UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 20192020
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                     to                     
Commission file number 000-23211
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware03-0338873
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

25 Greens Hill Lane,
Rutland,Vermont05701
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (802) 775-0325
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per shareCWSTThe NASDAQNasdaq Stock Market LLC
(NASDAQNasdaq Global Select Market)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes      No  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated filer

Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company

Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  No  
The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of October 15, 2019:2020:
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share:46,792,75847,384,433 
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share:988,200 





PART I.
ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited) 
ASSETSASSETSASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:CURRENT ASSETS:CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents$5,028  $4,007  Cash and cash equivalents$21,127 $3,471 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,478 and $931, respectively89,882  74,937  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,681 and $1,468, respectivelyAccounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $2,681 and $1,468, respectively73,604 80,205 
Refundable income taxesRefundable income taxes2,789  2,254  Refundable income taxes274 1,251 
Prepaid expensesPrepaid expenses8,423  7,345  Prepaid expenses11,250 8,994 
InventoryInventory6,976  6,542  Inventory8,059 7,679 
Other current assetsOther current assets693  2,008  Other current assets1,433 1,213 
Total current assetsTotal current assets113,791  97,093  Total current assets115,747 102,813 
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $831,950 and $878,701, respectively434,081  404,577  
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $890,386 and $844,874, respectivelyProperty, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $890,386 and $844,874, respectively492,022 443,825 
Operating lease right-of-use assetsOperating lease right-of-use assets109,604  —  Operating lease right-of-use assets101,433 108,025 
GoodwillGoodwill184,295  162,734  Goodwill192,379 185,819 
Intangible assets, netIntangible assets, net60,983  34,767  Intangible assets, net59,390 58,721 
Restricted assetsRestricted assets1,410  1,248  Restricted assets1,619 1,586 
Cost method investmentsCost method investments11,264  11,264  Cost method investments11,264 11,264 
Deferred income taxesDeferred income taxes8,840  9,594  Deferred income taxes7,390 8,577 
Other non-current assetsOther non-current assets11,512  11,133  Other non-current assets13,011 11,552 
Total assetsTotal assets$935,780  $732,410  Total assets$994,255 $932,182 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
(Unaudited) (Unaudited) 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITYLIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:CURRENT LIABILITIES:CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases$3,571  $2,298  
Current maturities of debtCurrent maturities of debt$8,588 $4,301 
Current operating lease liabilitiesCurrent operating lease liabilities9,582  —  Current operating lease liabilities8,078 9,356 
Accounts payableAccounts payable59,370  57,289  Accounts payable55,825 64,396 
Accrued payroll and related expensesAccrued payroll and related expenses10,116  10,969  Accrued payroll and related expenses13,400 14,375 
Accrued interestAccrued interest2,340  2,415  Accrued interest2,074 2,041 
Contract liabilitiesContract liabilities2,812  3,074  Contract liabilities2,754 2,299 
Current accrued capping, closure and post-closure costsCurrent accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs8,527  11,633  Current accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs11,003 10,223 
Other accrued liabilitiesOther accrued liabilities30,641  23,819  Other accrued liabilities35,827 23,598 
Total current liabilitiesTotal current liabilities126,959  111,497  Total current liabilities137,549 130,589 
Long-term debt and finance leases, less current portion523,975  542,001  
Debt, less current portionDebt, less current portion531,129 509,021 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portionOperating lease liabilities, less current portion71,910  —  Operating lease liabilities, less current portion67,365 70,709 
Accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portionAccrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portion64,092  61,442  Accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portion66,016 61,704 
Deferred income taxesDeferred income taxes2,637  2,519  Deferred income taxes2,858 2,643 
Other long-term liabilitiesOther long-term liabilities35,395  30,783  Other long-term liabilities41,351 34,763 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIESCOMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIESCOMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT):
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)
Class A common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 46,792,000 and 41,944,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively468  419  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equityCasella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity
Class A common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 47,384,000 and 46,803,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectivelyClass A common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 47,384,000 and 46,803,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively474 468 
Class B common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 988,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; 10 votes per shareClass B common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 988,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; 10 votes per share10  10  Class B common stock, 0.01 par value per share; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 988,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively; 10 votes per share10 10 
Additional paid-in capitalAdditional paid-in capital482,987  373,716  Additional paid-in capital491,158 485,332 
Accumulated deficitAccumulated deficit(366,082) (388,669) Accumulated deficit(329,016)(357,016)
Accumulated other comprehensive lossAccumulated other comprehensive loss(6,571) (1,308) Accumulated other comprehensive loss(14,639)(6,041)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)110,812  (15,832) 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)$935,780  $732,410  
Total stockholders' equityTotal stockholders' equity147,987 122,753 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equityTotal liabilities and stockholders' equity$994,255 $932,182 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018 2020201920202019
RevenuesRevenues$198,547  $172,832  $549,670  $485,936  Revenues$202,667 $198,547 $574,344 $549,670 
Operating expenses:Operating expenses:Operating expenses:
Cost of operationsCost of operations131,273  114,118  377,707  331,527  Cost of operations130,406 131,273 382,386 377,707 
General and administrationGeneral and administration22,536  20,545  67,423  62,365  General and administration25,014 22,536 74,240 67,423 
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization20,940  18,202  58,144  51,572  Depreciation and amortization23,799 20,940 67,281 58,144 
Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension planWithdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan3,591  —  3,591  —  Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan3,591 3,591 
Expense from acquisition activities and other items1,097  581  2,237  930  
Southbridge landfill closure charge (settlement), net625  (9,498) 2,097  (7,740) 
Contract settlement charge—  —  —  2,100  
Development project charge—  —  —  311  
Southbridge Landfill closure chargeSouthbridge Landfill closure charge2,642 625 3,815 2,097 
Expense from acquisition activitiesExpense from acquisition activities173 1,097 1,533 2,237 
180,062  143,948  511,199  441,065  182,034 180,062 529,255 511,199 
Operating incomeOperating income18,485  28,884  38,471  44,871  Operating income20,633 18,485 45,089 38,471 
Other expense (income):Other expense (income):Other expense (income):
Interest incomeInterest income(66) (53) (287) (161) Interest income(107)(66)(203)(287)
Interest expenseInterest expense6,235  6,424  18,849  19,347  Interest expense5,406 6,235 16,869 18,849 
Loss on debt extinguishment  —  —  —  7,352  
Other income Other income  (248) (166) (960) (597) Other income(157)(248)(606)(960)
Other expense, netOther expense, net5,921  6,205  17,602  25,941  Other expense, net5,142 5,921 16,060 17,602 
Income before income taxes Income before income taxes  12,564  22,679  20,869  18,930  Income before income taxes15,491 12,564 29,029 20,869 
Provision (benefit) for income taxesProvision (benefit) for income taxes 178  377  (1,718) (1,166) Provision (benefit) for income taxes374 178 840 (1,718)
Net income Net income  $12,386  $22,302  $22,587  $20,096  Net income$15,117 $12,386 $28,189 $22,587 
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Weighted average common shares outstandingWeighted average common shares outstanding47,690  42,779  47,029  42,605  Weighted average common shares outstanding48,370 47,690 48,241 47,029 
Basic earnings per common shareBasic earnings per common share$0.26  $0.52  $0.48  $0.47  Basic earnings per common share$0.31 $0.26 $0.58 $0.48 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Weighted average common shares outstandingWeighted average common shares outstanding48,361  44,175  47,660  43,938  Weighted average common shares outstanding48,619 48,361 48,481 47,660 
Diluted earnings per common shareDiluted earnings per common share$0.26  $0.50  $0.47  $0.46  Diluted earnings per common share$0.31 $0.26 $0.58 $0.47 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018 2020201920202019
Net incomeNet income$12,386  $22,302  $22,587  $20,096  Net income$15,117 $12,386 $28,189 $22,587 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax:
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Hedging activity:Hedging activity:Hedging activity:
Interest rate swap settlementsInterest rate swap settlements(120) (147) (187) (217) Interest rate swap settlements(1,141)(121)(2,492)(187)
Interest rate swap amounts reclassified into interest expenseInterest rate swap amounts reclassified into interest expense147  156  216  247  Interest rate swap amounts reclassified into interest expense1,156 30 2,513 (86)
Unrealized (loss) gain resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments(774) 863  (5,292) 1,503  
Unrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instrumentsUnrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments145 (656)(8,731)(4,990)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax(747) 872  (5,263) 1,533  
Income tax provision related to items of other comprehensive (loss) income—  235  —  413  
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(747) 637  (5,263) 1,120  
Other comprehensive income (loss), before taxOther comprehensive income (loss), before tax160 (747)(8,710)(5,263)
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)(112)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxOther comprehensive income (loss), net of tax160 (747)(8,598)(5,263)
Comprehensive incomeComprehensive income$11,639  $22,939  $17,324  $21,216  Comprehensive income$15,277 $11,639 $19,591 $17,324 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4



CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTSTATEMENTS OF
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)


 Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
Additional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
Additional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
TotalSharesAmountSharesAmountTotalSharesAmountSharesAmountAdditional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
Balance, December 31, 2018$(15,832) 41,944  $419  988  $10  $373,716  $(388,669) $(1,308) 
Issuance of Class A common stock - equity offering100,446  3,565  36  —  —  100,410  —  —  
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisition—  67   —  —  (1) —  —  
Issuances of Class A common stock260  676   —  —  253  —  —  
Stock-based compensation1,431  —  —  —  —  1,431  —  —  
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss(1,714) —  —  —  —  —  (1,714) —  
Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activity(1,557) —  —  —  —  —  —  (1,557) 
Balance, March 31, 201983,034  46,252  463  988  10  475,809  (390,383) (2,865) 
Balance, December 31, 2019Balance, December 31, 2019$122,753 46,803 $468 988 $10 $485,332 $(357,016)$(6,041)
Cumulative effect of new accounting principleCumulative effect of new accounting principle(189)— — — — — (189)— 
Issuances of Class A common stockIssuances of Class A common stock2,318  347   —  —  2,315  —  —  Issuances of Class A common stock100 517 — — 95 — — 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation1,889  —  —  —  —  1,889  —  —  Stock-based compensation1,562 — — — — 1,562 — — 
Comprehensive loss:Comprehensive loss:
Net incomeNet income959 — — — — — 959 — 
Other comprehensive loss:Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activityHedging activity(7,189)— — — — — — (7,189)
Balance, March 31, 2020Balance, March 31, 2020117,996 47,320 473 988 10 486,989 (356,246)(13,230)
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisitionIssuance of Class A common stock - acquisition36 — — (1)— — 
Issuances of Class A common stockIssuances of Class A common stock387 26 — — — 387 — — 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation1,818 — — — — 1,818 — — 
Comprehensive income:Comprehensive income:Comprehensive income:
Net incomeNet income11,915  —  —  —  —  —  11,915  —  Net income12,113 — — — — — 12,113 — 
Other comprehensive loss:Other comprehensive loss:Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activityHedging activity(2,959) —  —  —  —  —  —  (2,959) Hedging activity(1,569)— — — — — — (1,569)
Balance, June 30, 201996,197  46,599  466  988  10  480,013  (378,468) (5,824) 
Balance, June 30, 2020Balance, June 30, 2020130,745 47,382 474 988 10 489,193 (344,133)(14,799)
Issuances of Class A common stockIssuances of Class A common stock1,078  193   —  —  1,076  —  —  Issuances of Class A common stock— — — — — — 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation1,898  —  —  —  —  1,898  —  —  Stock-based compensation1,965 — — — — 1,965 — — 
Comprehensive income:Comprehensive income:Comprehensive income:
Net incomeNet income12,386  —  —  —  —  —  12,386  —  Net income15,117 — — — — — 15,117 — 
Other comprehensive loss:
Other comprehensive income:Other comprehensive income:
Hedging activityHedging activity(747) —  —  —  —  —  —  (747) Hedging activity160 — — — — — — 160 
Balance, September 30, 2020Balance, September 30, 2020$147,987 47,384 $474 988 $10 $491,158 $(329,016)$(14,639)
Balance, September 30, 2019$110,812  46,792  $468  988  $10  $482,987  $(366,082) $(6,571) 


5


Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
Additional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other
Comprehensive Loss
TotalSharesAmountSharesAmount
Balance, December 31, 2018$(15,832)41,944 $419 988 $10 $373,716 $(388,669)$(1,308)
Issuance of Class A common stock - equity offering100,446 3,565 36 — — 100,410 — — 
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisition67 — — (1)— — 
Issuances of Class A common stock260 676 — — 253 — — 
Stock-based compensation1,431 — — — — 1,431 — — 
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss(1,714)— — — — — (1,714)— 
Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activity(1,557)— — — — — — (1,557)
Balance, March 31, 201983,034 46,252 463 988 10 475,809 (390,383)(2,865)
Issuances of Class A common stock2,318 347 — — 2,315 — — 
Stock-based compensation1,889 — — — — 1,889 — — 
Comprehensive income:
Net income11,915 — — — — — 11,915 — 
Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activity(2,959)— — — — — — (2,959)
Balance, June 30, 201996,197 46,599 466 988 10 480,013 (378,468)(5,824)
Issuances of Class A common stock1,078 193 — — 1,076 $— — 
Stock-based compensation1,898 — — — — 1,898 $— — 
Comprehensive income:
Net income12,386 — — — — — $12,386 — 
Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activity(747)— — — — — $— (747)
Balance, September 30, 2019$110,812 46,792 $468 988 $10 $482,987 $(366,082)$(6,571)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

5


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (Continued)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)


Class A
Common Stock
Class B
Common Stock
Additional Paid-In CapitalAccumulated DeficitAccumulated Other
Comprehensive Income
TotalSharesAmountSharesAmount
Balance, December 31, 2017$(37,862) 41,298  $413  988  $10  $356,638  $(395,107) $184  
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle—  —  —  —  —  —  18  (18) 
Issuances of Class A common stock310  402   —  —  306  —  —  
Stock-based compensation2,077  —  —  —  —  2,077  —  —  
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss(3,910) —  —  —  —  —  (3,910) —  
Other comprehensive income:
Hedging activity568  —  —  —  —  —  —  568  
Balance, March 31, 2018(38,817) 41,700  417  988  10  359,021  (398,999) 734  
Issuances of Class A common stock361  65   —  —  360  —  —  
Stock-based compensation2,121  —  —  —  —  2,121  —  —  
Comprehensive income:
Net income1,704  —  —  —  —  —  1,704  —  
Other comprehensive loss:
Hedging activity(85) —  —  —  —  —  —  (85) 
Balance, June 30, 2018(34,716) 41,765  418  988  10  361,502  (397,295) 649  
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisition4,258  150   —  —  4,257  —  —  
Issuances of Class A common stock72  17  —  —  —  72  —  —  
Stock-based compensation2,168  —  —  —  —  2,168  —  —  
Comprehensive income:
Net income22,302  —  —  —  —  —  22,302  —  
Other comprehensive income:
Hedging activity637  —  —  —  —  —  —  637  
Balance, September 30, 2018$(5,279) 41,932  $419  988  $10  $367,999  $(374,993) $1,286  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:Cash Flows from Operating Activities:Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net incomeNet income$22,587  $20,096  Net income$28,189 $22,587 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization58,144  51,572  Depreciation and amortization67,281 58,144 
Depletion of landfill operating lease obligationsDepletion of landfill operating lease obligations5,580  7,827  Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations5,711 5,580 
Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilitiesInterest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities5,310  4,291  Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities5,324 5,310 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount on long-term debt1,724  1,875  
Amortization of debt issuance costsAmortization of debt issuance costs1,597 1,724 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation5,218  6,366  Stock-based compensation5,345 5,218 
Operating lease right-of-use assets expenseOperating lease right-of-use assets expense7,272  —  Operating lease right-of-use assets expense6,636 7,272 
Gain on sale of property and equipment(806) (414) 
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipmentLoss (gain) on sale of property and equipment254 (806)
Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure chargeSouthbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge58  1,354  Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge2,077 58 
Southbridge Landfill insurance recovery for investing activities—  (3,506) 
Development project charge—  311  
Non-cash expense from acquisition activities and other items71  211  
Loss on debt extinguishment—  7,352  
Non-cash expense from acquisition activitiesNon-cash expense from acquisition activities549 71 
Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension planWithdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan3,591  —  Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan3,591 
Deferred income taxesDeferred income taxes(1,267) 79  Deferred income taxes1,514 (1,267)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivableAccounts receivable(15,141) (12,161) Accounts receivable6,400 (15,141)
Landfill operating lease contract expendituresLandfill operating lease contract expenditures(3,197) —  Landfill operating lease contract expenditures(3,386)(3,197)
Accounts payableAccounts payable1,634  8,009  Accounts payable(8,585)1,634 
Prepaid expenses, inventories and other assetsPrepaid expenses, inventories and other assets(1,297) 829  Prepaid expenses, inventories and other assets(2,908)(1,297)
Accrued expenses, contract liabilities and other liabilitiesAccrued expenses, contract liabilities and other liabilities(17,986) (4,174) Accrued expenses, contract liabilities and other liabilities(4,083)(17,986)
Net cash provided by operating activitiesNet cash provided by operating activities71,495  89,917  Net cash provided by operating activities111,915 71,495 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:Cash Flows from Investing Activities:Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquiredAcquisitions, net of cash acquired(73,496) (58,176) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired(25,379)(73,496)
Additions to property, plant and equipmentAdditions to property, plant and equipment(75,998) (51,841) Additions to property, plant and equipment(77,271)(75,998)
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts—  (5,006) 
Proceeds from sale of property and equipmentProceeds from sale of property and equipment542  609  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment430 542 
Proceeds from Southbridge Landfill insurance recovery for investing activities—  3,506  
Proceeds from property insurance settlementProceeds from property insurance settlement332  992  Proceeds from property insurance settlement332 
Net cash used in investing activitiesNet cash used in investing activities(148,620) (109,916) Net cash used in investing activities(102,220)(148,620)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:Cash Flows from Financing Activities:Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings121,500  566,800  
Principal payments on long-term debt(149,774) (540,611) 
Proceeds from debt borrowingsProceeds from debt borrowings154,400 121,500 
Principal payments on debtPrincipal payments on debt(145,008)(149,774)
Payments of debt issuance costsPayments of debt issuance costs—  (5,573) Payments of debt issuance costs(1,531)
Proceeds from the exercise of share based awardsProceeds from the exercise of share based awards3,355  471  Proceeds from the exercise of share based awards100 3,355 
Proceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common StockProceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common Stock100,446  —  Proceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common Stock100,446 
Proceeds from unregistered sale of Class A Common Stock2,619  —  
Proceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common StockProceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common Stock2,619 
Net cash provided by financing activitiesNet cash provided by financing activities78,146  21,087  Net cash provided by financing activities7,961 78,146 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalentsNet increase in cash and cash equivalents1,021  1,088  Net increase in cash and cash equivalents17,656 1,021 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of periodCash and cash equivalents, beginning of period4,007  1,995  Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period3,471 4,007 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of periodCash and cash equivalents, end of period$5,028  $3,083  Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$21,127 $5,028 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid during the period for:Cash paid during the period for:Cash paid during the period for:
InterestInterest$17,200  $16,950  Interest$15,239 $17,200 
Income taxes, net of refunds$84  $84  
Income tax (refunds) paymentsIncome tax (refunds) payments$(1,650)$84 
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Non-current assets obtained through long-term obligationsNon-current assets obtained through long-term obligations$9,797  $4,342  Non-current assets obtained through long-term obligations$16,937 $9,797 
Contingent consideration from business combinations$—  $2,924  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
7


CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data)
1.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (“Parent”), and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or “our”), is a regional, vertically integrated solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, recycling and organics services in the northeastern United States. We market recyclable metals, aluminum, plastics, paper, and corrugated cardboard, which have been processed at our recycling facilities, as well as recyclables purchased from third-parties. Effective January 1, 2020, we reorganized our operations to consist of a single resource-renewal focused operation by combining our larger-scale recycling and commodity brokerage operations along with our organics services and major account and industrial services into our Resource Solutions segment. We continue to manage our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through 2 regional operating segments, the Eastern and Western regions, each of which provides a full range of solid waste services,services. Legal, tax, information technology, human resources, certain finance and our larger-scale recyclingaccounting and commodity brokerage operations through our Recycling segment. Organics services, ancillary operations, along with major account and industrial servicesother administrative functions are included in our OtherCorporate Entities segment. Segment information reported in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and as of December 31, 2019 has been reclassified to conform with the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and as of September 30, 2020 presentation.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of the Parent and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for under either the equity method or the cost method of accounting, as appropriate. Our significant accounting policies are more fully discussed in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018,2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 22, 2019.21, 2020.
Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision given the available data, or simply cannot be readily calculated. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which include normal recurring and nonrecurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 may not be indicative of the results for any other interim period or the entire fiscal year. The consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.2019.
Recent Events
With the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) and the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, the U.S. Government and all of the states in which we operate have declared the waste services industry as an essential services provider and as a result we are committed to continue to operate and provide our full breadth of services. We have prioritized the safety and well-being of our employees by strictly adhering to recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as executive orders of the states in which we operate.
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, economic disruption across our geographic footprint and has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business. COVID-19 negatively impacted our revenues starting at the end of the quarter ended March 31, 2020 as many small business and construction collection customers required service level changes and volumes into our landfills declined due to lower economic activity. We did experience improved demand for services in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as local economies started to reopen as allowed by State Governments. This positive trend continued through September 30, 2020, as additional small business collection customers increased service levels, construction activity continued to rebound, and overall higher economic activity across the northeast led to higher landfill volumes. Despite these positive trends, our collection and disposal operations remain negatively impacted by lower volumes attributable to COVID-19.
We continue to experience increased costs associated with the protection of our employees, including costs for additional safety equipment, hygiene products and enhanced facility cleaning. These costs are expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year. In early September 2020, we paid a special bonus to all our hourly employees (both frontline and administrative) to recognize their hard work and commitment to safety, environmental compliance and high customer service standards as essential service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have taken measures to reduce costs in other areas and
8


preserve liquidity during this period of uncertainty. As of the date of this filing, we are unable to determine or predict the nature, duration or scope of the overall impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources.
Subsequent Events
We have evaluated subsequent events or transactions that have occurred after the consolidated balance sheet date of September 30, 20192020 through the date of filing of the consolidated financial statements with the SEC on this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We have determined that, except as disclosed, there are no subsequent events that require disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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2.    ACCOUNTING CHANGES
A table providing a brief description of recent Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") to the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) that we adopted and deemed to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows:
StandardDescriptionEffect on the Financial Statements or Other
Significant Matters
Accounting standards adopted effective January 1, 20192020
ASU No. 2016-02,2016-13, as amended through March 2019: Leases (Topic 842)2020: Financial Instrument Credit Losses (Topic 326)
Requires that a lessee recognize at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is the obligationan entity measures all of the lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease, measuredits expected credit losses for financial assets held based on a discounted basis;historical experience, current conditions, and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.reasonable and supportable forecasts.
We adopted thethis guidance using the prospective optional transition method effective January 1, 2019, which allowed us to elect not to restate comparative periods and, if applicable, to recognize2020 using the effects of applying this guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2019.required modified-retrospective approach. We did not recognizerecognized a cumulative effect adjustment of $(189) to retained earnings upon implementation. Upon adopting thisThis guidance we recognized a right-of-use assetreplaces the incurred loss methodology with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as the current expected credit loss ("CECL") methodology. CECL requires consideration of past events, current conditions, and lease liabilityreasonable and supportable forecasts about the future to assess credit loss estimates and will generally result in the earlier recognition of an allowance for leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months incredit losses. We have updated our consolidated balance sheet. We also prospectively reclassified landfill operating lease payments, along with related accumulated depreciation, that were previously capitalized as property, plant and equipment to operating lease right-of-use assets. Accordingly, the related cash outlays, which were historically considered cash flows from investing activities, were prospectively reclassified as cash flows from operating activities in accordance with Topic 842. With the assistance of third-party resources, we designed internal controls over the adoption of this guidance and implemented a third-party enterprise lease management software solution. In conjunction with the implementation, we modified our lease policy and internal business processes to effectively manage and account for leases,systems and controls to support recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the accounting for our finance leases. This guidance required additional disclosure over leases in order to comply with the new lease standard.guidance. See Note 5, Leases Accounts Receivable, Net of Allowance for Credit Losses for additional disclosure.

