10-Q 1 h75991e10vq.htm FORM 10-Q e10vq
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
Form 10-Q
 
 
     
(Mark One)    
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2010
or
o
  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 1-12154
 
 
Waste Management, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  73-1309529
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
1001 Fannin
Suite 4000
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
 
(713) 512-6200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
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 þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
The number of shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the registrant outstanding at October 22, 2010 was 475,800,754 (excluding treasury shares of 154,481,707).
 


 

 
PART I.
 
Item 1.   Financial Statements.
 
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Millions, Except Share and Par Value Amounts)
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
    (Unaudited)        
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 550     $ 1,140  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $27 and $31, respectively
    1,522       1,408  
Other receivables
    169       119  
Parts and supplies
    124       110  
Deferred income taxes
    62       116  
Other assets
    142       117  
                 
Total current assets
    2,569       3,010  
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $14,568 and $13,994, respectively
    11,636       11,541  
Goodwill
    5,703       5,632  
Other intangible assets, net
    299       238  
Other assets
    1,132       733  
                 
Total assets
  $ 21,339     $ 21,154  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 561     $ 567  
Accrued liabilities
    1,143       1,128  
Deferred revenues
    446       457  
Current portion of long-term debt
    161       749  
                 
Total current liabilities
    2,311       2,901  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    8,798       8,124  
Deferred income taxes
    1,602       1,509  
Landfill and environmental remediation liabilities
    1,470       1,357  
Other liabilities
    719       672  
                 
Total liabilities
    14,900       14,563  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Equity:
               
Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 630,282,461 shares issued
    6       6  
Additional paid-in capital
    4,524       4,543  
Retained earnings
    6,270       6,053  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    184       208  
Treasury stock at cost, 154,568,253 and 144,162,063 shares, respectively
    (4,876 )     (4,525 )
                 
Total Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity
    6,108       6,285  
Noncontrolling interests
    331       306  
                 
Total equity
    6,439       6,591  
                 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 21,339     $ 21,154  
                 
 
See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


2


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Operating revenues
  $ 3,235     $ 3,023     $ 9,328     $ 8,785  
                                 
Costs and expenses:
                               
Operating
    2,006       1,856       5,883       5,367  
Selling, general and administrative
    369       339       1,065       999  
Depreciation and amortization
    317       301       917       892  
Restructuring
          3       (1 )     46  
(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items
    (1 )     (1 )     (78 )     50  
                                 
      2,691       2,498       7,786       7,354  
                                 
Income from operations
    544       525       1,542       1,431  
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
    (126 )     (104 )     (354 )     (316 )
Interest income
    1       3       3       10  
Other, net
    (8 )     1       (14 )     1  
                                 
      (133 )     (100 )     (365 )     (305 )
                                 
Income before income taxes
    411       425       1,177       1,126  
Provision for income taxes
    153       133       469       397  
                                 
Consolidated net income
    258       292       708       729  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    14       15       36       50  
                                 
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 244     $ 277     $ 672     $ 679  
                                 
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.51     $ 0.56     $ 1.40     $ 1.38  
                                 
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.51     $ 0.56     $ 1.39     $ 1.37  
                                 
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.315     $ 0.29     $ 0.945     $ 0.87  
                                 
 
See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


3


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Millions)
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Consolidated net income
  $ 708     $ 729  
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    917       892  
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision
    95       (10 )
Interest accretion on landfill liabilities
    61       59  
Interest accretion on and discount rate adjustments to environmental remediation liabilities and recovery assets
    17       (28 )
Provision for bad debts
    29       37  
Equity-based compensation expense
    28       19  
Net gain on disposal of assets
    (16 )     (6 )
Effect of (income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items
    (1 )     50  
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions
    (4 )     (2 )
Equity in net losses of unconsolidated entities, net of dividends
    14       1  
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
               
Receivables
    (159 )     (17 )
Other current assets
    38       (19 )
Other assets
    (4 )      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (62 )     2  
Deferred revenues and other liabilities
    (8 )     (65 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,653       1,642  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
    (343 )     (127 )
Capital expenditures
    (737 )     (823 )
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets
    36       20  
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts
    36       98  
Investments in unconsolidated entities
    (162 )     (5 )
Other
    (5 )     7  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,175 )     (830 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
New borrowings
    775       1,026  
Debt repayments
    (932 )     (1,142 )
Common stock repurchases
    (443 )     (65 )
Cash dividends
    (454 )     (428 )
Exercise of common stock options
    28       10  
Excess tax benefits associated with equity-based transactions
    4       2  
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests
    (30 )     (35 )
Other
    (17 )     (51 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,069 )     (683 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    1       3  
                 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (590 )     132  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    1,140       480  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 550     $ 612  
                 
 
See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


4


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
 
(In Millions, Except Shares in Thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
                                                                                 
                Waste Management, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity        
                                        Accumulated
                   
                                        Other
                   
                            Additional
          Comprehensive
                   
          Comprehensive
    Common Stock     Paid-In
    Retained
    Income
    Treasury Stock     Noncontrolling
 
    Total     Income     Shares     Amounts     Capital     Earnings     (Loss)     Shares     Amounts     Interests  
 
Balance, December 31, 2009
  $ 6,591               630,282     $ 6     $ 4,543     $ 6,053     $ 208       (144,162 )   $ (4,525 )   $ 306  
Comprehensive Income:
                                                                               
Net income
    708     $ 708                         672                         36  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
                                                                               
Unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes of $35
    (54 )     (54 )                             (54 )                  
Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes of $6
    10       10                               10                    
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of taxes of $1
    1       1                               1                    
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    20       20                               20                    
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes of $0
    (1 )     (1 )                             (1 )                  
                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    (24 )     (24 )                                                                
                                                                                 
Comprehensive income
    684     $ 684                                                                  
                                                                                 
Cash dividends declared
    (454 )                               (454 )                        
Equity-based compensation transactions, including dividend equivalents, net of taxes
    73                           (19 )     (1 )           2,963       93        
Common stock repurchases
    (445 )                                           (13,380 )     (445 )      
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests
    (30 )                                                       (30 )
Noncontrolling interests in acquired businesses
    50                                                         50  
Deconsolidation of variable interest entities
    (31 )                                                       (31 )
Other
    1                                             11       1        
                                                                                 
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 6,439               630,282     $ 6     $ 4,524     $ 6,270     $ 184       (154,568 )   $ (4,876 )   $ 331  
                                                                                 
 
See notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


5


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.   Basis of Presentation
 
The financial statements presented in this report represent the consolidation of Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation; Waste Management’s wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries; and certain variable interest entities for which Waste Management or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiary. Waste Management is a holding company and all operations are conducted by its subsidiaries. When the terms “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” are used in this document, those terms refer to Waste Management, Inc., its consolidated subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. When we use the term “WMI,” we are referring only to Waste Management, Inc., the parent holding company.
 
We manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic operating Groups, which include our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Our fifth operating Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, which are presented in this report as “Other.” These five Groups are presented as our reportable segments, and additional information related to our segments can be found in Note 10.
 
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are unaudited. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all adjustments, which, unless otherwise disclosed, are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The financial statements presented herein should be read in connection with the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that 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 from data available or simply cannot be readily calculated based on generally accepted methods. In some cases, these estimates are particularly difficult to determine and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, reserves associated with our uninsured claims and reserves and recoveries associated with our insured claims. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.
 
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued revised authoritative guidance associated with the consolidation of variable interest entities. The revised guidance replaced the previous quantitative-based assessment for determining whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and is, therefore, required to consolidate the entity, with an approach that is now primarily qualitative. This qualitative approach focuses on identifying the enterprise that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that can most significantly impact the entity’s performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to such entity. The revised guidance also requires that the enterprise continually reassess whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity rather than conducting a reassessment only upon the occurrence of specific events.
 
As a result of our implementation of this guidance, effective January 1, 2010, we deconsolidated certain capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation trusts for which power over significant activities is


6


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
shared. Our financial interests in these entities are discussed below. The deconsolidation of these trusts has not materially affected our financial position, results of operations or cash flows during the periods presented.
 
Following is a description of our financial interests in variable interest entities that we consider significant, including (i) those for which we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the entities and, therefore, have continued to consolidate the entities into our financial statements; and (ii) those that represent a significant interest in an unconsolidated entity.
 
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
Waste-to-Energy LLCs — In June 2000, two limited liability companies were established to purchase interests in existing leveraged lease financings at three waste-to-energy facilities that we lease, operate and maintain. We own a 0.5% interest in one of the LLCs (“LLC I”) and a 0.25% interest in the second LLC (“LLC II”). John Hancock Life Insurance Company owns 99.5% of LLC I, and 99.75% of LLC II is owned by LLC I and the CIT Group. In 2000, Hancock and CIT made an initial aggregate investment of $167 million in the LLCs, which was used to purchase the three waste-to-energy facilities and assume the seller’s indebtedness.
 
Income, losses and cash flows of the LLCs are allocated to the members based on their initial capital account balances until Hancock and CIT achieve targeted returns; thereafter, we will receive 80% of the earnings of each of the LLCs and Hancock and CIT will be allocated the remaining 20% proportionate to their respective equity interests. All capital allocations made through September 30, 2010 have been based on initial capital account balances as the target returns have not yet been achieved.
 
Our obligations associated with our interests in the LLCs are primarily related to the lease of the facilities. In addition to our minimum lease payment obligations, we are required to make cash payments to the LLCs for differences between fair market rents and our minimum lease payments. We may also be required under certain circumstances to make capital contributions to the LLCs based on differences between the fair market value of the facilities and defined termination values as provided for in the underlying lease agreements, although we believe the likelihood of the occurrence of these circumstances is remote.
 
We have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of the LLCs because (i) all of the equity owners of the LLCs are considered related parties for purposes of applying this accounting guidance; (ii) the equity owners share power over the significant activities of the LLCs; and (iii) we are the entity within the related party group whose activities are most closely associated with the LLCs.
 
As of September 30, 2010, our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet included $322 million of net property and equipment associated with the LLCs’ waste-to-energy facilities and $242 million in noncontrolling interests associated with Hancock’s and CIT’s interests in the LLCs. As of September 30, 2010, all debt obligations of the LLCs had been paid in full and, therefore, the LLCs have no liabilities. We recognized expense of $13 million and $38 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, and September 30, 2009, respectively, for Hancock’s and CIT’s noncontrolling interests in the LLCs’ earnings. The LLCs’ earnings relate to the rental income generated from leasing the facilities to our subsidiaries, reduced by depreciation expense. The LLCs’ rental income is eliminated in WMI’s consolidation.
 
Significant Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities
 
Trusts for Capping, Closure, Post-Closure or Environmental Remediation Obligations — We have significant financial interests in trust funds that were created to settle certain of our capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation obligations. We have determined that, under the current guidance, we are not the primary beneficiary of certain of these trust funds because power over the trusts’ significant activities is shared.
 
The deconsolidation of these variable interest entities as of January 1, 2010 decreased our restricted trust and escrow accounts by $109 million; increased investments in unconsolidated entities by $27 million; increased


7


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
receivables, principally long-term, by $51 million; and decreased noncontrolling interests by $31 million. Beginning in 2010, our interests in these variable interest entities have been accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities. Our investments and receivables related to the trusts had a fair value of $105 million as of January 1, 2010 and $113 million as of September 30, 2010. We continue to reflect our interests in the unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities held by these trusts as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The deconsolidation of these variable interest entities has not materially affected our financial position or results of operations for the periods presented.
 
As the party with primary responsibility to fund the related capping, closure, post-closure or environmental remediation activities, we are exposed to risk of loss as a result of potential changes in the fair value of the trusts assets. The fair value of trust assets can fluctuate due to (i) changes in the market value of the investments held by the trusts; and (ii) credit risk associated with trust receivables. Although we are exposed to changes in the fair value of the trust assets, we currently expect the trust funds to continue to meet the statutory requirements for which they were established.
 
Federal low-income housing tax credits — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. Our consideration for this investment totaled $221 million, which was comprised of a $215 million note payable and an initial cash payment of $6 million. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of this entity as we do not have the power to direct the entity’s activities. At September 30, 2010, our investment balance was $208 million. Additional information related to this investment is discussed in Note 5.
 
2.   Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities
 
Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs are presented in the table below (in millions):
 
                                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
          Environmental
                Environmental
       
    Landfill     Remediation     Total     Landfill     Remediation     Total  
 
Current (in accrued liabilities)
  $ 120     $ 41     $ 161     $ 125     $ 41     $ 166  
Long-term
    1,188       282       1,470       1,142       215       1,357  
                                                 
    $ 1,308     $ 323     $ 1,631     $ 1,267     $ 256     $ 1,523  
                                                 


8


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are reflected in the table below (in millions):
 
                 
          Environmental
 
    Landfill     Remediation  
 
December 31, 2008
  $ 1,218     $ 299  
Obligations incurred and capitalized
    39        
Obligations settled
    (80 )     (43 )
Interest accretion
    80       6  
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions
    5       (7 )
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments
    5       1  
                 
December 31, 2009
    1,267       256  
Obligations incurred and capitalized
    34        
Obligations settled
    (59 )     (26 )
Interest accretion
    61       4  
Revisions in estimates and interest rate assumptions(a)
          90  
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments
    5       (1 )
                 
September 30, 2010
  $ 1,308     $ 323  
                 
 
 
(a) The revisions in estimates associated with our environmental remediation liabilities were primarily related to (i) net charges totaling $50 million for estimates associated with remediation liabilities at four closed sites and (ii) the impact of changes in the risk-free discount rate used to measure the liabilities. As of December 31, 2009, we used a risk-free discount rate for these obligations of 3.75%. The applicable rate decreased to 3.0% effective June 30, 2010 and 2.5% effective September 30, 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, these changes in the risk-free discount rate resulted in an increase of $21 million to our environmental remediation liabilities and a corresponding increase to “Operating” expenses.
 
At several of our landfills, we provide financial assurance by depositing cash into restricted trust funds or escrow accounts for purposes of settling capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation obligations. Generally, these trust funds are established to comply with statutory requirements and operating agreements and we are the sole beneficiary of the restricted balances. However, certain of the funds have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate.
 
The fair value of trust funds and escrow accounts for which we are the sole beneficiary was $124 million at September 30, 2010. As discussed in Note 1, effective January 1, 2010, we deconsolidated the trusts for which power over significant activities of the trust is shared, which reduced our restricted trust and escrow accounts by $109 million as of January 1, 2010. Beginning in 2010, our interests in these variable interest entities have been accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities and receivables. The fair value of our investment in these entities was $113 million as of September 30, 2010. These amounts are included in “Other receivables” and as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.


