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REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC. - Annual Report: 2022 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
Commission file number: 1-14267
REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
_________________________________________________________ 
Delaware65-0716904
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)(IRS Employer Identification No.)
18500 North Allied Way
Phoenix, Arizona
85054
(Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (480) 627-2700
_________________________________________________________ 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per shareRSGThe New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  þ
Note
– Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  þ    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer  þ
Accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company  ☐
Non-accelerated filer   o  
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes      No  þ
As of June 30, 2022, the aggregate market value of the shares of the Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $41.3 billion.
As of February 7, 2023, the registrant had outstanding 316,038,833 shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares of 4,244,307).
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement relative to the 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.


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Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
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Item 16.Form 10-K Summary



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Unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this Form 10-K to Republic, the Company, we, us and our refer to Republic Services, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Overview
Republic is one of the largest providers of environmental services in the United States, as measured by revenue. We operate across the United States and Canada through 353 collection operations, 233 transfer stations, 71 recycling centers, 206 active landfills, 3 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, 20 treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF), 6 salt water disposal wells and 7 deep injection wells. We are engaged in 73 landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects and had post-closure responsibility for 128 closed landfills.
We believe the total addressable North American environmental services market in which we operate generates approximately $107 billion of annual revenue, which includes the $78 billion United States and Canada recycling and solid waste industry and $29 billion of the broader environmental solutions industry. Within our recycling and solid waste business, we prioritize investments in market verticals with above average growth rates and higher return profiles. Environmental solutions remains fragmented which provides consolidation opportunities to drive scale. We believe we will be able to further expand our addressable market into other segments of the environmental services industry over time by leveraging our differentiated capabilities, including (1) customer zeal, (2) digital and (3) sustainability.
We operate throughout North America, but the physical collection and recycling or disposal of material is very much a local business and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each of the markets we serve. By combining local operating management with standardized business practices, we drive greater overall operating efficiency across the Company while maintaining day-to-day operating decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.
Our purpose-driven vision is to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world. We believe that our products and services are valuable to our customers and essential for long-term sustainability.
We further believe our focus and commitment to sustainability allows us to attract and retain the best talent, win more customers, increase customer loyalty and, ultimately, drive higher revenue and profits.
Foundational Elements
Our strategy is designed to generate profitable growth by sustainably managing our customers’ needs, and it is underpinned by three foundational elements – (1) our market position, (2) our operating model and (3) our people and talent agenda.
Market Position
Our goal is to develop the best vertically integrated market position to enable us to build density and improve returns. We strive to have leading market position in each of the markets we serve, or have a clear path toward how we will achieve a leading market position over time. In situations where we cannot establish a leading market position, or where operations are not generating acceptable returns, we may decide to divest certain assets and reallocate resources to other markets.
We have a robust market planning process to identify opportunities to grow internally through capital investments and infrastructure development and externally through acquisitions and public-private partnerships. Additionally, our market planning process allows us to analyze market conditions and proactively adjust to trends as they emerge, including the effects of legislation, demographic shifts and changes in the market and the competitive landscape.
Internal Growth
Volume Growth - We believe volumes are driven by population growth, household formation and new business formation. Volume growth through increases in our customer base and service offerings is the most capital efficient method to grow our business. We seek to obtain long-term contracts for collecting recyclable, solid waste and industrial waste material under residential collection contracts with municipalities, exclusive franchise agreements, small-container and large-container contracts and environmental solutions service contracts. We also look to enter into long-term disposal and recycling contracts with municipalities and other third parties. By obtaining such long-term agreements, we can grow our contracted revenue base at a rate consistent with the underlying economic growth in these markets. In addition, by securing long-term agreements, we are better able to help ensure we earn an appropriate return on the capital deployed.
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Price IncreasesWe seek to secure price increases necessary to offset increased costs, improve our operating margins and earn an appropriate return on our substantial investments in vehicles, equipment, landfills, transfer stations, recycling centers and other post-collection infrastructure.
Expansion of Recycling Capabilities - Based on the most recent United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, approximately 32% of municipal solid waste is recycled and/or composted. We expect that percentage to increase over the long-term as communities enhance and expand their recycling programs for their residents. As a key player in the circular economy, we are strategically focused on expanding recycling volume through innovative material handling processes and programs to help our customers achieve their goals related to sustainability and environmentally sound waste practices while also generating an appropriate return. In 2022, we announced the development of our first Polymer Center, a vertical integration that will advance circularity for plastics and help us manage the plastics stream from curbside collection to delivery of recycled content for consumer packaging. The Polymer Center will enable us to produce food-grade drop-in substitutes for virgin plastics, while allowing us to expand recycling of plastics across North America. We will continue to look for opportunities to expand or enhance our recycling capabilities in markets where customers are demanding these services, demonstrating a willingness to pay and where we can earn an appropriate return on our investment.
Infrastructure Development - We seek to identify opportunities to further our position as a vertically integrated service provider in markets where we are not fully integrated. Our goal is to create market-specific, vertically integrated operations typically consisting of one or more collection operations, transfer stations, landfills and recycling centers. Where appropriate, we seek to obtain permits to build transfer stations, recycling centers and landfills that would vertically integrate our waste services or expand the service areas for our existing disposal sites. Additionally, we seek opportunities to expand and permit new airspace at our existing landfills in order to replace airspace consumed. Development projects, while generally less capital intensive than acquisitions, typically require extensive permitting efforts that can take years to complete with no assurance of success. We undertake development projects when we believe there is a reasonable probability of success and where reasonably priced acquisition opportunities are not available. Through landfill and fleet innovation, recycling and circularity of key materials and renewable energy production, we are committed to environmentally responsible operations that increase our efficiency as well as our ability to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.
External Growth
Acquisitions and Public-Private Partnerships - Our acquisition growth strategy focuses primarily on acquiring privately held recycling and solid waste companies and environmental solutions businesses that complement our existing business platform. We believe our ability to successfully complete these acquisitions is enhanced by the challenges facing many privately-held companies, including increasing competition in the environmental services industry, increasing capital requirements due to changes in regulatory requirements and technology and the limited number of exit strategies for privately-held companies. We also evaluate stand-alone opportunities to acquire businesses and/or facilities that are being divested by other publicly-owned companies.
We continue to invest in value-enhancing acquisitions in existing markets. Given our free cash flow, availability under our credit facilities and our ability to access the public capital markets, we have the financial flexibility to make additional acquisitions that will complement our existing business platform, including larger acquisitions if the right opportunities present themselves. For instance, during the second quarter of 2022, we acquired US Ecology, Inc. (US Ecology), a leading provider of environmental solutions, offering treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous and specialty waste.
We also focus on growth through public-private partnerships, which include the recycling and waste operations and facilities of municipal and other local governments. We believe over time we have an opportunity to acquire operations and facilities from municipalities and other local governments as they seek to raise capital and/or reduce risk.
We realize synergies from consolidating businesses into our existing operations, whether through acquisitions or public-private partnerships, which allows us to reduce capital expenditures and expenses associated with truck routing, personnel, fleet maintenance, inventories and back-office administration.
Operating Model
Our operating model allows us to deliver a consistent, high-quality service to all our customers through the Republic Way: One Way. Everywhere. Every Day. This approach of developing standardized processes with rigorous controls and tracking allows us to leverage our scale and deliver durable operational excellence. The Republic Way is the key to harnessing the best of what we do as operators and translating that across all facets of our business. Key elements of our operating model are our
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organizational structure, safety, fleet automation, compressed natural gas vehicles, fleet electrification and standardized maintenance.
Organizational Structure
A key enabler of the Republic Way operating model is our organizational structure that fosters a high performance culture by maintaining 360-degree accountability and full profit and loss responsibility with local management, supported by a functional structure to provide subject matter expertise. This structure allows us to take advantage of our scale by coordinating functionally across all of our markets, while empowering local management to respond to unique market dynamics.
Through this operating model, we have rolled out several productivity and cost control initiatives designed to deliver the best service possible to our customers in an efficient and environmentally sound way.
Our senior management evaluates, oversees and manages the financial performance of our operations through three field groups, referred to as Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3. Group 1 is our recycling and solid waste business operating primarily in geographic areas located in the western United States. Group 2 is our recycling and solid waste business operating primarily in geographic areas located in the southeastern and mid-western United States and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Group 3 is our environmental solutions business operating in geographic areas located across the United States and Canada. These groups each provide integrated environmental services, including but not limited to collection, transfer, recycling and disposal.
Safety
Republic is dedicated to the safety of our employees, customers and the communities we serve. We have a dedicated team of safety professionals at our corporate headquarters and in our field operations, led by our Vice President of Safety who reports directly to our Chief Operating Officer. Due to the nature of our industry, we make safety a top priority and we recognize and reward employees for outstanding safety records. Over the past 10 years, our safety performance (based on OSHA recordable rates) has been 35% better than the industry average. Our Think, Choose, Live slogan encapsulates our everyday safety messaging to our employees to: Think about what you are doing, Choose the safe answer and Live to go home to your family. With the phrase printed on numerous items, including hard hats and the equipment our employees use, there are constant reminders for employees to go home in the same condition in which they came to work. Our goal is to ensure every one of our employees returns home safely each night.
Through our Safety Amplified program, we are providing more tools and driving greater awareness to help our teams better execute our safety standards. Regular training, multifaceted programs and strategic partnerships are key components to this program. It is simple by design and comprised of actions and activities that ensure safety is embedded in all we do. The program includes six initiatives to help us achieve our goal to have zero employee fatalities and reduce our OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate.
Focus Together: This effort is the very core of our safety program and is designed to help frontline employees eliminate the six most common types of serious incidents.
Lead Together: We provide best-in-class communication channels and advanced training techniques for all frontline supervisors and managers to help them guide their teams.
Partner Together: Staying safe requires involvement by employees at all levels. We’ve increased leadership visits with frontline employees and supervisors to support each divisions’ safety goals.
Celebrate Together: We take pride in recognizing employees who demonstrate a relentless commitment to safety. Employees with the best driving records are eligible for the industry’s most prestigious award, the National Waste & Recycling Association’s Driver of the Year. Republic drivers have won 72% of the Driver of the Year awards issued for the large truck category since 2009. In addition, our best drivers are recognized and rewarded with competing in our National Road-EO competition.
Analyze Together: We analyze real-time data to make short- and long-term decisions and identify opportunities for improvement. Examples include analysis of roadway awareness training, data mapping and other employee protection and preparedness insights.
Innovate Together: We employ the latest technologies in our fleet, including automation, rear cameras, in-cab backup alarms and event recording systems, and we take a data-driven approach to support our employees. We’re also working with equipment manufacturers to incorporate safety elements such as seat belt alarms, blind spot awareness, lane departure alarms and other potentially lifesaving equipment in our fleet.

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We believe our Safety Amplified program will provide additional benefits for our Company and stakeholders including:
further strengthening relationships within the communities we service;
enhancing customer trust;
streamlining operational processes and increasing productivity;
delivering a reputational advantage, including positioning our Company as an employer-of-choice;
building and sustaining a safety culture in all areas of our business; and
contributing to employee engagement.
For more information regarding our safety performance, refer to our Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) report, which can be found at republicservices.com/sustainability. The information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other filing we make under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act).
Fleet Automation
Approximately 76% of our residential routes have been converted to automated single-driver trucks. By converting our residential routes to automated service, we reduce labor costs, improve driver productivity, decrease emissions and create a safer work environment for our employees. Additionally, communities using automated vehicles generally have higher participation rates in recycling programs, thereby complementing our initiative to expand our recycling capabilities.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Vehicles
Approximately 20% of our recycling and solid waste collection fleet operates on CNG and approximately 17% of our replacement recycling and solid waste vehicle purchases during 2022 were CNG vehicles. We believe using CNG vehicles provides us with a competitive advantage in communities with strict clean emission initiatives that focus on protecting the environment. Although upfront capital costs are higher, using CNG vehicles reduces our overall fleet operating costs through lower fuel expenses. As of December 31, 2022, we operated 45 CNG fueling stations.
Fleet Electrification
We believe we are taking a leadership position in electric technology innovation for our recycling and solid waste collection fleet. This is a critical step toward reducing our environmental impact through lower fleet emissions. We believe it will also improve our total cost of ownership while providing a competitive advantage in certain communities. We are partnering with multiple manufacturers to pilot electric-powered recycling and solid waste trucks. As electric vehicle technology continues to develop, we expect to further deploy electrification to our fleet.
Standardized Maintenance
Based on an industry trade publication, we operate the fifth largest vocational fleet in the United States. As of December 31, 2022, our average fleet age in years, by line of business, was as follows:
Approximate Number of VehiclesApproximate Average Age
Residential7,200 7.6
Small-container5,100 7.0
Large-container4,600 9.2
Total16,900 7.9
OneFleet, our standardized vehicle maintenance program, enables us to use best practices for fleet management, truck care and maintenance. Through standardization of core functions, we believe we can minimize variability in our maintenance processes, resulting in higher vehicle quality and a lower environmental footprint while extending the average service life of our fleet. Additionally, our focus on preventative maintenance is improving the reliability of our fleet and enabling us to provide superior service to our customers, differentiating us from our competition.
People and Talent Agenda
Being human-centered is at the core of our robust people and talent agenda. We strive to maintain an environment that attracts and retains the best talent. Our approximately 40,000 full-time employees are a critical component in successfully executing our strategy and running our operations. We work hard to remain a company where the best people, with exceptional talents and diverse backgrounds, can thrive and foster a culture of caring where people feel respected, supported and encouraged to bring their best selves to work every day.
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We are dedicated to driving our people and talent agenda, which includes (1) representing the diversity of the communities we serve and sustaining a safe and inclusive culture, (2) maintaining a highly engaged workforce, (3) developing our talent through learning and development experiences and (4) offering rewards that attract and retain the best workforce. We review key progress metrics such as representation, engagement and turnover and regularly report on these metrics to our Board of Directors. This level of reporting holds all of our leaders accountable for the continued growth and development of our people.
Inclusion and Diversity
We believe the composite strength of our employees’ ideas, built on their unique experiences and backgrounds, is essential to our ability to meet and anticipate our customers’ needs. We are proud of the diversity of our front-line workforce, as it closely represents the demographics of the communities we serve. We are relentless in our focus to improve representation of diverse groups across all levels of the Company. Our commitment to inclusion and diversity starts at the top of our organization, as outlined in our Mission of Supporting an Inclusive Culture (MOSAIC), established in 2013 and supported by the MOSAIC Council. The MOSAIC Council consists of leaders from across the Company who serve as ambassadors and thought partners for inclusion and diversity. This enables us to continue to develop new strategies and activities that are tied to the needs of our employees, customers and business with the goal of creating an even more inclusive work environment and diverse workforce.
We support inclusion and connectivity for our diverse populations through our Business Resource Groups (BRG) and focus on the involvement of our field locations in all of our BRGs, including Women of Republic, VALOR (Veterans, Advocacy, Learning, Outreach and Recruiting), UNIDOS and the Black Employee Network (BEN). In January 2023, we also launched a new LGBTQ+ BRG.
In 2022, we continued our focus on providing programs and virtual events to advance awareness, education and connectivity across our workforce. Our well-attended “Let’s Talk” series aimed at furthering our employees' understanding and empathy related to the topic of inclusion and diversity. In conjunction with this series, we have held multiple "Let's Connect" sessions, providing an opportunity for employees across an array of intersectionalities to share their unique experiences and perspectives directly with our CEO. We will continue to offer opportunities to help our employees conduct courageous and authentic conversations with one another. We are committed to maintaining a work environment where people of all backgrounds feel valued and safe to share their perspectives.
Employee Engagement
We believe an engaged workforce is a key element of our success as engaged employees deliver better customer service and are more productive. We measure employee engagement through a third-party survey, assessing employee sentiment on a variety of topics such as pride for the Company, job satisfaction and intention to stay. Our data reinforces that business units with a highly engaged workforce experience less turnover. We also found that employees whose leaders are highly inclusive are more likely to speak up and share their perspective. Regularly hearing from our employees allows us to understand how to support and strengthen an exceptional employee experience. Our goal is to achieve and maintain employee engagement scores at or above 88 by 2030. Our employee engagement score was 85 in 2022, which is above national benchmarks by five points. Approximately 97% of our employees participated in the engagement survey process in April and October 2022, which represented an all-time high participation rate and is more than 20% higher than the national benchmark. Employee engagement is a core part of our business strategy, which is why we compensate our General Managers, in part, on their employee engagement scores. This reinforces our commitment for leaders to listen and take action on employee feedback and helps to ensure that our leaders are held accountable and rewarded for their efforts to drive a more engaged workforce.
Talent Development
We are committed to providing our employees with opportunities to develop throughout their careers. Our programs, including new hire onboarding and new leader assimilation, reinforce our Company values, expectations and business approach. We relaunched our successful Leadership Fundamentals program in 2022, targeting field leaders. With a goal of reaching all leaders through this program, approximately 650 leaders completed this training in 2022, with approximately 2,150 more slated in 2023. Targeted development experiences support the growth of people in key roles, including Driver Training, Technician Training, Supervisor Training, Sales Acceleration and General Manager Onboarding, among others. We believe these programs provide the fundamental skills necessary to be successful across roles. Additionally, to meet the specific needs of the business, we opened a comprehensive Technical Training Institute in April 2021 where we train and develop our technicians. We have had 98 participants in the course so far.
