SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)     DECEMBER 16, 1999

                         HI-RISE RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     FLORIDA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                       0-21946                             65-0222933
              ------------------------         ---------------------------------
              (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer Identification No.)

           8505 N.W. 74TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA                      33166
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (305) 597-0243

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

                  On December 16, 1999, Hi-Rise Recycling Systems, Inc., a
         Florida corporation (the "Registrant"), acquired all of the issued and
         outstanding common stock of American Gooseneck, Inc., a privately held
         Arizona corporation ("American Gooseneck"). The purchase was
         consummated pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated
         as of December 13, 1999 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among
         the Registrant, American Gooseneck and all of the shareholders of
         American Gooseneck (collectively, the "Shareholders"). The aggregate
         purchase price paid by the Registrant to the Shareholders was
         approximately $11,200,000 and consisted of the following: (i)
         $8,160,883 in cash to the Shareholders, (ii) $799,116 in cash to
         Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services to satisfy amounts owed by
         American Gooseneck to such entity in full, and (iii) subject to the
         holdback described below, 1,116,418 shares of the Registrant's common
         stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Hi-Rise Common Stock"), having a
         fair market value of $2,240,000 at the time of the closing of the
         acquisition. The cash portion of the purchase price was funded through
         borrowings made under the Registrant's existing $61.0 million credit
         facility with General Electric Capital Corporation and the other
         lenders to that credit facility. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase
         Agreement, the Registrant withheld the delivery to the Shareholders of
         a number of shares of Hi-Rise Common Stock having a fair market value
         of $900,000 (the "Holdback Shares"). All or a portion of the Holdback
         Shares will be released to the Shareholders on or prior to the first
         anniversary of the closing of the acquisition depending upon whether
         American Gooseneck meets or exceeds certain agreed upon sales targets
         under specified distribution agreements. Holdback Shares not released
         to the Shareholders will be retained by the Registrant and the
         effective purchase price will be appropriately reduced. The Stock
         Purchase Agreement further provides that the Shareholders shall receive
         additional shares of Hi-Rise Common Stock if American Gooseneck meets
         or exceeds certain agreed upon earnings targets during the two-year
         period following the consummation of the acquisition. The purchase
         price was determined based upon negotiations between the Registrant,
         American Gooseneck and the Shareholders. The Stock Purchase Agreement
         also contains customary representations and warranties and
         indemnification provisions. Reference is made to the Stock Purchase
         Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto, for
         additional information concerning the terms and conditions of the
         acquisition. The Stock Purchase Agreement and such information are
         incorporated herein by reference.

                  In connection with the acquisition, American Gooseneck entered
         into a long-term lease with an affiliate of the Shareholders respecting
         American Gooseneck's principal manufacturing plant and office facility
         located in Phoenix, Arizona. The Registrant agreed to guaranty American
         Gooseneck's obligations under the lease.

                  American Gooseneck is engaged in the business of manufacturing
         and distributing solid waste handling equipment. American Gooseneck's
         product lines includes large

                                       2
<PAGE>

industrial compaction systems, small and roll-off waste containers, hoists and
tarpers for truck hauling vehicles and a full line of recycling equipment.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED

             Not Applicable.

         (b) PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

             Not Applicable.

         (c) EXHIBITS

             2.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 13, 1999, by
                    and among Hi-Rise Recycling Systems, Inc., American
                    Gooseneck, Inc., and the shareholders of American Gooseneck.

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                HI-RISE RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC.

Dated:  December 29, 1999       By:  /S/ BRADLEY HACKER, Chief Financial Officer

                                       4
<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                     SEQUENTIAL
                                                                        PAGE
  EXHIBITS                    DESCRIPTION                              NUMBER
  --------                    -----------                              ------
    2.1        Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of
               December 13, 1999, by and among Hi-Rise
               Recycling Systems, Inc., American Gooseneck,
               Inc. and the shareholders of American Gooseneck,
               Inc.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HI RISE RECYCLING SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000906605", "assigned-sic": "3559", "irs-number": "650222933", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-21946", "film-number": "99782922"}, "business-address": {"street1": "8505 N W 74TH STREET", "city": "MIAMI", "state": "FL", "zip": "33166", "phone": "3055970243"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)     DECEMBER 16, 1999

                         HI-RISE RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     FLORIDA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                       0-21946                             65-0222933
              ------------------------         ---------------------------------
              (Commission File Number)         (IRS Employer Identification No.)