9


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
3.   Debt
 
The following table summarizes the major components of debt at each balance sheet date (in millions) and provides the maturities and interest rate ranges of each major category as of September 30, 2010:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
 
Revolving credit facility
  $     $  
Letter of credit facilities
           
Canadian credit facility (weighted average interest rate of 1.6% at September 30, 2010 and 1.3% at December 31, 2009)
    208       255  
Senior notes and debentures, maturing through 2039, interest rates ranging from 4.75% to 7.75% (weighted average interest rate of 6.5% at September 30, 2010 and 6.8% at December 31, 2009)
    5,473       5,465  
Tax-exempt bonds maturing through 2039, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.3% to 7.4% (weighted average interest rate of 3.2% at September 30, 2010 and 3.5% at December 31, 2009)
    2,696       2,749  
Tax-exempt project bonds, principal payable in periodic installments, maturing through 2029, fixed and variable interest rates ranging from 0.3% to 5.4% (weighted average interest rate of 3.0% at September 30, 2010 and 3.1% at December 31, 2009)
    156       156  
Capital leases and other, maturing through 2050, interest rates up to 12%
    426       248  
                 
    $ 8,959     $ 8,873  
Current portion of long-term debt
    161       749  
                 
    $ 8,798     $ 8,124  
                 
 
Debt Classification
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had $477 million of debt maturing within twelve months. We have classified $316 million of these borrowings as long-term as of September 30, 2010 based on our intent and ability to refinance these borrowings on a long-term basis.
 
Debt Borrowings and Repayments
 
The significant changes in our debt balances from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010 are related to the following:
 
Canadian credit facility — The decrease in the carrying value is primarily due to $53 million of net debt repayments during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This decrease was partially offset by currency translation adjustments and the impact of interest accretion.
 
Senior notes — In June 2010, we issued $600 million of 4.75% senior notes due June 2020. The net proceeds from the debt issuance were $592 million. We used the proceeds together with cash on hand to repay $600 million of 7.375% senior notes that matured in August 2010.
 
Tax-exempt bonds — During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we repaid $52 million of our tax-exempt bonds with available cash.
 
Capital leases and Other — The significant increase in our capital leases and other debt obligations for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 is primarily related to our federal low-income housing


10


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
investment discussed in Note 5, which increased our debt obligations by $215 million. This increase was offset by $44 million of repayments of various borrowings at their scheduled maturities.
 
Revolving Credit and Letter of Credit Facilities
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had an aggregate committed capacity of $2.5 billion for letters of credit under various credit facilities. Our primary source of letter of credit capacity is a three-year, $2.0 billion revolving credit facility that was executed in June 2010. Our remaining letter of credit capacity is provided under facilities with maturities that extend from June 2013 to June 2015. As of September 30, 2010, we had an aggregate of $1.7 billion of letters of credit outstanding under our revolving credit facility and letter of credit facilities. There have not been any borrowings outstanding under these credit facilities during 2010.
 
4.   Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
 
The following table summarizes the fair values of derivative instruments recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (in millions):
 
                     
        September 30,
    December 31,
 
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments   Balance Sheet Location   2010     2009  
 
Interest rate contracts
  Current other assets   $ 1     $ 13  
Electricity commodity contracts
  Current other assets            
Interest rate contracts
  Long-term other assets     55       32  
                     
Total derivative assets
      $ 56     $ 45  
                     
Interest rate contracts
  Current accrued liabilities   $ 20     $  
Foreign exchange contracts
  Current accrued liabilities     25       18  
Interest rate contracts
  Long-term accrued liabilities     39        
                     
Total derivative liabilities
      $ 84     $ 18  
                     
 
Interest Rate Derivatives
 
Interest Rate Swaps
 
We use interest rate swaps to maintain a portion of our debt obligations at variable market interest rates. As of September 30, 2010, the outstanding principal of our fixed-rate senior notes was approximately $5.4 billion. The interest payments on $500 million, or 9.3%, of these senior notes have been swapped to variable interest rates to protect the debt against changes in fair value due to changes in benchmark interest rates, compared with $1.1 billion, or 20%, as of December 31, 2009. This significant decrease is primarily attributable to the repayment of $600 million of 7.375% senior notes at their scheduled maturities in August 2010, all of which were swapped to variable.
 
We have designated our interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of our fixed-rate senior notes. Fair value hedge accounting for interest rate swap contracts increased the carrying value of debt instruments by $100 million as of September 30, 2010 and $91 million as of December 31, 2009.


11


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Gains or losses on the derivatives, as well as the offsetting losses or gains on the hedged items attributable to our interest rate swaps, are recognized in current earnings. We include gains and losses on our interest rate swaps as adjustments to interest expense, which is the same financial statement line item where offsetting gains and losses on the related hedged items are recorded. The following table summarizes the impact of changes in the fair value of our interest rate swaps and the underlying hedged items on our results of operations (in millions):
 
                         
Three Months Ended
      Gain (Loss)
  Gain (Loss) on
September 30,   Statement of Operations Classification   on Swap   Fixed-Rate Debt
 
2010
    Interest expense     $ 10     $ (10 )
2009
    Interest expense     $ 11     $ (11 )
 
                         
Nine Months Ended
      Gain (Loss)
  Gain (Loss) on
September 30,   Statement of Operations Classification   on Swap   Fixed-Rate Debt
 
2010
    Interest expense     $ 24     $ (24 )
2009
    Interest expense     $ (29 )   $ 29  
 
We also recognize the impacts of (i) net periodic settlements of current interest on our active interest rate swaps and (ii) the amortization of previously terminated interest rate swap agreements as adjustments to interest expense. The following table summarizes the impact of periodic settlements of active swap agreements and the impact of terminated swap agreements on our results of operations (in millions):
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
Reductions to Interest Expense Due to
  September 30,     September 30,  
Hedge Accounting for Interest Rate Swaps   2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Periodic settlements of active swap agreements(a)
  $ 6     $ 12     $ 24     $ 35  
Terminated swap agreements
    4       4       15       15  
                                 
    $ 10     $ 16     $ 39     $ 50  
                                 
 
 
(a) These amounts represent the net of our periodic variable-rate interest obligations and the swap counterparties’ fixed-rate interest obligations. Our variable-rate obligations are based on a spread from the three-month LIBOR.
 
Treasury Rate Locks
 
During the third quarter of 2009, we entered into Treasury rate locks with a total notional amount of $200 million to hedge the risk of changes in semi-annual interest payments for a portion of the senior notes that the Company planned to issue in June 2010. The Treasury rate locks were terminated in the second quarter of 2010 contemporaneously with the actual issuance of senior notes, and we paid cash of $7 million upon settlement. As of September 30, 2010, our “Accumulated other comprehensive income” includes $4 million of deferred losses, net of taxes, associated with these Treasury rate locks that will be reclassified to “Interest expense” over the life of the related senior notes maturing in June 2020. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during 2010.
 
Our “Accumulated other comprehensive income” also includes deferred losses, net of taxes, of $13 million as of September 30, 2010 and $16 million as of December 31, 2009 related to Treasury rate locks that had been executed in previous years in anticipation of senior note issuances. Our Treasury rate locks were designated as cash flow hedges and, accordingly, the deferred losses are being reclassified to earnings over the term of the hedged cash flows, which extend through 2032.


12


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Forward-Starting Interest Rate Swaps
 
The Company currently expects to issue fixed-rate debt in March 2011, November 2012 and March 2014 and has executed forward-starting interest rate swaps for these anticipated debt issuances with notional amounts of $150 million, $200 million and $175 million, respectively. We entered into the forward-starting interest rate swaps during the fourth quarter of 2009 to hedge the risk of changes in the anticipated semi-annual interest payments due to fluctuations in the forward ten-year LIBOR swap rate. Each of the forward-starting swaps has an effective date of the anticipated date of debt issuance and a term of ten years.
 
We have designated our forward-starting interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges. As of September 30, 2010, the fair value of these interest rate derivatives is comprised of $20 million of current liabilities and $39 million of long-term liabilities. We recognized pre-tax and after-tax losses of $22 million and $13 million, respectively, to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our forward-starting interest rate swaps during the three months ended September 30, 2010 and $68 million and $41 million, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
 
Certain of our derivative instruments contain provisions related to the Company’s credit rating. If the Company’s credit rating were to fall to specified levels below investment grade, the counterparties have the ability to terminate the derivative agreements, resulting in immediate settlement of all affected transactions. As of September 30, 2010, we had not experienced any credit events that would trigger these provisions. The net liabilities of our derivative instruments with credit-risk-related features were immaterial as of September 30, 2010.
 
Foreign Exchange Derivatives
 
We use foreign currency exchange rate derivatives to hedge our exposure to changes in exchange rates for anticipated intercompany cash transactions between Waste Management Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary we acquired in 1998 (“WM Holdings”), and its Canadian subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2010, we have foreign currency forward contracts outstanding for all of the anticipated cash flows associated with a debt arrangement between these wholly-owned subsidiaries. The hedged cash flows include C$370 million of principal, which is scheduled for repayment on December 31, 2010, and C$22 million of interest payments scheduled for December 31, 2010. We have designated our foreign currency derivatives as cash flow hedges.
 
Gains or losses on the derivatives and the offsetting losses or gains on the hedged items attributable to foreign currency exchange risk are recognized in current earnings. We include gains and losses on our foreign currency forward contracts as adjustments to “Other income and expense,” a component of “Other, net,” which is the same financial statement line item where offsetting gains and losses on the related hedged items are recorded. The following table summarizes the pre-tax impacts of our foreign currency cash flow derivatives on our results of operations and comprehensive income (in millions):
 
                         
    Amount of Gain or
      Amount of Gain or
    (Loss) Recognized
      (Loss) Reclassified
    in OCI on
      from AOCI into
Three Months Ended
  Derivatives
  Statement of Operations
  Income
September 30,   (Effective Portion)   Classification   (Effective Portion)
 
2010
  $ (12 )     Other income (expense )   $ (12 )
2009
  $ (28 )     Other income (expense )   $ (28 )
 


13


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                         
    Amount of Gain or
      Amount of Gain or
    (Loss) Recognized
      (Loss) Reclassified
    in OCI on
      from AOCI into
Nine Months Ended
  Derivatives
  Statement of Operations
  Income
September 30,   (Effective Portion)   Classification   (Effective Portion)
 
2010
  $ (7 )     Other income (expense )   $ (7 )
2009
  $ (40 )     Other income (expense )   $ (40 )
 
Amounts reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated other comprehensive income are reported net of tax. Adjustments to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our foreign currency cash flow hedges resulted in the recognition of after-tax losses of $7 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. After-tax losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $7 million and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
We recognized an after-tax loss to other comprehensive income for changes in the fair value of our foreign currency cash flow hedges of $18 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and $25 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. After-tax losses reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income were $17 million and $25 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. There was no significant ineffectiveness associated with these hedges during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Electricity Commodity Derivatives
 
During 2010, we entered into “receive fixed, pay variable” electricity swaps to mitigate the variability in our revenues and cash flows caused by fluctuations in the market prices for electricity. These swaps are expected to hedge 672,360 megawatt hours, or approximately 26% of our Wheelabrator Group’s 2010 merchant electricity sales. The electricity swaps in place as of September 30, 2010 have maturities extending through December 2010. All financial statement impacts associated with these derivatives were immaterial as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
5.   Income Taxes
 
Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 37.3% and 39.8%, respectively, compared with 31.2% and 35.2% for the comparable prior-year periods. We evaluate our effective tax rate at each interim period and adjust it accordingly as facts and circumstances warrant. The differences between federal income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2010 were primarily due to the unfavorable impact of (i) state and local income taxes and (ii) adjustments to our accruals due to the filing of our 2009 income tax returns. These adjustments are offset in part by the favorable impact of federal low-income housing tax credits, other tax credits and audit settlements. In addition to the above, the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also includes an increase of $37 million to our provision for state deferred income taxes to reflect the impact of changes in the estimated tax rate at which existing temporary differences will be realized, which increased our effective tax rate for the nine-month period by 3.2 percentage points. Because the state deferred tax charges relate to existing temporary differences, they are not expected to impact our effective tax rate in future periods, absent prospective changes in income apportionment or state tax rates. The federal low-income housing tax credits decreased our effective tax rate for the three-month period by 1.0 percentage point and for the nine-month period by 1.1 percentage points.
 
The most significant items affecting the reconciliation of income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate and reported income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 were (i) reductions to our provision for income taxes resulting from the finalization of our 2008 tax returns, tax audit settlements and a benefit

14


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
related to the utilization of state net operating loss carryforwards and (ii) increases to our tax provision for the impacts of state and local income taxes and an adjustment to our net accumulated state deferred tax liabilities.
 
Federal low-income housing tax credits — In April 2010, we acquired a noncontrolling interest in a limited liability company established to invest in and manage low-income housing properties. Our consideration for this investment totaled $221 million, which was comprised of a $215 million note payable and an initial cash payment of $6 million. The entity’s low-income housing investments qualify for federal tax credits that are expected to be realized through 2020 in accordance with Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
We account for our investment in this entity using the equity method of accounting and recognize a charge to “Equity in net earnings (losses) of unconsolidated entities,” which is a component of “Other, net” within our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, for reductions in the value of our investment. We recognized $4 million and $12 million of expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. We also recognized $3 million and $4 million of interest expense related to this investment during the current periods. As a result of this investment, our tax provision was reduced by $7 million (including $4 million of tax credits) for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and by $18 million (including $12 million of tax credits) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
Cash taxes — During the fourth quarter of 2009, we determined that a capital loss generated from the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary could be utilized to offset capital gains from 2006 and 2007 and recognized a reduction to our “Provision for income taxes.” During the third quarter of 2010, we received a federal tax refund of $65 million related to this capital loss.
 
Legislation updates — The Small Business Jobs Act, signed into law in September 2010, includes a provision extending bonus depreciation for assets placed in service in 2010. The acceleration of deductions on current year capital expenditures will have no impact on our effective tax rate but is expected to reduce our 2010 cash taxes by approximately $60 million. The current year cash tax benefit will result in increased cash taxes in future periods when the deduction for these capital expenditures would have otherwise been realized.
 
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010, includes a provision that eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent that retiree prescription drug benefits are reimbursed under Medicare Part D coverage. Although this provision of the Act does not take effect until 2013, we were required to recognize the full accounting impact of the change in law on our deferred tax assets during the first quarter of 2010, the period in which the law was enacted. The re-measurement of our deferred tax assets did not affect our financial position or results of operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.


15


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
6.   Comprehensive Income
 
Comprehensive income was as follows (in millions):
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Consolidated net income
  $ 258     $ 292     $ 708     $ 729  
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
                               
Unrealized losses resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments, net of taxes
    (21 )     (20 )     (54 )     (27 )
Realized losses on derivative instruments reclassified into earnings, net of taxes
    10       19       10       28  
Unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of taxes
    1       5       1       8  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    30       58       20       86  
Change in funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes
                (1 )      
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    20       62       (24 )     95  
                                 
Comprehensive income
    278       354       684       824  
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (14 )     (18 )     (36 )     (55 )
                                 
Comprehensive income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 264     $ 336     $ 648     $ 769  
                                 
 
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, which is included as a component of Waste Management, Inc. stockholders’ equity, were as follows (in millions):
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
 
Accumulated unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of taxes
  $ (52 )   $ (8 )
Accumulated unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of taxes
    3       2  
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments
    232       212  
Funded status of post-retirement benefit obligations, net of taxes
    1       2  
                 
    $ 184     $ 208  
                 


16


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
7.   Earnings Per Share
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share were computed using the following common share data (shares in millions):
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Number of common shares outstanding at end of period
    475.7       490.6       475.7       490.6  
Effect of using weighted average common shares outstanding
    1.6       1.6       6.0       1.5  
                                 
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding
    477.3       492.2       481.7       492.1  
Dilutive effect of equity-based compensation awards and other contingently issuable shares
    3.7       2.4       3.2       2.0  
                                 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding
    481.0       494.6       484.9       494.1  
                                 
Potentially issuable shares
    14.7       13.7       14.7       13.7  
Number of anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares excluded from diluted common shares outstanding
    0.2       3.1       0.2       3.3  
 
8.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Financial instruments — We have obtained letters of credit, performance bonds and insurance policies and have established trust funds and issued financial guarantees to support tax-exempt bonds, contracts, performance of landfill capping, closure and post-closure requirements, environmental remediation, and other obligations. Letters of credit generally are supported by our revolving credit facility and other credit facilities established for that purpose. We obtain surety bonds and insurance policies from an entity in which we have a noncontrolling financial interest. We also obtain insurance from a wholly-owned insurance company, the sole business of which is to issue policies for us. In those instances where our use of financial assurance from entities we own or have financial interests in is not allowed, we have available alternative financial assurance mechanisms.
 