A table providing a brief description of recent ASUs to the ASC issued by the FASB that are pending adoption and deemed to have a possible material impact on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows:

9


StandardDescriptionEffect on the Financial Statements or Other
Significant Matters
Accounting standards issued pending adoption
ASU No. 2020-04: Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848)Provides temporary optional guidance to ease the potential burden in applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued.We are currently assessing the provisions of this guidance and do not expect that its adoption will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. This guidance will be in effect from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022.
ASU No. 2017-04: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)

Requires that when an entity is performing its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test, it should compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount when calculating its impairment charge, noting that the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, if applicable, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when calculating its impairment charge.2019-12: Income Taxes (Topic 740)AsReduces the complexity over accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and amending guidance to improve consistent application of December 31, 2018, we didaccounting over income taxes.We are currently assessing the provisions of this guidance to determine whether or not record a goodwill impairment chargeits adoption will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements and related to our annual goodwill impairment test because at that time the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its respective carrying value. Upon adoption, if the carrying value of any of these reporting units exceeds the fair value when we perform a goodwill impairment test, we would record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value.disclosures. This guidance is effective January 1, 20202021 with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017.permitted.

9



3.    REVENUE RECOGNITION
A table of revenues disaggregated by service line and timing of revenue recognition by operating segment for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 and 2018 follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
EasternWesternResource SolutionsTotal Revenues
Collection$40,560 $63,611 $$104,171 
Landfill5,694 17,880 23,574 
Transfer11,861 9,756 21,617 
Customer solutions22,320 22,320 
Recycling(2)356 12,757 13,111 
Organics14,539 14,539 
Transportation2,348 2,348 
Landfill gas-to-energy210 777 987 
Total revenues$58,323 $94,728 $49,616 $202,667 
Transferred at a point-in-time$52 $347 $7,736 $8,135 
Transferred over time58,271 94,381 41,880 194,532 
Total revenues$58,323 $94,728 $49,616 $202,667 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
EasternWesternRecyclingOtherTotal RevenuesEasternWesternResource SolutionsTotal Revenues
CollectionCollection$41,868  $59,323  $—  $—  $101,191  Collection$41,868 $59,323 $$101,191 
LandfillLandfill5,414  20,018  —  —  25,432  Landfill5,414 20,018 25,432 
TransferTransfer12,247  9,694  —  —  21,941  Transfer12,247 9,694 21,941 
Customer solutionsCustomer solutions—  —  —  20,689  20,689  Customer solutions20,689 20,689 
RecyclingRecycling 461  10,726  —  11,191  Recycling461 10,726 11,191 
OrganicsOrganics—  —  —  14,166  14,166  Organics14,166 14,166 
TransportationTransportation—  2,709  —  420  3,129  Transportation3,129 3,129 
Landfill gas-to-energyLandfill gas-to-energy142  666  —  —  808  Landfill gas-to-energy142 666 808 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$59,675  $92,871  $10,726  $35,275  $198,547  Total revenues$59,675 $93,291 $45,581 $198,547 
Transferred at a point-in-timeTransferred at a point-in-time$36  $186  $4,592  $1,156  $5,970  Transferred at a point-in-time$36 $186 $5,748 $5,970 
Transferred over timeTransferred over time59,639  92,685  6,134  34,119  192,577  Transferred over time59,639 93,105 39,833 192,577 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$59,675  $92,871  $10,726  $35,275  $198,547  Total revenues$59,675 $93,291 $45,581 $198,547 

10


ThreeNine Months Ended September 30, 20182020
EasternWesternRecyclingOtherTotal RevenuesEasternWesternResource SolutionsTotal Revenues
CollectionCollection$36,392  $44,452  $—  $—  $80,844  Collection$114,504 $180,778 $$295,282 
LandfillLandfill8,336  18,764  —  —  27,100  Landfill13,807 49,409 63,216 
TransferTransfer11,001  7,290  —  —  18,291  Transfer32,695 25,478 58,173 
Customer solutionsCustomer solutions—  —  —  17,195  17,195  Customer solutions64,223 64,223 
RecyclingRecycling 875  10,877  —  11,757  Recycling943 36,210 37,157 
OrganicsOrganics—  —  —  13,413  13,413  Organics44,890 44,890 
TransportationTransportation—  2,396  —  916  3,312  Transportation8,472 8,472 
Landfill gas-to-energyLandfill gas-to-energy272  648  —  —  920  Landfill gas-to-energy793 2,138 2,931 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$56,006  $74,425  $10,877  $31,524  $172,832  Total revenues$161,803 $267,218 $145,323 $574,344 
Transferred at a point-in-timeTransferred at a point-in-time$128  $233  $7,436  $1,138  $8,935  Transferred at a point-in-time$177 $949 $20,428 $21,554 
Transferred over timeTransferred over time55,878  74,192  3,441  30,386  163,897  Transferred over time161,626 266,269 124,895 552,790 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$56,006  $74,425  $10,877  $31,524  $172,832  Total revenues$161,803 $267,218 $145,323 $574,344 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
EasternWesternRecyclingOtherTotal Revenues
Collection$115,363  $163,070  $—  $—  $278,433  
Landfill14,558  54,341  —  —  68,899  
Transfer33,157  23,566  —  —  56,723  
Customer solutions—  —  —  58,058  58,058  
Recycling 1,243  32,006  —  33,254  
Organics—  —  —  42,668  42,668  
Transportation—  7,650  —  1,330  8,980  
Landfill gas-to-energy665  1,990  —  —  2,655  
Total revenues$163,748  $251,860  $32,006  $102,056  $549,670  
Transferred at a point-in-time$123  $673  $15,768  $2,877  $19,441  
Transferred over time163,625  251,187  16,238  99,179  530,229  
Total revenues$163,748  $251,860  $32,006  $102,056  $549,670  

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
EasternWesternRecyclingOtherTotal RevenuesEasternWesternResource SolutionsTotal Revenues
CollectionCollection$101,544  $121,804  $—  $—  $223,348  Collection$115,363 $163,070 $$278,433 
LandfillLandfill22,179  49,504  —  —  71,683  Landfill14,558 54,341 68,899 
TransferTransfer29,305  20,907  —  —  50,212  Transfer33,157 23,566 56,723 
Customer solutionsCustomer solutions—  —  —  48,315  48,315  Customer solutions58,058 58,058 
RecyclingRecycling—  3,271  30,634  —  33,905  Recycling1,243 32,006 33,254 
OrganicsOrganics—  —  —  40,259  40,259  Organics42,668 42,668 
TransportationTransportation—  11,779  —  2,421  14,200  Transportation8,980 8,980 
Landfill gas-to-energyLandfill gas-to-energy1,071  2,943  —  —  4,014  Landfill gas-to-energy665 1,990 2,655 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$154,099  $210,208  $30,634  $90,995  $485,936  Total revenues$163,748 $253,190 $132,732 $549,670 
Transferred at a point-in-timeTransferred at a point-in-time$500  $847  $20,311  $3,219  $24,877  Transferred at a point-in-time$123 $673 $18,645 $19,441 
Transferred over timeTransferred over time153,599  209,361  10,323  87,776  461,059  Transferred over time163,625 252,517 114,087 530,229 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$154,099  $210,208  $30,634  $90,995  $485,936  Total revenues$163,748 $253,190 $132,732 $549,670 

Payments to customers that are not in exchange for a distinct good or service are recorded as a reduction of revenues. Rebates to certain customers associated with payments for recycled or organic materials that are received and subsequently processed and sold to other third-parties amounted to $1,018 and $3,555 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, and $1,027 and $3,474 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $1,648 and $4,732 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Rebates are generally recorded as a reduction of revenues upon the sale of such materials, or upon receipt of the recycled materials at our facilities. These payments were previously recorded as a cost of operations. We did 0t record any revenues in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and September 30, 20182019 from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods.
Contract receivables, which are included in Accounts receivable, net are recorded when billed or when related revenue is earned, if earlier, and represent claims against third-parties that will be settled in cash. Accounts receivable, net includes gross receivables from contracts of $90,291$74,086 and $73,500$80,191 as of September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, respectively. Certain customers are billed in advance and, accordingly, recognition of the related revenues is deferred as a contract liability until the services are provided and control transferred to the customer. We recognized contract liabilities of $2,812$2,754 and $3,074$2,299 as of September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, respectively. Due to the short term nature of advanced billings, substantially all of the deferred revenue recognized as a contract liability as of December 31, 20182019 and December 31, 2017 were2018 was recognized as revenue during the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and September 30, 2018,2019, respectively, when the services were performed.
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4.    BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we acquired 6 businesses: 5 tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in our Western region and 1 recycling operation in our Resource Solutions segment. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we acquired 8 businesses: 3 tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in our Eastern region, and in our Western region, 3 tuck-in solid waste collection businesses, a business comprised of solid waste collection, transfer and recycling operations, and a business comprised of solid waste hauling and transfer assets in our Western region. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we acquired 1 solid waste collection, transfer and processing business in our Eastern region and 3 solid waste collection businesses, including a transfer station, in our Western region.assets. The operating results of thesethe acquired businesses are included in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations from each date of acquisition, and the purchase price has been allocated to the net assets acquired based on fair values at each date of acquisition, with the residual amounts recorded as goodwill. Acquired intangible assets other than goodwill that are subject to amortization include client lists and non-compete covenants. Such assets are amortized over a fivefive-year to ten yearten-year period from the date of acquisition. All amounts recorded to goodwill, except amountsgoodwill related to certain acquisitions, are expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
12


A summary of the purchase price paid for these acquisitions and the allocation of the purchase price for these acquisitions follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Purchase Price:Purchase Price:Purchase Price:
Cash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquiredCash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquired$71,038  $57,824  Cash used in acquisitions, net of cash acquired$23,062 $71,038 
Notes payableNotes payable2,714  —  Notes payable2,714 
Common stock—  4,258  
Other non-cash considerationOther non-cash consideration5,470  —  Other non-cash consideration5,470 
Contingent consideration and holdbacksContingent consideration and holdbacks1,755  4,996  Contingent consideration and holdbacks3,387 1,755 
TotalTotal80,977  67,078  Total26,449 80,977 
Allocated as follows:Allocated as follows:Allocated as follows:
Current assetsCurrent assets1,935  2,968  Current assets227 1,935 
Other non-current assetsOther non-current assets367  —  Other non-current assets367 
LandLand2,487  —  Land895 2,487 
BuildingsBuildings5,422  7,539  Buildings1,908 5,422 
EquipmentEquipment20,592  11,520  Equipment10,006 20,592 
Intangible assetsIntangible assets31,171  20,300  Intangible assets7,159 31,171 
Other liabilities, netOther liabilities, net(3,040) (2,443) Other liabilities, net(306)(3,040)
Deferred tax liabilityDeferred tax liability(2,137) (1,230) Deferred tax liability(2,137)
Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumedFair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed56,797  38,654  Fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed19,889 56,797 
Excess purchase price allocated to goodwillExcess purchase price allocated to goodwill$24,180  $28,424  Excess purchase price allocated to goodwill$6,560 $24,180 

12


Certain purchase price allocations are preliminary and are based on information existing at the acquisition dates or upon closing the transaction. Accordingly, these purchase price allocations are subject to change. Unaudited pro forma combined information that shows our operational results as though each acquisition completed since the beginning of the prior fiscal year had occurred as of January 1, 20182019 is as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018 2020201920202019
RevenuesRevenues$204,293  $196,686  $579,390  $561,912  Revenues$202,910 $208,234 $577,994 $591,212 
Operating incomeOperating income$19,369  $31,505  $42,321  $53,051  Operating income$20,660 $19,351 $45,342 $42,266 
Net incomeNet income$12,905  $23,794  $24,810  $24,745  Net income$15,119 $12,813 $28,216 $24,532 
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Weighted average common shares outstandingWeighted average common shares outstanding47,690  42,779  47,029  42,605  Weighted average common shares outstanding48,370 47,690 48,241 47,029 
Basic earnings per common shareBasic earnings per common share$0.27  $0.56  $0.53  $0.58  Basic earnings per common share$0.31 $0.27 $0.58 $0.52 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Weighted average shares outstanding48,361  44,175  47,660  43,938  
Weighted average common shares outstandingWeighted average common shares outstanding48,619 48,361 48,481 47,660 
Diluted earnings per common shareDiluted earnings per common share$0.27  $0.54  $0.52  $0.56  Diluted earnings per common share$0.31 $0.26 $0.58 $0.51 

The unaudited pro forma results set forth in the table above have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations had the acquisitions occurred as of January 1, 20182019 or of the results of our future operations. Furthermore, the unaudited pro forma results do not give effect to all cost savings or incremental costs that may occur as a result of the integration and consolidation of the completed acquisitions.
5.    ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET OF ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
Accounts receivable represent receivables from customers for collection, transfer, recycling, disposal and other services. Our accounts receivable are recorded when billed or when related revenue is earned, if earlier, and represent claims against third-parties that will be settled in cash. The carrying value of our accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses represents its estimated net realizable value. Estimates are used in determining our allowance for credit losses based on, among other things, our historical loss trends, the age of outstanding accounts receivable, and current and expected economic conditions. Additions – charged to expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 consider the current economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential impact to our customers’ ability to pay for services that we have provided. Our reserve is evaluated and revised on a monthly basis. Past due accounts receivable are written off when deemed to be uncollectible.
13A summary of the changes to allowance for credit losses follows:


Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2020
Balance at beginning of period$1,468 
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle189 
Additions - charged to expense2,007 
Deductions - bad debts written off, net of recoveries(983)
Balance at end of period$2,681 
5.
6.    LEASES
We lease vehicles, equipment, property and other non-core equipment in the ordinary course of our business. Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases, as appropriate. Our leases have varying terms and may include renewal or purchase options, escalation clauses, restrictions, lease concessions, capital project funding, penalties or other obligations that we considered historically in determining minimum rental payments. We recognize lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We recognize depreciation expense for finance leases over either the useful life of the asset or the lease term based on the terms of the lease agreement.
13


We are also party to 3 landfill operation and management agreements. These agreements are long-term landfill operating contracts with government bodies whereby we receive tipping revenue, pay normal operating expenses and assume future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations. The government body retainsbodies retain ownership of theeach landfill. There isare no bargain purchase optionoptions and title to each of the propertyproperties does not pass to us at the end of the respective lease term.terms. We allocate the consideration paid to the landfill airspace rights and underlying land lease based on the relative fair values. In addition to up-front or one-time payments, the landfill operating agreements may require us to make future minimum rental payments, including success/success or expansion fees, other direct costs and final capping, closure and post-closure costs. The value of all future minimum rental payments is amortized and charged to cost of operations over the life of the contractcontract. We amortize the consideration allocated to airspace rights as airspace is utilized on a units-of-consumption basis and such amortization is charged to cost of operations as airspace is utilizedconsumed (e.g., as tons are placed into the landfill). The underlying value of any land lease is amortized to cost of operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the respective operating agreement.
As a part of the implementation of Topic 842, we elected to adopt the practical expedient package and to not elect the hindsight practical expedient in determining lease term. The practical expedient package allowed us to: 1) not reassess lease classification for existing leases; 2) not reassess whether a contract contains a lease for existing contracts; and 3) not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Accordingly, we retained the operating lease and finance lease classifications in all periods presented and did not alter Topic 840 accounting over operating leases in place at transition allowing us to use historical minimum rental payments when determining the right-of-use asset and lease liability for existing operating leases. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for core leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. For other non-core operating leases, which is comprised of small-dollar-value items such as office equipment, we continued to expense these costs in the period incurred rather than capitalizing such expenditures on our consolidated balance sheet. Accounting for finance leases was not impacted by the adoption of this guidance.
Under Topic 842, we identify lease and nonlease components in a contract to which consideration in the contract will be allocated. As an election, we may elect by class of underlying asset to choose not to separate nonlease components from lease components and instead account for each separate lease component and the nonlease components in a contract as part of the single lease component. We have elected to not separate lease components from nonlease components for property leases and are, therefore, not allocating consideration between lease and nonlease components for this asset class. Lease payments include: fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments, less any lease incentives paid or payable to the lessee; variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate; exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised; penalties for terminating a lease; and amounts where it is probable that we will owe under a residual value guarantee. Refundable deposits are not considered to be a fixed payment. Variable lease costs that are not based on an index or a rate are recorded to expense in the period incurred. Lease term is determined at lease commencement, and includes any noncancellable period for which we have the right to use the underlying asset together with any periods covered by an option to extend or terminate the lease if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option to extend or not to exercise the option to terminate. The initial determination of a lease liability is calculated as the net present value of the lease payments not yet paid. The discount rate used to determine present value is the rate implicit in the lease, if present, or, if not present, our incremental borrowing rate, which is a rate that reflects interest that we would have to pay to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease and in a similar economic environment. For shorter term leases, such as vehicle and equipment leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate from our existing secured line of credit, adjusted based on term. For longer term leases, such as our landfill operating leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate based on an industry yield curve with a similar credit rating, adjusted by a company specific spread as determined by a third-party.
14


A schedule of lease costs and other lease information follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
2020201920202019
Lease cost:Lease cost:Lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assetsAmortization of right-of-use assets$593  $1,505  Amortization of right-of-use assets$1,025 $593 $2,616 $1,505 
Interest expenseInterest expense213  555  Interest expense327 213 863 555 
Fixed lease cost - vehicles, equipment and propertyFixed lease cost - vehicles, equipment and property2,351  7,271  Fixed lease cost - vehicles, equipment and property2,048 2,351 6,636 7,271 
Fixed lease cost - landfill operating leasesFixed lease cost - landfill operating leases1,957  5,580  Fixed lease cost - landfill operating leases2,243 1,957 5,711 5,580 
Fixed lease costFixed lease cost4,308  12,851  Fixed lease cost4,291 4,308 12,347 12,851 
Short-term lease costShort-term lease cost853  2,261  Short-term lease cost856 853 2,514 2,261 
Variable lease costVariable lease cost329  712  Variable lease cost141 329 402 712 
Total lease costTotal lease cost$6,296  $17,884  Total lease cost$6,640 $6,296 $18,742 $17,884 
Other information:Other information:Other information:
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Financing cash flows for finance leasesFinancing cash flows for finance leases$666  $1,870  Financing cash flows for finance leases$1,304 $666 $3,246 $1,870 
Operating cash flows for operating leasesOperating cash flows for operating leases$2,963  $9,837  Operating cash flows for operating leases$3,874 $2,963 $9,588 $9,837 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilitiesRight-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities$—  $6,857  Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities$5,078 $$16,871 $6,857 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilitiesRight-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities$831  $1,419  Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities$147 $831 $3,289 $1,419 
September 30,
2019
September 30,
2020
Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years)Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years)6.7Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years)5.9
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)12.0Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)11.7
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leasesWeighted-average discount rate - finance leases5.2 %Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases4.3 %
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leasesWeighted-average discount rate - operating leases5.2 %Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases5.1 %

14


Estimated minimum future lease obligations are as follows:
Operating LeasesFinance LeasesOperating LeasesFinance Leases
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019$3,792  $799  
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020Fiscal year ending December 31, 202013,218  3,872  Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020$3,301 $1,605 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021Fiscal year ending December 31, 202110,870  3,336  Fiscal year ending December 31, 202112,038 6,505 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022Fiscal year ending December 31, 20228,494  2,740  Fiscal year ending December 31, 20229,520 5,884 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023Fiscal year ending December 31, 20236,652  2,572  Fiscal year ending December 31, 20237,317 5,686 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2024Fiscal year ending December 31, 20246,638 5,586 
ThereafterThereafter69,323  6,924  Thereafter63,964 11,947 
Total lease paymentsTotal lease payments112,349  20,243  Total lease payments102,778 37,213 
Less: interest expenseLess: interest expense(30,857) (3,733) Less: interest expense(27,335)(5,168)
Lease liability balanceLease liability balance$81,492  $16,510  Lease liability balance$75,443 $32,045 

15


6.7.    GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
A summary of the activity and balances related to goodwill by reporting segment is as follows:
December 31,
2018
AcquisitionsOther (1)September 30,
2019
Eastern region$28,154  $2,566  $—  $30,720  
Western region120,536  21,614  (2,619) 139,531  
Recycling12,315  —  —  12,315  
Other1,729  —  —  1,729  
Total$162,734  $24,180  $(2,619) $184,295  
(1)Relates to the unregistered sale of Class A common stock that was previously held in escrow and released to us for liquidation . See Note 10, Stockholders' Equity for additional disclosure.
December 31,
2019
AcquisitionsSeptember 30,
2020
Eastern region$30,720 $$30,720 
Western region141,055 6,560 147,615 
Resource solutions14,044 14,044 
Total$185,819 $6,560 $192,379 

A summarySummaries of intangible assets by intangible asset type follows:
Covenants
Not-to-Compete
Client ListsTotalCovenants
Not-to-Compete
Client ListsTotal
Balance, September 30, 2019
Balance, September 30, 2020Balance, September 30, 2020
Intangible assetsIntangible assets$26,162  $71,122  $97,284  Intangible assets$26,793 $77,741 $104,534 
Less accumulated amortizationLess accumulated amortization(18,575) (17,726) (36,301) Less accumulated amortization(20,150)(24,994)(45,144)
$7,587  $53,396  $60,983  $6,643 $52,747 $59,390 


Covenants
Not-to-Compete
Client ListsTotal Covenants
Not-to-Compete
Client ListsTotal
Balance, December 31, 2018
Balance, December 31, 2019Balance, December 31, 2019
Intangible assetsIntangible assets$21,750  $44,363  $66,113  Intangible assets$26,162 $71,122 $97,284 
Less accumulated amortizationLess accumulated amortization(17,584) (13,762) (31,346) Less accumulated amortization(18,968)(19,595)(38,563)
$4,166  $30,601  $34,767  $7,194 $51,527 $58,721 

Intangible amortization expense was 1,916$2,265 and 4,956$6,580 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, as compared to $1,916 and $4,956 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, as compared to $714 and $1,848 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
15


A summary of intangible amortization expense estimated for the five fiscal years following the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 and thereafter follows:
Estimated Future Amortization Expense as of September 30, 2019
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019$2,264 2020 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020$8,2222,272 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021$6,8267,701 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022$6,1887,027 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023$5,9936,800 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2024$7,746 
Thereafter$31,49027,844 