Our leadership programs are a critical part of growing our people. We remain focused on attracting, hiring and developing early career leaders. Our rotational training and development programs, including our General Manager Acceleration Program (GMAP) and Leadership Trainee Program, help us attract, develop and advance a diverse and talented pool of individuals from across our organization. Our Executive Leadership team sponsors these programs, providing visibility and support for the career advancement of our high-potential talent across the organization. Since the beginning of these programs in 2017, 78 leaders have graduated into leadership positions. Additionally, our MBA intern program, with 24 participants since 2019, introduces
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strong talent to the organization and is a path of opportunity into the GMAP program. We have found that these programs and experiences help ensure that the next generation of leaders build the necessary skills and experiences to be successful in their roles today and in the future.
We continue to leverage innovative training methods using mixed mediums to deliver trainings and instruction to our employees across the country. We remain committed to expanding employee participation in learning programs that are relevant to our business strategy and contribute to career advancement for our employees.
As we continue to grow as a Company, we are investing in new technology and tools so employees can do their jobs safely and effectively, while providing day-to-day stability and professional development.
Compensation and Benefits
We offer compensation and benefits that help improve our employees' overall financial, physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as recognize hard work with opportunities to grow. Our commitment to paying market competitive wages enables us to attract and hire talent all across the country, including an expansion of many opportunities to work remotely. Our approach to paying for performance supports our focus on pay equity. Our compensation packages are designed to provide employees with a stable and livable wage and growth potential. Our focus on wellness also provides our employees with access to preventative care, advice on financial planning and support for mental health, contributing to our efforts to provide a total rewards package that improves and enhances the lives of our employees
Differentiating Capabilities
To effectively execute our strategic plan, we prioritize the development and investment in capabilities that will differentiate us in the marketplace. These capabilities include – (1) customer zeal, (2) digital and (3) sustainability.
Customer Zeal
The goal of customer zeal is to drive customer loyalty by offering differentiated products and services specifically designed to meet our customers’ needs. We believe this increases customer satisfaction and willingness to pay for a higher value service. Customer Zeal is a cultural commitment to enable and empower our employees to own their role in the customer experience.
To help our sales team identify specific customer needs and configure the right offering, we use a Priority Based Selling (PBS) technique and our Capture pricing tool nationwide.
PBS enables us to identify and segment customers’ buying priorities and attract customers that are willing to pay for enhanced offerings.
Capture is a cloud-based pricing tool that creates a more professional sales experience, helps realize better pricing levels at the point of sale and provides enhanced controls over the price quoting process.
We continue to expand our offering of products and services to meet customer demand for a single provider for their environmental service needs. We have made progress on this front, primarily through acquisitions, including the acquisition of US Ecology in May 2022. US Ecology is a leading provider of environmental solutions, offering treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous and specialty waste. For services that we don’t provide, we fulfill demand through our alliance partnerships while maintaining the customer facing relationship.
To help ensure a consistent customer experience, we invested in our customer service capabilities and our centralized Customer Experience function. This modern technology provides our customer services employees with the tools and capabilities they need to provide better levels of service through a variety of communication channels. The standardized approach enhances the customer experience and provides us a platform to reduce the cost to service our customers.
To help ensure our efforts are making an impact and building customer loyalty, we solicit feedback from our customers, including Net Promoter Score℠, so that every General Manager receives recent, relevant feedback that allows him or her the ability to reach out to customers directly and address issues immediately.
Digital
The goal of our digital priority is to allow us to provide a consistent experience across our business while enabling our customers to do business with us through more channels and with better access to information.
By increasing the ease of use and functionality of our web-based market presence, we believe we enhance customer satisfaction, interaction and connectivity while lowering our costs. These tools reinforce to our customers that they can rely on us to handle their recycling and waste service needs in a way that is easy and convenient for them.
Our website and mobile app are online account management tools, allowing customers access to their accounts and our services.
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Our e-commerce sales channel allows customers to secure services on a real-time basis, provides capabilities to meet our customers' evolving buying preferences and provides a lower cost sales channel.
We are also leveraging technology to digitally connect our customers, drivers, dispatchers, supervisors and trucks via our "RISE" dispatch platform and in-cab technology. We are utilizing an agile iterative approach to the development and multi-year roll-out of this technology to ensure durable adoption and an appropriate return on our investment. With the roll-out of this technology we are improving productivity through more real-time routing information and data visualization tools, increasing customer connectivity and enabling automated service verification communications and enhancing the employee experience by providing better tools and technology designed around employee interaction. The rollout of the "RISE" in-cab technology enhancements across our collection fleet will continue through 2023.
Sustainability
The goal of our differentiating sustainability capabilities is to provide our customers with sustainable solutions that support a cleaner, safer and healthier world. We have long been a leader in environmental services and sustainability. We introduced our Elements of Sustainability, the foundation of our sustainability platform, in 2014. Our elements, Safety, Talent, Climate Leadership and Communities, are deeply integrated into our business and anchor our ambitious 2030 sustainability goals.
Our Board of Directors’ Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Committee has oversight responsibility with respect to our sustainability performance, our corporate responsibilities, our role as a socially responsible organization and our enterprise risks, including environmental, climate related risks and opportunities and reputational risks. The Committee meets at least quarterly to be updated on progress and conducts a formal comprehensive review of the Company’s performance in these areas on an annual basis.
Our 2030 Sustainability Goals
As we grow, so does our opportunity to make a meaningful, positive impact on the environment and society. Our ambitious 2030 goals are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals(1) and our greenhouse gas reduction goal is aligned with The Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015. Each goal is aligned with one of the Company's elements of sustainability. Together they are designed to significantly benefit the environment and society, while enhancing the foundation and profitability of our business for the long-term.
Safety Amplified: Achieve zero annual employee fatalities
Incident Reduction: Reduce OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) to 2.0 or less by 2030
Engaged Workforce: Achieve and maintain employee engagement scores at or above 88 by 2030
Science Based Target: Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 35% by 2030(2), approved by SBTi(3), with an interim goal of achieving a 10% reduction by 2025
Circular Economy: Increase recovery of key materials by 40% on a combined basis by 2030(2)
Renewable Energy: Increase beneficial reuse of biogas by 50% by 2030(2)
Charitable Giving: Create sustainable neighborhoods through strong community partnerships for 45 million people by 2030(2)
We believe that reducing our impact on the planet and improving the quality of life for its inhabitants are the right things to do, and they are also necessary actions to ensure a vibrant future for our organization.
Refer to our Sustainability Report for our progress toward our 2030 sustainability goals, and refer to our full suite of climate-related sustainability reporting for updates regarding our progress toward our climate goals, including Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), SASB, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and CDP Climate Change, all of which can be found at investor.republicservices.com/sustainability. The information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other filing we make under the Exchange Act.


(1) We have aligned our 2030 goals with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, (12) Responsible Consumption and Production and (13) Climate Action.
(2) Data points used 2017 as the baseline year.
(3) SBTi, or Science Based Targets initiative, is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
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Cash Utilization Strategy
We take a consistent and balanced approach to capital allocation to drive long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders. The predictability of our free cash flows allows us to efficiently execute our capital allocation strategy, which includes investing in acquisitions and returning free cash flow to our shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. We are committed to an efficient capital structure and maintaining our investment grade credit ratings on our senior debt, which was rated BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, BBB+ by Fitch Ratings, Inc. and Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Such ratings have allowed us, and should continue to allow us, to readily access capital markets at competitive rates.
We manage our free cash flow by ensuring that capital expenditures and operating asset levels are appropriate in light of our existing business and growth opportunities and by closely managing our working capital.
Dividends
In July 2022, our Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.495 per share, which represents an increase of approximately 8% over the prior year. Over the last five years, our dividends have increased at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.7%. We expect to continue paying quarterly cash dividends and may consider additional dividend increases if we believe they will enhance shareholder value.
Share Repurchases
In October 2020, our Board of Directors approved a $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization effective starting January 1, 2021 and extending through December 31, 2023. Share repurchases under the current program may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. While the Board of Directors has approved the program, the timing of any purchases, the prices and the number of shares of common stock to be purchased will be determined by our management, at its discretion, and will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The share repurchase program may be extended, suspended or discontinued at any time. On a quarterly basis, our Board of Directors reviews the intrinsic value of our stock and the parameters around which we repurchase our shares. Refer to Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for repurchase authority remaining as of December 31, 2022.
Shareholder Value
We are committed to creating long-term shareholder value by generating consistent earnings and cash flow growth while continually improving returns on invested capital. Our incentive compensation programs are aligned with these objectives at all levels of management. We have an active shareholder outreach program and routinely interact with shareholders on a number of matters, including environmental, social, governance, talent and executive compensation.
Management Team
We believe that building and blending a diverse team of strong industry veterans, along with talented people from other industries who bring unique skill sets, will contribute to what we call our Composite Strength. Composite Strength combines the vast, varied experience and capability of both strong environmental services industry veterans and talented people from other industries. Additionally, Composite Strength helps ensure the continuity of leadership and preservation of institutional knowledge, while also bringing in skills and new ideas from other companies outside of our industry - many of them from leading companies.
Jon Vander Ark was named Chief Executive Officer in 2021. Since joining Republic in 2013, Mr. Vander Ark has held management roles of increasing responsibility, including Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President, Operations, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, President and his current role as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining the Company, he served as a partner at McKinsey & Company’s Detroit office, managing clients across a variety of industries, including transportation, logistics, manufacturing and consumer products.
Brian Bales was named Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer in February 2015. Mr. Bales has been with Republic for over 20 years, serving as Executive Vice President, Business Development from December 2008 to February 2015 and Vice President, Corporate Development from 1998 to December 2008. Prior to his time at Republic, Mr. Bales held roles of increasing responsibility in finance and business development for Ryder System, Inc. from 1993 to 1998 and served as chief financial officer for EDIFEX & VTA Communications from 1988 through 1993. Prior to that, Mr. Bales was an accountant for PwC (formerly Price Waterhouse) from 1986 to 1988. Mr. Bales serves on the Board of Directors of Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc.
Brian DelGhiaccio was named Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in June 2020. Mr. DelGhiaccio has over 20 years of experience in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility. He was named Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer in June 2019. Before that, Mr. DelGhiaccio served as Vice President, Investor Relations from 2012 to
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2014, progressed to Senior Vice President, Finance from 2014 to 2017 and then to Senior Vice President, Business Transformation in 2017. Prior to his time at Republic, Mr. DelGhiaccio was a senior consultant with Arthur Andersen.
Catharine D. Ellingsen was named Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary in June 2016. Ms. Ellingsen joined the Company as Corporate Counsel in August 2001 and has experience in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility. She was named Managing Corporate Counsel in January 2003, Director, Legal and Associate General Counsel in January 2005 and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in June 2007. Ms. Ellingsen was named Senior Vice President, Human Resources in August 2011 and served in that position until June 2016. Before joining the Company, Ms. Ellingsen was an attorney at Steptoe & Johnson LLP from 1996 to 2001 and at Bryan Cave LLP from 1993 to 1996. Ms. Ellingsen serves on the Boards of Directors of Bunker Hill Group, Nebraska Distributing Company and Daseke, Inc.
Amanda Hodges was named Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer in November 2020. In this role, Ms. Hodges oversees marketing, communications, product development, customer engagement and revenue management for the Company. Prior to joining Republic, Ms. Hodges spent 15 years in leadership roles for Dell Technologies, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of North America Marketing and the Global Executive Briefing Program. Before joining Dell, Ms. Hodges worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company.
Katrina Liddell was named Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer in June 2021. In this role, she is responsible for leading the Company’s Sales organization, which includes Field Sales, National Accounts, Manufacturing and Environmental Services and Municipal Services. She also oversees the Customer Resource Centers. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Liddell held the role of President, Global Forwarding and Expedite for XPO Logistics Inc., a global transportation and contract logistics company. Before joining XPO, Ms. Liddell spent 14 years with Johnson Controls International, where she held senior leadership roles in enterprise account management, vertical market development, operations, product development and customer relations. Ms. Liddell serves on the Board of Directors of The Kristine Pettoni Foundation.
Tim Stuart was named Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer in May 2019. Prior to his current role, Mr. Stuart served as Executive Vice President, Operations from January 2016 to May 2019, where he was responsible for maximizing field performance, executing the operating plan and achieving financial and operational results across the Company. Mr. Stuart has over 20 years of experience in the waste industry. He previously served as the Company’s East Region President from September 2013 to January 2016. He joined Republic in April 2006 as Director of Operations and has held a variety of roles with the Company, including Area President, Vice President of Customer Experience and Region Vice President.
Our local and area management teams have extensive industry experience in growing, operating and managing environmental services companies and have substantial experience in their local geographic markets. This allows us to quickly respond to and meet our customers’ needs and stay in touch with local businesses and municipalities. We believe our strong area management teams allow us to effectively and efficiently drive our initiatives and help ensure consistency throughout the organization. Our area management teams and area presidents have extensive authority and responsibility over operations within their respective geographic markets. As a result of retaining experienced managers with extensive knowledge of and involvement in their local communities, we are proactive in anticipating customers’ needs and adjusting to changes in our markets. We also seek to implement the best practices of our various business units throughout our operations to continue improving our operations and our operating margins.
Comprehensive Environmental Services
We serve customers with a strong, vertically-integrated operating platform and offer a complete set of products and services, including the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions. We offer a wide array of products and services with a proven track record in safety, compliance and environmental stewardship.
Recycling & Solid Waste Services
We have a strong, national, vertically-integrated operating platform that allows us to compete more effectively and efficiently in the local markets in which we operate. Where appropriate, we seek to achieve a high rate of internalization by controlling material streams from the point of collection through recycling processing or disposal. During the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 68% of the total solid waste volume we collected was disposed at landfills we own or operate (internalization). Our fully integrated markets generally have a lower cost of operations and more favorable cash flows than our markets that are not fully integrated. Through acquisitions, landfill operating agreements and other market development activities, we create market-specific, vertically-integrated operations typically consisting of one or more collection operations, transfer stations and landfills. We also operate recycling centers in markets where diversion of waste is a priority, customers are willing to pay for the service and we can earn an appropriate return on our investment.
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Collection Services
We provide residential, small-container and large-container collection services through 353 collection operations. In 2022, approximately 69% of our total revenue was derived from our collection business, of which approximately 20% of our total revenue related to residential services, approximately 29% related to small-container services and approximately 20% related to large-container services.
Our residential collection business involves the curbside collection of material for transport to transfer stations, or directly to landfills, recycling centers, or organics processing facilities. We typically perform residential collection services under contracts with municipalities, which we generally secure through competitive bids, which give us exclusive rights to service all or a portion of the homes in the municipalities. These contracts usually range in duration from one to five years, although some of our exclusive franchises are for significantly longer periods. We also perform residential services on a subscription basis, in which individual households contract directly with us. The fees received for subscription residential collection are based primarily on the market, collection frequency, type of service, the distance to the disposal facility and the cost of disposal. In general, subscription residential collection fees are paid quarterly in advance by the customers receiving the service.
In our small-container business, we supply our customers with recycling and waste containers of varying sizes. We typically perform small-container collection services under one- to three-year service agreements, and fees are determined based on a number of factors including the market, collection frequency, type of equipment furnished, type and volume or weight of the material collected, transportation costs and the cost of processing or disposal. Our small-container services are typically offered to small business complexes, multi-family housing and strip malls and include industries such as restaurants, retail, real-estate and professional and other services.
Our large-container collection business includes both recurring and temporary customer relationships. For the recurring portion, we supply our customers with recycling and waste containers of varying sizes and rent compactors to large generators of material. We typically perform the collection services under one- to three-year service agreements, and fees are determined based on a number of factors including the market, collection frequency, type of equipment furnished, type and volume or weight of the material collected, transportation costs and the cost of disposal. Our recurring large-container services are typically offered to larger facilities, hotels and office buildings and include industries such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, professional and other services.
For the temporary portion of our large-container collection business, the majority of the material relates to construction and demolition activities and is typically event-driven. We provide temporary collection services on a contractual basis with terms ranging from a single pickup to one-year or longer.
Transfer Services
We own or operate 233 transfer stations. Revenue at our transfer stations is primarily generated by charging tipping or disposal fees, which accounted for approximately 5% of our revenue during 2022. Our collection operations deposit material at these transfer stations, as do other private and municipal haulers, for compaction and transfer to disposal sites or recycling centers. Transfer stations provide collection operations with a cost-effective means to consolidate material and reduce transportation costs while providing our landfills with an additional mechanism to extend their geographic reach.
When our own collection operations use our transfer stations, this improves internalization by allowing us to retain fees we would otherwise pay to third-party disposal sites. It also allows us to manage costs associated with material disposal because: (1) transfer trucks have larger capacities than collection trucks, allowing us to deliver more material to the landfill or processing center in each trip; (2) material is accumulated and compacted at strategically located transfer stations to increase efficiency; and (3) we can retain volume by managing the material to one of our own landfills or processing centers rather than to a competitor’s.