Management does not expect that any claims against or draws on these instruments would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. We have not experienced any unmanageable difficulty in obtaining the required financial assurance instruments for our current operations. In an ongoing effort to mitigate risks of future cost increases and reductions in available capacity, we continue to evaluate various options to access cost-effective sources of financial assurance.
 
Insurance — We carry insurance coverage for protection of our assets and operations from certain risks, including automobile liability, general liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, directors’ and officers’ liability, pollution legal liability and other coverages we believe are customary in the industry. Our exposure to loss for insurance claims is generally limited to the per incident deductible under the related insurance policy. Our exposure, however, could increase if our insurers are unable to meet their commitments on a timely basis.
 
We have retained a significant portion of the risks related to our automobile, general liability and workers’ compensation insurance programs. For our self-insured retentions, the exposure for unpaid claims and associated expenses, including incurred but not reported losses, is based on an actuarial valuation and internal estimates. The accruals for these liabilities could be revised if future occurrences or loss development significantly differ from our assumptions used. We do not expect the impact of any known casualty, property, environmental or other contingency to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Guarantees — In the ordinary course of our business, WMI and WM Holdings enter into guarantee agreements associated with their subsidiaries’ operations. Additionally, WMI and WM Holdings have each guaranteed


17


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
all of the senior debt of the other entity. No additional liabilities have been recorded for these intercompany guarantees because all of the underlying obligations are reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
We also have guaranteed the obligations of, and provided indemnification to, third parties in the ordinary course of business. Guarantee agreements outstanding as of September 30, 2010 include (i) guarantees of unconsolidated entities’ financial obligations maturing through 2020 for maximum future payments of $12 million; and (ii) agreements guaranteeing the market value of homeowners’ properties adjacent to or near certain of our landfills. Our indemnification obligations generally arise in divestitures and provide that we will be responsible for liabilities associated with our operations for events that occurred prior to the sale of the operations. Additionally, under certain of our acquisition agreements, we have provided for additional consideration to be paid to the sellers if established financial targets are achieved post-closing and we have recognized liabilities for these contingent obligations based on an estimate of the fair value of these contingencies at the time of acquisition. Contingent obligations related to indemnifications arising from our divestitures and contingent consideration provided for by our acquisitions are not expected to be material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Environmental matters — A significant portion of our operating costs and capital expenditures could be characterized as costs of environmental protection, as we are subject to an array of laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Under current laws and regulations, we may have liabilities for environmental damage caused by our operations, or for damage caused by conditions that existed before we acquired a site. In addition to remediation activity required by state or local authorities, such liabilities include potentially responsible party, or PRP, investigations. The costs associated with these liabilities can include settlements, certain legal and consultant fees, as well as incremental internal and external costs directly associated with site investigation and clean-up.
 
Estimating our degree of responsibility for remediation is inherently difficult. We recognize and accrue for an estimated remediation liability when we determine that such liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Determining the method and ultimate cost of remediation requires that a number of assumptions be made. There can sometimes be a range of reasonable estimates of the costs associated with the investigation of the extent of environmental impact and identification of likely site-remediation alternatives. In these cases, we use the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If no amount within a range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we use the amount that is the low end of such range. If we used the high ends of such ranges, our aggregate potential liability would be approximately $150 million higher than the $323 million recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2010. Our ongoing review of our remediation liabilities could result in revisions to our accruals that could cause upward or downward adjustments to income from operations. These adjustments could be material in any given period.
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had been notified by the government that we are a PRP in connection with 75 locations listed on the EPA’s National Priorities List, or NPL. Of the 75 sites at which claims have been made against us, 17 are sites we own. Each of the NPL sites we own was initially developed by others as a landfill disposal facility. At each of these facilities, we are working in conjunction with the government to characterize or remediate identified site problems, and we have either agreed with other legally liable parties on an arrangement for sharing the costs of remediation or are working toward a cost sharing agreement. We generally expect to receive any amounts due from other participating parties at or near the time that we make the remedial expenditures. The other 58 NPL sites that we do not own are at various procedural stages under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, known as CERCLA or Superfund.
 
The majority of these proceedings involve allegations that certain of our subsidiaries, or their predecessors, transported hazardous substances to the sites, often prior to our acquisition of these subsidiaries. CERCLA generally provides for liability for those parties owning, operating, transporting to or disposing at the sites. Proceedings arising under Superfund typically involve numerous waste generators and other waste transportation and disposal companies and seek to allocate or recover costs associated with site investigation and remediation, which could be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements. At


18


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
some of the sites at which we have been identified as a PRP, our liability is well defined as a consequence of a governmental decision and an agreement among liable parties as to the share each will pay for implementing that remedy. At other sites, where no remedy has been selected or the liable parties have been unable to agree on an appropriate allocation, our future costs are uncertain.
 
Litigation — In April 2002, two former participants in the ERISA plans of WM Holdings, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a case entitled William S. Harris, et al. v. James E. Koenig, et al. The lawsuit named as defendants WM Holdings; the members of WM Holdings’ Board of Directors prior to July 1998; the administrative and investment committees of WM Holdings’ ERISA plans and their individual members; WMI’s retirement savings plan; the investment committees of WMI’s plan and its individual members; and State Street Bank & Trust, the trustee and investment manager of the ERISA plans. The lawsuit attempts to increase the recovery of a class of ERISA plan participants based on allegations related to both the events alleged in, and the settlements relating to, the securities class action against WM Holdings that was settled in 1998 and the securities class action against WMI that was settled in 2001. The defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaints on the pleadings, and the Court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motions in the first quarter of 2009. However, in December 2009, the Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for leave to file a fourth amended complaint to overcome the dismissal of certain claims and the motion for leave to file a substitute fourth amended complaint to add two new claims. Each of Mr. Pope, Mr. Rothmeier and Ms. San Juan Cafferty, members of our Board of Directors, was a member of the WM Holdings’ Board of Directors and therefore was a named defendant in these actions. Additionally, Mr. Simpson, our Chief Financial Officer, is a named defendant in these actions by virtue of his membership on the WMI ERISA plan Investment Committee at that time. The defendants again moved to dismiss the fourth amended complaint, and during the second quarter of 2010, the Court dismissed certain claims against individual defendants, including the claims against Messrs. Pope and Rothmeier and Ms. San Juan Cafferty. All of the remaining defendants intend to continue to defend themselves vigorously.
 
Two separate wage and hour lawsuits were commenced in October 2006 and March 2007, respectively, that are pending against certain of our subsidiaries in California, each seeking class certification. The actions were coordinated to proceed in San Diego County Superior Court. Both lawsuits make the same general allegations that the defendants failed to comply with certain California wage and hour laws, including allegedly failing to provide meal and rest periods and failing to properly pay hourly and overtime wages. Additionally, in July 2008, we were named as a defendant in a purported class action in the Circuit Court of Bullock County, Alabama, which was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. This suit pertains to our fuel and environmental charge and generally alleges that such charges were not properly disclosed, were unfair, and were contrary to contract. We filed a motion to dismiss that was partially granted during the third quarter of 2010, resulting in dismissal of the plaintiffs’ RICO and national class action claims. We deny the claims in all of these actions and intend to continue to oppose class certification and will vigorously defend these matters. Given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the ultimate outcome of these cases cannot be predicted at this time, nor can possible damages, if any, be reasonably estimated.
 
From time to time, we also are named as defendants in personal injury and property damage lawsuits, including purported class actions, on the basis of having owned, operated or transported waste to a disposal facility that is alleged to have contaminated the environment or, in certain cases, on the basis of having conducted environmental remediation activities at sites. Some of the lawsuits may seek to have us pay the costs of monitoring of allegedly affected sites and health care examinations of allegedly affected persons for a substantial period of time even where no actual damage is proven. While we believe we have meritorious defenses to these lawsuits, the ultimate resolution is often substantially uncertain due to the difficulty of determining the cause, extent and impact of alleged contamination (which may have occurred over a long period of time), the potential for successive groups of complainants to emerge, the diversity of the individual plaintiffs’ circumstances, and the potential contribution or indemnification obligations of co-defendants or other third parties, among other factors.


19


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
As a large company with operations across the United States and Canada, we are subject to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these actions raise complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. Actions filed against us include commercial, customer, and employment-related claims, including, as noted above, purported class action lawsuits related to our customer service agreements and purported class actions involving federal and state wage and hour and other laws. The plaintiffs in some actions seek unspecified damages or injunctive relief, or both. These actions are in various procedural stages, and some are covered in part by insurance. We currently do not believe that any such actions will ultimately have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
WMI’s charter and bylaws require indemnification of its officers and directors if statutory standards of conduct have been met and allow the advancement of expenses to these individuals upon receipt of an undertaking by the individuals to repay all expenses if it is ultimately determined that they did not meet the required standards of conduct. Additionally, WMI has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the members of its Board of Directors as well as its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer. The Company may incur substantial expenses in connection with the fulfillment of its advancement of costs and indemnification obligations in connection with current actions involving former officers of the Company or its subsidiaries or other actions or proceedings that may be brought against its former or current officers, directors and employees.
 
In April 2010, we settled our previously disclosed lawsuit relating to a revenue management system. We received a one-time cash payment, and all parties dismissed their claims with prejudice. Additional information related to this settlement is discussed in Note 11.
 
Item 103 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings, or such proceedings are known to be contemplated, unless we reasonably believe that the matter will result in no monetary sanctions, or in monetary sanctions, exclusive of interest and costs, of less than $100,000. The following matters pending as of September 30, 2010 are disclosed in accordance with that requirement:
 
On April 4, 2006, the EPA issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) to Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WMI, and to the City and County of Honolulu for alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act, based on alleged failure to submit certain reports and design plans required by the EPA, and the failure to begin and timely complete the installation of a gas collection and control system (“GCCS”) for the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill on Oahu. The EPA has also indicated that it will seek penalties and injunctive relief as part of the NOV enforcement for elevated landfill temperatures that were recorded after installation of the GCCS. The parties have been in confidential settlement negotiations. Pursuant to an indemnity agreement, any penalty assessed will be paid by the Company, and not by the City and County of Honolulu.
 
On April 8, July 15, and September 8, 2010, the EPA issued Notices of Violation to Chemical Waste Management, Inc.’s Kettleman Hills facility for alleged violations of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA has indicated it will seek civil penalties for the violations alleged, which relate to handling and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls.
 
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has commenced investigations into allegations of violations of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, solid waste regulations and permits at Wheelabrator Group facilities in Saugus and North Andover, Massachusetts. The Attorney General’s Office is also considering intervening in two private lawsuits alleging potential claims under the Massachusetts False Claims Act. No formal enforcement action has been brought against the Company, although we potentially could be subject to sanctions, including requirements to pay monetary penalties. We are cooperating with the Attorney General’s office in the investigations.


20


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Multi-Employer, Defined Benefit Pension Plans — Over 20% of our workforce is covered by collective bargaining agreements, which are with various union locals across the United States. As a result of some of these agreements, certain of our subsidiaries are participating employers in a number of trustee-managed multi-employer, defined benefit pension plans for the affected employees. One of the multi-employer pension plans in which we participate is the Central States Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (“Central States Pension Plan”), which has reported that it adopted a rehabilitation plan as a result of its actuarial certification for the plan year beginning January 1, 2008. The Central States Pension Plan is in “critical status,” as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
 
In connection with our ongoing re-negotiation of various collective bargaining agreements, we may discuss and negotiate for the complete or partial withdrawal from one or more of these pension plans. In 2010, we recognized $26 million of charges to “Operating” expenses for the agreed-upon withdrawals of five bargaining units from the Central States Pension Plan in connection with our negotiations of those units’ agreements. We do not believe that our withdrawals from multi-employer plans, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity. However, depending on the number of employees withdrawn in any future period and the financial condition of the multi-employer plans at the time of withdrawal, such withdrawals could result in material changes to our results of operations in the period of the withdrawal.
 
Tax Matters  — We are currently in the examination phase of IRS audits for the tax years 2009 and 2010 and expect these audits to be completed within the next three and 15 months, respectively. We participate in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program, which means we work with the IRS throughout the year in order to resolve any material issues prior to the filing of our year-end tax return. We are also currently undergoing audits by various state and local jurisdictions that date back to 1999. In the third quarter of 2010, we settled audits in Canada through the 2004 tax year and are not currently under audit for any subsequent tax years. To provide for certain potential tax exposures, we maintain a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, the balance of which management believes is adequate. Results of audit assessments by taxing authorities are not currently expected to have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or cash flows.
 
9.   Restructuring
 
In January 2009, we took steps to streamline our organization by (i) consolidating many of our Market Areas; (ii) integrating the management of our recycling operations with the remainder of our solid waste business; and (iii) realigning our corporate organization with this new structure in order to provide support functions more efficiently.
 
This reorganization eliminated over 1,500 employee positions throughout the Company. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recognized $3 million and $46 million, respectively, of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $2 million and $40 million, respectively, were related to employee severance and benefit costs. During the remainder of 2009, we incurred an additional $4 million of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $1 million was related to employee severance and benefit costs. The remaining charges were primarily related to operating lease obligations for property that will no longer be utilized. The following table summarizes the charges recognized for this restructuring by each of our current reportable segments and our Corporate and Other organization for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 (in millions):
 
                 
    Three Months Ended
    Nine Months Ended
 
    September 30, 2009     September 30, 2009  
 
Eastern
  $     $ 10  
Midwest
    1       10  
Southern
    1       10  
Western
          6  
Wheelabrator
           
Corporate and Other
    1       10  
                 
Total
  $ 3     $ 46  
                 


21


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recognized $1 million of income related to the reversal of pre-tax restructuring charges. Through September 30, 2010, we have paid approximately $38 million of the employee severance and benefit costs incurred as a result of this restructuring. The length of time we are obligated to make severance payments varies, with the longest obligation continuing through the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
10.   Segment and Related Information
 
We currently manage and evaluate our operations primarily through our Eastern, Midwest, Southern, Western and Wheelabrator Groups. These five Groups are presented below as our reportable segments. Our four geographic operating Groups provide collection, transfer, disposal (in both solid waste and hazardous waste landfills) and recycling services. Our Wheelabrator Group provides waste-to-energy services and manages waste-to-energy facilities and independent power production plants. We serve commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico and Canada. The operations not managed through our five operating Groups are presented herein as “Other.”
 