16


7.8.    ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE
Accrued final capping, closure and post-closure costs include the current and non-current portion of costs associated with obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure of our landfills. We estimate our future final capping, closure and post-closure costs in order to determine the final capping, closure and post-closure expense per ton of waste placed into each landfill. The anticipated time frame for paying these costs varies based on the remaining useful life of each landfill as well as the duration of the post-closure monitoring period.
A summary of the changes to accrued final capping, closure and post-closure liabilities follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Beginning balanceBeginning balance$73,075  $62,290  Beginning balance$71,927 $73,075 
Obligations incurredObligations incurred1,901  2,874  Obligations incurred2,820 1,901 
Revision in estimates (1)
Revision in estimates (1)
—  1,492  
Revision in estimates (1)
152 
Accretion expenseAccretion expense4,742  4,175  Accretion expense4,826 4,742 
Obligations settled (2)
Obligations settled (2)
(7,099) (2,310) 
Obligations settled (2)
(2,706)(7,099)
Ending balanceEnding balance$72,619  $68,521  Ending balance$77,019 $72,619 
(1)Relates to changes in estimatesestimated costs and assumptions associated with anticipated coststiming of future final capping, closure and post-closure activities at the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts landfill.landfill ("Southbridge Landfill"). See Note 9,10, Commitments and Contingenciesand Note 12,13, Other Items and Charges for additional disclosure regarding the matter.further discussion.
(2)Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

16
8. LONG-TERM


9.    DEBT
A summary of long-term debt and finance leases by debt instrumentis as follows:
September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
Revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%$43,400  $69,600  
Term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%350,000  350,000  
Tax-Exempt Bonds:
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 3.75%25,000  25,000  
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125%15,000  15,000  
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 ("FAME Bonds 2005R-3") due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25%25,000  25,000  
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-1") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125%15,000  15,000  
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-2") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375%15,000  15,000  
Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds") due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625%16,000  16,000  
Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("New Hampshire Bonds") due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through September 2019; bore interest at 4.00%11,000  11,000  
Other:
Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 5.2%16,510  11,248  
Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 3.5%4,862  2,401  
Principal amount of long-term debt and finance leases536,772  555,249  
Less—unamortized debt issuance costs (1)9,226  10,950  
Long-term debt and finance leases less unamortized debt issuance costs527,546  544,299  
Less—current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases3,571  2,298  
$523,975  $542,001  
17


September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
Revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%$$26,900 
Term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%350,000 350,000 
Tax-Exempt Bonds:
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014R-1") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2029; bearing interest at 2.875%25,000 25,000 
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125%15,000 15,000 
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2020 ("New York Bonds 2020") due September 2050 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 2.750%40,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 ("FAME Bonds 2005R-3") due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25%25,000 25,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-1") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125%15,000 15,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-2") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375%15,000 15,000 
Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds") due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625%16,000 16,000 
Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("New Hampshire Bonds") due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2029; bearing interest at 2.95%11,000 11,000 
Other:
Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 4.3%32,045 18,364 
Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 3.5%5,012 5,464 
Principal amount of debt549,057 522,728 
Less—unamortized debt issuance costs (1)9,340 9,406 
Debt less unamortized debt issuance costs539,717 513,322 
Less—current maturities of debt8,588 4,301 
$531,129 $509,021 
 
(1)A summary of unamortized debt issuance costs by debt instrument follows:
September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility")$5,889  $7,118  
New York Bonds 2014707  847  
New York Bonds 2014R-2405  450  
FAME Bonds 2005R-3453  517  
FAME Bonds 2015R-1569  622  
FAME Bonds 2015R-2436  493  
Vermont Bonds554  595  
New Hampshire Bonds213  308  
$9,226  $10,950  

September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility")$4,249 $5,478 
New York Bonds 2014R-11,017 1,057 
New York Bonds 2014R-2344 390 
New York Bonds 20201,505 
FAME Bonds 2005R-3368 432 
FAME Bonds 2015R-1500 552 
FAME Bonds 2015R-2362 417 
Vermont Bonds500 541 
New Hampshire Bonds495 539 
$9,340 $9,406 
Financing Activities
In October 2019,the three months ended September 30, 2020, we completed the remarketingissuance of $11,000$40,000 aggregate principal amount of New Hampshire Bonds.York Bonds 2020. The New HampshireYork Bonds 2020, which are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 2.95%2.75% per annum from OctoberSeptember 2, 2020 through September 1, 2019 through final maturity2025, at which time they may be converted to a variable interest rate period or to a new term interest rate period. The New York Bonds 2020 mature on AprilSeptember 1, 2029.2050.
17


Credit Facility
As of September 30, 2019,2020, we are party to a credit agreement ("Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $350,000 Term Loan Facility and a $200,000 Revolving Credit Facility. We have the right to request, at our discretion, an increase in the amount of loans under the Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of $125,000, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Facility has a 5-year term that matures in May 2023 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.75% per annum, which will be reduced to a rate of LIBOR plus as low as 1.25% upon us reaching a consolidated net leverage ratio of less than 2.25x. The Credit Facility is guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. As of September 30, 2019,2020, further advances were available under the Credit Facility in the amount of $131,979.$173,575. The available amount is net of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit totaling $24,621,$26,425, at which date no amount had been drawn.
The Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement. In addition to these financial covenants, the Credit Agreement also contains a number of important customary affirmative and negative covenants which restrict, among other things, our ability to sell assets, incur additional debt, create liens, make investments, and pay dividends. We do not believe that these restrictions impact our ability to meet future liquidity needs. An event of default under any of our debt agreements could permit some of our lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, or, in the case of the Credit Facility, terminate the commitment to make further credit extensions thereunder, which could, in turn, trigger cross-defaults under other debt obligations. If we were unable to repay debt to our lenders, or were otherwise in default under any provision governing our outstanding debt obligations, our secured lenders could proceed against us and against the collateral securing that debt.
18


Loss on Debt Extinguishment
We recorded a loss on debt extinguishment of $7,352 in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 associated with the write-off of debt issuance costs and unamortized discount in connection with the refinancing of our term loan B facility with our existing Credit Facility, and the write-off of debt issuance costs in connection with the remarketing of our Vermont Bonds.
Cash Flow Hedges
As of September 30, 2019, we had in place 9Our strategy to reduce exposure to interest rate risk involves entering into interest rate derivative agreements to hedge against adverse movements in interest rate risk associated withrates related to the variable rate portion of our long-term debt. TheIn the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we entered into 3 forward starting interest rate derivative agreements with a total notional amount of $60,000 that will serve to replace existing interest rate derivative agreements upon their expiration between June 2022 and May 2023. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we also amended 3 interest rate derivative agreements to settle each of the 1.0% floors and replace each with a 0.0% floor in line with our Term Loan Facility, which resulted in us dedesignating the original hedging relationships. We subsequently designated new hedging relationships between thesethe 3 interest rate derivative agreements and the variable rate interest payments related to the Term Loan Facility were originally considered highly effective based on a quantitative assessmentsassessment that was performed using regression analysis, which indicated that the hedging relationships were highly effective. Because the interest rate payments associated with the variable rate portion of our long-term debt will still occur, the net loss of $(765) associated with the dedesignated interest rate derivative agreements and subsequently, based on a qualitative assessment performedthe $430 cash settlement received in exchange for settling the 1.0% floors in accumulated other comprehensive loss were not reclassified into earnings. Instead, this loss and settlement amount will continue to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into interest expense as the interest payments affect earnings.
As of both September 30, 2019. Therefore, we have designated these derivative instruments as effective cash flow hedges.
The total notional amount of all of2020 and December 31, 2019, our interest rate derivative agreements is $190,000 and accordinghave a total notional amount of $190,000. According to the terms of the agreements, we receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index and pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 2.54%. The agreements mature between February 2021 and May 2023.
Additionally, we have forward starting interest rate derivative agreements with a total notional amount of $125,000 that mature between February 2026 and May 2028. We receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index, restricted by a 0.0% floor, and will pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 1.63%.
We have designated these derivative instruments as highly effective cash flow hedges, and therefore the change in fair value is recorded in our stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in interest expense at the same time as interest expense is affected by the hedged transactions. Differences paid or received over the life of the agreements are recorded as additions to or reductions of interest expense on the underlying debt and included in cash flows from operating activities.
18


A summary of the effect of cash flow hedges related to derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet follows:
Fair ValueFair Value
Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
Balance Sheet LocationSeptember 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Interest rate swapsOther current assets  $—  $338  
Interest rate swapsOther non-current assets  —  482  
$—  $820  
Interest rate swapsInterest rate swapsOther accrued liabilities  $1,686  $387  Interest rate swapsOther accrued liabilities$4,694 $1,824 
Interest rate swapsInterest rate swapsOther long-term liabilities  4,398  1,555  Interest rate swapsOther long-term liabilities9,746 3,603 
$6,084  $1,942  $14,440 $5,427 
Interest rate swapsInterest rate swapsAccumulated other comprehensive loss  $(6,459) $(1,196) Interest rate swapsAccumulated other comprehensive loss$(14,639)$(5,929)
Interest rate swaps - tax provisionInterest rate swaps - tax provisionAccumulated other comprehensive loss  (112) (112) Interest rate swaps - tax provisionAccumulated other comprehensive loss(112)
$(6,571) $(1,308) $(14,639)$(6,041)

A summary of the amount of expense on cash flow hedging relationships related to interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)loss into earnings follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018201920182020201920202019
Statement of Operations LocationStatement of Operations Location(Expense) Income (Expense) Income Statement of Operations Location(Expense) Income(Expense) Income
Interest expenseInterest expense$(147) $(156) $(216) $(247) Interest expense$(1,156)$(30)$(2,513)$86 

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9.10.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our business and as a result of the extensive governmental regulation of the solid waste industry, we are subject to various judicial and administrative proceedings involving state and local agencies. In these proceedings, an agency may seek to impose fines or to revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit held by us. From time to time, we may also be subject to actions brought by special interest or other groups, adjacent landowners or residents in connection with the permitting and licensing of landfills and transfer stations, or allegations of environmental damage or violations of the permits and licenses pursuant to which we operate. In addition, we may be named defendants in various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the ordinary operation of a waste management business.
In accordance with FASB ASC 450 - Contingencies, we accrue for legal proceedings, inclusive of legal costs, when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings to determine whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred and, if it is at least reasonably possible, whether a range of loss can be reasonably estimated under the provisions of FASB ASC 450-20. In instances where we determine that a loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate a range of loss we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate of the possible loss. If we are able to reasonably estimate a range, but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we record an accrual in the amount that is the low end of such range. When a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, we will not record an accrual, but we will disclose our estimate of the possible range of loss where such estimate can be made in accordance with FASB ASC 450-20.
Environmental Remediation Liability (including related litigation)
We are subject to liability for environmental damage, including personal injury and property damage, that our solid waste, recycling and power generation facilities may cause to neighboring property owners, particularly as a result of the contamination of drinking water sources or soil, possibly including damage resulting from conditions that existed before we acquired the facilities. We may also be subject to liability for similar claims arising from off-site environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances if we or our predecessors arrange or arranged to transport, treat or dispose of those materials. The following matters represent our material outstanding claims.
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Southbridge Recycling & Disposal Park, Inc.
In October 2015, our Southbridge Recycling and Disposal Park, Inc. (“SRD”) subsidiary reported to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MADEP”) results of analysis of samples collected pursuant to our existing permit from private drinking water wells located near the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts (“Town”) Landfill (“Southbridge Landfill”), which was operated by SRD and later closed in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Those results indicated the presence of contaminants above the levels triggering notice and response obligations under MADEP regulations. In response to those results, we are carryingcarried out an Immediate Response Action pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 21E (the "Charlton 21E Obligations") pursuant to state law.. Further, we have implemented a plan to analyze and better understand the groundwater near the Southbridge Landfill and we are investigatinginvestigated with the objective of identifying the source or sources of the elevated levels of contamination measured in the well samples. If it is determined that some or all of the contamination originated at the Southbridge Landfill, we will work with the Town (the Southbridge Landfill owner and the former operator of an unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, which was used prior to our operation of a double-lined portion of the Southbridge Landfill commencing in 2004) to evaluate and allocate the liabilities related to the Charlton 21E Obligations. In July 2016, we sent correspondence to the Town pursuant to Chapter 21E of Massachusetts General Laws demanding that the Town reimburse us for the environmental response costs we had spent and that the Town be responsible for all such costs in the future, as well as any other costs or liabilities resulting from the release of contaminants from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill. The Town responded in September 2016, denying that the Southbridge Landfill is the source of such contamination, and claiming that if it is, that we may owe an indemnity to the Town pursuant to the Operating Agreement between us and the Town dated May 29, 2007, as amended. We entered into a Tolling Agreement with the Town to delay any further administrative or legal actions until our work with MADEP more specifically defines the parties’ responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations, if any. Please see below for further discussion of our relationship with the Town regarding the Charlton 21E Obligations.
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In February 2016, we and the Town received a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") from a law firm purporting to represent residents proximate to the Southbridge Landfill (“Residents”), indicating its intent to file suit against us on behalf of the Residents alleging the groundwater contamination originated from the Southbridge Landfill. In February 2017, we received an additional Notice of Intent to Sue from the National Environmental Law Center ("NECL") under the Federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and RCRA (collectively the “Acts”) on behalf of Environment America, Inc., d/b/a Environment Massachusetts, and Toxics Action Center, Inc., which have referred to themselves as the Citizen Groups. The Citizen Groups alleged that we had violated the Acts, and that they intended to seek appropriate relief in federal court for those alleged violations. On or about June 9,17, 2017, a lawsuit was filed against us, SRD and the Town in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Court”) by the Citizen Groups and the Residents alleging violations of the Acts (the “Litigation”), and demanding a variety of remedies under the Acts, including fines, remediation, mitigation and costs of litigation, and remedies for violations of Massachusetts civil law related to personal and property damages, including remediation, diminution of property values, compensation for lost use and enjoyment of properties, enjoinment of further operation of the Southbridge Landfill, and costs of litigation, plus interest on any damage award, on behalf of the Residents. We believebelieved the Litigation to be factually inaccurate, and without legal merit, and we and SRD intend to vigorously defenddefended the Litigation. Nevertheless, we believe it is reasonably possible that a loss will occur as a result of the Litigation although an estimate of loss cannot be reasonably provided at this time. We also continue to believe the Town should be responsible for costs or liabilities associated with the Litigation relative to alleged contamination originating from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, although there can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur some or all of such costs and liabilities.
In December 2017, we filed a Motion to Dismiss the Litigation, and on October 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Court granted our Motion to Dismiss, and accordingly, dismissed the Citizen GroupsGroups' claims under the Acts. The Massachusetts Court has retained jurisdiction of the ResidentsResidents' claims. The Citizen Groups intendindicated an intent to appeal the Massachusetts Court’s decision to grant our Motion to Dismiss. In this regard, the Massachusetts Court denied the Citizen Groups' motion for an interlocutory appeal. The Residents moved for a stay of their case until the Citizen Groups appealed. We opposed the stay and in March 2019, the Massachusetts Court denied the Residents motion for a stay.
On September 18, 2020, we and the Town reached agreement for settlement of all claims by the Citizens Groups and the Residents, upon the payment of $2,000 by us, and $1,000 by the Town, for a total of $3,000 to the Residents (the “Settlement”). In addition to resolving the claims of the Residents, the Citizens Groups have agreed to not appeal the decision of the Massachusetts Court to dismiss their previously alleged claims, although we have agreed to assent to a motion by the Citizens Groups to the Massachusetts Court to vacate the Massachusetts Court’s earlier decision. The settlement documents were finalized on October 23, 2020, and we recorded a reserve of $2,000 at September 30, 2020. See Note 13, Other Items and Charges for further discussion.
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We entered into an Administrative Consent Order on April 26, 2017 (the “ACO”), with MADEP, the Town, and the Town of Charlton, committing us to equally share the costs with MADEP, of up to $10,000 ($5,000 each) for the Town to install a municipal waterline in the Town of Charlton ("Waterline"). Upon satisfactory completion of that Waterline, and other matters covered by the ACO, we and the Town will be released by MADEP from any future responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations. We also entered into an agreement with the Town on April 28, 2017 entitled the “21E Settlement and Water System Construction Funding Agreement” (the “Waterline Agreement”), wherein we and the Town released each other from claims arising from the Charlton 21E Obligations. Pursuant to the Waterline Agreement, the Town will issueissued a twenty (20) year bond for our portion of the Waterline costs (up to $5,000).in the amount of $4,089. We have agreed to reimburse the Town for periodic payments under such bond. Construction of the waterlineWaterline is near completioncomplete and homeowners are relying on municipal water supply. Remaining aspects of the project are minor and are expected to be completed in 2020. Bond reimbursement to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.Town commenced in the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
We have recorded an environmental remediation liability related to our obligation associated with the future installation of the Waterline in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 2.6%. Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. The
A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Southbridge Landfill are as follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Beginning balanceBeginning balance$5,173  $5,936  Beginning balance$4,596 $5,173 
Accretion expenseAccretion expense94  116  Accretion expense90 94 
Obligations incurredObligations incurred28 
Revisions in estimates (1)
Revisions in estimates (1)
(188)
Obligations settled (1)(2)
Obligations settled (1)(2)
(556) (612) 
Obligations settled (1)(2)
(293)(556)
Ending balanceEnding balance$4,711  $5,440  Ending balance$4,233 $4,711 
(1)The revision of estimate is associated with the completion of the environmental remediation at the site. See Note 13, Other Items and Charges to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
(2)Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

We completed the first phase of landfill capping and closure in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 at the Southbridge Landfill and are actively seeking approval from MADEP to close and cap the remainder of the landfill.
The costs and liabilities we may be required to incur in connection with the foregoing Southbridge Landfill matters could be material to our results of operations, our cash flows and our financial condition.
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Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability
On December 20, 2000, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) issued an Order on Consent (“Order”) which named Waste-Stream, Inc. (“WSI”), our subsidiary, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (“NiMo”) as Respondents. The Order required that the Respondents undertake certain work on a 25-acre scrap yard and solid waste transfer station owned by WSI in Potsdam, New York, including the preparation of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“Study”). A draft of the Study was submitted to the DEC in January 2009 (followed by a final report in May 2009). The Study estimated that the undiscounted costs associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $10,219. On February 28, 2011, the DEC issued a Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the site and accepted public comments on the proposed remedy through March 29, 2011. We submitted comments to the DEC on this matter. In April 2011, the DEC issued the final Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the site. The ROD was subsequently rescinded by the DEC for failure to respond to all submitted comments. The preliminary ROD, however, estimated that the present cost associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $12,130. The DEC issued the final ROD in June 2011 with proposed remedies consistent with its earlier ROD. An Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement naming WSI and NiMo as Respondents was executed by the Respondents and DEC with an effective date of October 25, 2013. On January 29, 2016, a Cost-Sharing Agreement was executed between WSI, NiMo, Alcoa Inc. (“Alcoa”) and Reynolds Metal Company (“Reynolds”) whereby Alcoa and Reynolds elected to voluntarily participate in the onsite remediation activities at a combined 15% participant share. The remediation work has commenced and it is expected that the majority of the remediation work will behas been completed in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.as of September 30, 2020. WSI is jointly and severally liable with NiMo, Alcoa and Reynolds for the total cost to remediate.
We have recorded an environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam site based on incurred costs to date and estimated costs to complete the remediation in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 1.5%.
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A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam environmental remediation liability follows:
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 20192018
Beginning balance$5,614  $5,758  
Obligations settled (1)
(1,764) (98) 
Ending balance$3,850  $5,660  

 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 20202019
Beginning balance$1,151 $5,614 
Obligations settled (1)
(212)(1,764)
Ending balance$939 $3,850 

