ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consisted of the following at December 31 (in thousands):



	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Insurance	$	70,217	$	57,889
Interest	3,930		12,660
Accrued compensation and benefits	77,881		55,861
Income, real estate, sales and other taxes	25,670		27,330
Other	55,707		34,242
	$	233,405	$	187,982

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, accrued insurance included health insurance costs of $14.7 million and $9.0 million, respectively, and accruals for losses under our workers' compensation, comprehensive general liability and vehicle liability self-insurance programs of $53.9 million and $47.9 million, respectively. The increase in our self-insurance liabilities from the comparable period in 2017 was primarily due to the acquisition of the Veolia Business, for which the Company assumed workers' compensation, general liability and vehicle liability claims reserves.

Accrued compensation and benefits increased by $22.0 million from the comparable period in 2017 due to an increase in variable compensation, which was attributable to greater revenue and earnings achieved in 2018.

As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, other accrued expenses included accrued legal matters of $7.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, and accrued severance charges of $2.7 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The increase in accrued legal matters was primarily due to the acquisition of the Veolia Business and certain liabilities assumed by the Company. Also included in the December 31, 2018 other accrued expenses balance was an $8.8 million derivative liability, recorded at fair value, related to the Company's cash flow hedges.