Summarized financial information concerning our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30 is shown in the following tables (in millions):
 
                                 
    Gross
    Intercompany
    Net
       
    Operating
    Operating
    Operating
    Income from
 
    Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Operations  
 
Three Months Ended:
                               
September 30, 2010
                               
Eastern
  $ 755     $ (132 )   $ 623     $ 138  
Midwest
    792       (119 )     673       149  
Southern
    903       (102 )     801       218  
Western
    809       (113 )     696       146  
Wheelabrator
    237       (32 )     205       67  
Other
    248       (11 )     237       (38 )
                                 
      3,744       (509 )     3,235       680  
Corporate and Other
                      (136 )
                                 
Total
  $ 3,744     $ (509 )   $ 3,235     $ 544  
                                 
September 30, 2009
                               
Eastern
  $ 763     $ (139 )   $ 624     $ 138  
Midwest
    749       (112 )     637       126  
Southern
    836       (108 )     728       193  
Western
    801       (106 )     695       141  
Wheelabrator
    214       (32 )     182       74  
Other
    163       (6 )     157       (32 )
                                 
      3,526       (503 )     3,023       640  
Corporate and Other
                      (115 )
                                 
Total
  $ 3,526     $ (503 )   $ 3,023     $ 525  
                                 


22


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                                 
    Gross
    Intercompany
    Net
       
    Operating
    Operating
    Operating
    Income from
 
    Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Operations  
 
Nine Months Ended:
                               
September 30, 2010
                               
Eastern
  $ 2,214     $ (385 )   $ 1,829     $ 390  
Midwest
    2,266       (336 )     1,930       372  
Southern
    2,602       (303 )     2,299       624  
Western
    2,372       (328 )     2,044       416  
Wheelabrator
    660       (92 )     568       150  
Other
    688       (30 )     658       (93 )
                                 
      10,802       (1,474 )     9,328       1,859  
Corporate and Other
                      (317 )
                                 
Total
  $ 10,802     $ (1,474 )   $ 9,328     $ 1,542  
                                 
September 30, 2009
                               
Eastern
  $ 2,211     $ (404 )   $ 1,807     $ 349  
Midwest
    2,121       (319 )     1,802       327  
Southern
    2,509       (326 )     2,183       581  
Western
    2,343       (310 )     2,033       415  
Wheelabrator
    627       (90 )     537       167  
Other
    441       (18 )     423       (91 )
                                 
      10,252       (1,467 )     8,785       1,748  
Corporate and Other
                      (317 )
                                 
Total
  $ 10,252     $ (1,467 )   $ 8,785     $ 1,431  
                                 
 
Fluctuations in our operating results may be caused by many factors, including period-to-period changes in the relative contribution of revenue by each line of business and operating segment and by general economic conditions. In addition, our revenues and income from operations typically reflect seasonal patterns. Our operating revenues tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to the traditional seasonal increase in the volume of construction and demolition waste. The volumes of industrial and residential waste in certain regions where we operate also tend to increase during the summer months. Our second and third quarter revenues and results of operations typically reflect these seasonal trends.

23


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Additionally, certain destructive weather conditions that tend to occur during the second half of the year, such as hurricanes typically experienced by our Southern Group, can actually increase our revenues in the areas affected. However, for several reasons, including significant mobilization costs, such revenue often generates earnings at comparatively lower margins. Certain weather conditions, including severe winter storms, may result in the temporary suspension of our operations, which can significantly affect the operating results of the affected regions. The operating results of our first quarter also often reflect higher repair and maintenance expenses because we rely on the slower winter months, when waste flows are generally lower, to perform scheduled maintenance at our waste-to-energy facilities.
 
From time to time, the operating results of our reportable segments are significantly affected by unusual or infrequent transactions or events. During 2010, our Midwest Group recognized expense charges of $26 million as a result of employees of five bargaining units in Michigan and Ohio agreeing to our proposal to withdraw them from an under-funded multi-employer pension plan. During the second quarter of 2009, employees of a bargaining unit in New Jersey agreed to a similar proposal and our Eastern Group recognized expense of $9 million. Refer to Note 8 for additional information related to our participation in multi-employer pension plans. Further, as disclosed in Note 9, the income from operations of each of our geographic Groups for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was affected by our January 2009 reorganization.
 
Segment assets — The total assets of our Wheelabrator segment increased $309 million, or 14%, from December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010, primarily as a result of our continued focus on the expansion of our waste-to-energy business. In the first quarter of 2010, we paid $142 million to acquire a 40% equity investment in Shanghai Environment Group (“SEG”), a subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding Co., Ltd. As a joint venture partner in SEG, we will participate in the operation and management of waste-to-energy and other waste services in the Chinese market. SEG will also focus on building new waste-to-energy facilities in China. In April 2010, we paid $150 million for the acquisition of a waste-to-energy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia. These investments did not have a significant impact on our operating revenues or income from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
11.   (Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items
 
Through December 31, 2008, we capitalized $70 million of accumulated costs associated with the development of a new waste and recycling revenue management system. A significant portion of these costs was specifically associated with the purchase of a license for waste and recycling revenue management software and the efforts required to develop and configure that software for our use. After a failed pilot implementation of the software in one of our smallest Market Areas, the development efforts associated with the revenue management system were suspended in 2007. During 2009, we determined to enhance and improve our existing revenue management system and not pursue alternatives associated with the development and implementation of the licensed software. Accordingly, in 2009, we recognized a non-cash charge of $51 million, $49 million of which was recognized during the first quarter of 2009 and $2 million of which was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2009, for the abandonment of the licensed software.
 
We filed a lawsuit in March 2008 related to the revenue management software implementation that was suspended in 2007 and abandoned in 2009. In April 2010, we settled the lawsuit and received a one-time cash payment. The settlement, included in “(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items,” resulted in an increase in income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $77 million.


24


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
12.   Fair Value Measurements
 
Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value
 
As of September 30, 2010, our assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis include the following (in millions):
 
                                 
          Fair Value Measurements Using  
          Quoted
    Significant
       
          Prices in
    Other
    Significant
 
          Active
    Observable
    Unobservable
 
          Markets
    Inputs
    Inputs
 
    Total     (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)  
 
Assets:
                               
Cash equivalents
  $ 461     $ 461     $     $  
Available-for-sale securities
    162       162              
Interest in available-for-sale securities of unconsolidated entities
    113       113              
Interest rate derivatives
    56             56        
                                 
Total assets
  $ 792     $ 736     $ 56     $  
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Interest rate derivatives
  $ 59     $     $ 59     $  
Foreign currency derivatives
    25             25        
Electricity commodity derivatives
                       
                                 
Total liabilities
  $ 84     $     $ 84     $  
                                 
 
Fair Value of Debt
 
At September 30, 2010, the carrying value of our debt was approximately $9.0 billion compared with $8.9 billion at December 31, 2009. The carrying value of our debt includes adjustments for both the unamortized fair value adjustments related to terminated hedge arrangements and fair value adjustments of debt instruments that are currently hedged.
 
The estimated fair value of our debt was approximately $9.8 billion at September 30, 2010 and approximately $9.3 billion at December 31, 2009. The estimated fair value of our senior notes is based on quoted market prices. The carrying value of remarketable debt approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rates. The fair value of our other debt is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on rates we would currently pay for similar types of instruments. The increase in the fair value of our debt when comparing September 30, 2010 with December 31, 2009 is primarily related to a decrease in market interest rates for corporate debt securities, which caused an increase in the fair value of our publicly-traded senior notes.
 
Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, our estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we, or holders of the instruments, could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. The fair value estimates are based on information available as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These amounts have not been revalued since those dates, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.


25


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
13.   Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
 
WM Holdings has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WMI’s senior indebtedness. WMI has fully and unconditionally guaranteed all of WM Holdings’ senior indebtedness. None of WMI’s other subsidiaries have guaranteed any of WMI’s or WM Holdings’ debt. As a result of these guarantee arrangements, we are required to present the following condensed consolidating financial information (in millions):
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 457     $     $ 93     $     $ 550  
Other current assets
    2       1       2,016             2,019  
                                         
      459       1       2,109             2,569  
Property and equipment, net
                11,636             11,636  
Investments in and advances to affiliates
    10,654       13,545       2,723       (26,922 )      
Other assets
    106       12       7,016             7,134  
                                         
Total assets
  $ 11,219     $ 13,558     $ 23,484     $ (26,922 )   $ 21,339  
                                         
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                       
Current portion of long-term debt
  $     $ 2     $ 159     $     $ 161  
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
    102       6       2,042             2,150  
                                         
      102       8       2,201             2,311  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    4,970       596       3,232             8,798  
Other liabilities
    39             3,752             3,791  
                                         
Total liabilities
    5,111       604       9,185             14,900  
Equity:
                                       
Stockholders’ equity
    6,108       12,954       13,968       (26,922 )     6,108  
Noncontrolling interests
                331             331  
                                         
      6,108       12,954       14,299       (26,922 )     6,439  
                                         
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 11,219     $ 13,558     $ 23,484     $ (26,922 )   $ 21,339  
                                         


26


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS — (Continued)
December 31, 2009
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,093     $     $ 47     $     $ 1,140  
Other current assets
    24       1       1,845             1,870  
                                         
      1,117       1       1,892             3,010  
Property and equipment, net
                11,541             11,541  
Investments in and advances to affiliates
    10,174       12,770       2,303       (25,247 )      
Other assets
    62       17       6,524             6,603  
                                         
Total assets
  $ 11,353     $ 12,788     $ 22,260     $ (25,247 )   $ 21,154  
                                         
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                       
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 580     $ 35     $ 134     $     $ 749  
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
    90       17       2,045             2,152  
                                         
      670       52       2,179             2,901  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    4,398       601       3,125             8,124  
Other liabilities
                3,538             3,538  
                                         
Total liabilities
    5,068       653       8,842             14,563  
Equity:
                                       
Stockholders’ equity
    6,285       12,135       13,112       (25,247 )     6,285  
Noncontrolling interests
                306             306  
                                         
      6,285       12,135       13,418       (25,247 )     6,591  
                                         
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 11,353     $ 12,788     $ 22,260     $ (25,247 )   $ 21,154  
                                         


27


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating revenues
  $     $     $ 3,235     $     $ 3,235  
Costs and expenses
                2,691             2,691  
                                         
Income from operations
                544             544  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income (expense)
    (88 )     (9 )     (28 )           (125 )
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes
    298       303             (601 )      
Other, net
                (8 )           (8 )
                                         
      210       294       (36 )     (601 )     (133 )
                                         
Income before income taxes
    210       294       508       (601 )     411  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    (34 )     (4 )     191             153  
                                         
Consolidated net income
    244       298       317       (601 )     258  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                14             14  
                                         
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 244     $ 298     $ 303     $ (601 )   $ 244  
                                         
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating revenues
  $     $     $ 3,023     $     $ 3,023  
Costs and expenses
                2,498             2,498  
                                         
Income from operations
                525             525  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income (expense)
    (65 )     (10 )     (26 )           (101 )
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes
    317       323             (640 )      
Other, net
                1             1  
                                         
      252       313       (25 )     (640 )     (100 )
                                         
Income before income taxes
    252       313       500       (640 )     425  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    (25 )     (4 )     162             133  
                                         
Consolidated net income
    277       317       338       (640 )     292  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                15             15  
                                         
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 277     $ 317     $ 323     $ (640 )   $ 277  
                                         


28


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating revenues
  $     $     $ 9,328     $     $ 9,328  
Costs and expenses
                7,786             7,786  
                                         
Income from operations
                1,542             1,542  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income (expense)
    (241 )     (28 )     (82 )           (351 )
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes
    819       836             (1,655 )      
Other, net
                (14 )           (14 )
                                         
      578       808       (96 )     (1,655 )     (365 )
                                         
Income before income taxes
    578       808       1,446       (1,655 )     1,177  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    (94 )     (11 )     574             469  
                                         
Consolidated net income
    672       819       872       (1,655 )     708  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                36             36  
                                         
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 672     $ 819     $ 836     $ (1,655 )   $ 672  
                                         
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Operating revenues
  $     $     $ 8,785     $     $ 8,785  
Costs and expenses
                7,354             7,354  
                                         
Income from operations
                1,431             1,431  
                                         
Other income (expense):
                                       
Interest income (expense)
    (198 )     (31 )     (77 )           (306 )
Equity in subsidiaries, net of taxes
    800       819             (1,619 )      
Other, net
                1             1  
                                         
      602       788       (76 )     (1,619 )     (305 )
                                         
Income before income taxes
    602       788       1,355       (1,619 )     1,126  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    (77 )     (12 )     486             397  
                                         
Consolidated net income
    679       800       869       (1,619 )     729  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                50             50  
                                         
Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. 
  $ 679     $ 800     $ 819     $ (1,619 )   $ 679  
                                         


29


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                       
Consolidated net income
  $ 672     $ 819     $ 872     $ (1,655 )   $ 708  
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes
    (819 )     (836 )           1,655        
Other adjustments
    12       (13 )     946             945  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    (135 )     (30 )     1,818             1,653  
                                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
                (343 )           (343 )
Capital expenditures
                (737 )           (737 )
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets
                36             36  
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net
    (2 )           (129 )           (131 )
                                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2 )           (1,173 )           (1,175 )
                                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
New borrowings
    592             183             775  
Debt repayments
    (617 )     (35 )     (280 )           (932 )
Common stock repurchases
    (443 )                       (443 )
Cash dividends
    (454 )                       (454 )
Exercise of common stock options
    28                         28  
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other
    (10 )           (33 )           (43 )
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net
    405       65       (470 )            
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    (499 )     30       (600 )           (1,069 )
                                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                1             1  
                                         
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (636 )           46             (590 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    1,093             47             1,140  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 457     $     $ 93     $     $ 550  
                                         


30


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
 
                                         
          WM
    Non-Guarantor
             
    WMI     Holdings     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Consolidated  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                       
Consolidated net income
  $ 679     $ 800     $ 869     $ (1,619 )   $ 729  
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of taxes
    (800 )     (819 )           1,619        
Other adjustments
    (20 )     (13 )     946             913  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    (141 )     (32 )     1,815             1,642  
                                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
                (127 )           (127 )
Capital expenditures
                (823 )           (823 )
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets
                20             20  
Net receipts from restricted trust and escrow accounts and other, net
                100             100  
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
                (830 )           (830 )
                                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
New borrowings
    793             233             1,026  
Debt repayments
    (810 )           (332 )           (1,142 )
Common stock repurchases
    (65 )                       (65 )
Cash dividends
    (428 )                       (428 )
Exercise of common stock options
    10                         10  
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests and other
    2             (86 )           (84 )
(Increase) decrease in intercompany and investments, net
    698       32       (730 )            
                                         
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    200       32       (915 )           (683 )
                                         
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                3             3  
                                         
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    59             73             132  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    450             30             480  
                                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 509     $     $ 103     $     $ 612  
                                         


31


 

WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
14.   New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption
 
Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — In October 2009, the FASB amended authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This amended guidance addresses the determination of when individual deliverables within an arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting and modifies the manner in which consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011, although the FASB does permit early adoption of the guidance provided that it is retroactively applied to the beginning of the year of adoption. The new accounting standard may be applied either retrospectively for all periods presented or prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the date of adoption. We are in the process of assessing the provisions of this new guidance and currently do not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. However, our adoption of this guidance may significantly impact our accounting and reporting for future revenue arrangements to the extent they are material.