(1)Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

Legal Proceedings
North Country Environmental Services
On or about March 8, 2018, NELC and the Conservation Law Foundation ("CLF") (the "NH Citizen Groups described aboveGroups") delivered correspondence to our subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. ("NCES"), and us, providing notice of the NH Citizen Groups' intent to sue NCES and us for violations of the CWA in conjunction with NCES's operation of its landfill in Bethlehem, New Hampshire.Hampshire ("NCES Landfill"). On May 14, 2018, the NH Citizen Groups filed a lawsuit against NCES and us in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire (the “New Hampshire Court”) alleging violations of the CWA, arguing that ground water discharging into the Ammonoosuc River is a "point source" under the CWA (the "New Hampshire Litigation"). The New Hampshire Litigation seeks remediation and fines under the CWA.CWA and an order requiring NCES to seek a Federal NPDES permit for the operation of the NCES Landfill. On June 15, 2018, we and NCES filed a Motion to Dismiss the New Hampshire Litigation. On July 13, 2018, the NH Citizen Groups filed objections to our Motion to Dismiss. On July 27, 2018, we filed a reply in support of our Motion to Dismiss. On September 25, 2018, the New Hampshire Court denied our Motion to Dismiss. In March of 2019, we filed a motion in the New Hampshire Litigation asking for a stay of this litigation until certain appeals from discordant federal circuitscircuit courts were heard by the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”). SCOTUS has granted certiorari determining that, in the circumstances described are sufficient for SCOTUS to hear such cases.case identified as “County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund (“MAUI”)". Our motion for a stay was granted in the New Hampshire Litigation, and SCOTUS heard the case in 2019 and issued a ruling on April 23, 2020. SCOTUS remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco (the “Circuit Court”) ruling that the Circuit Court’s standard as to whether ground water impacts navigable waters is expected to heartoo broad. We do not believe that the MAUI decision resolves the issues presented in the New Hampshire Litigation, and rule on such cases this calendar year. In any event,until the Circuit Court rules in the remanded MAUI case, we intend to continue to vigorously defend against the New Hampshire Litigation, which we believe is without merit.
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The NH Citizens Groups filed a motion with the New Hampshire Court on July 15, 2020 to amend their complaint based on MAUI. The New Hampshire Court has granted the NH Citizen Groups' motion on September 2, 2020, and has encouraged the parties to file Motions for Summary Judgments. We are preparing our Motion for Summary Judgment to be filed in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Ontario County, New York Class Action Litigation
On or about September 17, 2019, Richard Vandemortel and Deb Vandemortel filed a class action complaint against us on behalf of similarly situated citizens in Ontario County, New York. The lawsuit has been filed in Ontario County (the “New York Litigation”). It alleges that over one thousand (1,000) citizens constitute the putative class in the New York Litigation, and it seeks damages for diminution of property values and infringement of the putative class’ rights to live without interference to their daily lives due to odors emanating from the Ontario County Landfill,Subtitle D landfill located in Seneca, New York , which is operated by us pursuant to a long-term Operation, Maintenance and Lease Agreement with Ontario County. The New York Litigation was served on us on October 14, 2019. We are reviewing the New York Litigation and intend to present a vigorous defense.
Hakes Landfill Litigation
10.On or about December 19, 2019, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“Department”) issued certain permits to us to expand the landfill owned and operated by Hakes C&D Disposal Inc. in the Town of Campbell, Steuben County, New York (“Hakes Landfill”). The permits authorize approximately five years of expansion capacity at the Hakes Landfill. The authorizations issued by the Department followed approvals issued by the Town of Campbell Planning Board (“Planning Board”) in January 2019, and the Town Board of the Town of Campbell (“Town Board”) in March 2019, granting site plan review and a zoning change for the project.
Litigation was commenced by the Sierra Club, several other non-governmental organizations, and several individuals (“the Petitioners”), challenging the approvals issued by the Department, the Planning Board and the Town Board in New York State Supreme Court, Steuben County (the “Hakes Litigation”). The challenge was based upon allegations that the agencies issuing these approvals did not follow the requirements of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York,
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the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), by failing to address certain radioactivity issues alleged by Petitioners to be associated with certain drilling wastes authorized for disposal at the Hakes Landfill. The Petitioners also made a motion for a preliminary injunction to restrain construction and operation of the expansion cell. We and the Town of Campbell opposed the Hakes Litigation on the merits, and on July 31, 2020, the Court dismissed the Hakes Litigation. The Petitioners filed a notice of appeal, which is still pending, and made a motion before the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, for a preliminary injunction, which was denied by an order dated September 18, 2020.
Loss Contingency
On January 9, 2019, NCES filed an application for a 1.2 million (cy) expansion of the capacity of the NCES Landfill with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (“NHDES”) (“Stage VI Expansion”). The Stage VI Expansion would provide NCES with over six (6) years of additional capacity beyond the capacity of Stage V.
In January 2020, NHDES informed NCES and us that NHDES had concerns regarding the short-term public benefit need for the Stage VI Expansion, and also in respect of certain technical concerns regarding the Stage VI Expansion. Because we believe that the NHDES reviewed our permit application for the Stage VI Expansion with respect to public benefit determination using a different regulatory framework than used in any of our previous permitting activities at NCES, we informed the NHDES on February 11, 2020, that while we vigorously disagreed with NHDES’ review of our application and the context for the NHDES’ concerns, we would withdraw our application with the expectation of refiling the application with the NHDES as soon as possible. We refiled our application on March 17, 2020. On October 9, 2020, the NHDES granted our permit, subject to certain conditions prior to the start of construction. We expect to start construction of the Stage VI Expansion in the immediate future.
11.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Recent DevelopmentsPublic Offering of Class A Common Stock
In the nine months ended September 30, 2019,October 2020, we completed a public issuanceoffering of 3,5652,703 shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $29.50$56.00 per share. TheWe expect the offering resultedto result in net proceeds to us of $100,446,approximately $144,711, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The net proceeds from the offering were and are to be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions or development of new operations or assets with the goal of complementing or expanding our business, and for working capital and capital expenditures.
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we completed the unregistered sale of 59 shares of our Class A common stock at a price of $44.15 per share. The sale resulted in net proceeds to us of $2,618. The shares were previously held in escrow according to the terms of our acquisition of WSI and released to us for liquidation to offset costs associated with the environmental remediation of the WSI's Potsdam, New York site. We recorded a $2,618 reduction of goodwill in line with business combination standards in place at the time the shares held in escrow were issued. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure.
Stock Based Compensation
Shares Available For Issuance
In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we adopted the 2016 Incentive Plan (“2016 Plan”). Under the 2016 Plan, we may grant awards up to an aggregate amount of shares equal to the sum of: (i) 2,250 shares of Class A common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events), plus (ii) such additional number of shares of Class A common stock (up to 2,723 shares) as is equal to the sum of the number of shares of Class A common stock that remained available for grant under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) immediately prior to the expiration of the 2006 Plan and the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to awards granted under the 2006 Plan that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by us. As of September 30, 2019,2020, there were 1,3991,102 Class A common stock equivalents available for future grant under the 2016 Plan.
Stock Options
Stock options are granted at a price equal to the prevailing fair value of our Class A common stock at the date of grant. Generally, stock options granted have a term not to exceed ten years and vest over a one yearone-year to four yearfour-year period from the date of grant.
The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimation, including estimates of the expected term stock option holders will retain their vested stock options before exercising them and the estimated volatility of our Class A common stock price over the expected term.
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A summary of stock option activity follows:
Stock Options (1)Weighted Average Exercise PriceWeighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)Aggregate Intrinsic ValueStock OptionsWeighted Average Exercise PriceWeighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2018669  $6.37  
Outstanding, December 31, 2019Outstanding, December 31, 201998 $9.20 
GrantedGranted—  $—  Granted$
ExercisedExercised(571) $5.88  Exercised(8)$12.48 
ForfeitedForfeited—  $—  Forfeited$
Outstanding, September 30, 201998  $9.20  6.1$3,311  
Exercisable, September 30, 201998  $9.20  6.1$3,311  
Outstanding, September 30, 2020Outstanding, September 30, 202090 $8.91 5.0$4,230 
Exercisable, September 30, 2020Exercisable, September 30, 202090 $8.91 5.0$4,230 

Stock-basedWe did 0t record any stock-based compensation expense for stock options was $0 and $0 during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, as compared to $1272020 and $377 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,2019, respectively.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $7,741$0 and $19,475,$296, respectively.
Other Stock Awards
Restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units, with the exception of market-based performance stock units, are granted at a price equal to the fair value of our Class A common stock at the date of grant. The fair value of each market-based performance stock unit is estimated using a Monte Carlo pricing model, which requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimation, including the estimated share price appreciation plus the value of dividends of our Class A common stock as compared to the Russell 2000 Index over the requisite service period.
Generally, restricted stock awards granted to non-employee directors vest incrementally over a three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors typically vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. Restricted stock units granted to employees vest incrementally over an identified service period beginning on the grant date based on continued employment. Performance stock units granted to employees, including market-based performance stock units, vest at a future date following the grant date and are based on the attainment of performance targets and market achievements, as applicable.
A summary of restricted stock, restricted stock unit and performance stock unit activity follows:
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units (1)Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair
Value
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)Aggregate Intrinsic ValueRestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units (1)Weighted
Average Grant Date Fair
Value
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2018686  $15.56  
Outstanding, December 31, 2019Outstanding, December 31, 2019393 $28.23 
GrantedGranted163  $37.14  Granted161 $47.84 
Class A Common Stock VestedClass A Common Stock Vested(217) $12.19  Class A Common Stock Vested(126)$22.09 
ForfeitedForfeited(7) $20.48  Forfeited(6)$35.30 
Outstanding, September 30, 2019625  $22.36  1.1$12,866  
Unvested, September 30, 2019950  $21.90  1.0$19,998  
Outstanding, September 30, 2020Outstanding, September 30, 2020422 $37.46 1.8$23,581 
Unvested, September 30, 2020Unvested, September 30, 2020711 $37.61 1.6$39,738 
(1)Market-based performance stock unit grants are included at the 100% attainment level. Attainment of the maximum performance targets and market achievements would result in the issuance of an additional 325289 shares of Class A common stock currently included in unvested.

Stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock units was $1,898 and $5,175 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, as compared to $1,858 and $5,084 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, as compared to $2,007 and $5,883 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.
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During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, the total fair value of other stock awards vested was $43$41 and $7,764,$5,892, respectively.
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As of September 30, 2019,2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units was $3,852,$84, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.42.6 years. As of September 30, 2019, maximum2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding restricted stock units was $4,684, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. As of September 30, 2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding performance stock units assuming the attainment of maximum performance targets, was $6,009$5,196 to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.91.8 years.
We also recorded $40$67 and $134$171 of stock-based compensation expense related to our Amended and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, respectively, as compared to $34$40 and $106$134 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018,2019, respectively.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
A summary of the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax follows:
 Interest Rate Swaps
Balance, December 31, 20182019$(1,308)(6,041)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications(5,479)(11,223)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss2162,513 
Income tax provisionbenefit related to items of other comprehensive loss112 
Net current-period other comprehensive loss(5,263)(8,598)
Balance, September 30, 20192020$(6,571)(14,639)

A summary of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018  2020201920202019 
Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ComponentsDetails About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ComponentsAmounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossAffected Line Item in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations
Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss ComponentsAmounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive LossAffected Line Item in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations
Interest rate swapsInterest rate swaps$147  $156  $216  $247  Interest expenseInterest rate swaps$1,156 $30 $2,513 $(86)Interest expense
147  156  216  247  Income before income taxes1,156 30 2,513 (86)Income before income taxes
—  —  —  —  Provision (benefit) for income taxes(112)Provision (benefit) for income taxes
$147  $156  $216  $247  Net income$1,156 $30 $2,625 $(86)Net income

11.12.    EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the combined weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive shares, which include the assumed exercise of employee stock options, unvested restricted stock awards, unvested restricted stock units and unvested performance stock units, including market-based performance units based on the expected achievement of performance targets. In computing diluted earnings per share, we utilize the treasury stock method.
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A summary of the numerator and denominators used in the computation of earnings per share follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018 2020201920202019
Numerator:Numerator:Numerator:
Net incomeNet income$12,386  $22,302  $22,587  $20,096  Net income$15,117 $12,386 $28,189 $22,587 
Denominators:Denominators:Denominators:
Number of shares outstanding, end of period:Number of shares outstanding, end of period:Number of shares outstanding, end of period:
Class A common stockClass A common stock46,792  41,932  46,792  41,932  Class A common stock47,384 46,792 47,384 46,792 
Class B common stockClass B common stock988  988  988  988  Class B common stock988 988 988 988 
Shares to be issued - acquisitionShares to be issued - acquisition36  —  36  —  Shares to be issued - acquisition36 36 
Unvested restricted stockUnvested restricted stock(9) (32) (9) (32) Unvested restricted stock(2)(9)(2)(9)
Effect of weighted average shares outstandingEffect of weighted average shares outstanding(117) (109) (778) (283) Effect of weighted average shares outstanding(117)(129)(778)
Basic weighted average common shares outstandingBasic weighted average common shares outstanding47,690  42,779  47,029  42,605  Basic weighted average common shares outstanding48,370 47,690 48,241 47,029 
Impact of potentially dilutive securities:Impact of potentially dilutive securities:Impact of potentially dilutive securities:
Dilutive effect of stock options and other stock awardsDilutive effect of stock options and other stock awards671  1,396  631  1,333  Dilutive effect of stock options and other stock awards249 671 240 631 
Diluted weighted average common shares outstandingDiluted weighted average common shares outstanding48,361  44,175  47,660  43,938  Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding48,619 48,361 48,481 47,660 
Anti-dilutive potentially issuable sharesAnti-dilutive potentially issuable shares —    Anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares

12.13.    OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES
Expense from Acquisition Activities
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded charges of $173 and $1,533, respectively, and in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $1,097 and $2,237, respectively, comprised primarily of legal, consulting and other similar costs associated with the acquisition and integration of acquired businesses or select development projects.
Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge
In 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 we recorded charges of $2,642 and $3,815, respectively, comprised of the following: $642 and $1,851 of legal and other costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, pertaining to various matters as part of the unplanned early closure of the Southbridge Landfill through completion of the closure process; a charge of $2,000 in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 associated with a settlement pertaining to the Southbridge Landfill discussed further in Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies; a charge of $152 in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to changes in estimated costs and timing of final capping, closure and post-closure activities at the Southbridge Landfill; and a charge of $(188) in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 associated with the completion of environmental remediation at the site. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $625 and $2,097, respectively, associated with legal and other costs pertaining to various matters as part of the unplanned early closure of the Southbridge Landfill through completion of the closure process.
Multiemployer Pension Plan
We make contributions to a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan, the New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension FundFund (the “Pension Plan”), under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) that covers certain of our union representedunion-represented employees. The Pension Plan provides retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. We do not administer the Pension Plan. The risks of participating in a multiemployer pension plan are different from a single-employer pension plan in that: (i) assets contributed to the multiemployer pension plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees or former employees of other participating employers; (ii) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be required to be assumed by the remaining participating employers; and (iii) if we choose to stop participating in our multiemployer Pension Plan, we may be required to pay the plan a withdrawal amount based on the underfunded status of the plan.
In October 2019, we reached an agreement to withdraw from the Pension Plan by entering into Withdrawal and Re-entry Agreements with the Pension Plan. In accordance with FASB ASC 450 - Contingencies, because of our withdrawal from the
26


Pension Plan, we recorded an obligation of $3,194 as of September 30, 2019 and a charge of $3,591 as pension withdrawal expense, offset by a $397 retroactive contribution credit recorded as cost of operations, in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. While the withdrawal generates a fixed yearly contingent liability for us for a period of approximately seventeen (17) years, it caps our gross payments at $4,224, significantly reducing our cash exposure from the potential $18,511 withdrawal liability as determined based on a complete withdrawal. As per the Re-entry Agreements and upon withdrawal, we will re-enterre-entered the Pension Plan with certainty from a liability perspective. We havedid not, however, changedchange the terms of our CBA with Local 170, which remainsremained in effect until it expired on June 30, 2020.
Expense from Acquisition Activities and Other Items
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $1,097 and $2,237, respectively, associated primarily with acquisition activities. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded charges of $0 and $211, respectively, associated with the write-off of deferred costs related to the expiration of our shelf registration statement and $581 and $719, respectively, associated with acquisition activities.2020, at which time a new agreement was entered into.
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Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge (Settlement), Net
In June 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we recorded charges (settlement) associated with the closure of the Southbridge Landfill as follows:
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2019201820192018
Charlton settlement charge (1)
$—  $—  $—  $1,216  
Legal and other costs (2)
625  502  2,097  1,044  
Recovery on insurance settlement (3)
—  (10,000) —  (10,000) 
Southbridge Landfill closure charge (settlement), net$625  $(9,498) $2,097  $(7,740) 
(1)We established a reserve associated with settlement of the Town of Charlton's claim against us. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure.
(2)We incurred legal costs as well as other costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure.
(3)We recorded a recovery on an environmental insurance settlement associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure.

Contract Settlement Charge
In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a contract settlement charge of $2,100 associated with the termination and discounted buy-out of a commodities marketing and brokerage agreement.
Development Project Charge
In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a development project charge of $311 associated with previously deferred costs that were written off as a result of the negative vote in a public referendum relating to the NCES landfill.
13.14.    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
We use a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of market prices and observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. In measuring the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, we rely on market data or assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.
Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value
Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted investment securities held in trust on deposit with various banks as collateral for our obligations relative to our landfill final capping, closure and post-closure costs, interest rate swaps, trade payables and long-term debt. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and trade payables approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair value of restricted investment securities held in trust, which are valued using quoted market prices, are included as restricted assets in the Level 1 tier below. The fair value of the interest rate swaps included in the Level 2 tier below is calculated using discounted cash flow valuation methodologies based upon the one monthone-month LIBOR yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swaps.
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Recurring Fair Value Measurements
Summaries of our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis follow:
Fair Value Measurement at September 30, 2019 Using:
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure$1,410 $— $— 
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps$— $6,084 $— 
 Fair Value Measurement at September 30, 2020 Using:
 Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure$1,619 $$
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps$$14,440 $


Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2018 Using: Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2019 Using:
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:Assets:Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closureRestricted investment securities - landfill closure$1,248  $—  $—  Restricted investment securities - landfill closure$1,586 $$
Interest rate swaps—  820  —  
$1,248  $820  $—  
Liabilities:Liabilities:Liabilities:
Interest rate swapsInterest rate swaps$—  $1,942  $—  Interest rate swaps$$5,427 $
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Fair Value of Debt
As of September 30, 2019,2020, the fair value of our fixed rate debt, including our FAME Bonds 2005R-3, FAME Bonds 2015R-1, FAME Bonds 2015R-2, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2014,2014R-1, New York Bonds 2014R-2, New York Bonds 2020 and New Hampshire Bonds was approximately $131,557$169,463 and the carrying value was $122,000.$162,000. The fair value of the FAME Bonds 2005R-3, the FAME Bonds 2015R-1, the FAME Bonds 2015R-2, the Vermont Bonds, the New York Bonds 2014,2014R-1, the New York Bonds 2014R-2, New York Bonds 2020 and the New Hampshire Bonds is considered to be Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy as the fair value is determined using market approach pricing provided by a third-party that utilizes pricing models and pricing systems, mathematical tools and judgment to determine the evaluated price for the security based on the market information of each of the bonds or securities with similar characteristics.
As of September 30, 2019,2020, the carrying value of our Term Loan Facility was $350,000 and the carrying value of our Revolving Credit Facility was $43,400.$0. Their fair values are based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements, or Level 2 inputs, and approximate their carrying values.
Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts of FAME Bonds 2005R-3, FAME Bonds 2015R-1, FAME Bonds 2015R-2, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2014,2014R-1, New York Bonds 2014R-2, New York Bonds 2020 and New Hampshire Bonds using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, a change in available market information, and/or the use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. These amounts have not been revalued, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.
14. INCOME TAXES
During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized a $(2,137) deferred tax benefit due to a reduction of the valuation allowance. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, we have assessed the available means of recovering deferred tax assets, including the existence of reversing temporary differences. The valuation allowance decreased due to the recognition of additional reversing temporary differences from the $2,137 deferred tax liability recorded through goodwill
28


related to an acquisition of a company in May 2019. The $2,137 deferred tax liability related to the acquisition was based on the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and such amounts recognized for income tax purposes.
During the three months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized a $(297) deferred tax benefit due to a reduction of the deferred tax liability related to indefinite lived assets.During the quarter, the financial statement value of indefinite lived goodwill was reduced as a result of a settlement of an acquisition contingency that pre-dated the effective date of ASC 805, which resulted in a reduction of the related deferred tax liability.
15.    SEGMENT REPORTING
We report selected information about our reportable operating segments in a manner consistent with that used for internal management reporting. We classify our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through regional operating segments, our Western and Eastern regions. Revenues associated with our solid waste operations are derived mainly from solid waste collection and disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, transfer and recycling services in the northeastern United States. Our revenuesWe classify our resource-renewal services by service in the Recycling segmentour Resource Solutions segment. Revenues associated with our resource renewal operations are derived from organics services, major account and industrial services, as well as recycling services generated from both municipalities and customers in the form of processing fees, tipping fees and commodity sales. Organics services, ancillary operations, along with major accountLegal, tax, information technology, human resources, certain finance and industrial servicesaccounting and other administrative functions are included in our OtherCorporate Entities segment.
Three Months Ended September 30, 20192020
SegmentSegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total
assets
SegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total
assets
EasternEastern$59,675  $15,156  $6,386  $2,121  $209,123  Eastern$58,323 $14,261 $6,659 $3,683 $215,639 
WesternWestern92,871  26,645  12,620  15,148  596,765  Western94,728 31,692 15,000 15,344 635,153 
Recycling10,726  2,486  1,028  145  57,216  
Other35,275  718  906  1,071  72,676  
Resource solutionsResource solutions49,616 2,806��1,544 2,204 89,870 
Corporate entitiesCorporate entities— 596 (598)53,593 
EliminationsEliminations—  (45,005) —  —  —  Eliminations— (48,759)— — — 
$198,547  $—  $20,940  $18,485  $935,780  $202,667 $— $23,799 $20,633 $994,255 

Three Months Ended September 30, 20182019
SegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total
assets
Eastern$56,006  $14,557  $7,267  $15,222  $180,896  
Western74,425  20,578  8,844  13,927  402,931  
Recycling10,877  1,773  1,131  (516) 48,995  
Other31,524  455  960  251  70,026  
Eliminations—  (37,363) —  —  —  
$172,832  $—  $18,202  $28,884  $702,848  

SegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total
assets
Eastern$59,675 $15,156 $6,386 $2,121 $209,123 
Western93,291 27,057 12,617 15,161 596,918 
Resource solutions45,581 2,792 1,349 2,223 92,612 
Corporate entities— 588 (1,020)37,127 
Eliminations— (45,005)— — — 
$198,547 $— $20,940 $18,485 $935,780 
2928



Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
SegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total assets
Eastern$161,803 $39,936 $18,956 $9,023 $215,639 
Western267,218 86,259 41,847 32,849 635,153 
Resource Solutions145,323 8,147 4,692 5,008 89,870 
Corporate Entities— 1,786 (1,791)53,593 
Eliminations— (134,342)— — — 
Total$574,344 $— $67,281 $45,089 $994,255 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
SegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total assets
Eastern$163,748  $40,606  $18,014  $5,722  $209,123  
Western251,860  70,960  34,279  30,849  596,765  
Recycling32,006  6,820  2,975  (1,010) 57,216  
Other102,056  1,911  2,876  2,910  72,676  
Eliminations—  (120,297) —  —  —  
Total$549,670  $—  $58,144  $38,471  $935,780  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
SegmentSegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total assetsSegmentOutside
revenues
Inter-company
revenues
Depreciation and
amortization
Operating
income (loss)
Total assets
EasternEastern$154,099  $40,432  $20,276  $17,675  $180,896  Eastern$163,748 $40,606 $18,014 $5,722 $209,123 
WesternWestern210,208  59,898  25,226  33,104  402,931  Western253,190 71,772 34,264 30,905 596,918 
Recycling30,634  4,697  3,228  (7,933) 48,995  
Other90,995  1,374  2,842  2,025  70,026  
Resource SolutionsResource Solutions132,732 7,919 3,946 4,228 92,612 
Corporate EntitiesCorporate Entities— 1,920 (2,384)37,127 
EliminationsEliminations—  (106,401) —  —  —  Eliminations— (120,297)— — — 
TotalTotal$485,936  $—  $51,572  $44,871  $702,848  Total$549,670 $— $58,144 $38,471 $935,780 

A summary of our revenues attributable to services provided follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820192018 2020201920202019
CollectionCollection$98,966  $79,611  $274,111  $220,650  Collection$102,270 $98,966 $290,837 $274,111 
DisposalDisposal50,552  48,737  134,746  136,217  Disposal47,600 50,552 129,971 134,746 
Power generationPower generation808  920  2,655  4,014  Power generation987 808 2,931 2,655 
ProcessingProcessing2,640  2,079  5,426  5,847  Processing2,194 2,640 5,281 5,426 
Solid waste operationsSolid waste operations152,966  131,347  416,938  366,728  Solid waste operations153,051 152,966 429,020 416,938 
OrganicsOrganics14,166  13,413  42,668  40,259  Organics14,539 14,166 44,890 42,668 
Customer solutionsCustomer solutions20,689  17,195  58,058  48,315  Customer solutions22,320 20,689 64,223 58,058 
RecyclingRecycling10,726  10,877  32,006  30,634  Recycling12,757 10,726 36,211 32,006 
Resource solutions operationsResource solutions operations49,616 45,581 145,324 132,732 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$198,547  $172,832  $549,670  $485,936  Total revenues$202,667 $198,547 $574,344 $549,670 

