Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities [Abstract]

Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

2.   Landfill and Environmental Remediation Liabilities

Liabilities for landfill and environmental remediation costs are presented in the table below (in millions):

	June 30, 2011						December 31, 2010
			Environmental						Environmental
	Landfill		Remediation		Total		Landfill		Remediation		Total
Current (in accrued liabilities)	$	104	$	42	$	146	$	105	$	43	$	148
Long-term		1,203		233		1,436		1,161		241		1,402
	$	1,307	$	275	$	1,582	$	1,266	$	284	$	1,550

The changes to landfill and environmental remediation liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the six months ended June 30, 2011 are reflected in the table below (in millions):

				Environmental
	Landfill			Remediation
December 31, 2009	$	1,267		$	256
Obligations incurred and capitalized		47			—
Obligations settled		(86	)		(36	)
Interest accretion		82			5
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		(49	)		61
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		5			(2	)
December 31, 2010		1,266			284
Obligations incurred and capitalized		24			—
Obligations settled		(31	)		(16	)
Interest accretion		41			3
Revisions in cost estimates and interest rate assumptions		4			4
Acquisitions, divestitures and other adjustments		3			—
June 30, 2011	$	1,307		$	275

At several of our landfills, we provide financial assurance by depositing cash into restricted trust funds or escrow accounts for purposes of settling final 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 $120 million at June 30, 2011 and is included in long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Our investments and receivables related to the trusts that have been established for the benefit of both the Company and the host community in which we operate had an aggregate carrying value of $105 million at June 30, 2011 and are recorded in “Other receivables” and as long-term “Other assets” in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 12 for additional information related to these trusts.