Commitments and Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

We are subject to extensive and evolving laws and regulations and have implemented our own safeguards to respond to regulatory requirements. In the normal course of conducting our operations, we become involved in legal proceedings. Some of these actions may result in fines, penalties or judgments against us, which may impact earnings and cash flows for a particular period. Although we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any legal matter with certainty, except as described below or in Note 8, Income Taxes, in the discussion of our outstanding tax dispute with the IRS, we do not believe that the outcome of our pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

As used herein, legal proceedings refers to litigation and similar claims against us and our subsidiaries, excluding: (i) ordinary course accidents, general commercial liability and workers compensation claims, which are covered by insurance programs, subject to customary deductibles, and which, together with self-insured employee health care costs, are discussed in Note 5, Other Liabilities-Self-Insurance Reserves; (ii) tax-related matters, which are discussed in Note 8, Income Taxes; and (iii) environmental remediation liabilities, which are discussed in Note 6, Landfill and Environmental Costs.

We accrue for legal proceedings when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. We have recorded an aggregate accrual of approximately $111 million relating to our outstanding legal proceedings as of June 30, 2011, including those described herein and others not specifically identified herein. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings and, where it is probable that a liability has been incurred, we accrue for all probable and reasonably estimable losses. Where we are able to reasonably estimate a range of losses we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If we are able to reasonably estimate a range but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we 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 have been approximately $110 million higher than the amount recorded as of June 30, 2011.

Countywide Matters

In September 2009, Republic Services of Ohio II, LLC (Republic-Ohio) entered into Final Findings and Orders with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that require us to implement a comprehensive operation and maintenance program to manage the remediation area at the Countywide Recycling and Disposal Facility (Countywide). The remediation liability for Countywide recorded as of June 30, 2011 is $63.9 million, of which $4.6 million is expected to be paid during 2011. The reasonably possible range of loss for remediation costs is $55 million to $76 million.

In a suit filed on October 8, 2008 in the Tuscarawas County Ohio Court of Common Pleas, approximately 700 individuals and businesses located in the area around Countywide sued Republic Services, Inc. and Republic-Ohio for alleged negligence and nuisance. Republic-Ohio has owned and operated Countywide since February 1, 1999. Waste Management, Inc. and Waste Management Ohio, Inc., previous owners and operators of Countywide, have been named as defendants as well. Plaintiffs allege that due to the acceptance of a specific waste stream and operational issues and conditions, the landfill has generated odors and other unsafe emissions that have impaired the use and value of their property and may have adverse health effects. A second almost identical lawsuit was filed by approximately 82 plaintiffs on October 13, 2009 in the Tuscarawas County Ohio Court of Common Pleas against Republic Services, Inc., Republic-Ohio, Waste Management, Inc., and Waste Management Ohio, Inc. The court has consolidated the two actions. We have assumed both the defense and the liability of the Waste Management entities in the consolidated action. The relief requested on behalf of each plaintiff in the consolidated action is: (1) an award of compensatory damages according to proof in an amount in excess of $25,000 for each of the three counts of the amended complaint; (2) an award of punitive damages in the amount of two times compensatory damages, pursuant to applicable statute, or in such amount as may be awarded at trial for each of the three counts of the amended complaint; (3) costs for medical screening and monitoring of each plaintiff; (4) interest on the damages according to law; (5) costs and disbursements of the lawsuit; (6) reasonable fees for attorneys and expert witnesses; and (7) any other and further relief as the court deems just, proper and equitable. Plaintiffs filed an amended consolidated complaint on September 9, 2010, which no longer asserts a claim for medical monitoring. As a result of various dismissals of plaintiffs, this case presently consists of approximately 600 plaintiffs. Discovery is ongoing. In February 2011, the court granted our motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ qualified statutory nuisance claims. We will continue to vigorously defend against the plaintiffs’ allegations in the consolidated action.

Luri Matter

On August 17, 2007, a former employee, Ronald Luri, sued Republic Services, Inc., Republic Services of Ohio Hauling LLC, Republic Services of Ohio I LLC, Jim Bowen and Ron Krall in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court in Ohio. Plaintiff alleges that he was unlawfully fired in retaliation for refusing to discharge or demote three employees who were all over 50 years old. On July 3, 2008, a jury verdict was awarded against us in the amount of $46.6 million, including $43.1 million in punitive damages. On September 24, 2008, the Court awarded pre-judgment interest of $0.3 million and attorney fees and litigation costs of $1.1 million. Post-judgment interest accrued at a rate of 8% for 2008 and 5% for 2009, and is accruing at a rate of 4% thereafter. Management anticipates that post-judgment interest could accrue through the middle of 2012 for a total of up to $9.0 million. We appealed to the Court of Appeals, and on May 19, 2011 the court reduced the punitive damages award to $7.0 million. Both sides are now pursuing an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. It is reasonably possible that following all appeals a final judgment of liability for compensatory and punitive damages may be assessed against us related to this matter.