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30


ITEM 2.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under Item 1. In addition, reference should be made to our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 22, 2019.21, 2020.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and, in particular, this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, may contain or incorporate a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding:
the expected and potential direct or indirect impacts of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on our business;
expected liquidity and financing plans;
expected future revenues, operations, expenditures and cash needs;
fluctuations in commodity pricing of our recyclables, increases in landfill tipping fees and fuel costs and general economic and weather conditions;
projected future obligations related to final capping, closure and post-closure costs of our existing landfills and any disposal facilities which we may own or operate in the future;
our ability to use our net operating losses and tax positions;
our ability to service our debt obligations;
the projected development of additional disposal capacity or expectations regarding permits for existing capacity;
the recoverability or impairment of any of our assets or goodwill;
estimates of the potential markets for our products and services, including the anticipated drivers for future growth;
sales and marketing plans or price and volume assumptions;
the outcome of any legal or regulatory matter;
potential business combinations or divestitures; and
projected improvements to our infrastructure and the impact of such improvements on our business and operations.
In addition, any statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this report that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “intends”, “estimates” and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate, as well as management’s beliefs and assumptions, and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, circumstances or events. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depends on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
There are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those detailed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20182019 and if applicable, those included under Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
There may be additional risks that we are not presently aware of or that we currently believe are immaterial, which could have an adverse impact on our business. We explicitly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
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Company Overview
Founded in 1975 with a single truck, Casella Waste Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or “our”), is a regional, vertically-integrated solid waste services company. We provide resource management expertise and services to residential, commercial, municipal and industrial customers, primarily in the areas of solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling and organics services. We provide integrated solid waste services in six states: Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Pennsylvania, with our headquarters located in Rutland, Vermont. We manage our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through two regional operating segments, the Eastern and Western regions, each of which provides a full range of solid waste services, andservices. We manage our larger-scale recycling and commodity brokerage operations throughalong with our Recycling segment. Organicsorganics services ancillary operations, along withand major account and industrial services are included inthrough our Othersingle resource-renewal focused Resource Solutions segment.
As of October 15, 2019,2020, we owned and/or operated 4349 solid waste collection operations, 5558 transfer stations, 1820 recycling facilities, eight Subtitle D landfills, four landfill gas-to-energy facilities and one landfill permitted to accept construction and demolition (“C&D”) materials.
Results of Operations
Recent Events
With the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020, the U.S. Government and all of the states in which we operate have declared the waste services industry as an essential services provider and as a result we are committed to continue to operate and provide our full breadth of services. We have prioritized the safety and well-being of our employees by strictly adhering to recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as executive orders of the states in which we operate.
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused, and is likely to continue to cause, economic disruption across our geographic footprint and has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business. COVID-19 negatively impacted our revenues starting at the end of the quarter ended March 31, 2020 as many small business and construction collection customers required service level changes and volumes into our landfills declined due to lower economic activity. We did experience improved demand for services in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 as local economies started to reopen as allowed by State Governments. This positive trend continued through September 30, 2020, as additional small business collection customers increased service levels, construction activity continued to rebound, and overall higher economic activity across the northeast led to higher landfill volumes. Despite these positive trends, our collection and disposal operations remain negatively impacted by lower volumes attributable to COVID-19.
We continue to experience increased costs associated with the protection of our employees, including costs for additional safety equipment, hygiene products and enhanced facility cleaning. These costs are expected to continue throughout the remainder of the year. In early September 2020, we paid a special bonus to all our hourly employees (both frontline and administrative) to recognize their hard work and commitment to safety, environmental compliance and high customer service standards as essential service providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have taken measures to reduce costs in other areas and preserve liquidity during this period of uncertainty. As of the date of this filing, we are unable to determine or predict the nature, duration or scope of the overall impact that COVID-19 will have on our business, results of operations, liquidity and capital resources. For further information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on us, see Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Revenues
We manage our solid waste operations, which include a full range of solid waste services, on a geographic basis through two regional operating segments, which we designate as the Eastern and Western regions. Revenues in our Eastern and Western regions consist primarily of fees charged to customers for solid waste collection and disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, transfer and recycling services. We derive a substantial portion of our collection revenues from commercial, industrial and municipal services that are generally performed under service agreements or pursuant to contracts with municipalities. The majority of our residential collection services are performed on a subscription basis with individual households. Landfill and transfer customers are charged a tipping fee on a per ton basis for disposing of their solid waste at our disposal facilities and transfer stations. We also generate and sell electricity at certain of our landfill facilities. We classify our resource-renewal services by service in our Resource Solutions segment. Revenues fromassociated with our Recycling segment consist of revenuesresource renewal operations are derived from organics services, major account and industrial services, as well as recycling services generated from both municipalities and customers in the form of processing fees, tipping fees and commodity sales. Revenues from organics services, ancillary operations, and major account and industrial services are included in our Other segment. Our revenues are shown net of inter-company eliminations.
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A summary of revenues attributable to service provided (dollars in millions and as a percentage of total revenues) follows:
 Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
 2019201820192018
Collection$99.0  49.8 %$79.6  46.1 %$19.4  $274.1  49.9 %$220.7  45.4 %$53.4  
Disposal50.6  25.5 %48.7  28.2 %1.9  134.7  24.5 %136.2  28.0 %(1.5) 
Power0.8  0.4 %0.9  0.5 %(0.1) 2.7  0.5 %4.0  0.8 %(1.3) 
Processing2.6  1.3 %2.1  1.2 %0.5  5.4  1.0 %5.8  1.3 %(0.4) 
Solid waste153.0  77.0 %131.3  76.0 %21.7  416.9  75.9 %366.7  75.5 %50.2  
Organics14.1  7.2 %13.4  7.8 %0.7  42.7  7.7 %40.3  8.3 %2.4  
Customer solutions20.7  10.4 %17.2  9.9 %3.5  58.1  10.6 %48.3  9.9 %9.8  
Recycling10.7  5.4 %10.9  6.3 %(0.2) 32.0  5.8 %30.6  6.3 %1.4  
Total revenues$198.5  100.0 %$172.8  100.0 %$25.7  $549.7  100.0 %$485.9  100.0 %$63.8  

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 Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
 2020201920202019
Collection$102.3 50.5 %$99.0 49.8 %$3.3 $290.8 50.6 %$274.1 49.9 %$16.7 
Disposal47.6 23.5 %50.6 25.5 %(3.0)130.0 22.6 %134.7 24.5 %(4.7)
Power1.0 0.5 %0.8 0.4 %0.2 2.9 0.5 %2.7 0.5 %0.2 
Processing2.2 1.0 %2.6 1.3 %(0.4)5.3 1.0 %5.4 1.0 %(0.1)
Solid waste153.1 75.5 %153.0 77.0 %0.1 429.0 74.7 %416.9 75.9 %12.1 
Organics14.5 7.2 %14.1 7.2 %0.4 44.9 7.8 %42.7 7.7 %2.2 
Customer solutions22.3 11.0 %20.7 10.4 %1.6 64.2 11.2 %58.1 10.6 %6.1 
Recycling12.8 6.3 %10.7 5.4 %2.1 36.2 6.3 %32.0 5.8 %4.2 
Resource solutions49.6 24.5 %45.5 23.0 %4.1 145.3 25.3 %132.8 24.1 %12.5 
Total revenues$202.7 100.0 %$198.5 100.0 %$4.2 $574.3 100.0 %$549.7 100.0 %$24.6 
A summary of the period-to-period changes in solid waste revenues (dollars in millions and as percentage growth of solid waste revenues) follows:
Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019
Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth
PricePrice$7.0  5.3 %$18.8  5.1 %Price$6.1 4.0 %$19.5 4.7 %
Volume (1)
Volume (1)
(0.1) (0.1)%(3.9) (1.1)%
Volume (1)
(12.7)(8.4)%(33.8)(8.2)%
Surcharges and other feesSurcharges and other fees0.6  0.5 %3.2  0.9 %Surcharges and other fees(0.3)(0.1)%1.0 0.2 %
Commodity price and volumeCommodity price and volume(0.5) (0.4)%(3.4) (0.9)%Commodity price and volume— — %(0.2)— %
AcquisitionsAcquisitions18.3  14.0 %45.0  12.3 %Acquisitions7.0 4.6 %27.0 6.5 %
Closed operations(3.4) (2.6)%(9.2) (2.5)%
Solid waste revenuesSolid waste revenues$21.9  16.7 %$50.5  13.8 %Solid waste revenues$0.1 0.1 %$13.5 3.2 %
(1)Adjusted for $0.3$1.4 million year-to-date of inter-company movements between solid waste collection volume and Customer Solutionscustomer solutions associated with the acquisition of a business.
Solid waste revenues
Price. 
The price impact on the change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$4.23.7 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$2.82.4 million from favorable disposal pricing associated primarily with our landfills and transfer stations.
The price impact on the change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$12.212.0 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$6.67.5 million from favorable disposal pricing associated primarily with our landfills and transfer stations.
Volume.
The volume impact on the change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(0.8)(6.3) million from lower collection volumes; andvolumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19;
$(0.1) million from lower processing volumes; partially offset by
$0.8 million from higher disposal volumes (of which $1.2 million relates to higher transfer station volumes, $(0.3) million relates to lower landfill volumes and $(0.1) million relates to lower transportation volumes).
The volume change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(2.0)(6.1) million from lower disposal volumes (of which $(5.2)$(3.6) million relates to lower landfill volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19, $(1.1) million relates to lower transfer station volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19 and $(1.4) million relates to lower transportation volumes associated primarily associated with a large contaminated soils project that occurred in the prior year, $1.7 million relates to higher transfer station volumes and $1.5 million relates to higher landfill volumes)one of our larger customers);
$(1.7) million from lower collection volumes; and
$(0.2)(0.3) million from lower processing volumes.
The volume impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
32


$(18.8) million from lower collection volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19;
$(14.5) million from lower disposal volumes (of which $(10.9) million relates to lower landfill volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19, $(1.9) million relates to lower transfer station volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19 and $(1.7) million relates to lower transportation volumes associated primarily with one of our larger customers) and
$(0.5) million from lower processing volumes.
Surcharges and other fees.
The surcharges and other fees impact on the change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is associated primarily with the Energy component of the Energy and Environmental fee and the portion of the Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee, respectively, that has anniversaried.inclusive of the effect of acquisition activity on a year-to-date basis. The Energy component of the fee floats on a monthly basis based on diesel fuel prices. The Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee floats on a monthly basis based on recycled commodity prices.
33


Commodity price and volume.
The commodity price and volume impact on the change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(0.4)0.1 million from lowerfavorable commodity volumesand energy pricing; and
$0.1 million due to higher landfill gas-to-energy volumes; partially offset by
$(0.2) million due to lower commodity processing volumesvolumes.
The commodity price and landfill gas-to-energyvolume impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
$(0.5) million due to lower commodity processing volumes; and
$(0.1) million from primarily unfavorable commodity pricing.
The commodity price and volume change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(2.6) million from lower commodity volumes due to lower commodity processing volumes and landfill gas-to-energy volumes; andenergy pricing; partially offset by
$(0.8)0.4 million from unfavorable energy pricing and,due to a lesser extent, unfavorable commodity pricing.higher landfill gas-to-energy volumes.
Acquisitions.
The acquisitions impact on the change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is associated with the following acquisition activity:
the acquisition of eight businesses: sixfive tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in our Western region; and
the acquisition of nine businesses throughout the prior year: seven tuck-in solid waste collection businesses, a business comprised of solid waste collection, transfer and recycling operations, and a business comprised of solid waste hauling and transfer assets, in the nine months ended September 30, 2019; and
the acquisition of nine businesses: six solid waste collection businesses, one transfer business and two businesses comprised of solid waste collection and transfer operations, throughout the prior year.assets.
Closed operations.Resource Solutions revenues
The closed operations change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the closure of the landfill located in Southbridge, Massachusetts ("Southbridge Landfill") in our Eastern region in the quarter ended December 31, 2018 and the closure of a transfer station in our Western region in the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Organics revenuesOrganics.
Organics revenues increased $0.7$0.4 million quarterly and $2.4$2.2 million year-to-date as a result of higher volumes associated with two large transportation and disposal contracts.
Customer Solutions revenuessolutions.
Customer solutions revenues increased $3.5$1.6 million quarterly and $9.8$4.7 million year-to-date as the result of higher volumes mainly due to multi-site retail and industrial services organic growth. The increase year-to-date was adjusted for $1.4 million of inter-company movements between solid waste collection volume and customer solutions associated with the acquisition of a business.
Recycling revenuesRecycling.
Quarterly recycling revenues decreasedincreased $2.1 million as a result of the following:
$(2.7)1.2 million from unfavorablefavorable commodity pricing in the marketplace;marketplace with higher cardboard pricing, partially offset by lower plastics pricing;
$2.30.6 million from higher recycling processing fees;commodity volumes; and
$0.20.3 million from higher commodity volumes.the acquisition of a recycling operation.
Year-to-date recycling revenues increased $4.2 million as a result of the following:
$5.82.6 million from higher recycling processing fees;
33


$0.8 million from the acquisition of a recycling operation;
$0.6 million from higher commodity volumes; and
$1.40.2 million from higher commodity volumes; partially offset by
$(5.8) million from unfavorablefavorable commodity pricing in the marketplace.
34


Operating Expenses
A summary of cost of operations, general and administration expense, and depreciation and amortization expense (dollars in millions and as a percentage of total revenues) is as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
2019201820192018$
Change
20202019$
Change
20202019$
Change
Cost of operationsCost of operations$131.3  66.1 %$114.1  66.0 %$17.2  $377.7  68.7 %$331.5  68.2 %$46.2  Cost of operations$130.4 64.3 %$131.3 66.1 %$(0.9)382.4 66.6 %$377.7 68.7 %$4.7 
General and administrationGeneral and administration$22.5  11.4 %$20.5  11.9 %$2.0  $67.4  12.3 %$62.4  12.8 %$5.0  General and administration$25.0 12.3 %$22.5 11.4 %$2.5 $74.2 12.9 %$67.4 12.3 %$6.8 
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization$20.9  10.5 %$18.2  10.5 %$2.7  $58.1  10.6 %$51.6  10.6 %$6.5  Depreciation and amortization$23.8 11.7 %$20.9 10.5 %$2.9 $67.3 11.7 %$58.1 10.6 %$9.2 

Cost of Operations
Cost of operations includes labor costs, tipping fees paid to third-party disposal facilities, fuel costs, maintenance and repair costs of vehicles and equipment, workers’ compensation and vehicle insurance costs, third-party transportation costs, district and state taxes, host community fees, and royalties. Cost of operations also includes accretion expense related to final capping, closure and post-closure obligations, leachate treatment and disposal costs, and depletion of landfill operating lease obligations.
As a percentage of revenues, cost of operations decreased 180 basis points and 210 basis points during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, from the same periods of the prior year. The period-to-period changes in cost of operations can be primarily attributed to the following:
Third-party direct costs increased $9.5decreased $(2.5) million quarterly while decreasing 180 basis points as a percentage of revenues, and $23.2decreased $(0.6) million year-to-date while decreasing 130 basis points as a percentage of revenues due to the following:
higherlower disposal costs associated with:with lower commercial collection, construction and demolition, and landfill volumes, mainly due to the negative economic impacts of COVID-19, combined with lower organic collection and landfill volumes due to our focus on pricing. However, on a year-to-date basis (i) increased disposal pricing in the northeastern United States; (ii) additional volumes related to acquisition activity;activity in the Western region; and (iii) additional volumes relatedwithin our Resource Solutions segment due to multi-site retail and industrial services organic growth in our Customer Solutions line-of-business; increased disposal pricing in the northeastern United States;customer solutions line-of-business and an increased reliance on third-party disposal sitesorganic growth in our Organicsorganics line-of-business during the first half of the fiscal year.have more than offset these factors, resulting in an increase in disposal costs on a year-to-date basis.
lower hauling and third-party transportation costs associated with lower volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19; partially offset by higher hauling and third-party transportation costs associated with:with (i) higher collection volumes related to acquisition activity; higher transportation rates; andactivity in the Western region; (ii) higher brokerage volumes in our Customer Solutionscustomer solutions line-of-business with high pass through direct costs; (iii) higher recycling volumes related to organic growth and acquisition activity; and (iv) higher transportation rates.
Direct operational costs decreased $(1.3) million quarterly while decreasing 90 basis points as a percentage of revenues, and decreased $(2.0) million year-to-date while decreasing 80 basis points as a percentage of revenues, due to lower landfill operating costs, lower equipment operating lease expense and lower short term equipment rental costs, partially offset by higher operating costs related to business growth.
Fuel costs decreased $(0.3) million quarterly while decreasing 20 basis points as a percentage of revenues, and decreased $(1.0) million year-to-date while decreasing 30 basis points as a percentage of revenues, due primarily to lower haulingfuel prices and third-party transportation costs year-to-date in the Western regionfleet efficiency, partially offset by higher volumes associated with lower transportation volumes related to a large contaminated soils project completed in the prior year.acquisition activity.
Labor and related benefit costs increased $4.9$1.6 million quarterly while increasing 50 basis points as a percentage of revenues, and $12.5increased $2.5 million year-to-date, but decreased 20 basis points as a percentage of revenues, due to higher labor costs related primarily to acquisition activity in the Western region and wage increasesa discretionary bonus for our front-line employees, partially offset on a year-to-date basis by lower benefit costs, and lower labor costs due to tight labor markets.decreased overtime.
Maintenance and repair costs increased $4.2$1.6 million quarterly while increasing 50 basis points as a percentage of revenues, and $10.4increased $5.5 million year-to-date while increasing 30 basis points as a percentage of revenues, due primarily to higher fleetfacility maintenance costs, and, facilityto a lesser extent, higher fleet maintenance costs associated with acquisition activity and related business growth.
Fuel costs increased $0.9 million quarterly and $2.4 million year-to-date due primarily to higher volumes associated with acquisition activity.
Direct operational costs decreased $(2.3) million quarterly and $(2.4) million year-to-date due to lower landfill operating lease amortization and lower host royalty fees driven primarily by the closure of the Southbridge Landfill in the Eastern region; lower rent expense associated with operating leases; and lower quarterly landfill operating costs;growth, partially offset by higher auto insurancelower fleet maintenance costs associated primarily with claimsless wear and tear based on activity levels and higher landfill operating costs in the first halflower volumes as a result of the fiscal year.COVID-19.
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General and Administration
General and administration expense includes management, clerical and administrative compensation, bad debt expense, as well as overhead costs, professional service fees and costs associated with marketing, sales force and community relations efforts.
The period-to-period changes in general and administration expense can be primarily attributed to higher labor and related benefit costs associated with acquisition activity, andhigher bad debt expense based on the continued economic downturn associated with COVID-19, higher accrued incentive compensation partially offset by lower equity compensation costs and lower professional service fees related to reduced legal costs and consulting fees.a discretionary bonus for our hourly back-office employees.
35


Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense includes: (i) depreciation of property and equipment (including assets recorded for finance leases) on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets; (ii) amortization of landfill costs (including those costs incurred and all estimated future costs for landfill development and construction, along with asset retirement costs arising from closure and post-closure obligations) on a units-of-consumption method as landfill airspace is consumed over the total estimated remaining capacity of a site, which includes both permitted capacity and unpermitted expansion capacity that meets certain criteria for amortization purposes, and amortization of landfill asset retirement costs arising from final capping obligations on a units-of-consumption method as airspace is consumed over the estimated capacity associated with each final capping event; and (iii) amortization of intangible assets with a definite life, using either an economic benefit provided approach or on a straight-line basis over the definitive terms of the related agreements.
A summary of the components of depreciation and amortization expense (dollars in millions and as a percentage of total revenues) follows:
Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Three Months Ended September 30,$
Change
Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
2019201820192018$
Change
20202019$
Change
20202019$
Change
DepreciationDepreciation$11.6  5.8 %$8.6  5.0 %$3.0  $32.8  6.0 %$25.4  5.2 %$7.4  Depreciation$13.9 6.9 %$11.6 5.8 %$2.3 40.2 7.0 %$32.8 6.0 %$7.4 
Landfill amortizationLandfill amortization7.4  3.7 %8.9  5.2 %(1.5) 20.4  3.7 %24.4  5.0 %(4.0) Landfill amortization7.6 3.8 %7.4 3.7 %0.2 20.5 3.6 %20.4 3.7 %0.1 
Other amortizationOther amortization1.9  1.0 %0.7  0.4 %1.2  4.9  0.9 %1.8  0.4 %3.1  Other amortization2.3 1.1 %1.9 1.0 %0.4 6.6 1.1 %4.9 0.9 %1.7 
$20.9  10.5 %$18.2  10.6 %$2.7  $58.1  10.6 %$51.6  10.6 %$6.5  $23.8 11.8 %$20.9 10.5 %$2.9 $67.3 11.7 %$58.1 10.6 %$9.2 

The period-to-period changes in depreciation and amortization expense can be primarily attributed to increased investment in our fleet, acquisition activity and higher landfill amortization expense associated with changes in cost estimates and other assumptions, partially offset by lower landfill amortization expensevolumes mainly associated with lower landfill volumesthe negative impacts of COVID-19.
Expense from Acquisition Activities
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, we recorded charges of $0.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively, and in our Eastern Region duethe three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $1.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, comprised primarily of legal, consulting and other similar costs associated with the acquisition and integration of acquired businesses or select development projects.
Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge
In 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 we recorded charges of $2.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively, comprised of the following: $0.6 million and $1.9 million of legal and other costs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, pertaining to various matters as part of the unplanned early closure of the Southbridge Landfill.Landfill through completion of the closure process; a charge of $2.0 million in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 associated with a settlement pertaining to the Southbridge Landfill discussed further in Note 10, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q; a charge of $0.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to changes in estimated costs and timing of final capping, closure and post-closure activities at the Southbridge Landfill; and a charge of $(0.2) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 associated with the completion of environmental remediation at the site. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $0.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, associated with legal and other costs pertaining to various matters as part of the unplanned early closure of the Southbridge Landfill through completion of the closure process.
35


Multiemployer Pension Plan
We make contributions to a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan, the New England Teamsters and Trucking Industry Pension Fund (the “Pension Plan”), under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) that covers certain of our union represented employees. The Pension Plan provides retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. We do not administer the Pension Plan. The risks of participating in a multiemployer pension plan are different from a single-employer pension plan in that: (i) assets contributed to the multiemployer pension plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees or former employees of other participating employers; (ii) if a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be required to be assumed by the remaining participating employers; and (iii) if we choose to stop participating in our multiemployer Pension Plan, we may be required to pay the plan a withdrawal amount based on the underfunded status of the plan.
In October 2019, we reached an agreement to withdraw from the Pension Plan by entering into Withdrawal and Re-entry Agreements with the Pension Plan. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards CodificationFASB ASC 450 - Contingencies, because of our withdrawal from the Pension Plan, we recorded an obligation of $3.2 million as of September 30, 2019 and a charge of $3.6 million as pension withdrawal expense, offset by a $0.4 million retroactive contribution credit recorded toas cost of operations, in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. While the withdrawal generates a fixed yearly contingent liability for us for a period of approximately seventeen (17) years, it caps our gross payments at $4.2 million, significantly reducing our cash exposure from the potential $18.5 million withdrawal liability as determined based on a complete withdrawal. As per the Re-entry Agreements and upon withdrawal, we will re-enterre-entered the Pension Plan with certainty from a liability perspective. We havedid not, however, changedchange the terms of our CBA with Local 170, which remainsremained in effect until it expired on June 30, 2020.2020 at which time a new agreement was entered into.
36


Expense from Acquisition Activities and Other Items
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, we recorded charges of $1.1 million and $2.2 million, respectively, associated primarily with acquisition activities. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded charges of $0.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, associated with the write-off of deferred costs related to the expiration of our shelf registration statement and $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, associated with acquisition activities.
Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge (Settlement), Net
In June 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we recorded charges (settlement) associated with the closure of the Southbridge Landfill as follows (in millions):Expenses
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2019201820192018
Charlton settlement charge (1)
$—  $—  $—  $1.2  
Legal and other costs (2)
0.6  0.5  2.1  1.1  
Recovery on insurance settlement (3)
—  (10.0) —  (10.0) 
Southbridge Landfill closure charge (settlement), net$0.6  $(9.5) $2.1  $(7.7) 
(1)We established a reserve associated with settlement of the Town of Charlton's claim against us. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional disclosure.
(2)We incurred legal costs as well as other costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional disclosure.
(3)We recorded a recovery on an environmental insurance settlement associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional disclosure.