Recycling Processing Services
We own or operate 71 recycling centers. These centers generate revenue through the and sale of old corrugated containers (OCC), old newsprint (ONP), aluminum, glass and other materials, which accounted for approximately 3% of our total revenue during 2022. Approximately 81% of our total recycling center volume is fiber based and includes OCC, ONP and other mixed paper. During 2022, we processed and sold 2.0 million tons, excluding glass and organics, from our recycling centers. An additional 2.0 million tons were collected by us and delivered to third parties. We are investing in innovative recycling technology and have expanded our organics operations to help customers meet their diversion goals. We processed 1.0 million and sold 0.3 million tons of organic materials, respectively, from our recycling centers in 2022.
Changing market demand for recycled commodities causes volatility in commodity prices. At current volumes and mix of materials, we believe a $10 per ton change in the price of recycled commodities would change both annual revenue and operating income by approximately $10 million.
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In certain instances, we issue recycling rebates to our municipal or large-container customers, which can be based on the price we receive upon the final sale of recycled commodities, a fixed contractual rate or other measures. We also receive rebates when we dispose of recycled commodities at third-party processing facilities.
As consumer demand for recycling services has increased, we have met that demand by integrating recycling components across our collection service offerings. Our goal is to provide a complete material stream management solution to our customers in a vertically integrated, environmentally sustainable way.
We continue to invest in proven technologies to control costs and to simplify and streamline recycling for our customers. For example, robotics and advanced sorting equipment, such as disk screens, magnets and optical sorters, identifies and separates different kinds of paper, metals, plastics and other materials to increase efficiency and maximize our recycling efforts.
Landfill Services
We own or operate 206 active landfills. Our landfill tipping fees charged to third parties accounted for approximately 11% of our revenue during 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we had estimated permitted acres of 40,400 and estimated total available disposal capacity of 5.0 billion in-place cubic yards. The in-place capacity of our landfills is subject to change based on engineering factors, requirements of regulatory authorities, our ability to continue to operate our landfills in compliance with applicable regulations and our ability to successfully renew operating permits and obtain expansion permits at our sites. Some of our landfills accept non-hazardous special waste, including utility ash, asbestos and contaminated soils.
Most of our active landfill sites have the potential for expanded disposal capacity beyond the currently permitted acreage. We monitor the availability of permitted disposal capacity at each of our landfills and evaluate whether to pursue an expansion at a given landfill based on estimated future waste volumes and prices, market needs, remaining capacity and the likelihood of obtaining an expansion. To satisfy future disposal demand, we are seeking to expand permitted capacity at certain landfills; however, all proposed or future expansions may not be permitted.
Republic is committed to harnessing landfill gas, the natural byproduct of decomposing waste, and converting it to energy. The use of landfill gas provides economic and environmental benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the capture and use of methane. As of December 31, 2022, we operated 73 landfill gas and renewable energy projects. The majority of these projects were developed and are owned by a third party.
We also have responsibility for 128 closed landfills, for which we have associated closure and post-closure obligations.
Environmental Solutions
We have the capabilities to address the complex sustainability needs of our customers. Our environmental solutions offerings include collection, treatment, consolidation, disposal and recycling of hazardous and non-hazardous waste; field and industrial services; equipment rental; emergency response and standby services; and in-plant services. Environmental solutions volume is generated by the daily operations of industrial, petrochemical and refining facilities and oil and natural gas exploration and production sites, including maintenance, plant turnarounds and capital projects. Volume also is generated by private and government funded projects including site remediation, redevelopment or emergency spill response. In 2022, approximately 9% of our revenue was derived from environmental solutions.
Waste Treatment & Disposal
We own or operate 6 active hazardous waste landfills, 9 active energy waste landfills, 3 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, 20 treatment, storage and disposal facilities, 6 salt water disposal wells and 7 deep injection wells. We recycle, treat and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial wastes. The waste handled include substances which are classified as “hazardous” because of their corrosive, ignitable, reactive or toxic properties and other wastes subject to federal, state and provincial environmental regulation. The waste we handle comes in solid, liquid and sludge form and can be received in a variety of containerized and bulk forms and transported to our facilities by truck and rail.
We also operate thermal desorption units that recover oil and metal bearing catalyst from refinery and other organic and oil-based waste. The recycled oil and recycled catalyst are sold to third parties.
Field Services
Our field services include a wide range of specialty and total waste management services provided to refineries, chemical plants, manufacturing plants and other government, commercial and industrial facilities either on-site or at our network of facilities. These services include industrial cleaning and maintenance, retail services, lab pack, site remediation, equipment cleaning and maintenance services, specialty equipment rental, transportation and emergency response.
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As an integral part of our services, we employ highly trained staff and operate a network of service centers that characterize, package and collect hazardous and non-hazardous wastes from customers and transport such wastes to and between our facilities for treatment or bulking for shipment to final disposal locations.
Other Services
Other revenue consists primarily of National Accounts revenue generated from nationwide or regional contracts in markets outside our operating areas where the associated material handling services are subcontracted to local operators. Consequently, substantially all of this revenue is offset with related subcontract costs, which are recorded in cost of operations.
Competition
We operate in a competitive industry. Competition in the environmental services industry comes from a few other large, national publicly-owned companies, several regional publicly- and privately-owned companies and thousands of small privately-owned companies. In any given market, competitors may have larger operations and greater resources. In addition, we compete with municipalities that maintain material collection or disposal operations. These municipalities may have financial advantages due to the availability of tax revenue and greater opportunities for tax-exempt financing.
We compete for collection accounts primarily based on our product offering, quality of service and price. From time-to-time, our competitors reduce the price of their services in an effort to expand market share or to win a competitively bid municipal contract. Our ability to maintain and increase prices in certain markets may be impacted by our competitors’ pricing policies. This may have an effect on our future revenue and profitability.
Seasonality and Severe Weather
Our operating revenues tend to be somewhat higher in the summer months, primarily due to higher volumes of construction and demolition waste. The volumes of large-container and residential recycling and waste in certain regions of the country also tend to increase during the summer months. Our second and third quarter revenues and results of operations typically reflect this seasonality.
We provide essential recycling and solid waste collection and disposal services in the communities we serve and our operations can be adversely affected by periods of inclement or severe weather and natural disasters, which could increase the volume of material collected under our existing contracts (without corresponding compensation), delay the collection and disposal of material, reduce the volume of material delivered to our disposal sites or delay the construction or expansion of our landfill sites and other facilities and may increase with the physical impacts of climate change. The impacts from adverse weather and natural disasters have the potential to last several months and to affect several facilities. We have business continuity plans in place for severe weather, natural disasters and other emergencies—hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, winter storms, earthquakes and wildfires, among others—to help limit disruptions in our operations and help ensure the continuity of our services. Our operations can also be favorably affected by severe weather and natural disasters, which could increase the volume of material in situations where we are able to charge for our additional services. Refer to our TCFD Report for more information on climate impacts and our risk management strategies, available at investor.republicservices.com/sustainability. The information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other filing we make under the Exchange Act.
Regulation
Our facilities and operations are subject to a variety of federal, state, provincial and local requirements that regulate, among other things, the environment, public health, safety, zoning and land use. Operating and other permits, licenses and other approvals generally are required for landfills and transfer stations, recycling centers, certain solid waste collection vehicles, fuel storage tanks and other equipment and facilities that we own or operate. These permits are subject to denial, revocation, modification and renewal in certain circumstances. Any revocation, modification or denial of permits could have a material adverse effect on us. Federal, state and local laws and regulations vary, but generally govern wastewater or storm water discharges, air emissions, the handling, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and the remediation of contamination associated with the release or threatened release of hazardous substances. These laws and regulations provide governmental authorities with strict powers of enforcement, which include the ability to revoke or decline to renew any of our operating permits, obtain injunctions, or impose fines or penalties in the event of violations, including criminal penalties. The United States EPA and various other federal, state, provincial and local authorities administer these regulations. Regulations with respect to hazardous waste are particularly relevant for our Group 3 reportable segment that provides treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous waste.
In order to comply with these regulations, we must incur substantial capital expenditures relating to our vehicles, landfills, transfer stations, recycling centers and in connection with our capping, closure, post-closure and environmental remediation activities. Compliance with existing and future legal and regulatory requirements, including changes relating to per- and
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polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS) and other chemicals of emerging concern, and limitations or bans on disposal of certain types of wastes or on the transportation of waste, could increase our costs to operate or require additional capital expenditures.
A decrease in regulation may lower barriers to entry for our competitors. Further, we compete with counties and municipalities that operate their own collection and disposal facilities, have the benefits of tax revenue and greater opportunities for tax-exempt financing.
We strive to conduct our operations in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and permits. However, from time to time we have been issued citations or notices from governmental authorities that have resulted in the need to expend funds for remedial work and related activities at various landfills and other facilities or in the need to expend funds for fines, penalties or settlements. Citations and notices may be issued in the future, notwithstanding our strong regulatory compliance efforts. We have established final capping, closure, post-closure and remediation reserves that we believe, based on currently available information, will be adequate to cover our current estimates of regulatory costs; however, actual costs may exceed our reserves.
Federal Regulation
The following summarizes the primary federal, environmental and occupational health and safety-related statutes that affect our facilities and operations:
The Solid Waste Disposal Act, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA establishes a framework for regulating the handling, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste, and requires states to develop programs to ensure the safe disposal of solid waste in sanitary landfills.
Subtitle C of RCRA establishes a framework for regulating the disposal of hazardous waste, and Subtitle D of RCRA establishes a framework for regulating the disposal of municipal solid waste. Regulations under Subtitle C set requirements for hazardous waste generators, transporters and treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Regulations under Subtitle D currently include minimum comprehensive solid waste management criteria and guidelines, including location restrictions, facility design and operating criteria, final capping, closure and post-closure requirements, financial assurance standards, groundwater monitoring requirements and corrective action standards. The EPA may authorize states to implement certain hazardous waste requirements of Subtitle C, and if a state program does not exist, the EPA directly implements the hazardous waste requirements. Nearly all of the states in which we operate have implemented permit programs pursuant to RCRA and Subtitles C and D. These state permit programs may include landfill requirements that are more stringent than those of Subtitles C and D. Our failure to comply with any of these environmental requirements at any of our locations may lead to temporary or permanent loss of an operating permit, which would result in costs in connection with securing new permits, reduced revenue from lost operational time and increased third party disposal costs.
All of our planned landfill expansions and new landfill development projects have been engineered to meet or exceed Subtitles C and D requirements, as applicable. Operating and design criteria for existing operations have been modified to comply with these regulations. Compliance with Subtitles C and D regulations has resulted in increased capital expenditures and operating costs and may in the future require substantial additional expenditures in addition to other costs normally associated with our waste management activities.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). CERCLA, among other things, provides for the cleanup of sites from which there is a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance into the environment. CERCLA may impose strict joint and several liability for the costs of cleanup and for damages to natural resources upon current owners and operators of a site, parties who were owners or operators of a site at the time the hazardous substances were disposed of, parties who transported the hazardous substances to a site and parties who arranged for the disposal of the hazardous substances at a site. Under the authority of CERCLA and its implementing regulations, detailed requirements apply to the manner and degree of investigation and remediation of facilities and sites where hazardous substances have been or are threatened to be released into the environment. Liability under CERCLA is not dependent on the existence or disposal of only hazardous wastes, but also can be based upon the existence of small quantities of more than 700 substances currently characterized by the EPA as hazardous, many of which are found in common household waste. The EPA may also designate additional substances as hazardous; in 2022, the EPA issued a proposed rule that would designate certain PFAS as hazardous substances. Among other things, CERCLA authorizes the federal government to investigate and remediate sites at which hazardous substances have been or are threatened to be released into the environment, or to order persons potentially liable for the cleanup of the hazardous substances to do so themselves. In addition, the EPA has established a National Priorities List of sites at which hazardous substances have been, or are threatened to be, released and which require investigation or cleanup.
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CERCLA liability is strict liability. It can be founded upon the release or threatened release, even as a result of unintentional, non-negligent or lawful action, of hazardous substances, including very small quantities of such substances. Thus, even if we have never knowingly transported or received hazardous substances, it is possible that hazardous substances have been deposited or released at landfills or other facilities that we presently or historically have owned or operated, or at properties owned by third parties to which we have transported waste. Therefore, we could be liable under CERCLA for the cost of cleaning up, or protecting against the release of, such hazardous substances at such sites and for damages to natural resources, even if those substances were deposited at our facilities before we acquired or operated them. The costs of a CERCLA cleanup can be very expensive and can include the costs of disposing of hazardous substances at appropriately-licensed facilities. Given the difficulty of obtaining insurance for environmental impairment liability, any such liability could have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (the Clean Water Act). This act regulates the discharge of pollutants from a variety of sources, including solid waste disposal sites, into streams, rivers and other waters of the United States. Runoff from our landfills and transfer stations that is discharged into surface waters through discrete conveyances must be covered by discharge permits that generally require us to conduct sampling and monitoring, and, under certain circumstances, to reduce the quantity of pollutants in those discharges. Storm water discharge regulations under the Clean Water Act require a permit for certain construction activities and for runoff from industrial operations and facilities, which may affect our operations. If a landfill or transfer station discharges wastewater through a sewage system to a publicly-owned treatment works, the facility must comply with discharge limits imposed by that treatment works. In addition, states may adopt groundwater protection programs under the Clean Water Act or the Safe Drinking Water Act that could affect the manner in which our landfills monitor and control their waste management activities. Furthermore, if development at any of our facilities alters or affects wetlands, we may be required to secure permits before such development starts. In these situations, permitting agencies may require mitigation of wetland impacts.
The Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act imposes limitations on emissions from various sources, including landfills. In 1996, the EPA promulgated regulations that require large municipal solid waste landfills to install landfill gas monitoring systems along with landfill gas control systems unless emissions are below established thresholds. These regulations apply to landfills that commenced construction, reconstruction or modification on or after May 30, 1991, and, principally, to landfills that can accommodate 2.5 million cubic meters or more of municipal solid waste. The regulations apply whether the landfills are active or closed. The date by which each affected landfill must have a gas collection and control system installed and made operational varies depending on calculated emission rates at the landfill. In July 2016, the EPA issued final amendments to its regulations that require large landfills that commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification on or after July 17, 2014 to capture additional landfill gas to reduce emissions of methane and certain non-methane gases, which are recognized as greenhouse gases. In a separate rule finalized at the same time, the EPA issued updates to its 1996 Emission Guidelines to reduce emissions of landfill gas from existing active landfills. Both actions were part of the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan - Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions. As part of the Biden Administration's focus on climate change, the EPA has taken further steps to implement these regulations. These and other efforts to curtail the emission of greenhouse gases and to ameliorate the effect of climate change may require our landfills to deploy more stringent emission controls and monitoring systems, with resulting capital or operating costs. Many state regulatory agencies also currently require monitoring systems for the collection and control of certain landfill gas. Certain of these state agencies are also implementing greenhouse gas control regulations that would also apply to landfill gas emissions. See Item 1A, Risk Factors – Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and other governmental regulations could impose costs on our operations, the magnitude of which is difficult to estimate, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In addition, our vehicle fleet also may become subject to higher efficiency standards or other carbon-emission restrictions. Over the past decade, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have adopted regulations mandating the reduction of vehicle tail pipe emissions as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The regulations take the form of fuel economy standards. The EPA and the NHTSA have developed fuel economy standards in two vehicle categories: (1) passenger automobiles and light-duty trucks (collectively, light-duty vehicles); and (2) heavy-duty trucks, including solid waste collection vehicles and tractor trailers. We own and operate vehicles in both categories. For light-duty vehicles, in May 2010 the EPA and the NHTSA finalized fuel economy standards for model years 2012 through 2016. In October 2011, the EPA and the NHTSA initiated a second round of rulemaking for light-duty vehicles for model years 2017 through 2025. In 2018, the EPA and the NHTSA proposed to revise the light-duty vehicle standards for model years 2021 through 2024 to make them less stringent; final action on the proposal occurred in 2020 but has been challenged in court. In 2021, the EPA issued a rule further setting the standards for model years 2023 to 2026, making them more stringent; that rule has also been challenged in court. In August 2011, the EPA and the NHTSA finalized standards for heavy-duty trucks, including solid waste collection
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vehicles and tractor trailers, for model years 2014 through 2018. In August 2016, the EPA and the NHTSA jointly issued additional regulations that would impose more stringent standards for heavy-duty vehicles through model-year 2027. In August 2021, the EPA announced its intent to move forward with a Clean Trucks Plan, which would involve setting emissions standards for model years 2027 and beyond and the EPA released a proposed rule on March 28, 2022.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA). This act authorizes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor to promulgate occupational safety and health standards. A number of these standards, including standards for notices of hazardous chemicals and the handling of asbestos, apply to our facilities and operations.
