Allied Waste Industries Inc., Arizona's fourth-largest public company, may be ready to merge with a big competitor while staying in the Valley.
The $6.59 billion deal would mark a bright spot in a troubled economy and in a business community that has struggled to attract and retain corporate headquarters.
The Phoenix-based company, the second-largest waste hauler in the country, and Republic Services Inc., a Fort Lauderdale company that ranks third, on Friday announced that they are discussing a merger.
