CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE LIABILITIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of closure and post-closure liabilities

The changes to closure and post-closure liabilities (also referred to as “asset retirement obligations”) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 were as follows (in thousands):

	Landfill Retirement Liability			Non-Landfill Retirement Liability			Total
Balance at January 1, 2012	$	25,764		$	9,117		$	34,881
New asset retirement obligations	639			—			639
Accretion	665			262			927
Changes in estimates recorded to statement of income	—			1			1
Other changes in estimates recorded to balance sheet	(2,221		)	11			(2,210		)
Expenditures	(41		)	(41		)	(82		)
Currency translation and other	60			(118		)	(58		)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	24,866		$	9,232		$	34,098