Litigation Related to Fuel and Administrative Fees

On November 20, 2009, Klingler’s European Bake Shop & Deli, Inc., filed a complaint against BFI Waste Services, LLC in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, in which plaintiff complains about fuel recovery fees and administrative fees charged. The complaint purports to be filed on behalf of a class of similarly situated plaintiffs in Alabama. This complaint asserts various legal and equitable theories of recovery and alleges in essence that the fees were not properly disclosed, were unfair, and were contrary to contract. Class-certification-related discovery is underway. Plaintiff’s deadline for moving for class certification is November 10, 2011. Plaintiff has not specified the amount of damages sought. Although the range of reasonably possible loss cannot be estimated, we do not believe that this matter will have a material impact on our consolidated financial positions, results of operations or cash flows. We will continue to vigorously defend the claims in this lawsuit.

Contracting Matter

We discovered actions of non-compliance by one of our subsidiaries with the subcontracting provisions of certain government contracts in one of our markets. We reported the discovery to, and expect further discussions with, law enforcement authorities and other authorities. Such non-compliance could result in payments by us in the form of restitution, damages, or penalties, or the loss of future business in the affected market or markets. Based on the information currently available to us, including our expectation that our self-disclosure will be viewed favorably by the applicable authorities, we presently believe that the resolution of the matter, while it may have a material impact on our results of operations or cash flows in the period in which it is recognized or paid, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position.

Congress Development Landfill Matters

Congress Development Co. (CDC) is a general partnership that owns and operates the Congress Landfill. The general partners in CDC are our subsidiary, Allied Waste Transportation, Inc. (Allied Transportation), and an unaffiliated entity, John Sexton Sand & Gravel Corporation (Sexton). Sexton was the operator of the landfill through early 2007, when Allied Transportation took over as the operator. The general partners likely will be jointly and severally liable for the costs associated with the following matters relating to the Congress Landfill.

In August 2010, Congress Development Company agreed with the State of Illinois to have a Final Consent Order (Final Order) entered by the Circuit Court of Illinois, Cook County. Pursuant to the Final Order, we have agreed to continue to implement certain remedial activities at the Congress Landfill. The remediation liability recorded as of June 30, 2011 is $83.7 million, of which $8.0 million is expected to be paid during 2011. The reasonably possible range of loss for remediation costs is $44 million to $144 million.

In a suit originally filed on December 23, 2009 in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and subsequently amended to add additional plaintiffs, approximately 2,400 plaintiffs sued our subsidiaries Allied Transportation and Allied Waste Industries, Inc., CDC and Sexton. The plaintiffs allege bodily injury, property damage and inability to have normal use and enjoyment of property arising from, among other things, odors and other damages arising from landfill gas leaking, and they base their claims on negligence, trespass, and nuisance. On April 29, 2011, plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to amend their complaint to seek punitive damages. Briefing on that motion is ongoing.

Following the court’s order in our favor striking the plaintiffs’ allegations requesting actual damages in excess of $50 million and punitive damages in excess of $50 million, the amount of damages being sought is unspecified. The court entered an order dismissing Allied Waste Industries, Inc. without prejudice on October 26, 2010. Discovery is ongoing. We intend to vigorously defend against the plaintiffs’ allegations in this action.

Livingston Matter

On October 13, 2009, the Twenty-First Judicial District Court, Parish of Livingston, State of Louisiana, issued its Post Class Certification Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in a lawsuit alleging nuisance from the activities of the CECOS hazardous waste facility located in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. The court granted class certification for all those living within a six mile radius of the CECOS site between the years 1977 and 1990. We have filed a notice of appeal with respect to the class certification order and oral argument is scheduled for August, 2011. The parties are working towards resolving the lawsuit through a negotiated settlement. If these efforts are not successful, we intend to continue to defend this lawsuit vigorously.

Multi-Employer Pension Plans

We contribute to 28 multi-employer pension plans under collective bargaining agreements covering union-represented employees. Approximately 20% of our total current employees are participants in such multi-employer plans. These plans generally provide retirement benefits to participants based on their service to contributing employers. We do not administer these multi-employer plans. In general, these plans are managed by a board of trustees with the unions appointing certain trustees and other contributing employers of the plan appointing certain members. We generally are not represented on the board of trustees.

Furthermore, under current law regarding multi-employer benefit plans, a plan’s termination, our voluntary withdrawal (which we consider from time to time), or the mass withdrawal of all contributing employers from any under-funded, multi-employer pension plan would require us to make payments to the plan for our proportionate share of the multi-employer plan’s unfunded vested liabilities. In the near future, as to any one or more of these plans, we may voluntarily withdraw from the plan, there may be a mass withdrawal of employees contributing to the plan or the plan may terminate. We could have adjustments to our estimates for these matters in the near term that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Restricted Cash and Marketable Securities

Our restricted cash deposits and marketable securities include, among other things, restricted cash held for capital expenditures under certain debt facilities, restricted cash and marketable securities used to settle claims related to our self insurance programs, and restricted cash and marketable securities pledged to regulatory agencies and governmental entities as financial guarantees of our performance related to our final capping, closure and post-closure obligations at our landfills, as follows (in millions):

	June 30,		December 31,
	2011		2010
Financing proceeds	$	29.2	$	39.8
Capping, closure and post-closure obligations		53.5		61.8
Self-insurance		70.5		63.8
Other		6.9		7.4
Total restricted cash and marketable securities	$	160.1	$	172.8

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet debt or similar obligations, other than operating leases and the financial assurances discussed above, which are not classified as debt. We have no transactions or obligations with related parties that are not disclosed, consolidated into or reflected in our reported financial position or results of operations. We have not guaranteed any third-party debt.