State and Local Regulation
Each state in which we operate has its own laws and regulations governing solid waste disposal, water and air pollution, and, in most cases, releases and cleanup of hazardous substances and liabilities for such matters. States also have adopted regulations governing the design, operation, maintenance and closure of landfills and transfer stations. Some counties, municipalities and other local governments have adopted similar laws and regulations. In addition, our operations may be affected by the trend in many states toward requiring solid waste reduction and recycling programs. For example, several states have enacted laws that require counties or municipalities to adopt comprehensive plans to reduce, through solid waste planning, composting, recycling or other programs, the volume of solid waste deposited in landfills. Additionally, laws and regulations restricting the disposal of certain waste in solid waste landfills, including yard waste, food waste, newspapers, beverage containers, unshredded tires, lead-acid batteries, electronic wastes and household appliances, have been adopted in several states and are being considered in others. Some jurisdictions have enacted or are considering enacting “extended producer responsibility” regulations, which are designed to obligate producers to fund the post-use life cycle of their products by providing recycling programs for their products. State and municipal governments also have enacted or may enact “organic diversion” regulations that require food waste to be managed separately from the other waste streams, similar to the rules recently enacted in California. Several states have also enacted or are considering “minimum recycled content” regulations mandating certain minimum post-consumer recycled content in certain types of packaging, including California. Legislative and regulatory measures to mandate or encourage waste reduction and recycling also have been considered, or are under consideration by, the United States Congress and the EPA. These regulations may present new opportunities to offer sustainable environmental services to our customers but may require investment of time, effort and money to be able to offer these new solutions and expose us to additional regulatory requirements and competition from others offering these services.
To construct, operate and expand a landfill, we must obtain one or more construction or operating permits, as well as zoning and land use approvals. These permits and approvals may be burdensome to obtain and to comply with, are often opposed by neighboring landowners and citizens’ groups, may be subject to periodic renewal, and are subject to denial, modification, non-renewal and revocation by the issuing agency. Significant compliance disclosure obligations often accompany these processes. In connection with our acquisition of existing landfills, we may be required to spend considerable time, effort and money to bring the acquired facilities into compliance with applicable requirements and to obtain the permits and approvals necessary to increase their capacity.
Canadian Hazardous Waste Regulation
Certain of our Group 3 operations and facilities are subject to, among other regulations, Canadian hazardous waste regulations. The Canadian federal government regulates issues within federal jurisdiction, including activities that cross provincial boundaries or affect Canada’s relations with other nations. The Canadian provinces also have jurisdiction over environmental matters within their respective boundaries, including primary responsibility for regulation and management of hazardous waste.
The main federal laws governing hazardous waste management are the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is the federal agency with responsibility for environmental matters. CEPA charges ECCC and Health Canada with the protection of human health and the environment and seeks to control the production, importation and use of substances in Canada and their impact on the environment. The Cross-border Movement of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations under CEPA control the transboundary movement of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable materials. These regulations require that anyone proposing to export or import hazardous waste or hazardous recyclable materials or transport them through Canada notify ECCC and obtain a permit to do so.
Certain of our facilities are subject to the Québec Environment Quality Act, the Ontario Environmental Protection Act or the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and their respective regulations. These statutes and regulations regulate the generation, collection, characterization, transport, storage, treatment, recovery and disposal of hazardous wastes, establish the requirements for waste management facilities and govern actual or potential releases of contaminants in the environment, such as air emissions and soil, groundwater and surface water contamination issues.
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Hazardous waste transporters are required to hold a permit to operate under the provincial regulations and are also subject to the safety and reporting requirements of the Canadian Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992.
Maritime Regulations
Our Group 3 operations own and use 37 vessels registered under the United States flag. Accordingly, we are subject to various United States federal, state and local statutes and regulations governing the ownership, operation and maintenance of our vessels. Our United States-flag vessels are subject to the direct jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard, the United States Customs and Border Protection and the United States Maritime Administration as well as other federal and state agencies. We are also subject to international laws and conventions and the local laws of foreign jurisdictions where we operate.
A portion of the operations of our standby services business within Group 3 is conducted in the United States coastwise trade. This is a protected market that is subject to United States cabotage laws that impose certain restrictions on the ownership and operation of vessels in the United States coastwise trade. These laws are principally contained in 46 U.S.C. Chapters 121, 505 and 551 and the related regulations, which are commonly referred to collectively as the “Jones Act.” The Jones Act restricts transportation of merchandise by water or by land and water, either directly or via a foreign port, between points in the United States and certain of its island territories. Subject to limited exceptions, the Jones Act requires that vessels engaged in United States coastwise trade be owned and operated by United States citizens within the meaning of the Jones Act, be built in and registered under the laws of the United States and manned by predominantly United States Citizen crews. We have systems in place designed to assist with monitoring and maintaining compliance with the ownership requirements of the Jones Act.
All of our offshore vessels are subject to either United States or international safety and classification standards and sometimes both. United States-flag vessels, barges and crew boats are required to undergo periodic inspections pursuant to United States Coast Guard regulations.
We are also subject to the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPFS Code), an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) as implemented in the Maritime Transportation and Security Act of 2002 to align United States regulations with those of SOLAS and the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code provides that owners or operators of certain vessels and facilities must provide security and security plans for their vessels and facilities and obtain appropriate certification of compliance. Under the ISPS Code, we perform worldwide security assessments, risk analyses and develop vessel and required port facility security plans to enhance safe and secure vessel and facility operations. Additionally, we have developed security annexes for those United States-flag vessels that transit or work in waters designated as high risk by the United States Coast Guard pursuant to the latest revision of Marsec Directive 104-6.
Other Regulations
Some of our facilities and operations are subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA). TSCA regulates the treatment, storage and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and asbestos. The AEA assigns the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) regulatory authority over receipt, possession, use and transfer of certain radioactive materials, including disposal. The USNRC has adopted regulations for licensing commercial low-level radioactive waste regulated under the AEA for disposal and has delegated regulatory authority to certain states, including states where one or more of our facilities are located. The USNRC and United States Department of Transportation regulate the transport of radioactive materials. Shippers must comply with both the general requirements for hazardous materials transportation and specific requirements for transporting radioactive materials.
Many of our facilities own and operate underground storage tanks that are generally used to store petroleum-based products. These tanks can be subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations that mandate their periodic testing, upgrading, closure and removal. In the event of leaks or releases from these tanks, these regulations require that polluted groundwater and soils be remediated. If underground storage tanks we own or operate leak, we could be liable for response costs and, if the leakage migrates onto the property of others, we could be liable for damages to third parties. We are unaware of facts indicating that issues of compliance with regulations related to underground storage tanks will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
With regard to our solid waste transportation operations, we are subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board and are regulated by the Federal Highway Administration, Office of Motor Carriers and by regulatory agencies in states that regulate such matters. Various state and local government authorities have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws and regulations that would restrict the transportation of solid waste across state, county, or other jurisdictional lines. In 1978, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a law that restricts the importation of out-of-state solid waste is unconstitutional; however, states have attempted to distinguish proposed laws from those involved in and implicated by that ruling. In 1994, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a flow control law, which attempted to restrict solid waste from leaving its place of generation, imposes an impermissible burden upon interstate commerce and is unconstitutional. In 2007, however, the United States Supreme Court upheld the right of a local government to direct the flow of solid waste to a publicly-owned and publicly-
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operated waste facility. A number of county and other local jurisdictions have enacted ordinances or other regulations restricting the free movement of solid waste across jurisdictional boundaries. Other governments may enact similar regulations in the future. These regulations may cause a decline in volumes of waste delivered to our landfills or transfer stations and may increase our costs of disposal, thereby adversely affecting our operations and our financial results.
We are engaged in 73 landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects. The production of renewable fuel through certain of these projects is incentivized by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, which was authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and expanded through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Oil refiners and importers are required through the RFS program to blend specified volumes of renewable transportation fuels with gasoline or buy credits, known as renewable identification numbers (RINs), from renewable fuel producers. The amount of RIN credits generated by each gallon of renewable fuel depends on the process and feedstock used to create the specific renewable fuel. There is a market for RINs and, as we and/or our partners produce RFS-compliant renewable fuel, RINs are generated and sold to parties purchasing such RINs to achieve compliance with the RFS program.
Climate and Sustainability Trends
Jurisdictions have been updating climate policies toward the goal of reporting and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through a broad range of sustainability initiatives. We believe reducing our impact on the planet and improving the quality of life of its inhabitants are the right things to do, and have continually committed to heightened emissions reduction goals. Taking into account the challenges associated with quantifying environmental services emissions precisely, we evaluate and offer strategic opportunities to provide our customers with sustainable solutions to reduce their GHG emissions as new regulatory and business developments related to concerns about climate change arise. As a provider of a highly regulated public service, we recognize the importance of broad stakeholder engagement in these endeavors, and we actively seek opportunities for discussion on more sustainable materials management practices. In addition, we cooperate with and support initiatives at the federal and state level in support of legislation that encourages sustainable practices including the production and use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and electricity and the processing of recyclables and organics.
We have long been a leader in sustainability as it relates to environmental services and expect to maintain this reputation. Our sustainability commitments, as well as our progress toward our current goals, are published in our Sustainability Report and accompanying reports and can be found at investor.republicservices.com/sustainability. The information contained on our website shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other filing we make under the Exchange Act.
Liabilities Established for Landfill and Environmental Costs
We have established reserves for landfill and environmental costs, which include landfill site final capping, closure and post-closure costs. We periodically reassess such costs based on various methods and assumptions regarding landfill airspace and the technical requirements of Subtitles C and D of RCRA, and we adjust our amortization rates used to expense final capping, closure and post-closure costs accordingly. Based on current information and regulatory requirements, we believe that our recorded reserves for such landfill and environmental expenditures are adequate; however, environmental laws may change, and our recorded reserves may not be adequate to cover requirements under existing or new environmental laws and regulations, future changes or interpretations of existing laws and regulations, or adverse environmental conditions previously unknown to us. Refer to the Material Cash Requirements and Intended Uses of Cash section of our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information.
Liability Insurance and Bonding
The nature of our business exposes us to the possible risk of liabilities arising out of our operations, including damages to the environment, property, employees or the general public, or those resulting from cyber incidents. We focus on operating safely and prudently, but occasionally we receive claims, alleging damages, negligence or other wrongdoing in the planning or performance of work, which resulted in harm to the environment, property, employees or the general public. These liabilities can be significant. We also could be subject to fines and civil and criminal penalties in connection with alleged violations of regulatory requirements. We maintain various policies of insurance that, subject to limitations, exclusions, or deductibles, provide coverage for these types of claims. While we believe the amount of insurance is appropriate for our type of business, such insurance may not be adequate, in scope or amount, in the event of a major loss, and we may be exposed to uninsured liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We may choose not to continue to maintain the insurance should market conditions in the insurance industry make such coverage cost prohibitive.
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Accruals for deductibles are based on claims filed and actuarial estimates of claims development and claims incurred but not reported. Due to the variable condition of the insurance market, we have experienced, and may experience in the future, increased deductible retention levels and increased premiums or unavailability of insurance. As we assume more risk through higher retention levels, we may experience more variability in our insurance reserves and expense.
In the normal course of business, we also purchase surety bonds, insurance policies, letters of credit, or marketable securities deposits in connection with, among other things, municipal residential collection contracts, financial assurance for closure and post-closure of landfills, environmental remediation, environmental permits and business licenses and permits as a financial guarantee of our performance.
Availability of Reports and Other Information
Our corporate website is republicservices.com. We make available on that website, free of charge, access to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A and amendments to those materials filed or furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We make such materials available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically submit them to the SEC. Our corporate website also contains our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and Conduct, Political Contributions Policy, Human Rights Policy and Charters of the Audit Committee, Management Development and Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors. In addition, the SEC makes available at its website (sec.gov), free of charge, reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers, such as us, that file electronically with the SEC. Information on our website or the SEC website is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K and applicable New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) rules regarding amendments to or waivers of our Code of Ethics by posting this information on our website at republicservices.com.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking information about us that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “should,” “can,” “likely,” “could,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Among other sections of this Form 10-K, the Risk Factors and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations include forward-looking statements. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, such expectations may not prove to be correct. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are:
general economic and market conditions, including inflation and changes in fuel, interest rates, labor, risk, health insurance and other variable costs that generally are not within our control, and our exposure to credit and counterparty risk;
fluctuations in prices for recycled commodities that we sell to customers;
our ability to integrate the operations of US Ecology into our operations and to realize the intended benefits of such acquisition
whether our estimates and assumptions concerning critical accounting issues are correct or appropriate, including estimates and assumptions concerning selected balance sheet accounts, income tax accounts, final capping, closure, post-closure and remediation costs, available airspace, projected costs and expenses related to our landfills and property and equipment, fair values of acquired assets and liabilities assumed in our acquisitions and labor, fuel rates and economic and inflationary trends;
competition and demand for services in the environmental services industry;
price increases to our customers, which may not be adequate to offset the impact of increased costs, including labor, third-party disposal and fuel and may cause us to lose volume;
our ability to manage growth and execute our growth strategy;
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our compliance with, and future changes in, environmental and flow control regulations and our ability to obtain approvals from regulatory agencies in connection with operating and expanding our landfills;
the impact on us of our substantial indebtedness, including on our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms to finance our operations and growth strategy and to operate within the limitations imposed by financing arrangements;
our ability to retain our investment grade ratings for our debt;
our dependence on key personnel;
our dependence on large, long-term collection, transfer and disposal contracts;
the capital intensive nature of our business, which may consume cash in excess of cash flow from operations;
exposure to liabilities or losses, to the extent not adequately covered by insurance, which could result in substantial expenses;
risks associated with undisclosed liabilities of acquired businesses;
risks associated with pending and future legal proceedings, including litigation, audits or investigations brought by or before any governmental body;
severe weather conditions, including those brought about by climate change, which could impair our financial results by causing increased costs, loss of revenue, reduced operational efficiency or disruptions to our operations;
compliance with existing and future legal and regulatory requirements, including changes relating to PFAS and other chemicals of emerging concern and limitations or bans on disposal of certain types of wastes or on the transportation of waste, which could limit our ability to conduct or grow our business, increase our costs to operate or require additional capital expenditures;
our ability to achieve reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions and our other sustainability goals;
safety and operational risks, including the risk of personal injury to our employees or third parties;
potential increases in our costs if we are required to provide additional funding to any multiemployer pension plan to which we contribute or if a withdrawal event (including our voluntary withdrawal, which we consider from time to time, or the mass withdrawal of all contributing employers from any underfunded multiemployer pension plan) occurs with respect to any such plan;
the negative impact on our operations of union organizing campaigns, work stoppages or labor shortages;
the negative effect that trends toward requiring recycling, waste reduction at the source and prohibiting the disposal of certain types of wastes could have on volumes of waste going to landfills;
changes by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting regulatory bodies to generally accepted accounting principles or policies;
the impact of United States and international tax laws and regulations on our business;
risks related to interruptions and breaches of our information technology systems that could adversely affect, or temporarily disable, all or a portion of our operations or have a negative effect on our infrastructure;
the negative impact that a cyber-security incident could have on our business and our relationships with customers and employees; and
acts of war, riots or terrorism, including the continuing war on terrorism, as well as actions taken or to be taken by the United States or other governments as a result of further acts or threats of terrorism and the impact of these acts on economic, financial and social conditions in the United States.
The risks included here are not exhaustive. Refer to the Risk Factors in this Item 1A for further discussion regarding our exposure to risks. You should be aware that any forward-looking statement in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein by reference or elsewhere, speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to update or publish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference, as the case may be, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Risks Related to Our Business and Operations
The environmental services industry is highly competitive and includes competitors that may have greater financial and operational resources, flexibility to reduce prices or other competitive advantages that could make it difficult for us to compete effectively.
We principally compete with large national waste management companies, numerous municipalities and numerous regional and local companies. Competition for collection accounts is typically based on the quality of services, ease of doing business and/or price. Competition for disposal business is primarily based on geographic location, quality of operations and price. One of our competitors may have greater financial and operational resources than we do. Further, many counties and municipalities that operate their own collection and disposal facilities have the benefits of tax revenue and greater opportunities for tax-exempt financing. Our ability to obtain solid waste volume for our landfills also may be limited by the fact that some major collection operations also own or operate landfills to which they send their waste. In certain markets in which we do not own or operate a landfill, our collection operations may have difficulty competing effectively. If we were to lose market share or if we were to lower prices to address competitive issues, it could negatively impact our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Increases in the cost of fuel or petrochemicals increase our operating expenses, and we may not be able to recover such cost increases from our customers.
We depend on fuel purchased in the open market to operate our collection and transfer trucks and other equipment used for collection, transfer, disposal and other environmental services. Fuel prices are unpredictable and fluctuate significantly based on events beyond our control, including geopolitical developments, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil and gas producers, changes in refinery operations, supply and demand for oil and gas, war, terrorism and unrest in oil-producing countries, adverse weather and regional production patterns. Due to contractual or market factors, we may not be able to offset increased fuel costs resulting from such volatility through fuel recovery fees. Our fuel costs were $631.1 million in 2022, or 4.7% of revenue, compared to $383.0 million in 2021, or 3.4% of revenue.
At current consumption levels, a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel changes our fuel costs by approximately $27 million on an annual basis. Offsetting these changes in fuel expense would be changes in our fuel recovery fee charged to our customers. At current participation rates, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel changes our fuel recovery fee by approximately $31 million. A substantial rise or drop in fuel costs could materially affect our revenue and cost of operations.
Over the last decade, regulations have been adopted mandating changes in the composition of fuels for motor vehicles. The renewable fuel standards that the EPA sets annually affect the type of fuel our motor vehicle fleet uses. It is difficult to predict the quantity of renewable fuel volumes that the EPA will mandate for future years. These regulations are one of many factors that may affect the cost of the fuel we use.