Contract Settlement Charge
In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a contract settlement charge of $2.1 million associated with the termination and discounted buy-out of a commodities marketing and brokerage agreement.
Development Project Charge
In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a development project charge of $0.3 million associated with previously deferred costs that were written off as a result of the negative vote in a public referendum relating to the North Country Environmental Services landfill.
Other Expenses
Interest Expense, net
Our interest expense, net decreased $(0.2)$(0.9) million quarterly and $(0.6)$(1.9) million year-to-date due primarily to lower average debt balances and the refinancing of our term loan B facility ("Term Loan B Facility")interest rates associated with our existing revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") and our term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility", together with the Revolving Credit Facility , the "Credit Facility"),changes in LIBOR and the remarketing of our Vermont Economic Development AuthorityNew York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Long-TermRevenue Bonds Series 2014 (“New York Bonds 2014R-1”) and our Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds"(“New Hampshire Bonds”).
Loss on Debt Extinguishment
We recorded a loss on debt extinguishment of $7.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 associated with the write-off of debt issuance costs and unamortized discount in connection with the refinancing of our Term Loan B Facility with our existing Credit Facility, and the write-off of debt issuance costs in connection with the remarketing of our Vermont Bonds.
37


Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Our provision (benefit) for income taxes decreased $(0.2)increased $0.2 million quarterly and $(0.6)$2.6 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively,year-to-date, as compared to the same periods in the prior year. During the three months ended September 30, 2019, we recognized a $(0.3)($0.3) million deferred tax benefit due to a reduction of the deferred tax liability related to indefinite lived assets. During the three months ended September 30, 2019,that quarter, the financial statement value of indefinite lived goodwill was reduced as a result of a settlement of an acquisition contingency that pre-dated the effective date of ASC 805 - Business Combinations, which resulted in a reduction of the related deferred tax liability.
During In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, we recognized a $2.1 million and $1.2 million deferred tax benefits, respectively,benefit due to a reduction of the valuation allowance. The valuation allowance decreased in the periods based uponon the recognition of additional reversing temporary differences related to the $2.1 million deferred tax liability recorded through goodwill for the acquisition of a company in May 2019 and $1.2 million2019. The deferred tax liability recorded through goodwill for the acquisition of two companies in January 2018. The deferred tax liabilities related to the acquisitions wereacquisition was based on the impact of temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilitiesliability recognized for financial reporting purposes and the related tax bases.
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted which, among other things, allows the carryback of remaining minimum tax credit carryforwards to tax year 2018. Prior to the CARES Act, the minimum tax credit carryforwards were fully refunded through tax year 2021, if not otherwise used to offset tax liabilities. A $(1.6) current income tax benefit of $(1.0) million, offset by a $1.0 million deferred tax benefitprovision, was recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2020 for the remaining minimum tax credit being carried back to tax year 2018 based on initial estimates ofby us. In the acquired temporary differences and was adjusted by $0.4 million in the quarternine months ended September 30, 20182019, we recognized a $(0.7) million current income tax benefit, offset by a $0.7 million deferred tax provision, for the portion of the minimum tax credit carryforward refundable for 2019 based on the availability of better estimates upon the filing of the prior year returns by the sellers in that quarter.law then enacted.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”“TCJ Act”) was enacted. The TCJ Act which is also commonly referred to as “US tax reform,” significantly changed USU.S. corporate income tax laws by, among other things, reducing the US corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% starting in 2018. Under the Act, the alternative minimum tax was repealed and minimum tax credit carryforwards become refundable beginning in 2018 and will be fully refunded, if not otherwise used to offset tax liabilities, in tax year 2021. Further, ourchanging carryforward rules for net operating losses. Our $110.6 million in federal net operating loss carryforwards generated as of the end of 2017 continue to be carried forward for 20 years and are expected to be available to fully offset taxable income earned in 20192020 and future tax years. Federal net operating losses generated after 2017, including $2.4totaling $46.4 million generated in 2018,carried forward to 2020, will be carried forward indefinitely, but generally may only offset up to 80% of taxable income earned in a tax year. The total federal net operating losses generated after 2017 and carried forward to 2020 has been updated from $67.4 million as estimated in the quarter ended December 31, 2019 with corresponding changes to the deferred tax asset and valuation allowance. Although the CARES Act further modifies the net operating loss rules to permit net operating losses incurred in tax years 2018 through 2020 to be carried back 5 years and to
The benefit for
36


temporarily permit such losses to offset 100% of taxable income taxes forin tax year 2020, these modifications under the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 incorporates theCARES Act are not anticipated to impact us.
Other income tax changes under the CARES Act including use of the 21% US corporate income tax rate and applying the new federal net operating loss carryforward rules. We had $3.8 million minimum tax credit carryforwards of which we anticipate $1.0 million and $1.9 millionare not expected to be refundable for 2019 and 2018, respectively. Current income tax benefits of $0.7 million, offset byhave a $0.7 million deferred tax provision in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, were recognized for a portion of the minimum tax credit carryforward refundable for 2019.material impact.
Segment Reporting
Revenues
A summary of revenues by reportable operating segment (in millions) follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Three Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
2019201820192018$
Change
20202019$
Change
2019$
Change
EasternEastern$59.7  $56.0  $3.7  $163.7  $154.1  $9.6  Eastern$58.3 59.7 $(1.4)$161.8 $163.7 $(1.9)
WesternWestern92.9  74.4  18.5  251.9  210.2  41.7  Western94.7 93.3 1.4 267.2 253.2 14.0 
Recycling10.7  10.9  (0.2) 32.0  30.6  1.4  
Other35.2  31.5  3.7  102.1  91.0  11.1  
Resource solutionsResource solutions49.7 45.5 4.2 145.3 132.8 12.5 
Total revenuesTotal revenues$198.5  $172.8  $25.7  $549.7  $485.9  $63.8  Total revenues$202.7 $198.5 $4.2 $574.3 $549.7 $24.6 

38


Eastern Region
A summary of the period-to-period changes in solid waste revenues (dollars in millions and as percentage growth of solid waste revenues) follows:
Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019
Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth
PricePrice$3.1  5.5 %$8.8  5.7 %Price$2.0 3.3 %$6.7 4.1 %
VolumeVolume(0.8) (1.4)%(0.9) (0.4)%Volume(3.3)(5.3)%(10.4)(6.5)%
Surcharges and other feesSurcharges and other fees0.3  0.5 %1.4  0.9 %Surcharges and other fees(0.2)(0.4)%(0.2)(0.1)%
Commodity price and volumeCommodity price and volume(0.1) (0.2)%(0.4) (0.3)%Commodity price and volume0.1 0.1 %0.1 0.1 %
AcquisitionsAcquisitions4.4  7.9 %9.1  5.9 %Acquisitions—��— %1.9 1.2 %
Closed landfill(3.2) (5.7)%(8.4) (5.5)%
Solid waste revenuesSolid waste revenues$3.7  6.6 %$9.6  6.3 %Solid waste revenues$(1.4)(2.3)%$(1.9)(1.2)%

Price.
The price impact on the change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$2.11.5 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$1.00.5 million from favorable disposal pricing related to transfer stations and landfills.
The price impact on the change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$6.35.0 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$2.51.7 million from favorable disposal pricing related to transfer stations and landfills.
Volume.
The volume impact on the change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(0.7)(2.3) million from lower collection volumes; andvolumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19;
$(0.1)(0.7) million from lower disposal volumes related to landfills.transfer stations mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19; and
$(0.3) million from lower processing volumes.
The volume impact on the change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(1.4)(7.1) million from lower collection volumes; andvolumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19;
$(0.2)(2.9) million from lower disposal volumes related to landfills and transfer stations mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19; and
37


$(0.4) million from lower processing volumes; partially offset by
$0.7 million from higher disposal volumes related to transfer stations.volumes.
Surcharges and other fees.
The surcharge and other fees impact on the change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is associated primarily with the Energy component of the Energy and Environmental fee and the portionSustainability Recycling Adjustment fee. The Energy component of the fee floats on a monthly basis based on diesel fuel prices. The Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee floats on a monthly basis based on recycled commodity prices.
Acquisitions.
The acquisitions change impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of the acquisition of three tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in the prior year.
Western Region
A summary of the period-to-period changes in solid waste revenues (dollars in millions and as percentage growth of solid waste revenues) follows:
Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 vs. 2019
 Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth
Price$4.1 4.4 %$12.8 5.0 %
Volume (1)
(9.7)(10.4)%(23.4)(9.2)%
Surcharges and other fees— — %1.2 0.5 %
Commodity price and volume— — %(0.3)(0.1)%
Acquisitions7.0 7.5 %25.1 9.9 %
Solid waste revenues$1.4 1.5 %$15.4 6.1 %
(1)Adjusted for $1.4 million year-to-date of inter-company movements between solid waste collection volume and customer solutions associated with the acquisition of a business.

Price.
The price impact on the change in quarterly solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
$2.2 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$1.9 million from favorable disposal pricing related to landfills and transfer stations.
The price impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
$7.0 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$5.8 million from favorable disposal pricing related to landfills and transfer stations.
Volume.
The volume impact on the change in quarterly solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
$(4.1) million from lower collection volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19; and
$(5.6) million from lower disposal volumes related to landfills, transfer stations and transportation mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19.
The volume impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of the following:
$(11.5) million from lower disposal volumes related to landfills, transfer stations and transportation mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19;
$(11.8) million from lower collection volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19; and
$(0.1) million from lower processing volumes.
38


Surcharges and other fees.
The surcharge and other fees impact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is associated primarily with the effect of acquisition activity partially offset by lower fees year-over-year across the remainder of the region with the Energy component of the Energy and Environmental fee and the Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee, respectively, that has anniversaried.fee. The Energy component of the fee floats on a monthly basis based on diesel fuel prices. The Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee floats on a monthly basis based on recycled commodity prices.
Commodity price and volume.
The commodity price and volume change componentimpact on the change in year-to-date solid waste revenues is the result of favorable energy and commodity pricing in the quarter and higher landfill gas-to-energy volumes, more than offset on a year-to-date basis by lower commodity processing volumes.
Acquisitions.
The acquisitions impact on the change in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of $(0.1) million and $(0.4) million, respectively, from lower landfill gas-to-energy volumes.
39


Acquisitions.
The acquisitions change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is primarily the result of the acquisition of threefive tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in the quarternine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 20192020 and two businesses comprisedthe acquisition of four tuck-in solid waste collection and transfer operations throughout the prior year.
Closed landfill.
The closed landfill change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the closure of the Southbridge Landfill in the quarter ended December 31, 2018.
Western Region
A summary of the period-to-period changes in solid waste revenues (dollars in millions and as percentage growth of solid waste revenues) follows:
Period-to-Period Change for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018Period-to-Period Change for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018
 Amount% GrowthAmount% Growth
Price$3.9  5.2 %$10.0  4.8 %
Volume (1)
1.2  1.5 %(2.0) (1.0)%
Surcharges and other fees0.3  0.4 %1.8  0.8 %
Commodity price and volume(0.4) (0.5)%(3.0) (1.4)%
Acquisitions13.9  18.7 %35.9  17.1 %
Closed operations(0.2) (0.2)%(0.8) (0.4)%
Solid waste revenues$18.7  25.1 %$41.9  19.9 %
(1)Adjusted for $0.3 million of inter-company movements between solid waste collection volume and Customer Solutions associated with the acquisition of a business.

Price.
The price change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$2.1 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$1.8 million from favorable disposal pricing related to landfills and transfer stations.
The price change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$5.9 million from favorable collection pricing; and
$4.1 million from favorable disposal pricing related to landfills and transfer stations.
Volume.
The volume change component in quarterly solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$1.3 million from higher disposal volumes related to higher transfer station and transportation volumes; partially offset by
$(0.1) million from lower collection volumes.
The volume change component in year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the following:
$(1.6) million from lower transportation volumes associated with a large contaminated soils project that occurred in the prior year; partially offset by higher transfer station and landfill volumes; and
$(0.4) million from lower collection volumes.
40


Surcharges and other fees.
The surcharge and other fees change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is associated primarily with the Energy component of the Energy and Environmental fee and the portion of the Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee, respectively, that has anniversaried. The Energy component of the fee floats on a monthly basis based on diesel fuel prices. The Sustainability Recycling Adjustment fee floats on a monthly basis based on recycled commodity prices.
Commodity price and volume.
The commodity price and volume change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth of $(0.4) million and $(3.0) million, respectively, is the result of lower commodity processing volumes, lower landfill gas-to-energy volumes year-to-date, unfavorable energy pricing and unfavorable commodity pricing.
Acquisitions.
The acquisitions change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is primarily the result of the acquisition ofbusinesses, a business comprised of solid waste collection, transfer and recycling operations in the quarter ended June 30, 2019; the acquisition of three tuck-in solid waste collection businesses and a business comprised of solid waste hauling and transfer assets in the three months ended September 30, 2019; and six solid waste collection businesses and one transfer business throughout the prior year.
Closed operations.
The closed operations change component in quarterly and year-to-date solid waste revenues growth is the result of the closure of a transfer station.
Operating Income
A summary of operating income (loss) by operating segment (in millions) follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Three Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
2019201820192018$
Change
20202019$
Change
2019$
Change
EasternEastern$2.1  $15.2  $(13.1) $5.7  $17.7  $(12.0) Eastern$3.7 2.1 $1.6 $9.0 $5.7 $3.3 
WesternWestern15.1  13.9  1.2  30.8  33.1  (2.3) Western15.3 15.2 0.1 32.8 30.9 1.9 
Recycling0.1  (0.5) 0.6  (1.0) (7.9) 6.9  
Other1.2  0.3  0.9  3.0  2.0  1.0  
Resource solutionsResource solutions2.2 2.2 — 5.0 4.2 0.8 
Corporate entitiesCorporate entities(0.6)(1.0)0.4 (1.7)(2.3)0.6 
Operating incomeOperating income$18.5  $28.9  $(10.4) $38.5  $44.9  $(6.4) Operating income$20.6 $18.5 $2.1 $45.1 $38.5 $6.6 

Eastern Region
Operating results declined $(13.1)improved $1.6 million quarterly and $(12.0)$3.3 million year-to-date. Excluding the impact of the Southbridge Landfill closure charge, (settlement), net, which included a $(10.0) million insurance recovery in prior year, the multiemployer pension plan withdrawal costs, the development project charge and the expense from acquisition activities, and other items,the multiemployer pension plan costs, our operating performance in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 improved year-over-year as a result2020 was driven by our ability to reduce costs, which exceeded the impact on revenues of revenue growthlower volumes mainly due to the negative impact of COVID-19 in both the quarter and the following cost changes:year-to-date.
Cost of operations: Cost of operations increased $4.1decreased $(2.5) million quarterly and $10.2$(4.8) million year-to-date due to the following:
higherlower disposal costs associated with lower volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19 and to a lesser extent our focus on pricing;
lower hauling and third-party transportation costs associated with higherlower collection volumes mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19, which offset additional costs related to acquisition activity and higher transportation rates;
higher disposallower labor and related benefit costs associated with acquisition activity and increased disposal pricing in the northeastern United States;
higher labor costs associated with acquisition activity and wage increasesyear-to-date due to tight labor markets;
higher fueldecreased overtime and lower benefit costs associated with higher volumes on acquisition activity; andmore than offsetting a discretionary bonus for our front-line employees;
higher maintenance and repair costs associated with higher fleet and facility maintenance costs due to acquisition activity and related business growth; partially offset by
41


lower direct operational costs associated with: lowerwith landfill operating landfill lease amortization, lower host royalty feesoperations and lower landfill operatingequipment costs;
lower fuel costs drivendue primarily by the closure of the Southbridge Landfill,to lower fuel prices and fleet efficiency; and
lower fleet maintenance costs due to less wear and tear based on activity levels and lower rent expensevolumes as a result of COVID-19; partially offset by
higher facility maintenance costs associated with operating leases.acquisition activity and related business growth.
General and administration: General and administration expense increased $0.4$0.1 million quarterly but remained flatand $0.2 million year-to-date asdue to higher labor and related benefit costsaccrued incentive compensation, combined with higher bad debt expense year-to-date based on the continued economic downturn associated with acquisition activity was offset year-to-date by lower shared overhead costsCOVID-19 and lower professional service fees related to reduced legal and consulting costs.a discretionary bonus for our hourly back-office employees.
39


Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $(0.9)increased $0.3 million quarterly and $(2.3)increased $1.0 million year-to-date due to lower landfill amortization expense associated primarily with the closure of Southbridge Landfill, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization expense associated with the timing of acquisition activity.activity in prior year.
Western Region
Operating results improved $1.2$0.1 million quarterly and declined $(2.3)$1.9 million year-to-date. Excluding the impact of the expense from acquisition activities, and other items, our operating performance in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 was driven by revenue growth and the following cost changes:
Cost of operations: Cost of operations increased $17.7$2.4 million quarterly and $40.3$15.3 million year-to dateyear-to-date due to the following:
higher labor and benefit costs associated with acquisition activity and a discretionary bonus for our front-line employees, partially offset by lower labor costs on decreased overtime;
lower disposal costs associated with lower volumes commercial collection, construction and demolition, and landfill volumes, mainly due to the negative impacts of COVID-19 combined with lower volumes due to our focus on pricing; more than offset on a year-to-date basis with higher disposal costs associated with increased disposal pricing in the northeastern United States and additional volumes related to acquisition activity; and
higher maintenance and repair costs associated with higher facility maintenance costs, and to a lesser extent, higher fleet maintenance costs associated with acquisition activity and related business growth, which was partially offset by fleet maintenance cost savings associated with less wear and tear based on activity levels and lower volumes as a result of COVID-19; partially offset by
lower hauling and third-party transportation costs associated with higherlower collection volumes, partially offset by higher costs related to increased collection volumes associated with acquisition activity and higher transportation rates,rates;
lower direct operational costs associated with lower landfill operating costs, partially offset by a reduction of haulinghigher operating costs related to business growth; and third-party transportation
lower fuel costs year-to-date associated with lower transportation volumes related to a large contaminated soils project that occurred in prior year;
fuel prices and fleet efficiency, partially offset by higher disposal costs associated with additional volumes related to acquisition activity and increased disposal pricing in the northeastern United States;
higher laborfuel costs related to acquisition activity and wage increases due to tight labor markets;
higher direct operational costs related to higher landfill operating costs and higher auto insurance costs associated primarily with claims activity;
higher fuel costs due to higherincreased volumes associated with acquisition activity; and
higher fleet and facility maintenance costs due to acquisition activity and related business growth.activity.
General and administration: General and administration expense increased $1.6 million quarterly and $4.9$3.7 million year-to-date due to higher labor and related benefit costs associated with acquisition activity, and an increased allocation of shared overhead costshigher bad debt expense based on business growth.the continued economic downturn associated with COVID-19, higher accrued incentive compensation and a discretionary bonus for our hourly back-office employees.
Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expense increased $3.8$2.4 million quarterly and $9.1$7.5 million year-to-date due primarily to acquisition activity.activity and higher landfill amortization expense associated with changes in cost estimates and other assumptions, partially offset by lower landfill volumes mainly associated with the negative impacts of COVID-19.
RecyclingResource Solutions
Operating results improved $0.6 millionremained flat quarterly and $6.9increased $0.8 million year-to-date. Excludingyear-to-date due to the impact of the contract settlement charge, ourfollowing:
Recycling.
Our operating performance in the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 improved primarily due to revenue growth year-to-date on higher commodity volumes and recycling processing fees and higher recycling volumes both organically and as a result of acquisition activity, partially offset quarterly by unfavorable commodity pricing, combined with lowerhigher operating costs, including lower third-party disposal costs and lower purchased materialfacility and operational support costs, year-to-date on reduced commodity pricingdriven primarily by volume growth.
Organics.
Our operating performance declined incrementally in the marketplace.three months ended September 30, 2020 on higher landfill disposal costs, but improved year-to-date as revenue growth on higher volumes outpaced higher operating costs driven by two large lower margin transportation and disposal contracts.
Customer solutions.
Other
Operating results improved $0.9 million quarterly and $1.0 million year-to-date based on the following:
improvedOur operating performance of our Customer Solutions line-of-business,in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 declined as revenue growth associated with increased volumes was outpaced by higher cost of operations associated with the corresponding increase in hauling, transportation and disposal costs;costs and higher labor and personnel costs.
4240


improved operating performance of our Organics line-of-business, specifically in the quarter, as new disposal volumes that were previously directed to third-party sites for the first half of the year were internalized in the three months ended September 30, 2019, therefore, reducing third-party transportation and disposal costs in the quarter. This offset.the impact of intercompany profits in our Organics line-of-business passing through to landfill disposal sites, declining margins as higher revenues, which were driven by two large transportation and disposal contracts, also resulted in higher third-party transportation and disposal costs year-to-date.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Recent Events
Public Offering of Class A Common Stock
In October 2020, we completed a public offering of 2.7 million shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $56.00 per share. We continuallyexpect the offering to result in net proceeds to us of approximately $144.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The net proceeds from the offering are to be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions or development of new operations or assets with the goal of complementing or expanding our business, and for working capital and capital expenditures.
COVID-19 Pandemic
We continue to monitor the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have on our actual and forecasted cash flows, our liquidity, and our capital requirements in order to properly manage our cashliquidity needs based onas we move forward. Because of the capital intensive nature of our business. Our capital requirements include fixed asset purchases (includingthe services we provide, we expect to continue to generate positive operating cash flows through stable revenue sources. To counter the impact of expected revenue declines, we have initiated steps to reduce discretionary spending and delay certain capital expenditures for vehicles), debt servicing, landfill development and cell construction, landfill site and cell closure,can further scale down these expenditures to meet liquidity needs.
We have $173.6 million of undrawn capacity from our $200.0 million revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") as well as acquisitions. We generallyof September 30, 2020 to help meet our liquidity needs, from operating cash flows and borrowings from our $200.0 millionnext significant debt maturity, which is comprised of our Revolving Credit Facility.Facility and term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility", together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the "Credit Facility"), is in May 2023. We believe that we will remain in compliance with all necessary covenants of our Credit Facility over the remaining term of this facility.
A summary of cash and cash equivalents, restricted assets and long-term debt balances, excluding any unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs (in millions), follows:
September 30,
2019
December 31,
2018
September 30,
2020
December 31,
2019
Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents$5.0  $4.0  Cash and cash equivalents$21.1 $3.5 
Restricted assets:Restricted assets:Restricted assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closureRestricted investment securities - landfill closure$1.4  $1.2  Restricted investment securities - landfill closure$1.6 $1.6 
Long-term debt:
Debt:Debt:
Current portionCurrent portion$3.6  $2.3  Current portion$8.6 $4.3 
Long-term portion533.2  552.9  
Total long-term debt$536.8  $555.2  
Non-current portionNon-current portion540.5 518.4 
Total debtTotal debt$549.1 $522.7 

Summary of Cash Flow Activity
A summary of cash flows (in millions) follows:
 Nine Months Ended September 30,$
Change
 20192018
Net cash provided by operating activities$71.5  $89.9  $(18.4) 
Net cash used in investing activities$(148.6) $(109.9) $(38.7) 
Net cash provided by financing activities$78.1  $21.1  $57.0  

 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
$
Change
 20202019
Net cash provided by operating activities$111.9 $71.5 $40.4 
Net cash used in investing activities$(102.2)$(148.6)$46.4 
Net cash provided by financing activities$8.0 $78.1 $(70.1)
4341