32


 

 
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included under Item 1 and our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
In an effort to keep our stockholders and the public informed about our business, we may make “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements usually relate to future events and anticipated revenues, earnings, cash flows or other aspects of our operations or operating results. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words, “will,” “may,” “should,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “forecast,” “project,” “estimate,” “intend” and words of similar nature and generally include statements containing:
 
  •  projections about accounting and finances;
 
  •  plans and objectives for the future;
 
  •  projections or estimates about assumptions relating to our performance; or
 
  •  our opinions, views or beliefs about the effects of current or future events, circumstances or performance.
 
You should view these statements with caution. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, circumstances or events. They are based on the facts and circumstances known to us as of the date the statements are made. All phases of our business are subject to uncertainties, risks and other influences, many of which we do not control. Any of these factors, either alone or taken together, could have a material adverse effect on us and could change whether any forward-looking statement ultimately turns out to be true. Additionally, we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of future events, circumstances or developments. The following discussion should be read together with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto.
 
Some of the risks that we face and that could affect our financial statements for 2010 and beyond and that could cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be set forth in forward-looking statements made by the Company include the following:
 
  •  volatility and deterioration in the credit markets, inflation and other general and local economic conditions may negatively affect the volumes of waste generated;
 
  •  economic conditions may negatively affect parties with whom we do business, which could result in late payments or the uncollectability of receivables as well as the non-performance of certain agreements, including expected funding under our credit agreement, which could negatively impact our liquidity and results of operations;
 
  •  competition may negatively affect our profitability or cash flows, our price increases may have negative effects on volumes, and price roll-backs and lower than average pricing to retain and attract customers may negatively affect our average yield on collection and disposal business;
 
  •  our existing and proposed service offerings to customers may require that we develop or license, and protect, new technologies; and our inability to obtain or protect new technologies could impact our services to customers and development of new revenue sources;
 
  •  we may be unable to maintain or expand margins if we are unable to control costs or raise prices;
 
  •  we may not be able to successfully execute or continue our operational or other margin improvement plans and programs, including: pricing increases; passing on increased costs to our customers; reducing costs; and divesting under-performing assets and purchasing accretive businesses, any failures of which could negatively affect our revenues and margins;
 
  •  weather conditions cause our quarter-to-quarter results to fluctuate, and harsh weather or natural disasters may cause us to temporarily shut down operations;


33


 

 
  •  possible changes in our estimates of costs for site remediation requirements, final capping, closure and post-closure obligations, compliance and regulatory developments may increase our expenses;
 
  •  regulations may negatively impact our business by, among other things, restricting our operations, increasing costs of operations or requiring additional capital expenditures;
 
  •  climate change legislation, including possible limits on carbon emissions, may negatively impact our results of operations by increasing expenses related to tracking, measuring and reporting our greenhouse gas emissions and increasing operating costs and capital expenditures that may be required to comply with any such legislation;
 
  •  if we are unable to obtain and maintain permits needed to open, operate, and/or expand our facilities, our results of operations will be negatively impacted;
 
  •  limitations or bans on disposal or transportation of out-of-state, cross-border, or certain categories of waste, as well as mandates on the disposal of waste, can increase our expenses and reduce our revenue;
 
  •  fuel price increases or fuel supply shortages may increase our expenses or restrict our ability to operate;
 
  •  increased costs or the inability to obtain financial assurance or the inadequacy of our insurance coverages could negatively impact our liquidity and increase our liabilities;
 
  •  possible charges as a result of shut-down operations, uncompleted development or expansion projects or other events may negatively affect earnings;
 
  •  fluctuations in commodity prices may have negative effects on our operating results;
 
  •  trends requiring recycling, waste reduction at the source and prohibiting the disposal of certain types of waste could have negative effects on volumes of waste going to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities;
 
  •  efforts by labor unions to organize our employees may increase operating expenses and we may be unable to negotiate acceptable collective bargaining agreements with those who have chosen to be represented by unions, which could lead to labor disruptions, including strikes and lock-outs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows;
 
  •  negative outcomes of litigation or threatened litigation or governmental proceedings may increase our costs, limit our ability to conduct or expand our operations, or limit our ability to execute our business plans and strategies;
 
  •  problems with the operation of our current information technology or the development and deployment of new information systems could decrease our efficiencies and increase our costs;
 
  •  the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations may cause fluctuations in reported quarterly results of operations or adversely impact our reported results of operations;
 
  •  we may reduce or suspend capital expenditures, acquisition activity, dividend declarations or share repurchases if we suffer a significant reduction in cash flows; and
 
  •  we may be unable to incur future indebtedness on terms we deem acceptable or to refinance our debt obligations, including near-term maturities, on acceptable terms and higher interest rates and market conditions may increase our expenses.
 
General
 
Our principal executive offices are located at 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 4000, Houston, Texas 77002. Our telephone number at that address is (713) 512-6200. Our website address is http://www.wm.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K are all available, free of charge, on our website as soon as practicable after we file the reports with the SEC. Our stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WM.”


34


 

We are the leading provider of integrated waste services in North America. Using our vast network of assets and employees, we provide a comprehensive range of waste management services. Through our subsidiaries we provide collection, transfer, recycling, disposal and waste-to-energy services. In providing these services, we actively pursue projects and initiatives that we believe make a positive difference for our environment, including recovering and processing the methane gas produced naturally by landfills into a renewable energy source. Our customers include commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers, other waste management companies, electric utilities and governmental entities.
 
Overview
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, our results of operations reflect our discipline in pricing, cost control in our core operations and continued investment in our strategic plans and initiatives to grow into new markets, provide expanded service offerings and improve our information technology systems. Our results also reflect an improvement in the general economic environment. Highlights of our financial results for the current quarter include:
 
  •  Revenues of $3,235 million compared with $3,023 million in the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $212 million, or 7.0%. This increase in revenues is primarily attributable to:
 
  •  Increases from recyclable commodity prices of $78 million; increases from our fuel surcharge program of $11 million; and increases from foreign currency translation of $9 million;
 
  •  Internal revenue growth from yield on collection and disposal business measured as a percentage of the related business of 2.3% in the current period, which increased revenue by $60 million; and
 
  •  Increases associated with acquisitions of $72 million;
 
  •  Internal revenue growth from volume was negative 0.7% in the third quarter of 2010, compared with negative 8.9% in the third quarter of 2009. In addition to the lower rate of decline resulting from the improvement in the economy, our current period volume was favorably affected by revenues associated with oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast. The year-over-year decline in revenue due to volume was $22 million;
 
  •  Operating expenses of $2,006 million, or 62.0% of revenues, compared with $1,856 million, or 61.4% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2009. This increase of $150 million, or 8.1%, is due primarily to higher customer rebates because of recyclable commodity prices, increases in subcontractor costs associated with oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast, an increase in maintenance performed at our waste-to-energy facilities and higher fuel prices;
 
  •  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $30 million, or 8.8%, from $339 million in the comparable prior year period to $369 million in the third quarter of 2010. These cost increases were due in part to support of the Company’s strategic growth plans and initiatives;
 
  •  Income from operations of $544 million, or 16.8% of revenues, for the third quarter of 2010 compared with $525 million, or 17.4% of revenues, for the third quarter of 2009;
 
  •  Interest expense of $126 million compared with $104 million in the third quarter of 2009, an increase of $22 million, or 21.2%. This increase is primarily due to higher average debt balances, which have generally been incurred to support our strategic plans, and significantly higher costs related to the execution and maintenance of our revolving credit facility;
 
  •  Net income attributable to Waste Management, Inc. of $244 million, or $0.51 per diluted share for the current quarter, as compared with $277 million, or $0.56 per diluted share, for the prior year period.


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The comparability of our results for the third quarter of 2010 with the third quarter of 2009 has been affected by certain items management believes are not representative or indicative of our results. The results of the third quarter of 2010 were affected by the following:
 
  •  The recognition of pre-tax, non-cash charges aggregating $18 million related to remediation and closure costs at three closed sites, which had a negative impact of $0.02 on our diluted earnings per share;
 
  •  The recognition of a non-cash, pretax charge of $6 million arising from the accounting effect of lower ten-year Treasury rates, which are used to discount remediation reserves and related recovery assets at our landfills. This charge had a negative impact of $0.01 on our diluted earnings per share; and
 
  •  The recognition of net tax charges of $4 million due to adjustments relating to the finalization of our 2009 tax returns, partially offset by favorable tax audit settlements, which, combined, had a negative impact of $0.01 on our diluted earnings per share.
 
The results of the third quarter of 2009 were affected by the following:
 
  •  The recognition of a tax benefit of $14 million due to adjustments relating to the finalization of our 2008 tax returns and favorable tax audit settlements, partially offset by an increase to our provision for income taxes related to an increase in our net accumulated state deferred tax liabilities. These items had a positive impact of $0.03 on our diluted earnings per share; and
 
  •  The recognition of a pre-tax charge of $3 million related to our 2009 restructuring, which was primarily related to severance and benefit costs. The restructuring charge reduced diluted earnings per share for the quarter by $0.01.
 
We are pleased about the lower rate of decline in internal revenue growth from volumes that we have experienced throughout 2010. However, we expect that throughout the fourth quarter of 2010 we will continue to face challenges related to the economy. Additionally, we are mindful of trends toward waste reduction at the source, diversion from landfills and customers seeking alternative methods of disposal. We are continuing to implement measures that we believe will grow our business, improve our current operations performance and enhance and expand our services.
 
Free Cash Flow
 
As is our practice, we are presenting free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP measure of liquidity, in our disclosures because we use this measure in the evaluation and management of our business. We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, plus proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets. We believe it is indicative of our ability to pay our quarterly dividends, repurchase common stock, fund acquisitions and other investments and, in the absence of refinancings, to repay our debt obligations. Free cash flow is not intended to replace “Net cash provided by operating activities,” which is the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure. However, we believe free cash flow gives investors useful insight into how we view our liquidity. Nonetheless, the use of free cash flow as a liquidity measure has material limitations because it excludes certain expenditures that are required or that we have committed to, such as declared dividend payments and debt service requirements.


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Our calculation of free cash flow and reconciliation to “Net cash provided by operating activities” is shown in the table below (in millions), and may not be calculated the same as similarly titled measures presented by other companies:
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 677     $ 575     $ 1,653     $ 1,642  
Capital expenditures
    (262 )     (240 )     (737 )     (823 )
Proceeds from divestitures of businesses (net of cash divested) and other sales of assets
    9       8       36       20  
                                 
Free cash flow
  $ 424     $ 343     $ 952     $ 839  
                                 
 
When comparing our cash flow from operating activities for the three months ended September 30, 2010 to the comparable prior year period, the current year increase is related to a $65 million federal tax refund in the third quarter of 2010 related to the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary in 2009, as well as an increase in our income from operations. In addition to the above, the comparability of our cash flow from operating activities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009 was affected by (i) a current year benefit of $77 million resulting from a one-time cash payment from a litigation settlement that occurred in April 2010; (ii) payments of $32 million in 2009 related to severance and benefit costs associated with our January 2009 restructuring; (iii) an increase in income tax payments of $45 million in 2010 compared with 2009; and (iv) an increase in our trade receivables in 2010 due to seasonal trends, which were not as significant in 2009.
 
The decrease in capital expenditures when comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2010 with the prior year period can generally be attributed to timing differences associated with cash payments for the previous years’ fourth quarter capital spending. We generally use a significant portion of our free cash flow on capital spending in the fourth quarter of each year. A less significant portion of our fourth quarter 2009 spending was paid in cash in 2010 than in the preceding year.
 
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities — In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued revised authoritative guidance associated with the consolidation of variable interest entities. This revised guidance replaced the previous quantitative-based assessment for determining whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, and is, therefore, required to consolidate an entity, with an approach that is now primarily qualitative. This qualitative approach focuses on identifying the enterprise that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the variable interest entity that can most significantly impact the entity’s performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the variable interest entity that could potentially be significant to such entity. This revised guidance also requires that the enterprise continually reassess whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity rather than conducting a reassessment only upon the occurrence of specific events.
 
We adopted this revised guidance effective January 1, 2010. This change in accounting has not materially affected our financial position, results of operations or cash flows during the periods presented. For information related to our interests in variable interest entities, refer to Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
New Accounting Pronouncement Pending Adoption
 
Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements — In October 2009, the FASB amended authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This amended guidance addresses the determination of when individual deliverables within an arrangement may be treated as separate units of accounting and modifies the manner in which consideration is allocated across the separately identifiable deliverables. The amendments to authoritative guidance associated with multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011, although the FASB does permit early adoption of the guidance provided that it is retroactively


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applied to the beginning of the year of adoption. The new accounting standard may be applied either retrospectively for all periods presented or prospectively to arrangements entered into or materially modified after the date of adoption. We are in the process of assessing the provisions of this new guidance and currently do not expect that the adoption will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. However, our adoption of this guidance may significantly impact our accounting and reporting for future revenue arrangements to the extent they are material.
 
Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions
 
In preparing our financial statements, we make numerous estimates and assumptions that 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 from data available or simply cannot be readily calculated based on generally accepted methods. In some cases, these estimates are particularly difficult to determine and we must exercise significant judgment. In preparing our financial statements, the most difficult, subjective and complex estimates and the assumptions that present the greatest amount of uncertainty relate to our accounting for landfills, environmental remediation liabilities, asset impairments, reserves associated with our uninsured claims and reserves and recoveries associated with our insured claims, as described in Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.
 
Results of Operations
 
Operating Revenues
 
We manage and evaluate our principal operations through five Groups. Our four geographic Groups, comprised of our Eastern, Midwest, Southern and Western Groups, provide collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Our fifth Group is the Wheelabrator Group, which provides waste-to-energy services. We also provide additional services that are not managed through our five Groups, including recycling brokerage services, electronic recycling services, in-plant services and landfill gas-to-energy services. These operations are presented as “Other.” Shown below (in millions) is the contribution to revenues during each period provided by our five Groups and our Other waste services:
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Eastern
  $ 755     $ 763     $ 2,214     $ 2,211  
Midwest
    792       749       2,266       2,121  
Southern
    903       836       2,602       2,509  
Western
    809       801       2,372       2,343  
Wheelabrator
    237       214       660       627  
Other
    248       163       688       441  
Intercompany
    (509 )     (503 )     (1,474 )     (1,467 )
                                 
Total
  $ 3,235     $ 3,023     $ 9,328     $ 8,785  
                                 


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The mix of operating revenues from our major lines of business is reflected in the table below (in millions):
 
                                 
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
Collection
  $ 2,119     $ 2,024     $ 6,175     $ 5,975  
Landfill
    674       666       1,900       1,929  
Transfer
    342       359       1,005       1,046  
Wheelabrator
    237       214       660       627  
Recycling
    286       202       836       510  
Other
    86       61       226       165  
Intercompany
    (509 )     (503 )     (1,474 )     (1,467 )
                                 
Total
  $ 3,235     $ 3,023     $ 9,328     $ 8,785  
                                 
 
The following table provides details associated with the period-to-period change in revenues (dollars in millions) along with an explanation of the significant components of the current period changes:
 
                                 
    Period-to-Period Change
    Period-to-Period Change
 
    for the Three Months Ended
    for the Nine Months Ended
 
    September 30,
    September 30,
 
    2010 vs. 2009     2010 vs. 2009  
          As a % of
          As a % of
 
          Total
          Total
 
    Amount     Company(a)     Amount     Company(a)  
 
Average yield(b)
  $ 153       5.0 %   $ 555       6.3 %
Volume
    (22 )     (0.7 )     (250 )     (2.8 )
                                 
Internal revenue growth
    131       4.3       305       3.5  
Acquisitions
    72       2.4       182       2.1  
Divestitures
                (2 )      
Foreign currency translation
    9       0.3       58       0.6  
                                 
    $ 212       7.0 %   $ 543       6.2 %
                                 
 
 
(a) Calculated by dividing the amount of current period increase or decrease by the prior period’s total company revenue ($3,023 million and $8,785 million for the three- and nine-month periods, respectively) adjusted to exclude the impacts of divestitures for the current period ($2 million for the nine-month period).