Part of our fleet of vehicles is powered by CNG and we also operate CNG fueling stations. We have invested higher upfront capital costs in order to purchase and support our CNG vehicles and fueling stations in order to reduce our overall fleet operating costs through lower fuel expenses and to create a competitive advantage in communities that focus on protecting the environment. CNG is not yet widely adopted in North America. As the CNG industry develops, new regulations, the availability of alternative fuel technologies, fluctuations in the price or availability of CNG or reductions in tax incentives for the use of CNG vehicles could substantially affect our revenue and costs of operations and reduce the benefits sought by investing in CNG vehicles and fueling stations.
Our operations also require the use of products (such as liners at our landfills) whose costs may vary with the price of petrochemicals. An increase in the price of petrochemicals could increase the cost of those products, which would increase our operating and capital costs. Petrochemical prices, and hence our operating and capital costs, may be further affected by regulatory efforts to reduce greenhouse gases from the industries that produce such petrochemicals. We are also susceptible to increases in fuel recovery fees from our vendors.
Fluctuations in prices for recycled commodities that we sell to customers may adversely affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We purchase or collect and process recyclable materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics, aluminum and other metals for sale to third parties. Our results of operations may be affected by changing prices or market requirements for recyclable materials. The resale and purchase prices of, and market demand for, recyclable materials are volatile due to changes in economic conditions and numerous other factors beyond our control. For instance, in 2017 the Chinese government imposed strict limits on the import of recyclable materials, including by restricting the amount of contaminants allowed in imported recycled paper. These limitations significantly decreased the global demand for recyclable materials and resulted in lower commodity prices. Significant price fluctuations or increased operating costs may affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations
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and cash flows. In 2022, approximately 81% of our recycling center volume was fiber based and included OCC, ONP and other mixed paper.
At current volumes and mix of materials, we believe a $10 per ton change in the price of recycled commodities change both annual revenue and operating income by approximately $10 million. Accordingly, a substantial rise or drop in recycled commodity prices could materially affect our revenue and operating income. Although we have entered into hedging agreements to help offset volatility in recycled commodity prices in the past, we may not enter into these agreements in the future.
Acute and chronic weather events, including those brought about by climate change, may limit our operations and increase the costs of collection, transfer, disposal and other environmental services we provide.
Our operations could be adversely impacted by extreme weather events, changing weather patterns and rising mean temperature and sea levels, some of which we are already experiencing. For example, we have operations in multiple states that are affected by hurricanes and we have seen the impact of storms and associated flooding in our day-to-day operations and our infrastructure. Changing weather patterns and rising temperatures are expected to result in more severe heat waves, fires, storms and other extreme weather events. Any of these factors could increase the volume of material collected or processed under our existing contracts (without corresponding compensation), impede our employees' and equipment's ability to operate, disrupt our supply chain, delay the development of landfill capacity, or reduce the volume of material generated by our customers. In addition, adverse weather conditions may result in the temporary suspension of our operations, which can significantly affect our operating results in the affected regions during those periods.
The environmental services industry is a capital-intensive industry and our capital expenditures may exceed current expectations, which could require us to obtain additional funding for our operations or impair our ability to grow our business.
Our ability to remain competitive and to grow our business largely depends on our cash flow from operations and access to capital. If our capital efficiency programs cannot offset the effect of inflation and business growth, it may be necessary to increase the amount we spend. Additionally, if we make acquisitions or further expand our operations, the amount we spend on capital, capping, closure, post-closure, environmental remediation and other items will increase. Our cash needs also will increase if the expenditures for capping, closure, post-closure and remediation activities increase above our current estimates, which may occur over a long period due to changes in federal, state, provincial, or local government requirements and other factors beyond our control. Increases in expenditures would negatively impact our cash flows.
We may be unable to obtain or maintain required permits or to expand existing permitted capacity of our facilities, which could decrease our revenue and increase our costs.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain or maintain the permits required for our operations because permits to operate new landfills, transfer stations and other facilities, or to expand the permitted capacity of existing landfills, increase acceptable volume at transfer stations or otherwise increase the capabilities of our facilities, have become more difficult and expensive to obtain and maintain. Permits often take years to obtain as a result of numerous hearings and compliance requirements with regard to zoning, environmental and other regulations. These permits are also often subject to resistance from citizen or other groups and other political pressures. Local communities and citizen groups, adjacent landowners, governmental agencies and others may oppose the issuance of a permit or approval we may need, allege violations of the permits under which we currently operate or laws or regulations to which we are subject, or seek to impose liability on us for environmental damage. Such actions could also create risks related to our reputation, which may limit our ability to do business. Responding to these challenges has, at times, increased our costs and extended the time associated with establishing new landfills, transfer stations and other facilities and expanding existing facilities. In addition, failure to receive regulatory and zoning approval may prohibit us from establishing new landfills, transfer stations and other facilities, or expanding existing facilities. Our failure to obtain the required permits to operate our landfills, transfer stations and other facilities could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, we may have to dispose collected waste at landfills operated by our competitors or haul the waste long distances at a higher cost to one of our other landfills, either of which could significantly increase our waste disposal costs.
If we do not appropriately estimate landfill capping, closure, post-closure and remediation costs, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
A landfill must be closed and capped, and post-closure maintenance commenced, once the landfill's permitted capacity is reached and additional capacity is not authorized. Further, we undertake remediation activities at some of our solid waste facilities. We have significant financial obligations relating to capping, closure, post-closure and remediation costs at our existing owned or operated landfills, and will have material financial obligations with respect to any future owned or operated landfills. We establish accruals for the estimated costs associated with capping, closure, post-closure and remediation
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obligations. We could underestimate such costs and our financial obligations for capping, closure, post-closure or remediation costs could exceed the amounts accrued or amounts otherwise receivable pursuant to trust funds established for this purpose. Additionally, if a landfill must be closed earlier than expected or its remaining airspace is reduced for any other reason, the accruals for capping, closure, post-closure and remediation could be required to be accelerated. If our capping, closure, post-closure or remediation costs exceed the amounts accrued, or if such accruals are required to be accelerated, this could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Alternatives to landfill disposal could reduce our disposal volumes and cause our revenues and operating results to decline.
Most of the states in which we operate landfills require counties and municipalities to formulate comprehensive plans to reduce the volume of solid waste deposited in landfills through waste planning, composting, recycling or other programs. Some state and local governments mandate waste reduction at the source and prohibit the disposal of certain types of wastes, such as yard waste, at landfills. Further, many of our customers voluntarily are diverting waste to alternatives to landfill disposal, such as recycling and composting, while also working to reduce the amount of waste they generate. Many of the largest companies in the United States are setting zero-waste goals in which they strive to send no waste to landfills and some jurisdictions have enacted or are considering waste reduction regulations such as extended producer responsibility, organic diversion and minimum recycled content regulations. Although such actions help to protect our environment and reduce the impact of waste on climate change, they have reduced, and will in the future reduce, the volume of waste going to landfills and may affect the prices that we can charge for landfill disposal. Accordingly, we may not be able to operate our landfills at their current volumes or charge current prices for landfill disposal services due to possible decreases in demand for such services. If we cannot expand our service offerings and grow lines of business to service waste streams that do not go to landfills and to provide services for customers that wish to reduce waste entirely, this could have a negative effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Further, even if we can develop such service offerings and lines of business, disposal alternatives nonetheless could have a negative effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We could incur charges to income, which could be material, if landfill and transfer station site development projects or expansion projects are not completed, or certain other events occur.
In accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), we capitalize certain expenditures relating to development, expansion and other projects. If a facility or operation is permanently shut down or determined to be impaired, or a development, expansion or other project is not completed or is determined to be impaired, we will charge against earnings any unamortized capitalized expenditures relating to such facility or project that we are unable to recover through sale, transfer or otherwise. We also carry a significant amount of goodwill on our consolidated balance sheets, which we must assess for impairment annually, and more frequently in the case of certain triggering events. We may incur charges against earnings in accordance with this policy, or other events may cause impairments. Such charges could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
The business and assets we operate expose us to safety, operational and other risks, including the risk of personal injury to our employees or third parties.
The provision of environmental services, including the operation of our facilities, a substantial fleet of trucks and other waste-related assets, involves risks. These risks include, among others, the risk of truck accidents, equipment defects, malfunctions and failures, improper use of dangerous equipment, the release of hazardous substances, fire and explosion, any of which could result in environmental liability, personal injury, loss of life, business interruption or property damage or destruction. While we carry insurance to cover many contingencies, and seek to minimize our exposure to these risks through maintenance, training and compliance programs, any substantial losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may be subject to work stoppages and other workforce effects, which could increase our operating costs and disrupt our operations.
As of December 31, 2022, approximately 23% of our workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements. If our union-represented employees engage in strikes, work stoppages or other slowdowns, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations and an increase in our operating costs, which could have an adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We have experienced interrupted service when our union-represented employees have engaged in strikes and work stoppages in the past, and we would expect the same to occur as a result of any future strikes or work stoppages. Additional groups of employees may seek union representation in the future which could result in increased operating costs. If a greater percentage of our workforce becomes union-represented, our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely impacted due to the potential for increased operating costs.
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We may not be able to achieve reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions and our other sustainability goals.
Climate change and other sustainability matters are embedded in our core value and vision. As part of our strategic long-term plans to address sustainability, we are committed to reducing our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions 35% by 2030 among other sustainability goals. The execution of our plans and achievement of our goals are subject to risks and uncertainties, including our ability to develop, obtain, license or scale the innovations, technologies and modeling and measurement tools that may be necessary to achieve our plans and the availability, cost and benefits of materials and infrastructure associated with our sustainability projects, such as our CNG vehicles, fleet electrification, recycling, circularity of key materials, landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects.
In addition, increasing governmental and societal attention to sustainability matters, including expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence and disclosure on topics such as climate change, waste production, water usage, human capital, management and risk oversight, could expand the nature, scope and complexity of matters that we are required to control, assess and report. These and other rapidly changing laws, regulations, policies and related interpretations, as well as increased enforcement actions by various governmental and regulatory agencies, create challenges for us. If we are unable to continue to meet these challenges and comply with all laws, regulations, policies and related interpretations, and meet the sustainability values, standards and metrics that we set for ourselves, it could negatively impact our reputation and our business results.
Risks Related to our Legal and Regulatory Environment
We are subject to costly environmental regulations and flow-control regulations that may affect our operating margins, restrict our operations and subject us to additional liability.
Complying with laws and regulations governing the collection, treatment, storage, transfer and disposal of material, air quality and emissions of greenhouse gases, water quality and the remediation of contamination associated with the release of hazardous substances is costly. Laws and regulations often require us to, among other things, enhance or replace our equipment and to modify landfill operations or initiate final closure of a landfill. We may not be able to implement price increases sufficient to offset the costs of complying with these laws and regulations. In addition, environmental regulatory changes, including those relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (commonly referred to as PFAS) and other chemicals of emerging concern, could accelerate or increase expenditures for capping, closure, post-closure and environmental and remediation activities at our waste facilities and obligate us to spend sums in addition to those presently accrued for such purposes, which could have a negative effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. For example, the EPA has indicated it is considering listing certain PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, which if finalized could trigger additional obligations or liabilities under CERCLA or other laws and regulations.
Our Group 3 operations and facilities also are subject to Canadian environmental laws and regulations, including federal and provincial regulations governing the management of hazardous waste, as well as various treaties, laws and regulations governing the ownership, operation and maintenance of maritime vessels used in the business. Our Group 3 operations are also subject to federal statutes regulating the treatment, storage and disposal of certain radioactive materials.
Our business is and will continue to be affected by state, county, provincial, or local laws or regulations that restrict the transportation of solid waste across state, county, provincial, or other jurisdictional lines or that direct the flow of waste to a specified facility or facilities. Such laws and regulations could negatively affect our operations, resulting in declines in landfill volumes and increased costs of alternate disposal.
Regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and other governmental regulations could impose costs on our operations, the magnitude of which is difficult to estimate.
Efforts to curtail the emission of greenhouse gases and to ameliorate the effects of climate change continue to progress. Our landfill operations emit anthropogenic methane, identified as a greenhouse gas, and our vehicle fleet emits, among other things, carbon dioxide, which also is a greenhouse gas. While passage of comprehensive, federal climate change legislation appears unlikely in the near term, we expect any such legislation, if enacted, to impose costs on our operations, which could be material.
Absent comprehensive federal legislation to control greenhouse gas emissions, the EPA has taken certain actions administratively under its existing Clean Air Act authority. The EPA is compelled to issue rules by the United States Supreme Court's April 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA ruling that greenhouse gases are pollutants for purposes of the Clean Air Act and the EPA's December 2009 finding that continued emissions of greenhouse gases endanger human health and welfare. With respect to our light- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet, the EPA has finalized regulations limiting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing fuel economy standards. The EPA and the NHTSA have finalized such regulations applicable to light-duty vehicles through model year 2025. In 2018, the EPA and the NHTSA proposed to revise the light-duty vehicle standards for model years 2021 through 2024 to make them less stringent; final action on the proposal took place in 2020 but has been challenged in court. On August 16, 2016, the EPA and the NHTSA issued additional regulations that would impose more stringent standards for heavy-duty vehicles through model-year 2027. These standards and further federal efforts to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and to
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increase the fuel efficiency of light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
With regard to greenhouse gas emissions from our landfills, on July 14, 2016, the EPA issued amendments to its regulations that require large landfills that commenced construction, reconstruction or modification on or after July 17, 2014 to capture additional landfill gas to reduce emissions of methane and certain non-methane gases, which are recognized as greenhouse gases. In a separate action finalized that same day, the EPA issued updates to its 1996 Emission Guidelines to reduce emissions of landfill gas from existing active landfills. As part of the Biden Administration focus on climate change, the EPA has taken further steps to implement these regulations. These regulations, or an amended version of them that eventually goes into effect, may require our landfills to deploy more stringent emission controls and monitoring systems, with resulting capital or operating costs. The application of these or other greenhouse gas regulations to our landfills could have a material adverse effect on our landfill operations and on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We cannot predict what other actions or regulations the current administration may undertake that would affect our industry.
We may incur losses from liabilities that are not covered by our insurance. Changes in insurance markets also may impact our financial results.
We may incur liabilities or suffer losses arising from our operations or properties that resulted in harm to the environment, property, employees or the general public. We maintain insurance for these liabilities and losses, including high deductibles for our environmental liability insurance coverage. If we were to incur substantial liability or loss in connection with these contingencies, our insurance coverage may be inadequate to cover such liability or loss. This could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Also, due to the variable condition of the insurance market, we have experienced, and may experience in the future, increased insurance retention levels and increased premiums or unavailability of insurance. As we assume more risk for insurance through higher retention levels, we may experience more variability in our insurance reserves and expense.
Despite our efforts, we may incur additional liability under environmental laws in excess of amounts presently known and accrued.
We are a potentially responsible party at many sites under CERCLA, which provides for the remediation of contaminated facilities and imposes strict, joint and several liability for the cost of remediation on current owners and operators of a facility at which there has been a release or a threatened release of a hazardous substance. CERCLA liability also extends to parties who were site owners and operators at the time hazardous substances were disposed and on persons who arrange for the disposal of such substances at the facility (e.g., generators of the waste and transporters who selected the disposal site). Hundreds of substances are defined as hazardous under CERCLA and their presence, even in minute amounts, can result in substantial liability.
Notwithstanding our efforts to comply with applicable environmental laws, we may have additional liability under environmental laws in excess of our current reserves because, among other things, hazardous substances may be present in waste collected by us or disposed of in our landfills (or in waste collected, transported or disposed of in the past by businesses we have acquired), environmental laws or regulations may change, or there may be adverse environmental conditions that develop or were otherwise previously unknown to us. Environmental liabilities in excess of our current reserves could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Currently pending or future litigation or governmental proceedings could result in material adverse consequences, including judgments or settlements.
We are and will continue to be involved in lawsuits, regulatory inquiries and governmental and other legal proceedings. Many of these matters raise complicated factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. The timing of the final resolutions to lawsuits, regulatory inquiries and governmental and other legal proceedings is uncertain. Further, the possible outcomes or resolutions to these matters could include adverse judgments, fines or settlements, any of which could require substantial payments and adversely affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
For example, we incur costs to defend against litigation brought by government agencies and private parties who allege we are in violation of our permits and applicable environmental laws and regulations, or who assert claims alleging nuisance, environmental damage, personal injury or property damage. As a result, we may be required to pay fines or judgments or implement corrective measures, or we may have our permits and licenses modified or revoked. A significant judgment against us, the loss of a significant permit or license, or the imposition of a significant fine could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We establish accruals for our estimates of the costs associated with lawsuits, regulatory, governmental and other legal proceedings. We could underestimate such accruals. Such shortfalls could result in significant unanticipated charges to income.
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Changes to federal renewable fuel policies could affect our financial performance in that sector as a renewable fuel producer and impact our projected future investments.
We are engaged in 73 landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects. The production of renewable fuel through certain of these projects is incentivized by the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Oil refiners and importers are required through the RFS program to blend specified volumes of renewable transportation fuels with gasoline or buy RINs from renewable fuel producers. RIN prices generally respond to administrative actions, decisions and/or regulations from the EPA, including the issuance of an annual renewable volumetric obligation, as well as fluctuations in supply and demand. Changes in the RFS market, the structure of the RFS program or RIN prices and demand may impact the financial performance of the projects developed to capture and treat gas and could impact or alter our projected future investments.
