Priority First Carting sold to Century Waste Services

Priority First Carting completed the sale of its commercial waste operations to Century Waste Services on June 16, 2026, after securing required approvals from New York City regulators. The deal puts Century in two Commercial Waste Zone award categories and sets up a transition ahead of Staten Island zone operations starting July 1.

Why it matters: - The sale consolidates more commercial waste business under Century Waste Services as New York City’s zone-based system moves forward. - Priority First Carting’s customers and routes will transition ahead of Staten Island Commercial Waste Zone operations beginning July 1, 2026. - Century now holds authorizations in two Commercial Waste Zone award categories: citywide containerized commercial waste and Staten Island.

What happened: - Priority First Carting Inc. completed the sale of its commercial waste operations to Century Waste Services, L.L.C. on June 16, 2026. - New York City Business Integrity Commission and New York City Department of Sanitation approvals were required before the asset sale could close. - The Staten Island hauler was founded by Freddie Gonzalez in 2013 and had grown from seven customers into a recognized borough operator.

The details: - In February 2024, Priority First Carting was named one of three haulers awarded a 10-year Commercial Waste Zone contract for Staten Island. - The business remained a family operation, with Gonzalez’s wife running customer service and his son, Freddie Jr., managing the mechanic shop and route operations. - Century Waste Services received the Citywide Containerized Commercial Waste Zone from the New York City Department of Sanitation in May 2026. - The transaction gives Century a Staten Island Commercial Waste Zone contract in addition to its citywide containerized award. - Priority First Carting retained Academie NBD LLC, led by Principal Bobby Choe, to advise on the transaction. - Academie retained Locol Waste LLC, led by Founder Adam Pasquale, as its industry consultant. - The advisory structure combined Choe’s 25 years of mergers, acquisitions and private equity experience with Pasquale’s 30-year waste-industry background. - Pasquale said his relationships with Freddie Gonzalez and Century’s Marc Savino helped bring the deal together. - Pasquale and Choe plan to keep advising waste-industry mergers and acquisitions through the Academie and Locol Waste partnership.

Between the lines: - The deal reflects how regulated route markets can create value for family-owned haulers as larger operators expand through zone awards and acquisitions. - Priority First Carting’s sale came after more than a decade of growth, suggesting a founder exit that also preserves customer continuity through a larger platform. - The transaction also shows how industry veterans and advisory firms can play a central role in matching buyers and sellers in New York City’s waste sector.

What's next: - Priority First Carting will support a smooth handoff of customers and operations to Century ahead of the July 1, 2026 Staten Island start date. - Century is positioned to operate in both the citywide containerized market and the Staten Island zone as the system opens. - Academie NBD and Locol Waste plan to continue pursuing waste-sector M&A opportunities in New York City and other markets.

The bottom line: - A long-running Staten Island family hauler has exited to a larger citywide operator as New York City’s commercial waste zone rollout accelerates.