Asset Impairments and Unusual Items

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2016

Extraordinary and Unusual Items [Abstract]

Asset Impairments and Unusual Items

10. Asset Impairments and Unusual Items

Expense from divestitures, asset impairments and unusual items

During the six months ended June 30, 2015, we recognized net charges of $15 million, including $16 million of charges to write down or divest of certain assets in our recycling operations and a $5 million impairment charge related to a landfill in our Western Canada Area. Partially offsetting these charges was a $6 million gain on the sale of an oil and gas producing property.

Other income (expense)

During the second quarter of 2016, we recognized $41 million of impairments to write down minority-owned investments in waste diversion technology companies to their fair value. These charges are recorded in “Other, net” in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.