Risks Related to Financial Strategy and Indebtedness
We have substantial indebtedness, which may limit our financial flexibility.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $12 billion in principal value of debt and finance leases outstanding. This amount of indebtedness and our debt service requirements may limit our financial flexibility to access additional capital and make capital expenditures and other investments in our business, to withstand economic downturns and interest rate increases, to plan for or react to changes in our business and our industry and to comply with the financial and other covenants of our debt instruments. Further, our ability to comply with these financial and other covenants may be affected by changes in economic or business conditions or other events that are beyond our control. If we do not comply with these covenants, we may be required to take actions such as reducing or delaying capital expenditures, reducing or eliminating dividends or stock repurchases, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing all or part of our existing debt, or seeking additional equity capital.
We may be unable to maintain our credit ratings or execute our financial strategy.
Our ability to execute our financial strategy depends in part on our ability to maintain investment grade ratings on our debt. The credit rating process is contingent upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain our investment grade ratings in the future. If we were unable to do so, our interest expense would increase and our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms may be adversely affected.
Our financial strategy also depends on our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to reinvest in our existing business, fund internal growth, acquire other environmental services businesses, pay dividends, repurchase stock and take other actions to enhance shareholder value. We may not succeed in executing our broad-based pricing initiatives, and we may not generate sufficient cash flow to execute our financial strategy, pay cash dividends at our present rate, or increase them, or be able to continue our share repurchase program.
Weakness in the United States economy may expose us to credit risk for amounts due from governmental entities, large national accounts, industrial customers and others.
Weakness in the United States economy, including contractions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, reduces the amount of taxes collected by various governmental entities. We provide services to a number of these entities, including numerous municipalities. These governmental entities may suffer financial difficulties resulting from a decrease in tax revenue and may ultimately be unable or unwilling to pay amounts owed to us. In addition, weakness in the economy may cause other customers, including our large national accounts, or industrial or environmental services clients, to suffer financial difficulties and ultimately to be unable or unwilling to pay amounts owed to us. This could negatively impact our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Our consolidated financial statements are based on estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual results. The liabilities we record based on such estimates and assumptions may not be adequate to cover the costs we ultimately will face.
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and necessarily include amounts based on management's estimates. Actual results may differ from these amounts. Significant items requiring management to make subjective or complex judgments that are inherently uncertain include the recoverability of long-lived assets, the depletion and amortization of landfill development costs, accruals for final capping, closure and post-closure costs, valuation allowances for accounts receivable and deferred tax assets, liabilities for potential litigation, claims and assessments and liabilities for environmental remediation, multiemployer pension plans, employee benefit plans, deferred taxes, uncertain tax positions, insurance and our estimates of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in any acquisition. The liabilities recorded for items such as these may not be adequate to cover the costs we ultimately will face.
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Our obligation to fund multiemployer pension plans to which we contribute, or our withdrawal from such plans, may have an adverse effect on us.
We participate in multiemployer pension plans that generally provide retirement benefits to participants of contributing employers. We do not administer these plans and generally are not represented on the boards of trustees of these plans. The Pension Protection Act enacted in 2006 (the PPA) requires under-funded pension plans to improve their funding ratios. Based on the information available to us, we believe that some of the multiemployer plans to which we contribute are either critical or endangered as those terms are defined in the PPA. We cannot presently determine the amount of additional funding, if any, we may be required to make to these plans. However, plan assessments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows for a given period.
Further, under current law, upon the termination of a multiemployer pension plan, or in the event of a withdrawal by us (which we consider from time to time) or a mass withdrawal of contributing employers (each, a Withdrawal Event), we would be required to make payments to the plan for our proportionate share of the plan's unfunded vested liabilities. We cannot assure you that there will not be a Withdrawal Event with respect to any of the multiemployer pension plans to which we contribute or that, in the event of such a Withdrawal Event, the amounts we would be required to contribute would not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
For additional discussion and detail regarding multiemployer pension plans see Note 12, Employee Benefit Plans, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The costs of providing for pension benefits and related funding requirements are subject to changes in pension fund values and fluctuating actuarial assumptions and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We sponsor a defined benefit pension plan that is funded with trustee assets invested in a diversified portfolio of debt and equity securities. Our costs for providing such benefits and related funding requirements are subject to changes in the market value of plan assets. Our pension expenses and related funding requirements are also subject to various actuarial calculations and assumptions, which may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, interest rates and other factors. A significant increase in our pension obligations and funding requirements could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Growth Strategy
We may be unable to manage our growth effectively.
Our growth strategy places significant demands on our financial, operational and management resources. To continue our growth, we may need to add administrative, managerial and other personnel, and may need to make additional investments in operations and systems. We may not be able to find and train qualified personnel, or do so on a timely basis, or to expand or otherwise modify our operations and systems to the extent, and in the time, required.
We may be unable to execute our acquisition growth strategy.
Our ability to execute our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to identify and acquire desirable acquisition candidates and on our ability to successfully integrate acquired operations into our business. The integration of our operations with those of acquired companies may present significant challenges to our management. In addition, competition for acquisition candidates may prevent us from acquiring certain acquisition candidates. Thus, we cannot assure you that:
desirable acquisition candidates exist or will be identified;
we will be able to acquire any of the candidates identified;
we will effectively integrate and manage companies we acquire; or
any acquisitions will be profitable or accretive to our earnings.
If any of these factors force us to alter our growth strategy, our growth prospects could be adversely affected.
Businesses we acquire may have undisclosed liabilities.
Our due diligence investigations of acquisition candidates may fail to discover certain undisclosed liabilities. If we acquire a company with undisclosed liabilities such as environmental, remediation or contractual liabilities, as a successor owner we may be responsible for such undisclosed liabilities. We try to minimize our exposure to such liabilities by conducting due diligence, by obtaining indemnification from each seller of the acquired companies, by deferring payment of a portion of the purchase price as security for the indemnification, by obtaining representations and warranties insurance and by acquiring only specified
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assets. However, we may not be able to obtain indemnification or insurance coverage, and such indemnification or insurance coverage obtained may not be enforceable, collectible or sufficient in amount, scope or duration to fully offset any undisclosed liabilities arising from our acquisitions.
Risks Related to Technology and Intellectual Property
Our strategy includes an increasing dependence on technology in our operations. If any of our key technology fails, our business could be adversely affected.
Our operations are increasingly dependent on technology. Our information technology systems are critical to our ability to drive profitable growth through differentiation, continue the implementation of standardized processes and deliver a consistent customer experience. One of our three differentiating capabilities is to enable our customers to do business with us through more channels and with better access to information and, accordingly, we have made substantial investment in our e-commerce platform. Problems with the operation of the information or communication technology systems we use could adversely affect, or temporarily disable, all or a portion of our operations. Inabilities and delays in implementing new systems can also affect our ability to realize projected or expected revenue or cost savings. Further, any systems failures could impede our ability to timely collect and report financial results in accordance with applicable laws.
Emerging technologies, including those that are used to recycle and process waste as an alternative to disposal of waste in landfills, represent risks, as well as opportunities, to our current business model. The costs associated with developing or investing in emerging technologies could require substantial capital and adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows. Delays in the development or implementation of such emerging technologies and difficulties in marketing new products or services based on emerging technologies could have similar negative impacts. Our financial results may suffer if we are not able to develop or license emerging technologies, or if a competitor obtains exclusive rights to an emerging technology that disrupts the current methods used in the environmental services industry.
A cyber security incident could negatively impact our business and our relationships with customers.
We use information technology and operational technology assets, including computer and information networks, in substantially all aspects of our business operations. We also use mobile devices, social networking and other online activities to connect with our employees and our customers. Such uses give rise to cyber security risks, including security breach, espionage, system disruption, theft and inadvertent release of information. Our business involves the storage and transmission of numerous classes of sensitive and/or confidential information and intellectual property, including customers’ personal information, private information about employees and financial and strategic information about us and our business partners. We also rely on a Payment Card Industry compliant third party to protect our customers’ credit card information. In connection with our strategy to grow through acquisitions and to pursue new initiatives that improve our operations and cost structure, we are also expanding and improving our information technologies, resulting in a larger technological presence and corresponding exposure to cyber security risk. If we fail to assess and identify cyber security risks associated with acquisitions and new initiatives, we may become increasingly vulnerable to such risks. Additionally, while we have implemented measures to prevent security breaches and cyber incidents, our preventive measures and incident response efforts may not be entirely effective. Also, the regulatory environment surrounding information security and privacy is increasingly demanding, with the frequent imposition of new and constantly changing requirements. This changing regulatory landscape may cause increasingly complex compliance challenges, which may increase our compliance costs. Any failure to comply with these changing security and privacy laws and regulations could result in significant penalties, fines, legal challenges and reputational harm. The theft, destruction, loss, misappropriation, or release of sensitive and/or confidential information or intellectual property, or interference with our information technology systems or the technology systems of third parties on which we rely, could result in business disruption, negative publicity, brand damage, violation of privacy laws, loss of customers, potential liability and competitive disadvantage.
Other Risks Relevant to Our Business
Price increases may not be adequate to offset the effect of increased costs and may cause us to lose volume.
We seek to secure price increases necessary to offset increased costs, improve our operating margins and earn an appropriate return on our substantial investments in assets such as our landfills. From time to time, our competitors reduce their prices in an effort to expand their market share. Contractual, general economic or market-specific conditions also may limit our ability to raise prices. For example, many of our contracts have price adjustment provisions that are tied to an index such as the consumer price index. Particularly in a weak or volatile United States economy, our costs may increase in excess of the increase, if any, in the consumer price index. This may continue to be the case even when the United States economy recovers because a recovery in the environmental services industry historically has lagged behind a recovery in the general economy. As a result, we may be
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unable to offset increases in costs, improve our operating margins and obtain adequate investment returns through price increases. Price increases also might cause us to lose volume to lower-cost competitors.
The loss of key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and growth prospects.
Our future success depends on the continued contributions of several key employees and officers. The loss of the services of key employees and officers, whether through resignation or other causes, or the inability to attract additional qualified personnel, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and growth prospects. In some of our markets, we compete with other similar businesses which may drive labor costs or reduce the amount of available qualified personnel.
The introduction of new accounting rules, laws or regulations could adversely impact our reported results of operations.
Complying with new accounting rules, laws or regulations, such as, for example, those related to our asset retirement obligations and environmental liabilities, could adversely impact our results of operations or cause unanticipated fluctuations in our results of operations or financial conditions in future periods.
Weakened or volatile economic conditions have and may continue to harm our industry, business and results of operations.
Our business is directly affected by changes in local, national, global and general economic factors and overall economic activity that are outside of our control, including changes in governmental monetary policies, consumer confidence, slowing economic growth, inflation, pandemics, supply chain issues and interest rates. In 2022, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, United States-China relations, monetary policy changes, and the resulting increases in interest rates have negatively impacted the economy, disrupted supply chains and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. In particular, disruption of the labor market and supply chains related to vehicles, especially trucks and the mechanical and electrical components in order to service them, negatively impacts our ability to provide services. A weak or volatile economy may result in decreases in volumes, which adversely affects our revenues. In addition, we have certain fixed costs (e.g., facility expense associated with long-term leases, depreciation expense and accretion expense), which may be difficult to adjust quickly to match declining volume levels. Consumer uncertainty and the loss of consumer confidence may decrease overall economic activity and thereby limit the amount of services we provide. Additionally, a decline in volumes may result in increased competitive pricing pressure and increased customer turnover, resulting in lower revenue and increased operating costs. Operating in an environment of worsening economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Further, recovery in the environmental services industry historically has lagged behind recovery in the general economy. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that an improvement in general economic conditions will result in an immediate, or any, improvement in our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
Our corporate office is located at 18500 North Allied Way, Phoenix, Arizona 85054, where we currently lease approximately 150,000 square feet of office space.
Our principal property and equipment consists of land, landfills, buildings, vehicles and equipment. We own or lease real property in the United States and Canada where we conduct operations. As of December 31, 2022, we operated across the United States and Canada through 353 collection operations, 233 transfer stations, 71 recycling centers, 206 active landfills, 3 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, 20 treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF), 6 salt water disposal wells and 7 deep injection wells. In the aggregate, our active solid waste landfills total 116,858 acres, including 40,400 permitted acres. We are engaged in 73 landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects and had post-closure responsibility for 128 closed landfills. We believe that our property and equipment are adequate for our current needs.
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ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
General Legal Proceedings
We are subject to extensive and evolving laws and regulations and have implemented safeguards to respond to regulatory requirements. In the normal course of our business, we become involved in legal proceedings. Some may result in fines, penalties or judgments against us, or settlements, which may impact earnings and cash flows for a particular period. Although we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any legal matter with certainty, we do not believe the outcome of any of our pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
As used in the immediately following paragraph, the term legal proceedings refers to litigation and similar claims against us and our subsidiaries, excluding: (1) ordinary course accidents, general commercial liability and workers' compensation claims, which are covered by insurance programs, subject to customary deductibles, and which, together with self-insured employee health care costs, are discussed in Note 7, Other Liabilities, to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K; and (2) environmental remediation liabilities, which totaled $487.5 million at December 31, 2022 and which are discussed in Note 8, Landfill and Environmental Costs, to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We accrue for legal proceedings when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. We have recorded an aggregate accrual of approximately $9 million relating to our outstanding legal proceedings as of December 31, 2022. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings and, where it is probable that a liability has been incurred, we accrue for all probable and reasonably estimable losses. Where we are able to reasonably estimate a range of losses we may incur with respect to a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If we are able to reasonably estimate a range but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we use the amount that is the low end of such range. If we had used the high ends of such ranges, our aggregate potential liability would be approximately $7 million higher than the amount recorded as of December 31, 2022.
Legal Proceedings over Certain Environmental Matters Involving Governmental Authorities with Possible Sanctions of $1,000,000 or More
Item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions unless we reasonably believe the monetary sanctions will not equal or exceed a threshold which we determine is reasonably designed to result in disclosure of any such proceeding that is material to our business or financial condition. We have determined such disclosure threshold to be $1,000,000. We have no matters to disclose in accordance with that requirement.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
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PART II
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information, Holders and Dividends
The principal market for our common stock is the New York Stock Exchange, and it is traded under the symbol RSG.
There were 520 holders of record of our common stock at February 7, 2023, which does not include beneficial owners for whom Cede & Co. or others act as nominees.
In October 2022, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.495 per share for shareholders of record on January 3, 2023. We expect to continue to pay quarterly cash dividends, and we may consider increasing our dividends if we believe it will enhance shareholder value.
We have the ability under our credit facilities to pay dividends and repurchase our common stock if we are in compliance with the financial covenants in our credit facilities. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with those financial covenants.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides information relating to our purchases of shares of our common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2022:
Total Number
of Shares Purchased (a)
Average Price Paid
per Share (a)
Total Number of Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Program (b)
Dollar Value of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Program (c)
October 1 – 31
— $— — $1,544,347,714 
November 1 – 30
— $— — $1,544,347,714 
December 1 – 31
— $— — $1,544,347,714 
— — 
(a)In October 2020, our Board of Directors approved a $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization effective starting January 1, 2021 and extending through December 31, 2023. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. While the Board of Directors has approved the program, the timing of any purchases, the prices and the number of shares of common stock to be purchased will be determined by our management, at its discretion, and will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The share repurchase program may be extended, suspended or discontinued at any time. As of December 31, 2022, there were no repurchased shares pending settlement.
(b)The total number of shares purchased as part of the publicly announced program were all purchased pursuant to the October 2020 authorization.
(c)Shares that may be purchased under the program exclude shares of common stock that may be surrendered to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and performance stock units issued to employees.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There were no sales of unregistered securities during the three months ended December 31, 2022.
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Performance Graph
The following graph compares the performance of our common stock to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (S&P 500 Index) and the Dow Jones Waste & Disposal Services Index (DJ W&DS Index). The graph covers the period from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2022 and assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock and in each index was $100 as of December 31, 2017 and that all dividends were reinvested.
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed "soliciting material" or to be "filed" with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.
rsg-20221231_g1.jpg
 
Indexed Returns for the Years Ended December 31,
 201720182019202020212022
Republic Services, Inc.$100.00 $108.84 $137.80 $150.94 $221.92 $208.24 
S&P 500 Index$100.00 $95.62 $125.72 $148.85 $191.58 $156.88 
DJ W&DS Index$100.00 $100.11 $135.25 $144.12 $201.48 $190.59 
Note: Prepared by Zacks Investment Research, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright 1980-2023.