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(b) The amounts reported herein represent the changes in our revenue attributable to average yield for the total Company. We analyze the changes in average yield in terms of related business revenues in order to differentiate the changes in yield attributable to our pricing strategies from the changes that are caused by market-driven price changes in commodities. The following table summarizes changes in revenues from average yield on a related-business basis:
 
                                 
    Period-to-Period Change
    Period-to-Period Change
 
    for the Three Months Ended
    for the Nine Months Ended
 
    September 30,
    September 30,
 
    2010 vs. 2009     2010 vs. 2009  
          As a % of
          As a % of
 
          Related
          Related
 
    Amount     Business(i)     Amount     Business(i)  
 
Average yield:
                               
Collection, landfill and transfer
  $ 53       2.1 %   $ 152       2.0 %
Waste-to-energy disposal
    7       6.7       20       6.5  
                                 
Collection and disposal
    60       2.3       172       2.2  
Recycling commodities
    78       38.8       340       69.2  
Electricity
    4       5.6       (7 )     (3.3 )
Fuel surcharges and mandated fees
    11       10.8       50       18.3  
                                 
Total
  $ 153       5.0     $ 555       6.3  
                                 
 
(i) Calculated by dividing the increase or decrease for the current period by the prior period’s related business revenue, adjusted to exclude the impacts of divestitures for the current period. The table below summarizes the related business revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 adjusted to exclude the impacts of divestitures:
 
                 
    Denominator  
    Three Months
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    September 30     September 30  
 
Related business revenues:
               
Collection, landfill and transfer
  $ 2,545     $ 7,502  
Waste-to-energy disposal
    104       306  
                 
Collection and disposal
    2,649       7,808  
Recycling commodity
    201       491  
Electricity
    71       211  
Fuel surcharges and mandated fees
    102       273  
                 
Total Company
  $ 3,023     $ 8,783  
                 
 
Our revenues increased $212 million, or 7.0%, for the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the prior year period; and $543 million, or 6.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the prior year period. During the three- and nine-month periods, our current period revenue growth has been driven by (i) market factors, including higher recyclable commodity prices; foreign currency translation, which affects revenues from our Canadian operations; and higher diesel prices, which increase revenues provided by our fuel surcharge program; (ii) revenue growth from average yield on our collection and disposal operations; and (iii) acquisitions. Offsetting these revenue increases were revenue declines due to lower volumes, which have generally resulted from pricing competition and continued reductions in consumer and business spending, which results in less waste being generated.
 
The following provides further details associated with our period-to-period change in revenues.


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Average yield
 
Collection and disposal average yield — This measure reflects the effect on our revenue from the pricing activities of our collection, transfer, landfill and waste-to-energy disposal operations, exclusive of volume changes. Revenue growth from collection and disposal average yield includes not only base rate changes and environmental and service fee increases, but also (i) certain average price changes related to the overall mix of services, which are due to both the types of services provided and the geographic locations where our services are provided; (ii) changes in average price from new and lost business; and (iii) price decreases to retain customers.
 
Our revenue growth from collection and disposal average yield was $60 million, or 2.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the prior year period; and $172 million, or 2.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the prior year period. Our revenue growth from collection and disposal average yield demonstrates our commitment to our pricing strategies despite the current economic environment. This increase in revenue from yield was primarily driven by our collection operations, which experienced yield growth in all lines of business and in every geographic operating Group. The increase in collection revenues due to pricing was partially offset by revenue declines from lower collection volumes during the three-month period; however, during the nine-month period, collection revenue declines from lower collection volumes more than offset the increase in collection revenues due to pricing. We have found that increasing our yield in today’s market is a challenge given the reduced volume levels resulting from the economic slowdown. However, revenue growth from yield on base business and a focus on controlling variable costs have provided margin improvements in our collection line of business. Additionally, a significant portion of our collection revenues is generated under long-term agreements with municipalities or similar local or regional authorities. These agreements generally tie pricing adjustments to inflation indices, which have been extremely low in recent periods. We consider all of these trends in executing our pricing strategies, but are committed to maintaining pricing discipline in order to improve yield on our base business.
 
Revenues from our environmental fee, which are included in average yield on collection and disposal, increased by $12 million for the three-month period and by $21 million for the nine-month period. These revenues were $69 million and $186 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and $57 million and $165 million in the comparable prior year periods.
 
Recycling commodities — Increases in the prices of the recycling commodities we process resulted in an increase in revenues of $78 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and $340 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the prior year periods. During the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, recycling commodity prices were sharply lower as a result of a significant decrease in the demand for commodities both domestically and internationally. However, since the first quarter of 2009, prices for recyclable commodities have increased significantly. For the first nine months of this year, overall commodity prices have increased approximately 68% as compared with the first nine months of last year.
 
Electricity — The changes in revenue from yield provided by our waste-to-energy business are largely due to fluctuations in rates we can receive for electricity under our power purchase contracts and in merchant transactions. In most of the markets in which we operate, electricity prices correlate with natural gas prices. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we experienced declines in revenue from yield at our waste-to-energy facilities of $7 million, due to the expiration of certain above-market contracts, resulting in greater exposure to market pricing. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, approximately 46% of the electricity revenue at our waste-to-energy facilities was subject to current market rates, compared with 46% and 35% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. Our waste-to-energy facilities’ exposure to market price volatility will continue to increase as additional long-term contracts expire; however, we are beginning to see an improvement in market pricing. In addition, we expect to increase hedging activities in the future to reduce our exposure to market volatility. For the three months ended September 30, 2010, we experienced increases in revenue from yield at our waste-to-energy facilities of $4 million as compared with the prior year period.
 
Fuel surcharges and mandated fees — Revenue predominantly generated by our fuel surcharge program increased by $11 million and $50 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. This increase is directly attributable to higher national average prices of diesel fuel that we use for our fuel surcharge program. The mandated fees included in this line item are primarily related to the pass-through to customers of fees


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and taxes assessed by various state, county and municipal governmental agencies at our landfills and transfer stations. These mandated fees have not had a significant impact on the comparability of revenues for the periods included in the table above.
 
Volume — Our revenue decline due to volume was $22 million, or 0.7%, and $250 million, or 2.8%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. This is a notable improvement in the rate of revenue decline from the prior-year period when revenue declines due to volume were $314 million, or 8.9%, and $878 million, or 8.6%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively, and was also a sequential improvement compared with the second quarter of this year.
 
Volume declines are generally attributable to economic conditions, increased pricing, competition and recent trends of waste reduction and diversion by consumers. Additionally, we had certain infrequent items this year that affected our volumes, including severe weather conditions experienced during the first quarter, which lowered volumes, and oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast during the second and third quarters, which increased volumes.
 
Volume declines from our collection business accounted for $21 million and $195 million of the total volume-related revenue decline for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Throughout 2010, we have experienced commercial and residential collection volume declines that we attribute to the overall weakness in the economy, as well as the effects of pricing and competition. Our industrial collection operations continue to be affected by the current economic environment due to the construction slowdown across the United States. The overall volume decline in the collection line of business was offset in part by an increase in volumes associated with oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast during the second and third quarters of this year.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we experienced a $12 million decline in third party revenue due to lower volumes at our landfills primarily as a result of volume declines in our more economically-sensitive construction and demolition business, particularly in the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by an increase in special waste volumes. For the three-month period ended September 30, 2010, revenue from third party volumes at our landfills increased $13 million over the comparable prior-year period. The increase was principally due to higher special waste volumes in our Eastern, Midwest and Southern geographic Groups. This is the first quarter since the third quarter of 2008 in which we have seen a year-over-year increase in revenue from third-party volumes at our landfills. Additionally, our sequential year-over-year quarterly revenue declines due to lower volumes in the construction and demolition waste stream declined at a significantly less rapid pace. Lower third party volumes in our transfer station operations also caused revenue declines for the three- and nine-month periods, and can generally be attributed to economic conditions and the effects of pricing and competition.
 
We are pleased with the lessening rate of revenue decline due to lower volumes. However, (i) the continued weakness of the overall economic environment, particularly in the construction and demolition business, which tends to improve at a slower pace; (ii) recent trends of waste reduction and diversion by consumers; and (iii) pricing competition are presenting challenges to maintaining and growing volumes.
 
Acquisitions and divestitures — Revenue increases from acquisitions were principally in (i) the collection and recycling lines of business, reflecting our continued focus on accretive acquisitions that will complement our core solid waste operations; and (ii) our “Other” businesses, demonstrating our current focus on identifying strategic growth opportunities in new, complementary lines of business.
 
Operating Expenses
 
Our operating expenses increased by $150 million, or 8.1%, and $516 million, or 9.6%, when comparing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 with the comparable prior-year periods, respectively. Our operating expenses as a percentage of revenues increased from 61.4% in the third quarter of 2009 to 62.0% in the current quarter, and increased from 61.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to 63.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increases in our operating expenses during the three and nine months ended


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September 30, 2010, which were partially offset by the impact of continued volume declines, can largely be attributed to the following:
 
  •  Higher market prices for recyclable commodities — Overall, market prices for recyclable commodities are approximately 68% higher than prior year levels on a year-to-date basis. The year-over-year increase is the result of the recovery in recyclable commodity prices from the near-historic lows reached in late 2008 and early 2009. This increase in market prices was the driver of the current quarter and year-to-date increases in cost of goods sold, primarily customer rebates, as presented in the table below and has also resulted in increased revenues and earnings this year.
 
  •  Fuel cost increases — On average, diesel fuel prices increased 24% from $2.37 per gallon in the first nine months of 2009 to $2.94 per gallon in the first nine months of 2010. Higher fuel costs caused increases in both our direct fuel costs and in the fuel component of our subcontractor costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. The unfavorable impact of year-over-year increases in fuel prices on our operating costs is offset in part by increased revenues attributable to our fuel surcharge program.
 
  •  Acquisitions and growth initiatives — We have experienced cost increases attributable to recently acquired businesses and, to a lesser extent, our various growth and business development initiatives. These cost increases have affected each of the operating cost categories identified in the table below.
 
  •  Strengthening of the Canadian dollar — When comparing the average exchange rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 with the comparative 2009 periods, the Canadian rate strengthened by 6% and 13% respectively. The strengthening of the Canadian dollar increased our total operating expenses by $7 million and $45 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Foreign currency translation has increased our expenses in all operating cost categories.
 
The following table summarizes the major components of our operating expenses, including the impact of foreign currency translation, for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30 (dollars in millions):
 
                                                                 
    Three Months
                Nine Months
             
    Ended
    Period-to-
    Ended
    Period-to-
 
    September 30,     Period
    September 30,     Period
 
    2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
Labor and related benefits
  $ 576     $ 566     $ 10       1.8 %   $ 1,723     $ 1,688     $ 35       2.1 %
Transfer and disposal costs
    243       242       1       0.4       712       701       11       1.6  
Maintenance and repairs
    265       247       18       7.3       795       774       21       2.7  
Subcontractor costs
    217       180       37       20.6       577       530       47       8.9  
Cost of goods sold
    201       134       67       50.0       555       334       221       66.2  
Fuel
    122       110       12       10.9       366       297       69       23.2  
Disposal and franchise fees and taxes
    152       152             0.0       441       436       5       1.1  
Landfill operating costs
    73       64       9       14.1       248       151       97       64.2  
Risk management
    52       58       (6 )     (10.3 )     151       158       (7 )     (4.4 )
Other
    105       103       2       1.9       315       298       17       5.7  
                                                                 
    $ 2,006     $ 1,856     $ 150       8.1 %   $ 5,883     $ 5,367     $ 516       9.6 %
                                                                 
 
Significant changes in our operating expenses by category are discussed below:
 
  •  Labor and related benefits — The year-to-date increase was due largely to $26 million in charges incurred by our Midwest Group as a result of bargaining unit employees in Michigan and Ohio agreeing to our proposal to withdraw them from an under-funded multi-employer pension plan, largely recognized during the first quarter of 2010. In the second quarter of 2009, we recognized a charge of $9 million related to bargaining unit employees in New Jersey agreeing to a similar proposal. Our 2010 expenses also increased as a result of (i) higher salaries and wages due to merit increases that were effective in July 2009 for hourly employees and in April 2010 for both salaried and hourly employees; (ii) additional expenses incurred for


43


 

  acquisitions and growth opportunities; and (iii) the strengthening Canadian dollar. These cost increases were offset, in part, by cost savings that have been achieved as volumes declined.
 
  •  Maintenance and repairs — Increases in these costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 were primarily attributable to increased maintenance performed at our waste-to-energy facilities during the current year, which included (i) needed repairs and maintenance expense at a recently acquired facility in Portsmouth, Virginia; and (ii) accelerated maintenance expenses at certain of our waste-to-energy facilities.
 
  •  Subcontractor costs — The current year increase in subcontractor costs is largely the result of oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast and is also attributable to the higher diesel fuel prices previously discussed. We incurred $32 million and $39 million of subcontractor costs during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, related to oil spill clean-up activities.
 
  •  Cost of goods sold — The significant increase was from higher customer rebates as a result of the improvement in recycling commodity pricing discussed above.
 
  •  Fuel — Higher direct costs for diesel fuel were due to an increase in market prices on a year-over-year basis of 13% and 24% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
  •  Landfill operating costs — Increases in these costs in the current year were due, in part, to the recognition of net charges for estimates associated with environmental remediation liabilities of $13 million for two closed sites and $50 million for four closed sites during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. The Company recognized unfavorable remedial adjustments of a smaller magnitude during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Additionally, the increases were attributable to (i) the prior year recognition of favorable adjustments of $32 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 due to higher United States Treasury rates, which are used to estimate the present value of our environmental remediation obligations and recovery assets; and (ii) the current year recognition of unfavorable adjustments of $6 million and $14 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, due to the decreases in United States Treasury rates. During the first and second quarters of 2009, the discount rate used to estimate the present value of our environmental remediation obligations and recovery assets was increased from 2.25% to 2.75% and from 2.75% to 3.50%, respectively. During the second and third quarters of 2010, the applicable discount rate decreased from 3.75% to 3.00% and from 3.00% to 2.50%, respectively.
 
  •  Other — The increase in costs when comparing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 with the comparable prior year amounts was attributable, in part, to (i) our various growth and business development initiatives, (ii) oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast, and (iii) recently acquired businesses. These cost increases were partially offset by (i) an increase in gains recognized from the sale of surplus real estate assets; (ii) the receipt of an insurance claim for business interruption and property damages in the third quarter of 2010 related to an outage resulting from the failure of a generator that occurred in the second quarter of 2010 at one of our waste-to-energy facilities; and (iii) gains recognized during the third quarter of 2010 associated with the reversal of certain contingent liabilities related to several recent acquisitions for which the contingency period has now lapsed.
 