Cash flows from operating activities.
A summary of operating cash flows (in millions) follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Net incomeNet income$22.6  $20.1  Net income$28.2 $22.6 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortizationDepreciation and amortization58.1  51.6  Depreciation and amortization67.3 58.1 
Depletion of landfill operating lease obligationsDepletion of landfill operating lease obligations5.6  7.8  Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations5.7 5.6 
Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilitiesInterest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities5.3  4.3  Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities5.3 5.3 
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount on long-term debt1.7  1.9  
Amortization of debt issuance costsAmortization of debt issuance costs1.6 1.7 
Stock-based compensationStock-based compensation5.2  6.4  Stock-based compensation5.3 5.2 
Right-of-use asset - operating lease expenseRight-of-use asset - operating lease expense7.3  —  Right-of-use asset - operating lease expense6.6 7.3 
Gain on sale of property and equipment(0.8) (0.4) 
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipmentLoss (gain) on sale of property and equipment0.3 (0.8)
Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure chargeSouthbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge0.1  1.4  Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge2.1 0.1 
Southbridge Landfill insurance recovery for investing activities—  (3.5) 
Development project charge—  0.3  
Non-cash expense from acquisition activities and other items0.1  0.2  
Non-cash expense from acquisition activitiesNon-cash expense from acquisition activities0.5 0.1 
Withdrawal cost - multiemployer pension planWithdrawal cost - multiemployer pension plan3.6  —  Withdrawal cost - multiemployer pension plan— 3.6 
Loss on debt extinguishment—  7.4  
Deferred income taxesDeferred income taxes(1.3) 0.1  Deferred income taxes1.5 (1.3)
107.5  97.6  124.4 107.5 
Changes in assets and liabilities, netChanges in assets and liabilities, net(36.0) (7.7) Changes in assets and liabilities, net(12.5)(36.0)
Net cash provided by operating activitiesNet cash provided by operating activities$71.5  $89.9  Net cash provided by operating activities$111.9 $71.5 

A summary of the most significant items affecting the change in our operating cash flows follows:
ImprovedNet cash provided by operating activities increased $40.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. This was the result of improved operational performance combined with the favorable cash flow impact associated with the changes in our assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures. For discussion of our improved operational performance in the nine months ended September 30, 20192020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was due to2019, see "Results of Operations" above. The decrease in the following:
increased revenues of $63.8 million associated with higher collection and transfer station revenues on higher pricing and acquisition activity, higher landfill revenues on higher pricing and volumes, and higher revenues on volumes in our Customer Solutions, Organics and Recycling lines-of-business; partially mitigated by lower disposal revenues on lower transportation volumes and the closure of our Southbridge Landfill and lower landfill gas-to-energy and processing commodity revenues on lower volumes and pricing; partially offset by
higher cost of operations of $46.2 million driven by business growth resulting in higher third-party direct costs, higher labor costs, higher fuel costs and higher fleet maintenance and facility costs; and
higher general and administration expense of $5.0 million attributed primarily to higher labor and related benefit costs associated with acquisition activity.
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Theunfavorable cash flow impact associated with the changes in our assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures, which are affected by both cost changes and the timing of payments, in the nine months ended September 30, 20192020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 20182019 was due to the following:
an unfavorablea $21.6 million favorable impact to operating cash flows associated with the change in accounts receivable due to improved collection efforts; and
a $13.9 million favorable impact to operating cash flows associated with the change in accrued expenses and other liabilities associated with higher final capping, closure and post-closure payments, higher payments associated with the environmental remediation of our Potsdam site, and higher payroll and related costs. The cash flow impact associated with the changes in our assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures was also impactedliabilities; partially offset by changes to the accounting for operating leases as a result of the implementation of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases (Topic 842)effective January 1, 2019, which are now accounted for as operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets;
an unfavorable impact to operating cash flows associated with landfill operating lease contract expenditures being reclassified from investing activities to operating activities within our consolidated statements of cash flows as a result of the implementation of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases (Topic 842)effective January 1, 2019;
an unfavorable impact to operating cash flows associated with cash outflows associated with prepaid expenses, inventories and other assets;
an$(10.2) million unfavorable impact to operating cash flows associated with the change in accounts payable; and
ana $(1.6) million unfavorable impact to operating cash flows associated with the change in accounts receivable.prepaid expenses, inventories and other assets; and
a $(0.2) million unfavorable impact to operating cash flows associated with higher landfill operating lease contract expenditures.
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Cash flows from investing activities.
A summary of investing cash flows (in millions) follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820202019
Acquisitions, net of cash acquiredAcquisitions, net of cash acquired$(73.5) $(58.2) Acquisitions, net of cash acquired$(25.4)$(73.5)
Additions to property, plant and equipmentAdditions to property, plant and equipment(76.0) (51.8) Additions to property, plant and equipment(77.3)(76.0)
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts—  (5.0) 
Proceeds from sale of property and equipmentProceeds from sale of property and equipment0.6  0.6  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment0.5 0.6 
Proceeds from Southbridge Landfill insurance recovery for investing activities—  3.5  
Proceeds from property insurance settlementProceeds from property insurance settlement0.3  1.0  Proceeds from property insurance settlement— 0.3 
Net cash used in investing activitiesNet cash used in investing activities$(148.6) $(109.9) Net cash used in investing activities$(102.2)$(148.6)

A summary of the most significant items affecting the change in our investing cash flows follows:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, we acquired six businesses: five tuck-in solid waste collection businesses in our Western region and one recycling operation in our Resource Solutions segment for total consideration of $26.4 million, including $23.1 million in cash, and paid $2.3 million in holdback payments on businesses previously acquired, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019 during which we paid $81.0 million in total consideration, including $71.0 million in cash, to acquire six tuck-in solid waste collection businesses, a business comprised of solid waste collection, transfer and recycling operations and a business comprised of solid waste hauling and transfer assets, for total consideration of $81.0 million, including $71.0 million in cash, and paid $2.5 million in holdback payments on businesses previously acquired, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2018, during which we acquired one solid waste collection, transfer and processing business and three solid waste collection businesses, including a transfer station, for total consideration of $67.1 million, including $57.8 million in cash and $0.4 million in holdback payments on businesses previously acquired.
Capital expenditures. Capital expenditures were $24.2$1.3 million higher in the nine months ended September 30, 20192020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 20182019 primarily due toto:
$0.6 million in additional capital expenditures from the integration of newly acquired operations, which includes planned capital expenditures following an acquisition, as well as non-routine development investments that are expected to provide long-term returns; and
$4.1 million in additional capital expenditures from phase VI construction and development costs related to long-term infrastructure at the Subtitle D landfill in Coventry, Vermont ("Waste USA Landfill") to facilitate future landfill airspace construction which will significantly enhance the economic useful life of the Waste USA Landfill once construction is finished; partially offset by
$(3.8) million from lower replacement capital expenditures primarily associated with timing differences business growthover capital spend for vehicles, machinery and acquisition activities.
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts. As a result of the implementation of Topic 842, payments on landfill operating lease contracts are classified as operating cash outflows in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to investing cash outflows in the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
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Proceeds from Southbridge Landfill insurance recovery for investing activities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a recovery on environmental insurance settlement associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure, of which $3.5 millionequipment and containers, partially offset by additional capital expenditures related to the recovery of net cash previously used in investing activities.landfill development.
Cash flows from financing activities.
A summary of financing cash flows (in millions) follows:
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2019201820202019
Proceeds from long-term borrowingsProceeds from long-term borrowings$121.5  $566.8  Proceeds from long-term borrowings$154.4 $121.5 
Principal payments on long-term debt(149.8) (540.6) 
Principal payments on debtPrincipal payments on debt(145.0)(149.8)
Payments of debt issuance costsPayments of debt issuance costs—  (5.6) Payments of debt issuance costs(1.5)— 
Proceeds from the exercise of share based awardsProceeds from the exercise of share based awards3.4  0.5  Proceeds from the exercise of share based awards0.1 3.4 
Proceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common StockProceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common Stock100.4  —  Proceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common Stock— 100.4 
Proceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common StockProceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common Stock2.6  —  Proceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common Stock— 2.6 
Net cash provided by financing activitiesNet cash provided by financing activities$78.1  $21.1  Net cash provided by financing activities$8.0 $78.1 

A summary of the most significant items affecting the change in our financing cash flows follows:
Debt activity. Debt borrowings decreasedincreased by $(445.3)$32.9 million and our debt payments decreased by $(390.8)$(4.8) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2020 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decreaseincrease in financing cash flows related to debt activity is associated with our efforts to paydown our Revolving Credit Facility in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 combined with the changes in our capital structure in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, including the refinancing of our Term Loan B Facility with our existing Credit Facility, the remarketing of our Vermont Bonds and the issuance of $15.0$40.0 million aggregate principal amount of Finance Authority of MaineNew York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 (“FAME2020 ("New York Bonds 2015R-2”2020")., whose proceeds were used to increase our cash holdings and pay down our Revolving Credit Facility in full.
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Payments of debt issuance costs. We made $5.6$1.5 million of debt issuance cost payments in the nine months ended September 30, 20182020 related primarily to the issuance of FAME$40.0 million aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2015R-2 and the refinancing of our Credit Facility.2020.
Proceeds from the exercise of share based awards. We received $3.4 million of cash receipts associated with the exercise of stock options in the nine months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to $0.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018 due primarily to the appreciation of our stock price.2019.
Proceeds from the public issuance of Class A Common Stock. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we completed a public issuance of 3.6 million shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $29.50 per share. The offering resulted in net proceeds to us of $100.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. The net proceeds from the offering were and are to be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions or development of new operations or assets with the goal of complementing or expanding our business, working capital and capital expenditures.
Proceeds from the unregistered sale of Class A Common StockStock.. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we completed the unregistered sale of 59,307 shares of our Class A common stock at a price of $44.15 per share. The sale resulted in net proceeds to us of $2.6 million. The shares were previously held in escrow according to the terms of our acquisition of Waste-StreamWaste Stream Inc. ("WSI") in 1999 and released to us for liquidation to offset costs associated with the environmental remediation of WSI's Potsdam, New York site. See Note 9, Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional disclosure.
Outstanding Long-Term Debt
Credit Facility
As of September 30, 2019,2020, we had outstanding $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of borrowings under our Term Loan Facility and 43.4$0.0 million aggregate principal amount of borrowings under our $200.0 million Revolving Credit Facility. The Credit Facility has a 5-year term that matures in May 2023 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.75% per annum, which will be reduced to a rate of LIBOR plus as low as 1.25% upon us reaching a consolidated net leverage ratio of less than 2.25x.
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Our Credit Facility is guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. As of September 30, 2019,2020, further advances were available under the Revolving Credit Facility in the amount of $132.0$173.6 million. The available amount is net of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit totaling $24.6$26.4 million, at which date no amount had been drawn. We have the right to request, at our discretion, an increase in the amount of loans under the Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of $125.0 million, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the credit agreement ("Credit Agreement").
The Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we were in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Credit Agreement as follows:
Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2019Covenant Requirement at September 30, 2019Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2020Covenant Requirement at September 30, 2020
Maximum consolidated net leverage ratio (1)
Maximum consolidated net leverage ratio (1)
3.24  4.50  
Maximum consolidated net leverage ratio (1)
2.99 4.00 
Minimum interest coverage ratioMinimum interest coverage ratio6.87  3.00  Minimum interest coverage ratio8.34 3.00 
(1)The maximum consolidated net leverage ratio is calculated as consolidated funded debt, net of unencumbered cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2.0 million and up to $50.0 million (calculated at $533.7$529.9 million as of September 30, 2019,2020, or $536.8$549.1 million of consolidated funded debt less $2.9$19.2 million of cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2.0 million and up to $50.0 million as of September 30, 2019)2020), divided by consolidated EBITDA. Consolidated EBITDA is based on operating results for the twelve months preceding the measurement date of September 30, 2019.2020. Consolidated funded debt, net of unencumbered cash and cash equivalents in excess of $2.0 million and up to $50.0 million, and consolidated EBITDA as defined by the Credit Agreement ("Consolidated EBITDA") are non-GAAP financial measures that should not be considered an alternative to any measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. A reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to minimum consolidated EBITDA is as follows (in millions):
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Twelve Months Ended September 30, 20192020
Net cash provided by operating activities$102.4157.2 
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures33.95.2 
GainLoss on sale of property and equipment0.9 (0.2)
Non-cash expense from acquisition activities and other items(0.6)(0.5)
Withdrawal costs - multiemployer pension plan(3.6)1.4 
Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge(14.9)(2.1)
Impairment of investment(1.1)
Operating lease right-of-use assets expense(7.3)(8.9)
Stock basedStock-based compensation(7.3)(7.4)
Interest expense, less amortization of debt issuance costs23.521.0 
Benefit for income taxes, net of deferred income taxes(0.8)(0.9)
Adjustments as allowed by the Credit Agreement39.612.7 
Consolidated EBITDA$164.7177.5 

In addition to the financial covenants described above, the Credit Agreement also contains a number of important customary affirmative and negative covenants which restrict, among other things, our ability to sell assets, incur additional debt, create liens, make investments, and pay dividends. We do not believe that these restrictions impact our ability to meet future liquidity needs. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement.
An event of default under any of our debt agreements could permit some of our lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, or, in the case of the Credit Facility, terminate the commitment to make further credit extensions thereunder, which could, in turn, trigger cross-defaults under other debt obligations. If we were unable to repay debt to our lenders or were otherwise in default under any provision governing our outstanding debt obligations, our secured lenders could proceed against us and against the collateral securing that debt.
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Based on the seasonality of our business, operating results in the late fall, winter and early spring months are generally lower than the remainder of our fiscal year. Given the cash flow impact that this seasonality, the capital intensive nature of our business and the timing of debt payments has on our business, we typically incur higher debt borrowings in order to meet our liquidity needs during these times. Consequently, our availability and performance against our financial covenants may tighten during these times as well.
Tax-Exempt Financings
New York Bonds. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, we completed the issuance of $40.0 million aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2020. The New York Bonds 2020, which are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 2.75% per annum from September 2, 2020 through September 1, 2025, at which time they may be converted to a variable interest rate period or to a new term interest rate period. The New York Bonds 2020 mature on September 1, 2050.
As of September 30, 2019,2020, we had outstanding $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014")2014R-1 and $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") issued by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation under the indenture dated December 1, 2014 (collectively, the “New York Bonds”Bonds 2014”). The New York Bonds 20142014R-1 accrue interest at 3.75%2.875% per annum through December 1, 2019,2, 2029, at which time they may be converted from a fixed rate to a variable rate. The New York Bonds 2014R-2 accrue interest at 3.125% per annum through May 31, 2026, at which time they may be converted from a fixed rate to a variable rate. The New York Bonds 2014, which are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, require interest payments on June 1 and December 1 of each year and mature on December 1, 2044. We borrowed the proceeds of the New York Bonds 2014 to finance or refinance certain capital projects in the state of New York and to pay certain costs of issuance of the New York Bonds.Bonds 2014.
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Maine Bonds. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we had outstanding $25.0 million aggregate principal amount of Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-32005 (“FAME Bonds 2005R-3”2005R-3"), $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015 (“FAME Bonds 2015R-1”), and $15.0 million aggregate principal amount of Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 (“("FAME Bonds 2015R-2”) (collectively,2015R-2", collectively with the FAME Bonds 2005R-3 and the FAME Bonds 2015R-1 the "FAME Bonds"). The FAME Bonds 2005R-3 accrue interest at 5.25% per annum, and interest is payable semiannually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year until such bonds mature on January 1, 2025. The FAME Bonds 2015R-1 accrue interest at 5.125% per annum through August 1, 2025, at which time they may be converted from a fixed to a variable rate, and interest is payable semiannually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year until the FAME Bonds 2015R-1 mature on August 1, 2035. The FAME Bonds 2015R-2 accrue interest at 4.375% per annum through July 31, 2025, at which time they may be converted from a fixed to a variable rate, and interest is payable semiannually each year on May 1 and November 1 of each year until the FAME Bonds 2015R-2 mature on August 1, 2035. The FAME Bonds are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries. We borrowed the proceeds of the offering of the FAME Bonds to finance or refinance the costs of certain of our solid waste landfill facilities and solid waste collection, organics and transfer, recycling and hauling facilities, and to pay certain costs of the issuance of the FAME Bonds.
Vermont Bonds. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we had outstanding $16.0 million aggregate principal amount of Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 (“("Vermont Bonds”Bonds"). The Vermont Bonds, which are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 4.63%4.625% per annum through April 2, 2028, after which time there is a mandatory tender.tender, and interest is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The Vermont Bonds mature on April 1, 2036. We borrowed the proceeds of the Vermont Bonds to finance or refinance certain qualifying property, plant and equipment assets purchased in the state of Vermont.
New Hampshire Bonds. As of September 30, 2019,2020, we had outstanding $11.0 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 issued by the Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire (“New Hampshire Bonds”).Bonds. The New Hampshire Bonds, which are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accruedaccrue interest at 4.00%2.95% per annum through Octobermaturity on April 1, 2019.2029. During the fixed interest rate period, the New Hampshire Bonds are not to be supported by a letter of credit. Interest is payable in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year. The New Hampshire Bonds mature on April 1, 2029. We borrowed the proceeds of the New Hampshire Bonds to finance or refinance certain qualifying property, plant and equipment assets purchased in the state of New Hampshire.
In October 2019, we completed the remarketing of $11.0 million aggregate principal amount of New Hampshire Bonds. The New Hampshire Bonds accrue interest at 2.95% per annum from October 1, 2019 through final maturity on April 1, 2029.
Inflation
Although inflationary increases in costs have affected our historical operating margins, we believe that inflation generally has not had a significant impact on our operating results. Consistent with industry practice, most of our contracts provide for a pass-through of certain costs to our customers, including increases in landfill tipping fees and in some cases fuel costs, intended to
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mitigate the impact of inflation on our operating results. We have also implemented a number of operating efficiency programs that seek to improve productivity and reduce our service costs, and a fuel surcharge, which is designed to recover escalating fuel price fluctuations above an annually reset floor. Based on these implementations, we believe we should be able to sufficiently offset most cost increases resulting from inflation. However, competitive factors may require us to absorb at least a portion of these cost increases. Additionally, management’s estimates associated with inflation have had, and will continue to have, an impact on our accounting for landfill and environmental remediation liabilities.
Regional Economic Conditions
Our business is primarily located in the northeastern United States. Therefore, our business, financial condition and results of operations are susceptible to downturns in the general economy in this geographic region and other factors affecting the region, such as state regulations and severe weather conditions. We are unable to forecast or determineThere can be no assurance that the timing and/ornortheastern United States will recover from the future impact of a sustainedCOVID-19 mandated economic slowdown.shutdowns at the same time as, or at the same rate as, other areas of the United States.
Seasonality and Severe Weather
Our transfer and disposal revenues historically have been higher in the late spring, summer and early fall months. This seasonality reflects lower volumes of waste in the late fall, winter and early spring months because:
the volume of waste relating to C&D activities decreases substantially during the winter months in the northeastern United States; and
decreased tourism in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and eastern New York during the winter months tends to lower the volume of waste generated by commercial and restaurant customers, which is partially offset by increased volume from the ski industry.
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Because certain of our operating and fixed costs remain constant throughout the fiscal year, operating income is therefore impacted by a similar seasonality. Our operations can be adversely affected by periods of inclement or severe weather, which could increase our operating costs associated with the collection and disposal of waste, delay the collection and disposal of waste, reduce the volume of waste delivered to our disposal sites, increase the volume of waste collected under our existing contracts (without corresponding compensation), decrease the throughput and operating efficiency of our materials recycling facilities, or delay construction or expansion of our landfill sites and other facilities. Our operations can also be favorably affected by severe weather, which could increase the volume of waste in situations where we are able to charge for our additional services provided.
Our Recyclingrecycling line of business in the Resource Solutions segment experiences increased volumes of fiber in November and December due to increased shipping boxes and retail activity during the holiday season.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, as applicable, at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments which are based on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of their evaluation form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and circumstances. Except for the adoption of the new accounting standards discussed in Note 2, Accounting Changes to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there were no material changes in the three months ended September 30, 20192020 to the application of critical accounting policies and estimates as described in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.2019.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of the new accounting standards that may affect us, see Note 2, Accounting Changes to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. For a description of the impact of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases (Topic 842), effective January 1, 2019 see Note 5, Leases to our consolidated financial statements included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
In the normal course of business we are exposed to market risks, including changes in interest rates and certain commodity prices. We have a variety of strategies to mitigate these market risks, including at times using derivative instruments to hedge some portion of these risks.
Interest Rate Volatility
Our strategy to hedge against fluctuations in variablereduce exposure to interest ratesrate risk involves entering into interest rate derivative agreements to hedge against adverse movements in interest rates. Asrates related to the variable rate portion of our long-term debt. In the nine months ended September 30, 2019,2020, we are partyentered into three forward starting interest rate derivative agreements with a total notional amount of $60.0 million that will serve to replace existing interest rate derivative agreements upon their expiration between June 2022 and May 2023. In the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we also amended three interest rate derivative agreements to hedgesettle each of the 1.0% floors and replace each with a 0.0% floor in line with our Term Loan Facility, which resulted in us dedesignating the original hedging relationships. We subsequently designated new hedging relationships between the three interest rate riskderivative agreements and the variable rate interest payments related to the Term Loan Facility based on a quantitative assessment that was performed using regression analysis, which indicated that the hedging relationships were highly effective. Because the interest rate payments associated with the variable rate portion of our long-term debt. Thedebt will still occur, the net loss of $(0.8) million associated with the dedesignated interest rate derivative agreements and the $0.4 million cash settlement received in exchange for settling the 1.0% floors in accumulated other comprehensive loss were not reclassified into earnings. Instead, this loss and settlement amount will continue to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into interest expense as the interest payments affect earnings.
As of both September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, our interest rate derivative agreements have a total notional amount of these hedging instruments is $190.0 million andmillion. According to the terms of the agreements, we receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index restricted by a 1.00% floor in certain instances, and pay interest at a weighted average fixed rate of approximately 2.54%. The agreements mature between February 2021 and May 2023.
Additionally, we have forward starting interest rate derivative agreements with a total notional amount of $125.0 million that mature between February 2026 and May 2028. We receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index, restricted by a 0.0% floor, and will pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 1.63%.
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We have designated these derivative instruments as highly effective cash flow hedges, and therefore the change in fair value is recorded in our stockholders’ equity (deficit) as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in interest expense at the same time as interest expense is affected by the hedged transactions. Differences paid or received over the life of the agreements are recorded as additions to or reductions of interest expense on the underlying debt.debt and included in cash flows from operating activities.
WeAs of September 30, 2020, we have $143.4$199.1 million of fixed rate debt as of September 30, 2019 in addition to the $190.0 million fixed through our interest rate derivative agreements. We had interest rate risk relating to approximately $203.4$160.0 million of long-term debt atas of September 30, 2019.2020. The weighted average interest rate on the variable rate portion of long-term debt was approximately 3.8%1.9% at September 30, 2019.2020. Should the average interest rate on the variable rate portion of long-term debt change by 100 basis points, we estimate that our quarterlyannual interest expense would change by up to approximately $0.5$1.6 million. The remainder of our long-term debt is at fixed rates and not subject to interest rate risk.
Commodity Price Volatility
ShouldInformation about commodity prices change by $10 per ton, we estimatemarket volatility market risk as of September 30, 2020 does not differ materially from that discussed in Part II, Item 7A of our annual operating income would change by approximately $0.3 million annually, or less than $0.1 million quarterly. Our sensitivity to changes in commodity prices is complex because each customer contract is unique relative to revenue sharing, tipping or processing fees and other arrangements. The above operating income impact may not be indicative of future operating results and actual results may vary materially.Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
ITEM 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2019.2020. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2019,2020, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting. No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the three months ended September 30, 20192020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II.
ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of our business and as a result of the extensive governmental regulation of the solid waste industry, we are subject to various judicial and administrative proceedings involving state and local agencies. In these proceedings, an agency may seek to impose fines or to revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit held by us. From time to time, we may also be subject to actions brought by special interest or other groups, adjacent landowners or residents in connection with the permitting and licensing of landfills and transfer stations, or allegations of environmental damage or violations of the permits and licenses pursuant to which we operate. In addition, we may be named defendants in various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the ordinary operation of a waste management business.
Environmental Remediation Liability (including related litigation)
We are subject to liability for environmental damage, including personal injury and property damage, that our solid waste, recycling and power generation facilities may cause to neighboring property owners, particularly as a result of the contamination of drinking water sources or soil, possibly including damage resulting from conditions that existed before we acquired the facilities. We may also be subject to liability for similar claims arising from off-site environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances if we or our predecessors arrange or arranged to transport, treat or dispose of those materials. The following matters represent our material outstanding claims.
Southbridge Recycling & Disposal Park, Inc.
In October 2015, our Southbridge Recycling and Disposal Park, Inc. (“SRD”) subsidiary reported to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MADEP”) results of analysis of samples collected pursuant to our existing permit from private drinking water wells located near the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts (“Town”) Landfill (“Southbridge Landfill”), which was operated by SRD and later closed in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Those results indicated the presence of contaminants above the levels triggering notice and response obligations under MADEP regulations. In response to those results, we are carryingcarried out an Immediate Response Action pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 21E (the "Charlton 21E Obligations") pursuant to state law.. Further, we have implemented a plan to analyze and better understand the groundwater near the Southbridge Landfill and we are investigatinginvestigated with the objective of identifying the source or sources of the elevated levels of contamination measured in the well samples. If it is determined that some or all of the contamination originated at the Southbridge Landfill, we will work with the Town (the Southbridge Landfill owner and the former operator of an unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, which was used prior to our operation of a double-lined portion of the Southbridge Landfill commencing in 2004) to evaluate and allocate the liabilities related to the Charlton 21E Obligations. In July 2016, we sent correspondence to the Town pursuant to Chapter 21E of Massachusetts General Laws demanding that the Town reimburse us for the environmental response costs we had spent and that the Town be responsible for all such costs in the future, as well as any other costs or liabilities resulting from the release of contaminants from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill. The Town responded in September 2016, denying that the Southbridge Landfill is the source of such contamination, and claiming that if it is, that we may owe an indemnity to the Town pursuant to the Operating Agreement between us and the Town dated May 29, 2007, as amended. We entered into a Tolling Agreement with the Town to delay any further administrative or legal actions until our work with MADEP more specifically defines the parties’ responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations, if any. Please see below for further discussion of our relationship with the Town regarding the Charlton 21E Obligations.
In February 2016, we and the Town received a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") from a law firm purporting to represent residents proximate to the Southbridge Landfill (“Residents”), indicating its intent to file suit against us on behalf of the Residents alleging the groundwater contamination originated from the Southbridge Landfill. In February 2017, we received an additional Notice of Intent to Sue from the National Environmental Law Center ("NECL") under the Federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and RCRA (collectively the “Acts”) on behalf of Environment America, Inc., d/b/a Environment Massachusetts, and Toxics Action Center, Inc., which have referred to themselves as the Citizen Groups. The Citizen Groups alleged that we had violated the Acts, and that they intended to seek appropriate relief in federal court for those alleged violations. On or about June 9,17, 2017, a lawsuit was filed against us, SRD and the Town in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Court”) by the Citizen Groups and the Residents alleging violations of the Acts (the “Litigation”), and demanding a variety of remedies under the Acts, including fines, remediation, mitigation and costs of litigation, and remedies for violations of Massachusetts civil law related to personal and property damages, including
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remediation, diminution of property values, compensation for lost use and enjoyment of properties, enjoinment of further operation of the Southbridge Landfill, and costs of litigation, plus interest on any damage award, on behalf of the Residents. We believebelieved the Litigation to be factually inaccurate, and without legal merit, and we and SRD intend to vigorously defenddefended the Litigation. Nevertheless, we believe it is reasonably possible that a loss will occur as a result of the Litigation although an estimate of loss cannot be reasonably provided at this time. We also continue to believe the Town should be responsible for costs or liabilities associated with the Litigation relative to alleged contamination originating from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, although there can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur some or all of such costs and liabilities.
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In December 2017, we filed a Motion to Dismiss the Litigation, and on October 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Court granted our Motion to Dismiss, and accordingly, dismissed the Citizen GroupsGroups' claims under the Acts. The Massachusetts Court has retained jurisdiction of the ResidentsResidents' claims. The Citizen Groups intendindicated an intent to appeal the Massachusetts Court’s decision to grant our Motion to Dismiss. In this regard, the Massachusetts Court denied the Citizen Groups' motion for an interlocutory appeal. The Residents moved for a stay of their case until the Citizen Groups appealed. We opposed the stay and in March 2019, the Massachusetts Court denied the Residents motion for a stay.
On September 18, 2020, we and the Town reached agreement for settlement of all claims by the Citizens Groups and the Residents, upon the payment of $2.0 million by us, and $1.0 million by the Town, for a total of $3.0 million to the Residents (the “Settlement”). In addition to resolving the claims of the Residents, the Citizens Groups have agreed to not appeal the decision of the Massachusetts Court to dismiss their previously alleged claims, although we have agreed to assent to a motion by the Citizens Groups to the Massachusetts Court to vacate the Massachusetts Court’s earlier decision. The settlement documents were finalized on October 23, 2020, and we recorded a reserve of $2.0 million at September 30, 2020. See Note 13, Other Items and Charges for further discussion.
We entered into an Administrative Consent Order on April 26, 2017 (the “ACO”), with MADEP, the Town, and the Town of Charlton, committing us to equally share the costs with MADEP, of up to $10.0 million ($5.0 million each) for the Town to install a municipal waterline in the Town of Charlton ("Waterline"). Upon satisfactory completion of that Waterline, and other matters covered by the ACO, we and the Town will be released by MADEP from any future responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations. We also entered into an agreement with the Town on April 28, 2017 entitled the “21E Settlement and Water System Construction Funding Agreement” (the “Waterline Agreement”), wherein we and the Town released each other from claims arising from the Charlton 21E Obligations. Pursuant to the Waterline Agreement, the Town will issueissued a twenty (20) year bond for our portion of the Waterline costs (up to $5.0 million).in the amount of $4.1 million. We have agreed to reimburse the Town for periodic payments under such bond. Construction of the waterlineWaterline is near completioncomplete and homeowners are relying on municipal water supply. Remaining aspects of the project are minor and are expected to be completed in 2020. Bond reimbursement to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.Town commenced in the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
We have recorded an environmental remediation liability related to our obligation associated with the future installation of the Waterline in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 2.6%. Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. The
A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Southbridge Landfill are as follows (in millions):
Nine Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended
September 30,
20192018 20202019
Beginning balanceBeginning balance$5.2  $5.9  Beginning balance$4.6 $5.2 
Accretion expenseAccretion expense0.1  0.1  Accretion expense0.1 0.1 
Revisions in estimates (1)
Revisions in estimates (1)
(0.2)— 
Obligations settled (1)(2)
Obligations settled (1)(2)
(0.6) (0.6) 
Obligations settled (1)(2)
(0.3)(0.6)
Ending balanceEnding balance$4.7  $5.4  Ending balance$4.2 $4.7 
(1)The revision of estimate is associated with the completion of the environmental remediation at the site. See Note 13, Other Items and Charges to our consolidated financial statements for further discussion.
(2)Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