Index data: Copyright Standard and Poor's, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Index data: Copyright Dow Jones, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
ITEM 6.[RESERVED]
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ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that anticipate results that are subject to uncertainty. We discuss in more detail various factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For further discussion regarding our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2020, refer to Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Recent Developments
Acquisition of US Ecology
On May 2, 2022, we acquired all outstanding equity of US Ecology in a transaction valued at $2.2 billion. US Ecology is a leading provider of environmental solutions offering treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous and specialty waste. This acquisition expands our existing environmental solutions footprint and expands our platform to provide customers in North America with environmental solutions from collection to disposal, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste, container rental and field services. We financed the transaction using the proceeds of a new $1.0 billion unsecured Term Loan Credit Agreement (Term Loan Facility) and borrowings under our existing $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the financial results of US Ecology are included within our Group 3 reportable segment.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. In 2020, certain customers in our small- and large-container businesses began adjusting their service levels, which included a decrease in the frequency of pickups or a temporary pause in service. In addition, we experienced a decline in volumes disposed at certain of our landfills and transfer stations. As service levels decreased, we also experienced a decrease in certain costs of our operations which are variable in nature. This decline in service activity peaked in 2020 and has improved sequentially thereafter, returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2022.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business are described in more detail in the Results of Operations discussion in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
2023 Financial Guidance
In 2023, we will focus on pricing in excess of cost inflation, driving profitable volume growth, investing in sustainability to improve the environment and drive growth, investing in value-creating acquisitions and advancing technology to improve productivity and increase customer retention. Specific guidance follows:
Revenue
We expect revenue to be in the range of $14.650 billion to $14.800 billion. We expect an increase in average yield of approximately 5.5% and volume growth to be in a range of 0.5% to 1.0%. Average yield on related business revenue is expected to be 6.5%.
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Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share
The following is a summary of anticipated adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ending December 31, 2023 compared to the actual adjusted diluted earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2022. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is not a measure determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP:
(Anticipated)
Year Ending December 31, 2023
(Actual)
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Diluted earnings per share
$ 5.02 to 5.10
$4.69 
Gain on business divestitures and impairments, net— (0.01)
Restructuring charges0.05 0.06 
US Ecology, Inc. acquisition integration and deal costs0.08 0.19 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$ 5.15 to 5.23$4.93 
We believe that the presentation of adjusted diluted earnings per share provides an understanding of operational activities before the financial effect of certain items. We use this measure, and believe investors will find it helpful, in understanding the ongoing performance of our operations separate from items that have a disproportionate effect on our results for a particular period. We have incurred comparable charges and costs in prior periods, and similar types of adjustments can reasonably be expected to be recorded in future periods. Our definition of adjusted diluted earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies.
The guidance set forth above constitutes forward-looking information and is not a guarantee of future performance. The
guidance is based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and is subject to significant risk and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those shown above. See Item 1A. Risk Factors - Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
Overview
Republic is one of the largest providers of environmental services in the United States, as measured by revenue. As of December 31, 2022, we operated across the United States and Canada through 353 collection operations, 233 transfer stations, 71 recycling centers, 206 active landfills, 3 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, 20 treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF), 6 salt water disposal wells and 7 deep injection wells. We are engaged in 73 landfill gas-to-energy and other renewable energy projects and had post-closure responsibility for 128 closed landfills.
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by 19.6% to $13,511.3 million compared to $11,295.0 million in 2021. This change in revenue is due to increased volume of 2.4%, average yield of 5.2%, acquisitions, net of divestitures of 9.6%, fuel recovery fees of 2.6% and environmental solutions revenue of 0.5%, partially offset by decreased recycling processing and commodity sales of 0.6%. Additionally, revenue decreased 0.1% due to one less workday in 2022 as compared to 2021.
The following table summarizes our revenue, costs and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):
 20222021
Revenue$13,511.3 100.0 %$11,295.0 100.0 %
Expenses:
Cost of operations8,205.0 60.7 6,737.7 59.7 
Depreciation, amortization and depletion of property and equipment
1,245.6 9.2 1,111.7 9.8 
Amortization of other intangible assets
53.9 0.4 33.3 0.3 
Amortization of other assets52.1 0.4 40.5 0.4 
Accretion89.6 0.7 82.7 0.7 
Selling, general and administrative1,454.3 10.8 1,195.8 10.6 
Adjustment to withdrawal liability for multiemployer pension funds(1.6)— — — 
(Gain) loss on business divestitures and impairments, net(6.3)— 0.5 — 
Restructuring charges27.0 0.2 16.6 0.1 
Operating income$2,391.7 17.6 %$2,076.2 18.4 %
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Our pre-tax income was $1,831.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $1,575.1 million in 2021. Our net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc. was $1,487.6 million, or $4.69 per diluted share for 2022, compared to $1,290.4 million, or $4.04 per diluted share, for 2021.
During 2022 and 2021, we recorded a number of charges, other expenses and benefits that impacted our pre-tax income, tax impact, net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc. (net income – Republic) and diluted earnings per share as noted in the following table (in millions, except per share data). Additionally, see our Results of Operations section of this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of other items that impacted our earnings during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. For comparative purposes, prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
 Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2021
 Pre-tax
Income
Tax Impact(2)
Net
Income -
Republic
Diluted
Earnings
per
Share
Pre-tax
Income
Tax Impact(2)
Net
Income -
Republic
Diluted
Earnings
per
Share
As reported$1,831.5 $343.9 $1,487.6 $4.69 $1,575.1 $282.8 $1,290.4 $4.04 
Restructuring charges27.0 7.1 19.9 0.0616.6 4.4 12.2 0.04
(Gain) loss on business divestitures and impairments, net(6.3)(2.5)(3.8)(0.01)0.5 (5.5)6.0 0.02 
Adjustment to withdrawal liability for multiemployer pension funds(1)
(1.6)(0.4)(1.2)— — — — — 
Accelerated vesting of compensation expense for CEO transition— — — — 22.0 — 22.0 0.07 
US Ecology, Inc. acquisition integration and deal costs77.3 17.0 60.3 0.19 — — — — 
Total adjustments96.4 21.2 75.2 0.24 39.1 (1.1)40.2 0.13 
As adjusted$1,927.9 $365.1 $1,562.8 $4.93 $1,614.2 $281.7 $1,330.6 $4.17 
(1) The aggregate impact to adjusted diluted earnings per share totals to less than $0.01 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(2) The income tax effect related to our adjustments includes both current and deferred income tax impact and is individually calculated based on the statutory rates applicable to each adjustment.
We believe that presenting adjusted pre-tax income, adjusted tax impact, adjusted net income – Republic, and adjusted diluted earnings per share, which are not measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, provide an understanding of operational activities before the financial impact of certain items. We use these measures, and believe investors will find them helpful, in understanding the ongoing performance of our operations separate from items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period. We have incurred comparable charges and costs in prior periods, and similar types of adjustments can reasonably be expected to be recorded in future periods. Our definitions of adjusted pre-tax income, adjusted tax impact, adjusted net income – Republic, and adjusted diluted earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Further information on each of these adjustments is included below.
Restructuring charges. In 2022 and 2021, we incurred restructuring charges of $27.0 million and $16.6 million, respectively, primarily related to the redesign of our general ledger, budgeting and procurement enterprise resource planning systems. These systems were placed into production in 2022, and we do not expect to incur future costs related to the implementation of these systems. We paid $19.8 million and $17.2 million during 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to these restructuring efforts.
In 2023, we expect to incur restructuring charges of approximately $20 million, primarily related to the redesign of our customer billing and asset management software systems. Substantially all of these restructuring charges will be recorded in our corporate entities and other segment.
(Gain) loss on business divestitures and impairments, net. During 2022, we recorded a net gain on business divestitures and impairments of $6.3 million. During 2021, we recorded a loss of $0.5 million related to business divestitures and asset impairments. Additionally, we recognized an increase in our deferred tax provision of $5.5 million due to a change in our United States operational footprint as a result of certain acquisitions that closed during the period.
Adjustment to withdrawal liability for multiemployer pension funds. During 2022, we recorded a net reduction of $1.6 million related to the remeasurement of withdrawal costs liabilities from multiemployer pension plans. As we obtain updated information regarding multiemployer pension funds, the factors used in deriving our estimated withdrawal liabilities will be subject to change, which may adversely impact our reserves for withdrawal costs.
Accelerated vesting of compensation expense for CEO transition. In June 2021, Donald W. Slager retired as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Republic Services, Inc. During 2021, we recognized a charge of $22.0 million primarily related to the accelerated vesting of his compensation awards that were previously scheduled to vest in 2022 and beyond.
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US Ecology, Inc. acquisition integration and deal costs. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred $77.3 million of acquisition integration and deal costs in connection with the acquisition of US Ecology, which included certain costs to close the acquisition and integrate the business, including stock compensation expense for unvested awards at closing as well as severance and change-in-control payments. The acquisition closed on May 2, 2022.
In 2023, we expect to incur costs of approximately $35 million to integrate the US Ecology business, primarily related to the integration of certain software systems as well as rebranding the business. We expect to be substantially complete with our integration activities by the end of 2023.
Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue by providing environmental services to our customers, including the collection and processing of recyclable materials, the collection, treatment, consolidation, transfer and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste and other environmental solutions. Our residential, small-container and large-container collection operations in some markets are based on long-term contracts with municipalities. Certain of our municipal contracts have annual price escalation clauses that are tied to changes in an underlying base index such as a consumer price index. We generally provide small-container and large-container collection services to customers under contracts with terms up to three years. Our transfer stations and landfills generate revenue from disposal or tipping fees charged to third parties. Our recycling centers generate revenue from tipping fees charged to third parties and the sale of recycled commodities. Our revenue from environmental solutions primarily consists of (1) fees we charge for the collection, treatment, transfer and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, (2) field and industrial services, (3) equipment rental, (4) emergency response and standby services, (5) in-plant services, such as transportation and logistics, including at our TSDFs and (6) in-plant services such as high-pressure cleaning, tank cleaning, decontamination, remediation, transportation, spill cleanup and emergency response at refineries, chemical, steel and automotive plants and other governmental, commercial and industrial facilities. Other non-core revenue consists primarily of revenue from National Accounts, which represents the portion of revenue generated from nationwide or regional contracts in markets outside our operating areas where the associated material handling is subcontracted to local operators. Consequently, substantially all of this revenue is offset with related subcontract costs, which are recorded in cost of operations.
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The following table reflects our revenue by service line for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):
 20222021
Collection:
Residential$2,642.6 19.5 %$2,452.8 21.7 %
Small-container3,945.7 29.2 3,417.7 30.3 
Large-container2,701.1 20.0 2,355.6 20.8 
Other53.9 0.4 52.1 0.5 
Total collection
9,343.3 69.1 8,278.2 73.3 
Transfer1,574.5 1,490.0 
Less: intercompany(849.8)(814.4)
Transfer, net724.7 5.4 675.6 6.0 
Landfill2,681.7 2,516.6 
Less: intercompany(1,131.9)(1,092.8)
Landfill, net1,549.8 11.5 1,423.8 12.6 
Environmental solutions1,262.1 242.4 
Less: intercompany(53.9)(19.5)
Environmental solutions, net1,208.2 8.9 222.9 2.0 
Other:
Recycling processing and commodity sales
359.3 2.7 420.5 3.7 
Other non-core326.0 2.4 274.0 2.4 
Total other685.3 5.1 694.5 6.1 
Total revenue$13,511.3 100.0 %$11,295.0 100.0 %
The following table reflects changes in components of our revenue, as a percentage of total revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
20222021
Average yield5.2 %2.9 %
Fuel recovery fees2.6 0.8 
Total price7.8 3.7 
Volume2.4 3.8 
Change in workdays(0.1)(0.1)
Recycling processing and commodity sales(0.6)1.1 
Environmental solutions0.5 (0.1)
Total internal growth10.0 8.4 
Acquisitions / divestitures, net9.6 2.8 
Total19.6 %11.2 %
Core price
6.7 %5.0 %
Average yield is defined as revenue growth from the change in average price per unit of service, expressed as a percentage. Core price is defined as price increases to our customers and fees, excluding fuel recovery, net of price decreases to retain customers. We also measure changes in average yield and core price as a percentage of related-business revenue, defined as total revenue excluding recycled commodities, fuel recovery fees and environmental solutions revenue to determine the effectiveness of our pricing strategies.
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The following table reflects average yield and core price as a percentage of related-business revenue for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
Years Ended December 31,
20222021
As a % of Related Business
Average yield5.7 %3.1 %
Core price7.3 %5.3 %
During 2022, we experienced the following changes in our revenue as compared to 2021:
Average yield increased revenue by 5.2% due to positive pricing changes in all our collection and disposal lines of business.
The fuel recovery fee program, which mitigates our exposure to increases in fuel prices, increased revenue by 2.6%, primarily due to an increase in fuel prices compared to 2021 and an increase in the total revenue subject to the fuel recovery fees.
Volume increased revenue by 2.4% during 2022 as compared to 2021 primarily due to volume growth in our landfill and all our collection lines of business, partially offset by a decrease in volume in our transfer line of business. The volume increase in our landfill line of business is primarily attributable to increased special waste, construction and demolition, and solid waste volumes.
Recycling processing and commodity sales decreased revenue by 0.6% primarily due to a decrease in overall commodity prices as compared to 2021. The average price for recycled commodities, excluding glass and organics for 2022 was $170 per ton compared to $187 per ton for 2021.
Changing market demand for recycled commodities causes volatility in commodity prices. At current volumes and mix of materials, we believe a $10 per ton change in the price of recycled commodities will change both annual revenue and operating income by approximately $10 million.
During 2022, environmental solutions revenue increased by 0.5% primarily due to an increase in volumes, including those driven by an increase in rig counts and drilling activity. This revenue increase excludes the impact from our acquisition of US Ecology.
Acquisitions, net of divestitures, increased revenue by 9.6%, reflecting the results of our continued growth strategy of acquiring solid waste, recycling and environmental services companies, including US Ecology, that complement and expand our existing business platform.
Cost of Operations
Cost of operations includes labor and related benefits, which consists of salaries and wages, health and welfare benefits, incentive compensation and payroll taxes. It also includes transfer and disposal costs representing tipping fees paid to third party disposal facilities and transfer stations; maintenance and repairs relating to our vehicles, equipment and containers, including related labor and benefit costs; transportation and subcontractor costs, which include costs for independent haulers that transport our waste to disposal facilities and costs for local operators that provide waste handling services associated with our National Accounts in markets outside our standard operating areas; fuel, which includes the direct cost of fuel used by our vehicles, net of fuel tax credits; disposal fees and taxes, consisting of landfill taxes, host community fees and royalties; landfill operating costs, which includes financial assurance, leachate disposal, remediation charges and other landfill maintenance costs; risk management costs, which include insurance premiums and claims; cost of goods sold, which includes material costs paid to suppliers; and other, which includes expenses such as facility operating costs, equipment rent and gains or losses on sale of assets used in our operations.
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The following table summarizes the major components of our cost of operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):
 20222021
Labor and related benefits$2,702.9 20.0 %$2,324.4 20.6 %
Transfer and disposal costs992.9 7.3 865.8 7.7 
Maintenance and repairs1,228.4 9.1 1,048.8 9.3 
Transportation and subcontract costs1,086.5 8.0 779.5 6.9 
Fuel631.1 4.7 383.0 3.4 
Disposal fees and taxes
342.3 2.5 336.6 3.0 
Landfill operating costs283.2 2.1 258.9 2.3 
Risk management321.4 2.4 261.6 2.3 
Other616.0 4.6 479.1 4.2 
Subtotal8,204.7 60.7 6,737.7 59.7 
US Ecology, Inc. acquisition integration and deal costs0.3 — — — 
Total cost of operations$8,205.0 60.7 %$6,737.7 59.7 %
These cost categories may change from time to time and may not be comparable to similarly titled categories presented by other companies. As such, you should take care when comparing our cost of operations by component to that of other companies and of ours for prior periods.
Our cost of operations increased for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 as a result of the following:
Labor and related benefits increased in aggregate dollars due to higher hourly and salaried wages as a result of annual merit increases and an increase in service levels attributable to economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Acquisition-related growth, including the acquisition of US Ecology, also contributed to the increase in labor and related benefits in aggregate dollars.
Transfer and disposal costs increased in aggregate dollars primarily due to acquisition-related growth, including the acquisition of US Ecology. Transfer and disposal costs also increased in aggregate dollars as a result of higher collection volumes and an increase in third party disposal rates.
During both 2022 and 2021, approximately 68% of the total solid waste volume we collected was disposed at landfill     sites that we own or operate (internalization).
Maintenance and repairs expense increased in aggregate dollars due to an increase in the price of replacement parts as well as an increase in service levels attributable to the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transportation and subcontract costs increased in 2022 due to an increase in third-party transportation fees, partially driven by the higher cost of fuel passed on through higher transportation surcharges, and an increase in subcontract work attributable to a corresponding increase in non-core revenues as compared to 2021. Acquisition-related growth, including the acquisition of US Ecology, also contributed to the increase in transportation and subcontract costs.
Our fuel costs increased due to an increase in the average diesel fuel cost per gallon. The national average diesel fuel cost per gallon for 2022 was $4.99 compared to $3.29 for 2021.
At current consumption levels, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel costs by approximately $27 million per year. Offsetting these changes in fuel expense would be changes in our fuel recovery fee charged to our customers. At current participation rates, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel recovery fee by approximately $31 million per year.
Disposal    fees and taxes increased in aggregate dollars in 2022 primarily due to increased royalties and host fees from an increase in volume at certain landfills as compared to 2021.
Landfill operating costs increased in aggregate dollars during 2022 primarily due to increased leachate treatment, transportation and disposal costs due in part to increased rainfall in select geographic regions, as well as landfill gas and other maintenance costs.
