LEASES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Leases

LEASES

NOTE 12 – LEASES

Property Leases (Operating Leases)

The Company leases its facilities and certain automobiles under operating leases which expire on various dates through 2025. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception and whether it is a finance or operating leases. Right of Use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. When readily determinable, the Company uses the implicit rate in determining the present value of lease payments. The ROU asset also includes any fixed lease payments, including in-substance fixed lease payments and excludes lease incentives. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease term is determined at lease commencement and includes any non-cancellable period for which the Company has the right to use the underlying asset, together with any options to extend that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $3,492,531 in ROU assets and $3,650,358 in lease liabilities for the leasing of scrap metal yards from an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Under the terms of the leases, Empire was required to pay an aggregate of $145,821 per month from January to March 2022. On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into amendments to the leases for its Kelford and Carrolton yards, increasing the monthly rent payments by an aggregate of $50,000 per month for use of an automotive shredder and downstream processing system, respectively, being installed on those properties. The Company is required to pay $199,821 per month in rent for these facilities from April to December 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1st of every year thereafter. On September 1, 2022, the Company terminated the lease for its Portsmouth yard on account of the Company purchasing the land underlying the lease, reducing the lease payment by $11,200 per month. The leases expire on January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the leases by 5 years per option. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the leases will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease any of the properties under the lease agreements.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $30,699 in ROU assets and $31,061 in lease liabilities for an office lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $1,150 per month and increasing by 3% on April 1st of every year beginning on April 1, 2022. The lease had an expiration date of March 31, 2024 and Empire was required to make a security deposit of $1,150. The Company does not have an option to extend the lease. The Company cannot sublease the office under the lease agreements. The Company did not renew the lease.

On October 11, 2021, Empire entered into leasing agreements with a company owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Empire for the leasing of the Company’s Virginia Beach metal recycling location. Under the terms of the leases, Empire is required to pay $9,677 for the prorated first month and $15,000 per month for the facilities beginning November 1, 2021 and increasing by 3% on January 1st of every year thereafter. The lease had an expiration date of January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the leases by 5 years per option. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the leases will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease any of the properties under the lease agreements. The Company terminated the lease on August 1, 2023.

On January 24, 2022, the Company entered into leasing agreements for 3,521 square feet of office space commencing upon the completion of tenant improvements which was expected to be on April 1, 2022 but shall be no later than May 1, 2022 (“Commencement Date”). Under the terms of the leases, the Company is required to pay $3,668 for the first twelve months of the lease and increasing by approximately 3% every 12 months thereafter until the expiration of the lease. The lease is for a period of five years from the Commencement Date and the Company was required to make a security deposit of $3,668. The Company does not have an option to extend the lease. The Company cannot sublease any of the office space under the lease agreement.

Effective February 1, 2022, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement with an entity owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Greenwave for the leasing of the Company’s Fairmont metal scrap yard located at 406 Sandy Street, Fairmont, NC 28340. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $8,000 per month for the facility beginning February 1, 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2023. The lease had an expiration of January 1, 2024 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement. The Company terminated the lease on August 1, 2023.

Effective October 13, 2022, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement for the leasing of 900 Broad Street, Suite C, Portsmouth, VA 23707. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $4,300 per month for the facility beginning November 1, 2022 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2023. The lease expires on December 31, 2027 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Company entered into an office space/land lease agreement with an entity owned by the Chief Executive Officer of Greenwave for the leasing of the Company’s Chesapeake facility located at 101 Freeman Ave, Chesapeake, VA 23324. Under the terms of the lease, the Company is required to pay $9,000 per month for the facility beginning January 1, 2023 and increasing by 3% on January 1, 2024. The lease expires on January 1, 2025 and the Company has two options to extend the lease by 5 years per option. The Company also has the option to extend the term of the lease for an additional year for the next 5 years upon the same terms and conditions. In the event the Company does not exercise the options, the lease will continue on a month-to-month basis. The Company cannot sublease the property under the lease agreement.

On July 31, 2023, the Company terminated the leases for 12 scrap yards. There was a gain on termination of lease of $108,863 during the year ended December 31, 2023. Since August 1, 2023, the Company has been renting the land underlying 13 scrap yards from an entity controlled by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, including the lease for the Chesapeake location described above, for an aggregate rent of $54,970 per month.

Automobile Leases (Operating Leases)

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $26,804 in ROU assets and $18,661 in lease liabilities for an automobile lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $750 per month until the lease expires on February 18, 2025 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible for any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

Upon effectiveness of the acquisition of Empire on October 1, 2021, the Company assumed $34,261 in ROU assets and $27,757 in lease liabilities for an automobile lease. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $650 per month until the lease expires on February 15, 2026 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible for any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

On April 1, 2021, Empire entered into a lease agreement for the leasing of certain equipment. Under the terms of the lease, Empire is required to pay $2,700 per month thereafter for a period of 24 months. The lease expired on March 31, 2023 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible to any damage to the equipment under the terms of the lease.

On December 23, 2021, Empire entered into a lease agreement for the leasing of an automobile. Under the terms of the lease, Empire was required to pay $18,000 for the first month and $1,000 per month thereafter for 60 months. The lease expires on December 23, 2025 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible to any damage to the automobile under the terms of the lease.

On July 1, 2022, Empire entered into a lease agreement for the leasing of certain equipment. Under the terms of the lease, Empire was required to pay $2,930 per month thereafter for a period of 24 months. The lease expires on July 31, 2024 and the Company does not have an option to renew or extend. The Company is responsible to any damage to the equipment under the terms of the lease.

ROU assets and liabilities consist of the following:

	December 31, 2023		December 31, 2022
ROU assets – related party	$	103,822	$	2,419,338
ROU assets		198,558		590,608
Total ROU assets	$	302,380	$	3,009,946
Current portion of lease liabilities – related party	$	111,240	$	2,742,140
Current portion of lease liabilities		89,731		232,236
Long term lease liabilities, net of current portion		94,943		116,262
Total lease liabilities	$	295,914	$	3,090,638

Aggregate minimum future commitments under non-cancelable operating leases and other obligations at December 31, 2023 were as follows:

Year ended December 31,
2024	$	200,971
2025		67,545
2026		50,476
2027		14,430
Total Minimum Lease Payments	$	333,422
Less: Imputed Interest	$	(37,508	)
Present Value of Lease Payments	$	295,914
Less: Current Portion	$	(200,971	)
Long Term Portion	$	-94,943

The Company leases its facilities, automobiles, and offices under operating leases which expire on various dates through 2024. Rent expense related to these leases is recognized based on the payment amount charged under the lease. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $2,263,374 and $2,619,300, respectively. At December 31, 2023, the leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 3 years and a weighted average discount rate of 10%.