Selling, General and Administrative
 
Our selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $30 million, or 8.8%, and $66 million, or 6.6%, when comparing the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 with the comparable prior-year periods. The increases are largely due to (i) increased costs of $12 million and $40 million during the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, incurred to support our strategic plan to grow into new markets and provide expanded service offerings; and (ii) increased costs of $7 million and $16 million during the three- and nine-month periods, respectively, resulting from improvements we are making to our information technology systems. Our selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues increased from 11.2% for the third quarter of 2009 to 11.4% for the third quarter of 2010, and were 11.4% for both the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2010.


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The following table summarizes the major components of our selling, general and administrative costs for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30 (dollars in millions):
 
                                                                 
    Three Months
                Nine Months
             
    Ended
    Period-to-
    Ended
    Period-to-
 
    September 30,     Period
    September 30,     Period
 
    2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
Labor and related benefits
  $ 220     $ 194     $ 26       13.4 %   $ 630     $ 576     $ 54       9.4 %
Professional fees
    46       44       2       4.5       129       122       7       5.7  
Provision for bad debts
    11       10       1       10.0       33       42       (9 )     (21.4 )
Other
    92       91       1       1.1       273       259       14       5.4  
                                                                 
    $ 369     $ 339     $ 30       8.8 %   $ 1,065     $ 999     $ 66       6.6 %
                                                                 
 
Labor and related benefits — In 2010, our labor and related benefits costs have increased due to (i) higher salaried and hourly wages from our growth initiatives and annual merit increases; (ii) higher non-cash compensation costs incurred for equity awards granted under our long-term incentive plans during the first half of 2010; (iii) increased contract labor costs as a result of our current focus on optimizing our information technology systems; (iv) increased severance costs; and (v) an increase in bonus expense in the third quarter of 2010. In the second quarter of 2009, all of the compensation costs previously recognized for our 2008 performance share units were reversed based on a determination at that point in time that it was no longer probable that the targets established for that award would be met, which is a contributing factor to the increase in non-cash compensation costs. Additionally, stock option equity awards granted during the first quarter of 2010 provide for continued vesting for three years following an employee’s retirement. Because retirement-eligible employees are not required to provide any future service to vest in these awards, we recognized all of the compensation expense associated with their awards immediately. We did not incur similar charges in the prior year because this retirement provision was not included in any of the equity awards that were granted in 2009.
 
Professional fees — Changes in our professional fees are attributed to current period increases in consulting fees for both the three- and nine-month periods, driven primarily by improvements we are making to our information technology systems and our strategic plan to grow into new markets and provide expanded service offerings; offset largely by (i) higher costs during 2009 related to our efforts to expand our waste-to-energy business in China, Europe and the United States; and (ii) a reduction in legal fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared with the respective prior year periods.
 
Provision for bad debts — Our provision for bad debts for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and particularly for the three months ended March 31, 2009, was significantly higher than what we generally recognize due to the Company’s assessment in 2009 of the weak economic and market environment and the resulting impacts on our collection risk. We believe those risks have moderated. Accordingly, our provision for bad debts recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is significantly lower than the prior year period. Additionally, the reduction in our provision for bad debts reflects management’s continued focus on the collection of our receivables.
 
Other — We experienced current year increases in our (i) marketing and advertising costs, due in part to our strategic plan to grow into new markets and provide expanded service offerings, and (ii) computer costs, due in part to improvements we are making to our information technology systems. These increases were offset partially by favorable litigation settlements, primarily in the third quarter of 2010.


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Depreciation and Amortization
 
The following table summarizes the components of our depreciation and amortization costs for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30 (dollars in millions):
 
                                                                 
    Three Months
                Nine Months
             
    Ended
    Period-to-
    Ended
    Period-to-
 
    September 30,     Period
    September 30,     Period
 
    2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
Depreciation of tangible property and equipment
  $ 195     $ 194     $ 1       0.5 %   $ 586     $ 585     $ 1       0.2 %
Amortization of landfill airspace
    112       100       12       12.0       301       288       13       4.5  
Amortization of intangible assets
    10       7       3       42.9       30       19       11       57.9  
                                                                 
    $ 317     $ 301     $ 16       5.3 %   $ 917     $ 892     $ 25       2.8 %
                                                                 
 
The increase in amortization expense of landfill airspace is largely due to adjustments to the amortization rates at various landfill sites. These adjustments were principally attributable to increases in cost estimates. The increase in amortization expense of intangible assets is due to our focus on the growth and development of our business through acquisitions and other investments. The current year increases are primarily related to the amortization of definite-lived operating permits acquired by our Healthcare Solutions operations and customer lists acquired by our Southern and Midwest Groups.
 
Restructuring
 
In January 2009, we took steps to streamline our organization by (i) consolidating many of our Market Areas; (ii) integrating the management of our recycling operations with the remainder of our solid waste business; and (iii) realigning our corporate organization with this new structure in order to provide support functions more efficiently.
 
This reorganization eliminated over 1,500 employee positions throughout the Company. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recognized $3 million and $46 million, respectively, of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $2 million and $40 million, respectively, were related to employee severance and benefit costs. During the remainder of 2009, we incurred an additional $4 million of pre-tax restructuring charges associated with this reorganization, of which $1 million was related to employee severance and benefit costs. The remaining charges were primarily related to operating lease obligations for property that will no longer be utilized.
 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recognized $1 million of income related to the reversal of pre-tax restructuring charges. Through September 30, 2010, we have paid approximately $38 million of the employee severance and benefit costs incurred as a result of this restructuring. The length of time we are obligated to make severance payments varies, with the longest obligation continuing through the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
(Income) Expense from Divestitures, Asset Impairments and Unusual Items
 
Through December 31, 2008, we capitalized $70 million of accumulated costs associated with the development of a new waste and recycling revenue management system. A significant portion of these costs was specifically associated with the purchase of a license for waste and recycling revenue management software and the efforts required to develop and configure that software for our use. After a failed pilot implementation of the software in one of our smallest Market Areas, the development efforts associated with the revenue management system were suspended in 2007. During 2009, we determined to enhance and improve our existing revenue management system and not pursue alternatives associated with the development and implementation of the licensed software. Accordingly, in 2009, we recognized a non-cash charge of $51 million, $49 million of which was recognized during the first quarter of 2009 and $2 million of which was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2009, for the abandonment of the licensed software.
 
We filed a lawsuit in March 2008 related to the revenue management software implementation that was suspended in 2007 and abandoned in 2009. In April 2010, we settled the lawsuit and received a one-time cash


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payment. The settlement, included in “(Income) expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items,” resulted in an increase in income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $77 million.
 
Income From Operations by Reportable Segment
 
The following table summarizes income from operations by reportable segment for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30 and provides explanations of significant factors contributing to the identified variances (dollars in millions):
 
                                                                 
    Three Months
                Nine Months
             
    Ended
    Period-to-
    Ended
    Period-to-
 
    September 30,     Period
    September 30,     Period
 
    2010     2009     Change     2010     2009     Change  
 
Reportable segments:
                                                               
Eastern
  $ 138     $ 138     $       0.0 %   $ 390     $ 349     $ 41       11.7 %
Midwest
    149       126       23       18.3       372       327       45       13.8  
Southern
    218       193       25       13.0       624       581       43       7.4  
Western
    146       141       5       3.5       416       415       1       0.2  
Wheelabrator
    67       74       (7 )     (9.5 )     150       167       (17 )     (10.2 )
Other
    (38 )     (32 )     (6 )     18.8       (93 )     (91 )     (2 )     2.2  
                                                                 
      680       640       40       6.3       1,859       1,748       111       6.4  
Corporate and Other
    (136 )     (115 )     (21 )     18.3       (317 )     (317 )           0.0  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 544     $ 525     $ 19       3.6 %   $ 1,542     $ 1,431     $ 111       7.8 %
                                                                 
 
Reportable Segments — During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the results of operations of each of our geographic Groups improved as a result of the following:
 
  •  a significant year-over-year improvement in market prices for recyclable commodities;
 
  •  revenue growth from yield on our base business; and
 
  •  the accretive benefits of recent acquisitions.
 
These improvements in the geographic Groups’ 2010 results were offset, in part, by a decrease in income from operations caused by the following:
 
  •  continued volume declines due to economic conditions, increased pricing, competition, recent trends of waste reduction, waste diversion by consumers and severe winter weather experienced during the first quarter of 2010;
 
  •  increasing direct and indirect costs for diesel fuel, which have outpaced the related revenue growth from our fuel surcharge program;
 
  •  higher salaries and wages due to annual merit increases that were effective in July 2009 for hourly employees and in April 2010 for both salaried and hourly employees; and
 
  •  increased overtime and landfill operating costs due to severe winter weather experienced during the first quarter of 2010.
 
Although each of the geographic Groups have been significantly affected by the above items, our Eastern and Midwest Groups saw much more significant 2010 earnings growth than our Southern and Western Groups largely because (i) the slowdown in construction activities, which has driven our industrial collection volume declines, is more significant in the Southern and Western portions of the United States; (ii) recycling activities are less prevalent in the South, which made that Group’s earnings growth from recyclable commodity price recovery in the current year less significant; (iii) a more significant portion of the Western Group’s collection revenues are subject to long-term franchise agreements that tie pricing adjustments to inflation indices, which have been extremely low, and in some cases negative, in recent periods; and (iv) the Western Group has experienced more significant volume


47


 

declines, particularly in the economically-sensitive special waste business where volumes have shown year-over-year improvement in our other geographic Groups.
 
The comparability of each of our geographic Groups’ operating results for the periods was also affected by (i) the restructuring charges we recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009; and (ii) a significantly higher provision for bad debts during 2009 due to the economic and market conditions at that time.
 
Other significant items affecting the comparability of our Groups’ results of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are summarized below:
 
Eastern — During the second quarter of 2009, the Group recognized a charge of $9 million related to employees of a bargaining unit in New Jersey agreeing to our proposal to withdraw them from an under-funded, multi-employer pension plan.
 
Midwest — The income from operations of our Midwest Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was significantly affected by the recognition of charges of $26 million as a result of employees of five bargaining units in Michigan and Ohio agreeing to our proposal to withdraw them from an under-funded, multi-employer pension plan.
 
Southern — Additional volumes from oil spill clean-up activities along the Gulf Coast favorably impacted the Group’s income from operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 by $14 million and $20 million, respectively. The operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were negatively affected by (i) a $7 million increase in landfill amortization expense and environmental remediation operating costs during the second quarter of 2009 that resulted from changes in certain estimates related to final capping, closure, post-closure and remedial obligations; and (ii) the recognition of a $2 million impairment charge during the second quarter of 2009 due to a change in the expectations for the operating life of a landfill.
 
Western — Favorably affecting the comparison of the first nine months of 2010 with the respective prior-year period was the recognition of several adjustments resulting from changes in estimates associated with our obligations for landfill final capping, closure and post-closure. These adjustments were primarily related to a closed landfill in Los Angeles, California for which the Group recognized $7 million of additional landfill amortization expense during the third quarter of 2009.
 
Wheelabrator  — The decrease in the income from operations of our Wheelabrator Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the respective prior year period was driven by (i) changes in contracts at two of our facilities that increased our exposure to current energy market prices; and (ii) an increase in maintenance-related outages as compared with the prior year, which resulted in decreased electricity generation and increased plant maintenance costs. These increases are attributable in part to needed repair and maintenance expenses at our facility in Portsmouth, Virginia that we acquired in April 2010, and to accelerated maintenance expenses at certain of our facilities. These unfavorable items were partially offset by the favorable impact of (i) expenses associated with international and domestic business development activities that did not recur this year; and (ii) increased revenues from the sale of metals.
 
The decrease in the income from operations of our Wheelabrator Group for the three months ended September 30, 2010 as compared to the respective prior year period was driven by the factors discussed above and offset partially by (i) the favorable impact of higher energy market prices during the current quarter as compared with the third quarter of 2009; (ii) the favorable impact from receipt of an insurance claim for business interruption and property damages during the third quarter of 2010 associated with an outage at one of our facilities from May 2 to August 4, 2010 as a result of a generator failure.
 
Significant items affecting the comparability of the remaining components of our results of operations for the three-and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are summarized below:
 
Other — The changes in operating results for our “Other” businesses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are the result of (i) improvements in our recycling brokerage business as a result of higher recycling commodity prices so far this year and (ii) the unfavorable effect of additional costs in the


48


 

current year to support the Company’s strategic plan to grow into new markets and provide expanded service offerings.
 
Corporate and Other — Significant items affecting the comparability of expenses are as follows:
 
  •  a benefit of $126 million associated with the revenue management software implementation that was suspended in 2007 and abandoned in 2009, comprised of (i) a current year benefit of $77 million resulting from a one-time cash payment from a litigation settlement that occurred in April 2010 and (ii) a $49 million charge recognized in the prior year for the abandonment of the licensed software;
 
  •  the recognition of net charges of $50 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 for estimates associated with environmental remediation liabilities at four closed sites;
 
  •  the prior year recognition of favorable adjustments of $32 million due to increases in United States Treasury rates, which are used to estimate the present value of our environmental remediation obligations and recovery assets. During the first quarter of 2009, the discount rate used was increased from 2.25% to 2.75% and during the second quarter of 2009, the discount rate used was increased from 2.75% to 3.50%; and
 
  •  the current year-to-date recognition of unfavorable adjustments of $13 million due to the decrease in United States Treasury rates. The discount rate used to estimate the present value of our environmental remediation obligations and recovery assets was decreased from 3.75% to 3.00% and 3.00% to 2.50% during the second and third quarters of 2010, respectively.
 
Further impacting the comparison of the current year results with the prior year are (i) prior year restructuring charges; (ii) current year cost increases related to our equity compensation, consulting fees and bonus expense; and (iii) a favorable litigation settlement during the third quarter of 2010.
 
Renewable Energy Operations
 
We have extracted value from the waste streams we manage for years, and we are focusing on increasing our ability to do so, particularly in the field of clean and renewable energy. Most significantly, our current operations produce renewable energy through the waste-to-energy facilities that are managed by our Wheelabrator Group and our landfill gas-to-energy operations. We are actively seeking opportunities to enhance our existing renewable energy service offerings to ensure that we can respond to the shifting demands of consumers and to ensure that we are acting as a leader in environmental stewardship.
 
We are disclosing the following supplemental information related to the operating results of our renewable energy operations for 2010 (in millions) because we believe that it provides information related to the significance of our current renewable energy operations, the profitability of these operations and the costs we are incurring to develop these operations.
 
