Here is a peek at some of the underlying premises of consolidation that should give you a better understanding of what’s going on.
1. Consolidation does not mean the demise of the independent. The waste management industry had about 11,000 firms when consolidation began around a quarter-century ago. Now there are about 9,000 companies engaged in that business. The consolidated giants like Waste Management and Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) control a big chunk of market share, but plenty of niche players continue to prosper. So it will be in the PHC industry.