           8505 N.W. 74TH STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA                      33166
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (305) 597-0243

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

                  On December 16, 1999, Hi-Rise Recycling Systems, Inc., a
         Florida corporation (the "Registrant"), acquired all of the issued and
         outstanding common stock of American Gooseneck, Inc., a privately held
         Arizona corporation ("American Gooseneck"). The purchase was
         consummated pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated
         as of December 13, 1999 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among
         the Registrant, American Gooseneck and all of the shareholders of
         American Gooseneck (collectively, the "Shareholders"). The aggregate
         purchase price paid by the Registrant to the Shareholders was
         approximately $11,200,000 and consisted of the following: (i)
         $8,160,883 in cash to the Shareholders, (ii) $799,116 in cash to
         Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services to satisfy amounts owed by
         American Gooseneck to such entity in full, and (iii) subject to the
         holdback described below, 1,116,418 shares of the Registrant's common
         stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Hi-Rise Common Stock"), having a
         fair market value of $2,240,000 at the time of the closing of the
         acquisition. The cash portion of the purchase price was funded through
         borrowings made under the Registrant's existing $61.0 million credit
         facility with General Electric Capital Corporation and the other
         lenders to that credit facility. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase
         Agreement, the Registrant withheld the delivery to the Shareholders of
         a number of shares of Hi-Rise Common Stock having a fair market value
         of $900,000 (the "Holdback Shares"). All or a portion of the Holdback
         Shares will be released to the Shareholders on or prior to the first
         anniversary of the closing of the acquisition depending upon whether
         American Gooseneck meets or exceeds certain agreed upon sales targets
         under specified distribution agreements. Holdback Shares not released
         to the Shareholders will be retained by the Registrant and the
         effective purchase price will be appropriately reduced. The Stock
         Purchase Agreement further provides that the Shareholders shall receive
         additional shares of Hi-Rise Common Stock if American Gooseneck meets
         or exceeds certain agreed upon earnings targets during the two-year
         period following the consummation of the acquisition. The purchase
         price was determined based upon negotiations between the Registrant,
         American Gooseneck and the Shareholders. The Stock Purchase Agreement
         also contains customary representations and warranties and
         indemnification provisions. Reference is made to the Stock Purchase
         Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 hereto, for
         additional information concerning the terms and conditions of the
         acquisition. The Stock Purchase Agreement and such information are
         incorporated herein by reference.

                  In connection with the acquisition, American Gooseneck entered
         into a long-term lease with an affiliate of the Shareholders respecting
         American Gooseneck's principal manufacturing plant and office facility
         located in Phoenix, Arizona. The Registrant agreed to guaranty American
         Gooseneck's obligations under the lease.

                  American Gooseneck is engaged in the business of manufacturing
         and distributing solid waste handling equipment. American Gooseneck's
         product lines includes large

                                       2
industrial compaction systems, small and roll-off waste containers, hoists and
tarpers for truck hauling vehicles and a full line of recycling equipment.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS

         (a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED

             Not Applicable.

         (b) PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

             Not Applicable.

         (c) EXHIBITS

             2.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 13, 1999, by
                    and among Hi-Rise Recycling Systems, Inc., American
                    Gooseneck, Inc., and the shareholders of American Gooseneck.

                                       3
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                HI-RISE RECYCLING SYSTEMS, INC.

Dated:  December 29, 1999       By:  /S/ BRADLEY HACKER, Chief Financial Officer

                                       4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                     SEQUENTIAL
                                                                        PAGE
  EXHIBITS                    DESCRIPTION                              NUMBER
  --------                    -----------                              ------
    2.1        Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of
               December 13, 1999, by and among Hi-Rise
               Recycling Systems, Inc., American Gooseneck,
               Inc. and the shareholders of American Gooseneck,
               Inc.