                                                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2010     Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010  
          Landfill Gas-
    Growth
                Landfill Gas-
    Growth
       
    Wheelabrator     to-Energy(a)     Opportunities(b)     Total     Wheelabrator     to-Energy(a)     Opportunities(b)     Total  
 
Operating revenues (including intercompany)
  $ 237     $ 32     $     $ 269     $ 660     $ 91     $     $ 751  
Costs and expenses:
                                                               
Operating
    129       14             143       391       36       1       428  
Selling, general & administrative
    17             2       19       50       2       3       55  
Depreciation and amortization
    24       6             30       69       17             86  
                                                                 
      170       20       2       192       510       55       4       569  
                                                                 
Income (loss) from operations
  $ 67     $ 12     $ (2 )   $ 77     $ 150     $ 36     $ (4 )   $ 182  
                                                                 
 
 
(a) Our landfill gas-to-energy business focuses on generating a renewable energy source from the methane that is produced as waste decomposes. The operating results include the revenues and expenses of landfill gas-to-energy plants that we own and operate, as well as revenues generated from the sale of landfill gas


49


 

to third party owner/operators. The operating results of our landfill gas-to-energy business are included within our geographic reportable segments and “Other.”
 
(b) Includes businesses and entities we have acquired or invested in through our organic growth group’s business development efforts. These businesses include a landfill gas to LNG facility; landfill gas to diesel fuels technologies; organic waste streams to fuels technologies; and other engineered fuels technologies. The operating results of our Growth Opportunities are included within “Other” in our assessment of our income from operations by segment.
 
Interest Expense
 
Our interest expense was $126 million and $354 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, compared with $104 million and $316 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The significant increase in our interest expense in 2010 is primarily due to (i) higher average debt balances, the incremental portion of which have generally been incurred to support our strategic plans, (ii) significantly higher costs related to the execution and maintenance of our revolving credit facility and (iii) a decrease in benefits to interest expense provided by our active interest rate swaps as a result of our election to terminate swaps with a notional amount of $350 million in December 2009 and the scheduled maturity of interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $600 million in August 2010. These increases in interest expense were offset, in part, by a decline in market interest rates, which has reduced the interest costs of our Canadian credit facility and our tax-exempt borrowings.
 
Interest Income
 
Interest income was $1 million and $3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared with $3 million and $10 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The decrease in interest income is primarily related to a decline in market interest rates. Although our average cash and cash equivalents balances have increased year-over-year, record-low short-term interest rates have resulted in insignificant interest being generated on current balances.
 
Provision for Income Taxes
 
We recorded a provision for income taxes of $153 million during the third quarter of 2010, representing an effective tax rate of 37.3%, compared with a provision for income taxes of $133 million during the third quarter of 2009, representing a 31.2% effective tax rate. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was 39.8% compared with 35.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
The increase in our provision for income taxes when comparing the three months ended September 30, 2010, with the comparable prior year period is due to (i) adjustments recorded in each year relating to the finalization of tax returns, which increased our provision for income taxes by $4 million in 2010 and decreased our provision for income taxes by $11 million in 2009; (ii) tax audit settlements, which reduced our provision for income taxes by $2 million in 2010 and by $9 million in 2009; (iii) a $5 million benefit in 2009 related to the utilization of state net operating loss carry-forwards; and (iv) an increase in our effective state and local tax rate in 2010. The year-over-year increase in the third quarter resulting from these items was partially offset by the favorable impact of federal low-income housing tax credits in 2010 and an unfavorable adjustment in 2009 related to our net accumulated state deferred tax liabilities. In addition to the above, the increase in our provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, as compared with the comparable prior year period, is due to a $37 million increase in our provision during the second quarter of 2010 for state deferred income taxes to reflect the impact of changes in the estimated tax rate at which existing temporary differences will be realized.
 
Our investment in federal low-income housing reduced our provision for income taxes by $7 million and $18 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Refer to Note 5 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to our federal low-income housing investment.
 
The Small Business Jobs Act, signed into law in September 2010, includes a provision extending bonus depreciation for assets placed in service in 2010. The acceleration of deductions on current year capital expenditures will have no impact on our effective tax rate but is expected to reduce our 2010 cash taxes by


50


 

approximately $60 million. The current year cash tax benefit will result in increased cash taxes in future periods when the deduction for these capital expenditures would have otherwise been realized.
 
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March 2010, includes a provision that eliminates the tax deductibility of retiree health care costs to the extent that retiree prescription drug benefits are reimbursed under Medicare Part D coverage. Although this provision of the Act does not take effect until 2013, we were required to recognize the full accounting impact of the change in law on our deferred tax assets during the first quarter of 2010, the period in which the law was enacted. The remeasurement of our deferred tax assets did not affect our financial position or results of operations as of or for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
Noncontrolling Interests
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $14 million and $36 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, compared with $15 million and $50 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The comparison of these amounts for the reported periods has been affected by (i) our January 2010 acquisition of a controlling financial interest in a portable self-storage business; and (ii) the deconsolidation of certain capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation trusts as a result of our implementation of authoritative accounting guidance, effective January 1, 2010, associated with variable interest entities.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Summary of Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Trust and Escrow Accounts and Debt Obligations
 
The following is a summary of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted trust and escrow accounts and debt balances as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (in millions):
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2010     2009  
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 550     $ 1,140  
                 
Restricted trust and escrow accounts:
               
Tax-exempt bond funds
  $ 26     $ 65  
Capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation funds(a)
    124       231  
Other
    9       10  
                 
Total restricted trust and escrow accounts
  $ 159     $ 306  
                 
Debt:
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 161     $ 749  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    8,798       8,124  
                 
Total long-term debt
  $ 8,959     $ 8,873  
                 
Increase in carrying value of debt due to hedge accounting for interest rate swaps
  $ 100     $ 91  
                 
 
 
(a) The decrease in restricted trust and escrow accounts from December 31, 2009 is due to our implementation of revised accounting guidance related to the consolidation of variable interest entities. Effective January 1, 2010, we were required to deconsolidate trusts for which power over significant activities is shared, which reduced our restricted trust and escrow accounts by $109 million. Beginning in 2010, our interests in these variable interest entities have been accounted for as investments in unconsolidated entities and receivables. The fair value of our investments and related receivables in these entities was $113 million as of September 30, 2010. These amounts are recorded in “Other receivables” and as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.


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As of September 30, 2010, we had $477 million of debt maturing within twelve months, including U.S. $208 million under our Canadian credit facility and $147 million of 7.65% senior notes that mature in March 2011. The amount reported as the current portion of long-term debt as of September 30, 2010 excludes $316 million of these scheduled repayments because we have the intent and ability to refinance portions of our current maturities on a long-term basis.
 
Summary of Cash Flow Activity
 
The following is a summary of our cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30 (in millions):
 
                 
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 1,653     $ 1,642  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (1,175 )   $ (830 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
  $ (1,069 )   $ (683 )
                 
 
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities — We generated $1,653 million of cash flows from operating activities during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, compared with $1,642 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009. The $11 million increase was driven principally by (i) an increase in income from operations, primarily attributable to a favorable cash benefit of $77 million resulting from a litigation settlement in April 2010; (ii) a $65 million federal tax refund in the third quarter of 2010 related to the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary in 2009; and (iii) prior year payments of $32 million related to severance and benefit costs associated with our January 2009 restructuring. The increases were largely offset by an increase in income tax payments of $45 million and an increase in our trade receivables due to seasonal trends, which were not as significant in 2009.
 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities — During the first nine months of 2010, net cash used in investing activities was $1,175 million, compared with $830 million during the first nine months of 2009. The most significant items affecting the comparison of our investing cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are summarized below:
 
  •  Investments in unconsolidated entities — We made $162 million of cash investments in unconsolidated entities during the first nine months of 2010. These cash investments were primarily related to a $142 million payment made to acquire a 40% equity investment in Shanghai Environment Group (“SEG”), a subsidiary of Shanghai Chengtou Holding Co., Ltd. As a joint venture partner in SEG, we will participate in the operation and management of waste-to-energy and other waste services in the Chinese market. SEG will also focus on building new waste-to-energy facilities in China.
 
  •  Capital expenditures — We spent $737 million during the first nine months of 2010 for capital expenditures compared with $823 million in the first nine months of 2009, a decrease of $86 million. The decrease can generally be attributed to timing differences associated with cash payments for the previous years’ fourth quarter capital spending. Approximately $145 million of our fourth quarter 2009 spending was paid in cash in 2010 compared with approximately $245 million of our fourth quarter 2008 spending that was paid in the first quarter of 2009.
 
  •  Acquisitions — Our spending on acquisitions increased from $127 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 to $343 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. During the second quarter of 2010, we paid approximately $150 million to acquire a waste-to-energy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia. We continue to focus on accretive acquisitions and growth opportunities that will contribute to improved future results of operations and enhance and expand our existing service offerings.
 
  •  Net receipts from restricted funds — Net funds received from our restricted trust and escrow accounts contributed $36 million to our investing activities in the first nine months of 2010 compared with $98 million in the first nine months of 2009. The year-over-year decrease in cash received from our restricted trust and escrow accounts is due to a decrease in tax-exempt borrowings.


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Net Cash Used in Financing Activities — Net cash used in financing activities was $1,069 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $683 million during the comparable prior year period. The most significant items affecting the comparison of our financing cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are summarized below:
 
  •  Share repurchases and dividend payments — We repurchased 13.4 million shares of our common stock for $445 million during the first nine months of 2010. Approximately $2 million of our third quarter 2010 share repurchases was paid in October 2010. In the latter part of 2008, we determined that, given the state of the financial markets and the economy, it would be prudent to temporarily suspend our share repurchases. Accordingly, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during the first half of 2009. After assessing the stabilization of the capital markets and economic conditions, we resumed our share repurchases in the third quarter of 2009 and repurchased $2.4 million shares of our common stock for $70 million. Approximately $5 million of our third quarter 2009 share repurchases was paid in October 2009.
 
We paid $454 million in aggregate cash dividends during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $428 million in the comparable 2009 period. The increase in dividend payments is due to our quarterly per share dividend increasing from $0.29 in 2009 to $0.315 in 2010 and additional common stock outstanding from our equity-based compensation programs, offset in part by a reduction in our common stock outstanding as a result of our share repurchase program.
 
Share repurchases during the remainder of 2010 will be made at the discretion of management, and the Board of Directors will declare dividends at their discretion, with any decisions dependent on various factors, including our net earnings, financial condition, cash required for future acquisitions and other factors the Board may deem relevant.
 
  •  Debt borrowings and repayments — The following summarizes our most significant cash borrowings and debt repayments made during each period (in millions):
 
                 
    Nine Months
 
    Ended
 
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
 
Borrowings:
               
Canadian credit facility
  $ 183     $ 233  
Senior notes
    592       793  
                 
    $ 775     $ 1,026  
                 
Repayments:
               
Revolving credit facility
  $     $ (310 )
Canadian credit facility
    (236 )     (244 )
Senior notes
    (600 )     (500 )
Tax exempt bonds
    (52 )     (65 )
Tax exempt project bonds
          (2 )
Capital leases and other debt
    (44 )     (21 )
                 
    $ (932 )   $ (1,142 )
                 
Net borrowings (repayments)
  $ (157 )   $ (116 )
                 
 
Refer to Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to our debt borrowings and repayments.
 
  •  Other — Net cash used in other financing activities was $17 million during the first nine months of 2010 compared with $51 million in the comparable prior year period. In 2010, these activities primarily related to $13 million of financing costs paid to execute our new $2.0 billion revolving credit facility. In 2009, the significant use of cash was driven by changes in our accrued liabilities for checks written in excess of cash balances due to the timing of cash deposits or payments.


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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We are party to guarantee arrangements with unconsolidated entities as discussed in the Guarantees section of Note 8 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These arrangements have not materially affected our financial position, results of operations or liquidity during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 nor are they expected to have a material impact on our future financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
 
Seasonal Trends and Inflation
 
Our operating revenues normally tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to the traditional seasonal increase in the volume of construction and demolition waste. The volumes of industrial and residential waste in certain regions where we operate also tend to increase during the summer months. Our second and third quarter revenues and results of operations typically reflect these seasonal trends.
 
Additionally, certain destructive weather conditions that tend to occur during the second half of the year, such as hurricanes typically experienced by our Southern Group, can actually increase our revenues in the areas affected. However, for several reasons, including significant mobilization costs, such revenue often generates earnings at comparatively lower margins. Certain weather conditions, including severe winter storms, may result in the temporary suspension of our operations, which can significantly affect the operating results of the affected regions. The operating results of our first quarter also often reflect higher repair and maintenance expenses because we rely on the slower winter months, when waste flows are generally lower, to perform scheduled maintenance at our waste-to-energy facilities.
 
While inflationary increases in costs, including the cost of diesel fuel, have affected our operating margins in recent periods, we believe that inflation generally has not had, and in the near future is not expected to have, any material adverse effect on our results of operations. However, a significant portion of our collection revenues are generated under long-term franchise agreements with municipalities or similar local or regional authorities. These agreements generally provide for price adjustments based on various indices intended to measure inflation. 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.
 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Information about market risks as of September 30, 2010, does not differ materially from that discussed under Item 7A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures.
 
Effectiveness of Controls and Procedures
 
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to management (including the principal executive and financial officers) as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive and financial officers have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2010 (the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q).
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Management, together with our CEO and CFO, evaluated the changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2010. We determined that there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II.
 
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.
 
Information regarding our legal proceedings can be found under the “Litigation” section of Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors.
 
There have been no material changes from risk factors previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 in response to Item 1A to Part I of Form 10-K.
 
Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
 
The Board of Directors has approved a capital allocation program that provides for a maximum of $1.3 billion in combined cash dividends and common stock repurchases in 2010. All of the common stock repurchases made in 2010 have been pursuant to this capital allocation program.
 
The following table summarizes common stock repurchases made during the third quarter of 2010:
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
                                 
                Total Number of
       
    Total
          Shares Purchased as
    Approximate Maximum
 
    Number of
    Average
    Part of Publicly
    Dollar Value of Shares that
 
    Shares
    Price Paid
    Announced Plans or
    May Yet be Purchased Under
 
Period   Purchased     per Share(a)     Programs     the Plans or Programs(b)  
 
July 1 — 31
    2,136,700     $ 32.75       2,136,700     $ 478 Million  
August 1 — 31
    1,302,601     $ 33.74       1,302,601     $ 434 Million  
September 1 — 30
    983,800     $ 34.58       983,800     $ 401 Million  
                                 
Total
    4,423,101     $ 33.45       4,423,101          
                                 
 
 
(a) This amount represents the weighted average price paid per share and includes a per share commission paid for all repurchases.
 
(b) For each period presented, the maximum dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program has been provided net of the $454 million of dividends declared and paid in 2010. However, this amount does not include the impact of dividend payments we expect to make throughout the remainder of 2010 as a result of future dividend declarations. The approximate maximum dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program is not necessarily an indication of the amount we intend to repurchase during the remainder of the year.


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Item 6.   Exhibits.
 
             
Exhibit
       
No.       Description
 
  31 .1     Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a — 14(a) and 15d — 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of David P. Steiner, President and Chief Executive Officer.
  31 .2     Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a — 14(a) and 15d — 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of Robert G. Simpson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  32 .1     Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 of David P. Steiner, President and Chief Executive Officer.
  32 .2     Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 of Robert G. Simpson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
  101 .INS     XBRL Instance Document
  101 .SCH     XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
  101 .CAL     XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  101 .DEF     XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  101 .LAB     XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
  101 .PRE     XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document


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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.
 
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  ROBERT G. SIMPSON
Robert G. Simpson
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
 
WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  GREG A. ROBERTSON
Greg A. Robertson
Vice President and
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
Date: October 28, 2010


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