Construction Division. It also represents the third acquisition conducted via Benchmark International, which have included the acquisitions of GMES and Facit Testing.

IntraCoastal Environmental (ICE) is a leading provider of environmental, industrial, and emergency response services in the Southeastern United States. ICE has two offices in Jacksonville, FL, and Savanah, GA. The principals of ICE attribute their success to a solid framework of proven policies developed over the years and exceptional customer service. “The industry is wrought with operators that will drop everything they are doing on one job for higher margins on another. ICE is safe, provides quality workmanship, and is, most importantly, dependable. When we start a job, we will finish it, and that’s what keeps our customers coming back.”

The Ambipar Group is a publicly-traded multinational entity based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, formed by two companies: Environment and Response. With focus and agility, these two segments offer a vertically integrated structure that provides a wide range of services to fifteen different countries across six continents. Lead by Pulsar, a Brazilian Investment Bank, Ambipar executed its first transaction in the USA in 2019. ICE served as the first of many bolt-on acquisitions in an aggressive strategy to consolidate the market recreate their superior business model in the United States.

US travel bans due to COVID-19 caused both sides of the transaction to build trust in innovative ways to keep the momentum going. The alignment between the acquisition and growth strategy of Ambipar and ICE’s operations is what motivated both buyer and seller to push through the difficulties in today’s
ever-changing landscape.

Regarding the deal completion, Senior Associate Sean Fechtmann at Benchmark International commented, “IntraCoastal was by far one of the most exceptional clients we have had the pleasure of representing. From day one, it was clear the management team and financial systems would make this process successful. The principals of ICE were diligent in our shared efforts to pursue a sale while simultaneously driving meaningful growth in their company along the way.”

Benchmark International has advised on the transaction between remediation specialist, Ecologia, and environmental and engineering services specialist, RSK.

Founded in 2000, Ecologia provides services in the area of contaminated land consultancy, site investigation and remediation, and specialised support for environmental claims. With headquarters in Sittingbourne and further sites in Stafford, Devon and Bologna, Ecologia employs a workforce of 45.

RSK is an integrated environmental, engineering and technical services consultancy, which has 36 international offices, more than 2,700 employees and an annual turnover of £200m. It is currently investing in the development of new businesses, bolt-on complementary businesses, equipment and capabilities to increase its services and expand internationally.

With Ecologia previously supporting RSK on projects, most recently in Africa and the Dominican Republic, joining forces will enable RSK to strengthen its internal site remediation resources and equipment, grow its remediation capability and expand into new markets. As well, with Ecologia’s base in Italy and extensive international experience, the company also strengthens RSK’s international expansion across Europe.

Ecologia will join RSK’s contracting division under the direction of RSK Divisional Director Claire Knighton but will continue to be led by current Managing Director Giacomo Maini.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the acquisition of Bean, Whitaker, Lutz & Kareh, Inc.Bean, Whitaker, Lutz & Kareh, Inc. (BWLK) by CES, Inc. BWLK provides land surveying, mapping, civil engineering, and land planning services in Florida.

BWLK has been in the land surveying, planning, and engineering services business since 1987. The company’s proven track record, commitment to high-quality, professional work, combined with its advanced engineering and surveying technology has enabled BWLK to establish a solid reputation and build long-lasting client relationships.

CES, Inc., a Maine-based firm of engineers, environmental scientists, and land surveyors is expanding its footprint to the Southeast. Denis St. Peter, President and CEO of CES, commented, “CES, Inc. has been utilizing M&A as one of our strategies to help achieve our growth goals over the past several years. By working with Sunny Garten, Leo Vanderschuur, and their team at Benchmark International to acquire Bean, Whitaker, Lutz & Kareh, Inc., we were able to identify and perform preliminary evaluations of several companies quickly and accurately within our targeted geographic area. Benchmark represented several prospective sellers that fit our criteria, and the responsiveness and quality of their initial teaser summaries and more detailed confidential information memorandums allowed us to optimize our search efforts to end up with the best company for CES, Inc. Their significant knowledge of the acquisition process, the sophistication of their systems (e.g., online data exchange), and their willingness to communicate deal structures based on their past experiences were all valuable to the success of our acquisition.”  

Scott Whitaker, president and one of BWLK’s owners stated, “On behalf of everyone at BWLK, we are delighted to join the CES team. The more we learned about CES’ approach to its employees and clients, including its Best Places to Work recognition and past project awards, the more we grew excited about our partnership. By joining our professionals with theirs, we will offer new opportunities to our employees and continue our dedication to our clients and provide them the same high-quality services they enjoy.”

“I am honored to join CES as a Shareholder and to help be the link between Maine and Florida,” said Ahmad Kareh, also an owner of BWLK. “CES’ depth of engineering and environmental experts means that we will be able to collaborate with shared expertise to provide our clients with additional capabilities to reach their project’s goals.”

Regarding the deal, Transaction Director Leo VanderSchuur at Benchmark International stated, “It was a pleasure to represent BWLK in this strategic transaction. On behalf of Benchmark International, we wish both companies continued success.” Senior Associate, Sunny Garten, added, “Scott, Ahmad and their team were wonderful to work with. They were engaging and always responsive to diligence requests. We’re excited to see that their legacy will be preserved and enhanced through this transaction with CES.”