Allied Waste may sell for more than $6 billion

Cape Girardeau's director of public works is unruffled by Tuesday's announcement that Republic Services has agreed to buy Allied Waste Industries -- which owns Lemons Landfill.

"Until that finally goes through and we see what changes they make, I won't know if there are any cost changes for us or not," he said. "I expect about anything."

Gramling said he understood the merger could result in cost savings and hoped that would be reflected in customers' prices.

Republic Services agreed to pay more than $6 billion for its rival, in a deal that will not be complete until later this year.

Allied Waste purchased Lemons Landfill and hauling operation, just north of Dexter's city limits, in April 1993. The landfill opened in 1994 and was Missouri's first "Subtitle D" landfill.

Details on the merger, along with Federal Trade Commission-required disclaimers, are posted at www.republicallied.com.

A statement on the Web site indicates the companies will conduct business as usual until merger details are finalized in the fourth quarter of this year.