We completed the first phase of landfill capping and closure in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 at the Southbridge Landfill and are actively seeking approval from MADEP to close and cap the remainder of the landfill.
The costs and liabilities we may be required to incur in connection with the foregoing Southbridge Landfill matters could be material to our results of operations, our cash flows and our financial condition.
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Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability
On December 20, 2000, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) issued an Order on Consent (“Order”) which named Waste-Stream, Inc. (“WSI”), our subsidiary, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (“NiMo”) as Respondents. The Order required that the Respondents undertake certain work on a 25-acre scrap yard and solid waste transfer station owned by WSI in Potsdam, New York, including the preparation of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“Study”). A draft of the Study was submitted to the DEC in January 2009 (followed by a final report in May 2009). The Study estimated that the undiscounted costs associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $10.2 million. On February 28, 2011, the DEC issued a Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the site and accepted public comments on the proposed remedy through March 29, 2011. We submitted comments to the DEC on this matter. In April 2011, the DEC issued the final Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the site. The ROD was subsequently rescinded by the DEC for failure to respond to all submitted comments. The preliminary ROD, however, estimated that the present cost associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $12.1 million. The DEC issued the final ROD in June 2011 with proposed remedies consistent with its earlier ROD. An Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement naming WSI and NiMo as Respondents was executed by the Respondents and DEC with an effective date of October 25, 2013. On January 29, 2016, a Cost-Sharing Agreement was executed between WSI, NiMo, Alcoa Inc. (“Alcoa”) and Reynolds Metal Company (“Reynolds”) whereby Alcoa and Reynolds elected to voluntarily participate in the onsite remediation activities at a combined 15% participant share. The remediation work has commenced and it is expected that the majority of the remediation work will behas been completed in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019.as of September 30, 2020. WSI is jointly and severally liable with NiMo, Alcoa and Reynolds for the total cost to remediate.
We have recorded an environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam site based on incurred costs to date and estimated costs to complete the remediation in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 1.5%.
A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam environmental remediation liability follows (in millions):
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 20192018
Beginning balance$5.6  $5.8  
Obligations settled (1)
(1.8) (0.1) 
Ending balance$3.8  $5.7  

 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 20202019
Beginning balance$1.2 $5.6 
Obligations settled (1)
(0.2)(1.8)
Ending balance$1.0 $3.8 

(1)Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.
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Legal Proceedings
North Country Environmental Services
On or about March 8, 2018, NELC and the Conservation Law Foundation ("CLF") (the "NH Citizen Groups described aboveGroups") delivered correspondence to our subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. ("NCES"), and us, providing notice of the NH Citizen Groups' intent to sue NCES and us for violations of the CWA in conjunction with NCES's operation of its landfill in Bethlehem, New Hampshire.Hampshire ("NCES Landfill"). On May 14, 2018, the NH Citizen Groups filed a lawsuit against NCES and us in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire (the “New Hampshire Court”) alleging violations of the CWA, arguing that ground water discharging into the Ammonoosuc River is a "point source" under the CWA (the "New Hampshire Litigation"). The New Hampshire Litigation seeks remediation and fines under the CWA.CWA and an order requiring NCES to seek a Federal NPDES permit for the operation of the NCES Landfill. On June 15, 2018, we and NCES filed a Motion to Dismiss the New Hampshire Litigation. On July 13, 2018, the NH Citizen Groups filed objections to our Motion to Dismiss. On July 27, 2018, we filed a reply in support of our Motion to Dismiss. On September 25, 2018, the New Hampshire Court denied our Motion to Dismiss. In March of 2019, we filed a motion in the New Hampshire Litigation asking for a stay of this litigation until certain appeals from discordant federal circuitscircuit courts were heard by the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”). SCOTUS has granted certiorari determining that, in the circumstances described are sufficient for SCOTUS to hear such cases.case identified as “County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund (“MAUI”)". Our motion for a stay was granted in the New Hampshire Litigation, and SCOTUS heard the case in 2019 and issued a ruling on April 23, 2020. SCOTUS remanded the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco (the “Circuit Court”) ruling that the Circuit Court’s standard as to whether ground water impacts navigable waters is expected to heartoo broad. We do not believe that the MAUI decision resolves the issues presented in the New Hampshire Litigation, and rule on such cases this calendar year. In any event,until the Circuit Court rules in the remanded MAUI case, we intend to continue to vigorously defend against the New Hampshire Litigation, which we believe is without merit.
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The NH Citizens Groups filed a motion with the New Hampshire Court on July 15, 2020 to amend their complaint based on MAUI. The New Hampshire Court has granted the NH Citizen Groups' motion on September 2, 2020, and has encouraged the parties to file Motions for Summary Judgments. We are preparing our Motion for Summary Judgment to be filed in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Ontario County, New York Class Action Litigation
On or about September 17, 2019, Richard Vandemortel and Deb Vandemortel filed a class action complaint against us on behalf of similarly situated citizens in Ontario County, New York. The lawsuit has been filed in Ontario County (the “New York Litigation”). It alleges that over one thousand (1,000) citizens constitute the putative class in the New York Litigation, and it seeks damages for diminution of property values and infringement of the putative class’ rights to live without interference to their daily lives due to odors emanating from the Ontario County Landfill,Subtitle D landfill located in Seneca, New York , which is operated by us pursuant to a long-term Operation, Maintenance and Lease Agreement with Ontario County. The New York Litigation was served on us on October 14, 2019. We are reviewing the New York Litigation and intend to present a vigorous defense.
Hakes Landfill Litigation
On or about December 19, 2019, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“Department”) issued certain permits to us to expand the landfill owned and operated by Hakes C&D Disposal Inc. in the Town of Campbell, Steuben County, New York (“Hakes Landfill”). The permits authorize approximately five years of expansion capacity at the Hakes Landfill. The authorizations issued by the Department followed approvals issued by the Town of Campbell Planning Board (“Planning Board”) in January 2019, and the Town Board of the Town of Campbell (“Town Board”) in March 2019, granting site plan review and a zoning change for the project.
Litigation was commenced by the Sierra Club, several other non-governmental organizations, and several individuals (“the Petitioners”), challenging the approvals issued by the Department, the Planning Board and the Town Board in New York State Supreme Court, Steuben County (the “Hakes Litigation”). The challenge was based upon allegations that the agencies issuing these approvals did not follow the requirements of Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law of the State of New York, the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”), by failing to address certain radioactivity issues alleged by Petitioners to be associated with certain drilling wastes authorized for disposal at the Hakes Landfill. The Petitioners also made a motion for a preliminary injunction to restrain construction and operation of the expansion cell. We and the Town of Campbell opposed the Hakes Litigation on the merits, and on July 31, 2020, the Court dismissed the Hakes Litigation. The Petitioners filed a notice of appeal, which is still pending, and made a motion before the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, for a preliminary injunction, which was denied by an order dated September 18, 2020.
5452


ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS
Our business is subject to a number of risks, including those identified in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018,2019 ("2019 10-K"), that could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or liquidity and that could cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period. AsThe novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic has heightened, and in some cases manifested, certain of September 30,the risks we normally face in operating our business, including those disclosed in the 2019 10-K, and the risk factor disclosures in the 2019 10-K are qualified by the information relating to COVID-19 that is described in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the first risk factor set forth below. Except for the following additional risk factors, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.2019 10-K. We may disclose additional changes to our risk factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The COVID-19 pandemic and related decline in economic activity is adversely affecting, and will continue to adversely affect, our business, outlook, liquidity and results of operations, and we have experienced and expect to continue to experience reductions in demand for certain of our services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused, and will continue to cause, economic disruption across our geographic footprint. Although as an essential service provider we have continued our operations, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted our revenue at the end of the first quarter of 2020 and through the third quarter of 2020 as some of our commercial collection customers requested service level decreases, construction activity decreased and volumes into our landfills declined on lower economic activity. The decline in our customers’ demand for our services and reduced volumes into our landfills has had, and is likely to continue to have, an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are closely monitoring and evaluating the potential impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business as well as our customers and employees. Due to the uncertain and evolving nature of economic conditions, we are unable to predict accurately the full extent of the impact and effects that the COVID-19 pandemic will have on our business going forward. We currently expect, however, that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to negatively impact our financial performance going forward. We expect that the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively impact our business in other ways, including, but not limited to, higher costs associated with providing a safe working environment for our employees, potential employee layoffs or furloughs, employee impacts from illness, supporting a remote administration workforce, community response measures, the inability of customers to continue to pay for services, temporary closures of our facilities or the facilities of our customers, and an increase in borrowing costs.
The extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and cash flows will ultimately depend on future developments. These include, but are not limited to, the severity, extent and duration of the outbreak; actions taken by national, state and local governments to contain the outbreak or treat its impact; the speed and effectiveness of responses to combat the outbreak; the effect of the changes in hiring levels and remote working arrangements that we and our customers have implemented; and the impact on our contracts with customers and vendors. The COVID-19 pandemic may also materially adversely affect our operating and financial results in a manner that is not currently known to us or that we do not currently consider to present significant risks to our operations.
Cybersecurity incidents could negatively impact our business and our relationships with customers, adversely affecting our financial results and exposing us to litigation risk.
We use computer technology in substantially all aspects of our business operations. We also use mobile devices, social networking and other online activities to connect with our customers and our employees to be able to process transactions and provide information that we feel is necessary to manage our business. Such uses give rise to cybersecurity risks, including security breach, espionage, system disruption, theft and inadvertent release of information. Our business involves the storage and transmission of numerous classes of sensitive and/or confidential information and intellectual property, including customers’ personal information, private information about employees, and financial and strategic information about us and our business partners. We also rely on a Payment Card Industry compliant third party to protect our customers’ credit card information. Further, as we pursue our strategy to grow through acquisitions and to pursue new initiatives that improve our operations and cost structure, we are also expanding and improving our information technologies, resulting in a larger technological presence and corresponding exposure to cybersecurity risk. If we fail to assess and identify cyber security risks associated with acquisitions and new initiatives, we may become increasingly vulnerable to such risks. Additionally, while we have implemented measures to prevent security breaches and cyber incidents, our preventive or detection measures and incident response efforts may not be entirely effective, especially as cyber security attacks continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, often are not recognized until launched against a target and may be difficult to detect for a long time. We are also exposed to cybersecurity risk with respect to data and other information that may be shared with third parties in connection with our business operations, if such third parties become subject to security breaches or other releases of information. As an example, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co (“Gallagher”), which is agent for a number of our insurance policies, recently publicly disclosed that it detected a ransomware incident impacting a limited portion of its internal systems. We do not have any further
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On September 5, 2019, we sold 59,307 sharesinformation from Gallagher at this time and there can be no assurance that certain or all of our Classinformation that had been previously disclosed to Gallagher was not exposed in such breach.
If company, personal or otherwise protected information is improperly accessed, tampered with or distributed, we may face significant financial exposure, including incurring significant costs to remediate possible injury to the affected parties. We may also be subject to sanctions and civil or criminal penalties if we are found to be in violation of the privacy or security rules under laws protecting confidential information. If our established network of security controls, policy enforcement mechanisms, educational awareness programs and monitoring systems that we use to address these threats to technology fail, the theft, destruction, loss, misappropriation, or release of sensitive and/or confidential information or intellectual property, or interference with our information technology systems or the technology systems of third parties on which we rely, could result in business disruption, negative publicity, brand damage, violation of privacy laws, loss of customers, potential litigation and liability and competitive disadvantage. While we have purchased insurance coverage for cybersecurity risks, there can be no assurance that any such coverage would be adequate to cover potential liability.
We have substantial debt and have the ability to incur additional debt. The principal and interest payment obligations of such debt may restrict our future operations.
As of September 30, 2020, we had approximately $549.1 million of outstanding principal indebtedness (excluding approximately $26.4 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under our term loan A common stockfacility (“Term Loan Facility“) and revolving line of credit facility (“Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the Term Loan Facility, the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility consists of the Term Loan Facility with term loans in the outstanding principal amount of $350.0 million and the Revolving Credit Facility with loans thereunder being available up to Raymond James & Associates, Inc. for an aggregate purchase priceprincipal amount of $2.6 million. The shares were previously held in escrow according$200.0 million, of which $173.6 million of unused commitments remain under the Revolving Credit Facility, subject to customary borrowing conditions. In addition, the terms of our acquisitionexisting indebtedness permit us to incur additional debt. Our substantial debt, among other things:
• requires us to dedicate a substantial portion of Waste-Stream, Inc. (“WSI”)any cash flow from operations to the payment of interest and releasedprincipal due under our debt, which reduces funds available for other business purposes, including capital expenditures and acquisitions;
• may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with some of our competitors that may have less debt and better access to capital resources; and
• limits our ability to obtain additional financing required to fund working capital and capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes, but does allow us for liquidation to offset costs associated withincrease the environmental remediationamount of WSI’s Potsdam, New York site. Such shares were issuedour debt substantially subject to the conditions in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.Credit Facility.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
On June 13, 2019, Casella Waste Management, Inc.,Our ability to satisfy our wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Allied Waste Services of North America, LLC, Browning-Ferris Industries of New York, Inc., Allied Waste Services of Massachusetts, LLCobligations and Menands Environmental Solutions, LLC (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), allto reduce our total debt depends on our future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive and other factors, many of which are subsidiariesbeyond our control. Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow, and future financings may not be available to provide sufficient net proceeds, to meet these obligations or to successfully execute our business strategy.
A portion of Republic Services, Inc. Pursuantour indebtedness bears interest at variable rates. To the extent interest rates rise from current levels, we may incur higher levels of interest expense on our variable rate debt. We have sought to mitigate against adverse movements in interest rates by entering into: (a) fixed interest rate debt instruments; and (b) interest rate derivative agreements to hedge the variable rate portion of our long-term debt.
As of September 30, 2020, our interest rate derivative agreements have a total notional amount of $190.0 million. According to the terms of the Agreement,agreements, we receive interest based on September 3, 2019, we completed the acquisition of solid waste hauling1-month LIBOR index and transfer assets in Albany, New York and Cheshire, Massachusetts from the Subsidiaries for total considerationpay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately $46.6 million, which included $41.8 million in cash consideration2.54%. The agreements mature between February 2021 and $4.8 million in non-cash consideration. We paid the purchase price for such assetsMay 2023. Additionally, we have forward starting interest rate derivative agreements with a combinationtotal notional amount of available cash$125.0 million that mature between February 2026 and May 2028. We receive interest based on handthe 1-month LIBOR index, restricted by a 0.0% floor, and borrowingswill pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 1.63%.
While our interest rate derivative counterparties are large financial institutions that we believe are well capitalized, if one or more of our interest rate derivative counterparties fails to perform under our existing revolving credit facilitythe terms of their agreements with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent,us, we may not receive payments due under the applicable agreement(s) and the other lenders party thereto.derivatives may prove to be ineffective in hedging our interest rate risk.
We obtained from the SEC, pursuant to its authority under Rule 3-13 under Regulation S-X, a waiver from the requirements of Rule 3-05 and Article 11 of Regulation S-X to provide certain financial statements and pro forma financial information in connection with the acquisition. As a result, we will not provide such financial statements and information required under Item 9.01(a) and (b) of Form 8-K.

5554


ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description
4.1
4.2
10.1
10.2
31.1 +
31.2 +
32.1 ++
32.2 ++
101.INSThe instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.**
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document.**
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document.**
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document.**
101.DEFInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.**
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL with applicable taxonomy extension information contained in Exhibits 101.)

**Submitted Electronically Herewith. Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following formatted in inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 20192020 and December 31, 2018,2019, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, (iv) Consolidated StatementStatements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 20192020 and 2018,2019, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
+Filed Herewith
++Furnished Herewith

55


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.
Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
Date: November 1, 2019October 30, 2020By: /s/ Christopher B. Heald
Christopher B. Heald
Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date: November 1, 2019October 30, 2020By: /s/ Edmond R. Coletta
Edmond R. Coletta
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

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