Tampa-based College Hunks Hauling Junk merges with 1-800-Junk-USA

College Hunks Hauling Junk, the trash removal operation launched by two college kids that grew into a national franchise, has a new corporate owner.

1-800-Junk-USA, a full-service waste management and recycling company, has merged with College Hunks, the companies said Wednesday.

Omar Soliman, CEO of Tampa-based College Hunks, said the 1-800-Junk inbound call center would likely be moved to Tampa and integrated with College Hunk's call center.

"Probably the most annoying thing in dealing with trash companies is that you don't know who to call," Soliman said. "1-800-Junk provides this national number for us."

The companies will continue to operate separately with the same top management, but they plan to cross-market as they seek ways to leverage their national footprints and client relationships.

"Enhancing our service offering now opens the floodgates to corporate business contracts and sweetens the pot for prospective franchise owners and investors who are scouting business opportunities with consistent revenue streams and long-term strategic partnerships," College Hunks president Nick Friedman said.

Soliman said he and his partners raised $3 million in investment capital to help the company grow, and he anticipates raising $3 million to $5 million more in a second round.

The operation began in Washington, D.C., in 2003 when then-college students Friedman and Soliman tried to make money during summer vacation by taking away trash, recycling much of their haul.

In 2008, Friedman, then 25, and Soliman, then 24, relocated to Tampa and opened a national hub on W Gandy Boulevard. Today, College Hunks operates as a franchise in more than 35 markets servicing both commercial and residential clients.

Financial terms of the deal with 1-800-Junk USA were not released. But Soliman said he and Friedman would continue to sit on the boards of both organizations and hold equity in both companies.