Risk management expenses increased primarily due to unfavorable actuarial development in our auto liability claims as well as higher premium costs.
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During 2022, we incurred $0.3 million of acquisition integration and deal costs within cost of operations in connection with the acquisition of US Ecology.
Other costs of operations increased during 2022 due to increased occupancy and facility related expenses, acquisition-related activity and higher third-party truck and equipment rental expense to support higher volumes.
Depreciation, Amortization and Depletion of Property and Equipment
The following table summarizes depreciation, amortization and depletion of property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):
 20222021
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment$811.9 6.0 %$734.9 6.5 %
Landfill depletion and amortization433.7 3.2 376.8 3.3 
Depreciation, amortization and depletion expense$1,245.6 9.2 %$1,111.7 9.8 %
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment increased primarily due to assets added through acquisitions.
Landfill depletion and amortization expense increased due to higher landfill disposal volumes primarily driven by special waste, solid waste and construction and demolition volumes coupled with an increase in our overall average depletion rate.
Amortization of Other Intangible Assets
Expenses for amortization of other intangible assets were $53.9 million, or 0.4% of revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $33.3 million, or 0.3% of revenue, for 2021. Amortization expense increased due to additional assets acquired as a result of our business acquisitions.
Amortization of Other Assets
Our other assets primarily relate to the prepayment of fees and capitalized implementation costs associated with cloud-based hosting arrangements. Expenses for amortization of other assets were $52.1 million, or 0.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $40.5 million, or 0.4% revenue, for 2021.
Accretion Expense
Accretion expense was $89.6 million, or 0.7% of revenue, and $82.7 million, or 0.7% of revenue, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Accretion expense increased in aggregate dollars due to acquired asset retirement obligations.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, health and welfare benefits and incentive compensation for corporate and field general management, field support functions, sales force, accounting and finance, legal, management information systems and clerical and administrative departments. Other expenses include rent and office costs, fees for professional services provided by third parties, legal settlements, marketing, investor and community relations services, directors’ and officers’ insurance, general employee relocation, travel, entertainment and bank charges. Restructuring charges are excluded from selling, general and administrative expenses and are discussed separately.
The following table summarizes our selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):
 20222021
Salaries and related benefits$937.9 7.0 %$844.4 7.5 %
Provision for doubtful accounts41.5 0.3 19.9 0.2 
Other397.9 2.9 309.5 2.7 
Subtotal1,377.3 10.2 1,173.8 10.4 
Accelerated vesting of compensation expense for CEO transition— — 22.0 0.2 
 US Ecology, Inc. acquisition integration and deal costs77.0 0.6 — — 
Total selling, general and administrative expenses$1,454.3 10.8 %$1,195.8 10.6 %
These cost categories may change from time to time and may not be comparable to similarly titled categories used by other companies. As such, you should take care when comparing our selling, general and administrative expenses by cost component to those of other companies and of ours for prior periods.
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The most significant items affecting our selling, general and administrative expenses during 2022 as compared to 2021 are summarized below:
Salaries and related benefits increased in aggregate dollars primarily due to higher wages, benefits and other payroll related items resulting from annual merit increases, offset, in part, by lower management incentive expenses. Acquisition-related growth, including the acquisition of US Ecology, also contributed to the growth in salaries and related benefits in aggregate dollars.
Provision for doubtful accounts increased primarily due to an increase in days sales outstanding and acquisition-related activity. As of December 31, 2022, our days sales outstanding were 43.3, or 31.8 days net of deferred revenue, compared to 39.2, or 27.5 days net of deferred revenue, as of December 31, 2021. Excluding our acquisition of US Ecology, our days sales outstanding were 39.1, or 27.3 days net of deferred revenue, as of December 31, 2022.
Other selling, general and administrative expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2022, largely due to an increase in advertising and travel costs and acquisition-related growth, including US Ecology.
In June 2021, Donald W. Slager retired as CEO of Republic Services, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a charge of $22.0 million, related to the accelerated vesting of his compensation awards that were previously scheduled to vest in 2022 and beyond.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred $77.0 million of acquisition integration and deal costs within selling, general and administration expense in connection with the acquisition of US Ecology, which included certain costs to close the acquisition and integrate the business, including stock compensation expense for unvested awards at closing as well as severance and change-in-control payments. The acquisition closed on May 2, 2022.
Adjustment to Withdrawal Liability for Multiemployer Pension Funds
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded a net reduction of $1.6 million related to the remeasurement of withdrawal costs liabilities from multiemployer pension plans. As we obtain updated information regarding multiemployer pension funds, the factors used in deriving our estimated withdrawal liabilities will be subject to change, which may adversely impact our reserves for withdrawal costs.
(Gain) loss on Business Divestitures and Impairments, Net
We strive to have a leading market position in each of the markets we serve, or have a clear path on how we will achieve a leading market position over time. Where we cannot establish a leading market position, or where operations are not generating acceptable returns, we may decide to divest certain assets and reallocate resources to other markets. Business divestitures could result in gains, losses or impairment charges that may be material to our results of operations in a given period.
During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded a net gain (loss) on business divestitures and impairments of $6.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively.
Restructuring Charges
In 2022 and 2021, we incurred restructuring charges of $27.0 million and $16.6 million, respectively, primarily related to the redesign of our general ledger, budgeting and procurement enterprise resource planning systems. These systems were placed into production in 2022, and we do not expect to incur future costs related to the implementation of these systems. We paid $19.8 million and $17.2 million during 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to these restructuring efforts.
In 2023, we expect to incur additional restructuring charges of approximately $20 million primarily related to the implementation of replacement billing and collection software systems. Substantially all of these restructuring charges will be recorded in our corporate entities and other segment.
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Interest Expense
The following table provides the components of interest expense, including accretion of debt discounts and accretion of discounts primarily associated with environmental and risk insurance liabilities assumed in acquisitions for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars):
20222021
Interest expense on debt$329.0 $249.1 
Non-cash interest71.6 70.5 
Less: capitalized interest(5.0)(5.0)
Total interest expense$395.6 $314.6 
Total interest expense for 2022 increased compared to 2021 primarily due to additional outstanding debt to fund the purchase of US Ecology and higher interest rates on our floating rate debt.
Cash paid for interest, excluding net swap settlements for our fixed-to-floating and floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps, was $311.5 million and $249.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022, we had $3,349.1 million of floating rate debt including floating rate swap contracts. If interest rates increased or decreased by 100 basis points on our variable rate debt, annualized interest expense and net cash payments for interest would increase or decrease by approximately $33 million.
Income Taxes
Our provision for income taxes was $343.9 million and $282.8 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively. Our effective tax rate, exclusive of non-controlling interests, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was 18.8% and 18.0%, respectively. Net cash paid for income taxes was approximately $185 million and $300 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
During 2022, we acquired non-controlling interests in limited liability companies established to own solar energy assets that qualified for investment tax credits under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code. We account for these investments using the equity method of accounting and recognize our share of income or loss and other reductions in the value of our investment in loss from unconsolidated equity method investments within our consolidated statements of income. For further discussion regarding our equity method accounting, see Note 3, Business Acquisitions, Investments and Restructuring Charges. Our 2022 tax provision reflects a benefit of approximately $139 million due to the tax credits related to these investments.
Our 2021 tax provision was reduced by approximately $126 million related to the tax credits from our non-controlling interest in limited liability companies established to own solar energy assets.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. The IRA, among other things, implements a 15% minimum tax on financial statement income of certain large corporations, a 1% excise tax on stock repurchases and extends, enhances and creates several tax incentives to promote clean energy. While we continue to evaluate the IRA, at present, outside of the potential for future energy credits, we do not believe it will have a material effect on our audited consolidated financial statements.
We have deferred tax assets related to state net operating loss carryforwards with an estimated tax effect of approximately $77 million available as of December 31, 2022. These state net operating loss carryforwards expire at various times between 2023 and 2042. We believe that it is more likely than not that the benefit from some of our state net operating loss carryforwards will not be realized due to limitations on these loss carryforwards in certain states. In recognition of this risk, as of December 31, 2022, we have provided a valuation allowance of approximately $42 million.
For additional discussion and detail regarding our income taxes, see Note 11, Income Taxes, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Reportable Segments
Our senior management evaluates, oversees and manages the financial performance of our operations through three field groups, referred to as Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3. Group 1 is our recycling and solid waste business operating primarily in geographic areas located in the western United States. Group 2 is our recycling and solid waste business operating primarily in geographic areas located in the southeastern and mid-western United States and the eastern seaboard of the United States. Group 3 is our environmental solutions business operating primarily in geographic areas located across the United States and Canada. These groups are presented below as our reportable segments, which each provide integrated environmental services, including but not limited to collection, transfer, recycling and disposal. Prior to the third quarter of 2022, our environmental solutions operating segment, now referred to as our Group 3 reportable segment, was aggregated with Corporate entities and other.
Corporate entities and other include legal, tax, treasury, information technology, risk management, human resources, closed landfills and other administrative functions. National Accounts revenue included in Corporate entities and other represents the portion of revenue generated from nationwide and regional contracts in markets outside our operating areas where the associated material handling is subcontracted to local operators. Consequently, substantially all of this revenue is offset with related subcontract costs, which are recorded in cost of operations.
Summarized financial information regarding our reportable segments for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue in the case of adjusted EBITDA margin) follows. For totals as well as further detail regarding our reportable segments and the adjustments used to calculate gross Adjusted EBITDA, net Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for each segment, see Note 15, Segment Reporting, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Group 1Group 2Group 3Corporate entities and other
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Gross Revenue$7,240.5 $6,903.8 $1,262.5 $238.3 
Intercompany Revenue(1,104.5)(930.9)(46.6)(51.8)
Net Revenue$6,136.0 $5,972.9 $1,215.9 $186.5 
Gross Adjusted EBITDA$1,979.4 $1,685.9 $253.7 $10.3 
Adjusted EBITDA allocations27.5 25.4 (42.6)(10.3)
Net Adjusted EBITDA$2,006.9 $1,711.3 $211.1 $— 
Adjusted EBITDA margin32.2 %28.2 %17.4 %— %
Capital Expenditures$626.2 $527.7 $141.7 $158.4 
Total Assets$12,494.3 $10,439.4 $4,086.3 $2,032.9 
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Gross Revenue$6,630.0 $6,229.1 $242.4 $220.3 
Intercompany Revenue(1,071.1)(905.7)(19.5)(30.5)
Net Revenue$5,558.9 $5,323.4 $222.9 $189.8 
Gross Adjusted EBITDA$1,841.1 $1,494.8 $44.6 $3.0 
Adjusted EBITDA allocations1.6 1.4 — (3.0)
Net Adjusted EBITDA$1,842.7 $1,496.2 $44.6 $— 
Adjusted EBITDA margin32.6 %27.6 %20.0 %— %
Capital Expenditures$601.9 $541.8 $50.8 $121.8 
Total Assets$12,199.2 $9,926.9 $1,211.6 $1,617.3 
Significant changes in the revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin of our reportable segments for 2022 compared to 2021 are discussed below.
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Group 1
Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased 10.4% from 2021 due to an increase in average yield and volume in all lines of business. The increase in landfill volume was attributable to an increase in special waste and construction and demolition volumes, offset in part by a decrease in solid waste volumes. Revenue also increased due to acquisition-related growth.
Adjusted EBITDA in Group 1 increased in aggregate dollars from $1,842.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, or a 32.6% adjusted EBITDA margin, to $2,006.9 million, or a 32.2% adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2022 was unfavorably impacted by an increase in vehicle and equipment rental fees, transportation and subcontract costs driven by increases in volume, as well as higher disposal costs due to an increase in third party disposal rates, higher maintenance costs due to inflationary pressures on parts and materials and increased transportation and subcontract costs driven by the increase in volume. The unfavorable impact was partially offset by the increase in revenue attributable to both acquisition activity and the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Group 2
Net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased 12.2% from 2021 due to an increase in average yield in all lines of business and volume in our landfill and small- and large-container collection lines of business. These increases were partially offset by volume declines in our residential and transfer station lines of business. The increase in landfill volume was attributable to an increase in special waste, solid waste and construction and demolition volumes. Revenue also increased due to acquisition-related growth.
Adjusted EBITDA in Group 2 increased from $1,496.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, or a 27.6% adjusted EBITDA margin, to $1,711.3 million, or a 28.2% adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2022 was favorably impacted by the increase in revenue attributable to the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the effective management of certain operating costs, primarily labor and related benefits, disposal costs and maintenance and repairs. The favorable impact was partially offset by an increase in vehicle and equipment rental fees and transportation and subcontract costs driven by the increases in volume.
Group 3
Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased primarily due to the acquisition of US Ecology, as well as an increase in rig counts and drilling activity.
Adjusted EBITDA in Group 3 increased from $44.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, or a 20.0% adjusted EBITDA margin, to $211.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, or an 17.4% adjusted EBITDA margin.
Adjusted EBITDA margin for the year ended December 31, 2022 decreased due to the acquisition of US Ecology.
Landfill and Environmental Matters
Our landfill costs include daily operating expenses, costs of capital for cell development, costs for final capping, closure and post-closure and the legal and administrative costs of ongoing environmental compliance. Daily operating expenses include leachate treatment, transportation and disposal costs, methane gas and groundwater monitoring and system maintenance costs, interim cap maintenance costs and costs associated with applying daily cover materials. We expense all indirect landfill development costs as they are incurred. We use life cycle accounting and the units-of-consumption method to recognize certain direct landfill costs related to landfill development. In life cycle accounting, certain direct costs are capitalized and charged to depletion expense based on the consumption of cubic yards of available airspace. These costs include all costs to acquire and construct a site, including excavation, natural and synthetic liners, construction of leachate collection systems, installation of methane gas collection and monitoring systems, installation of groundwater monitoring wells and other costs associated with acquiring and developing the site. Obligations associated with final capping, closure and post-closure are capitalized and amortized on a units-of-consumption basis as airspace is consumed.
Cost and airspace estimates are developed at least annually by engineers. Our operating and accounting personnel use these estimates to adjust the rates we use to expense capitalized costs. Changes in these estimates primarily relate to changes in cost estimates, available airspace, inflation and applicable regulations. Changes in available airspace include changes in engineering estimates, changes in design and changes due to the addition of airspace lying in expansion areas that we believe have a probable likelihood of being permitted. Changes in engineering estimates typically include modifications to the available disposal capacity of a landfill based on a refinement of the capacity calculations resulting from updated information.
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Available Airspace
As of December 31, 2022, we owned or operated 206 active landfills with total available disposal capacity estimated to be 5.0 billion in-place cubic yards. For these landfills, the following table reflects changes in capacity and remaining capacity, as measured in cubic yards of airspace as of December 31, 2022.
Balance as of December 31, 2021
New
Expansions
Undertaken
Landfills
Acquired,
Net of
Divestitures
Permits Granted /
New Sites,
Net of Closures
Airspace
Consumed
Changes in
Engineering
Estimates
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Cubic yards (in millions):
Permitted airspace4,826.7 — 75.2 3.3 (85.0)(3.4)4,816.8 
Probable expansion airspace186.0 14.6 — (3.1)— — 197.5 
Total cubic yards (in millions)5,012.7 14.6 75.2 0.2 (85.0)(3.4)5,014.3 
Number of sites:
Permitted airspace198 — 10 (2)206 
Probable expansion airspace11 — (1)13 
The following table reflects changes in capacity and remaining capacity for these landfills, as measured in cubic yards of airspace, as of December 31, 2021.
Balance as of December 31, 2020
New
Expansions
Undertaken
Landfills
Acquired,
Net of
Divestitures
Permits Granted /
New Sites,
Net of Closures
Airspace
Consumed
Changes in
Engineering
Estimates
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Cubic yards (in millions):
Permitted airspace4,792.5 — 61.4 37.8 (79.3)14.3 4,826.7 
Probable expansion airspace196.4 20.5 — (30.9)— — 186.0 
Total cubic yards (in millions)4,988.9 20.5 61.4 6.9 (79.3)14.3 5,012.7 
Number of sites:
Permitted airspace186 — 13 (1)198 
Probable expansion airspace11 — (2)11 
Total available disposal capacity represents the sum of estimated permitted airspace plus an estimate of probable expansion airspace. Engineers develop these estimates at least annually using information provided by annual aerial surveys. Before airspace included in an expansion area is determined to be probable expansion airspace and, therefore, included in our calculation of total available disposal capacity, it must meet all of our expansion criteria. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, and Note 8, Landfill and Environmental Costs, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information. Also see our Critical Accounting Judgments and Estimates section of this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
As of December 31, 2022, 13 of our landfills met all of our criteria for including their probable expansion airspace in their total available disposal capacity. At projected annual volumes, these 13 landfills have an estimated remaining average site life of 32 years, including probable expansion airspace. The average estimated remaining life of all of our landfills is 58 years. We have other expansion opportunities that are not included in our total available airspace because they do not meet all of our criteria for treatment as probable expansion airspace.
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The following table reflects the estimated operating lives of our active landfill sites based on available and probable disposal capacity using current annual volumes as of December 31, 2022:
Number
of Sites
without
Probable
Expansion
Airspace
Number
of Sites
with
Probable
Expansion
Airspace
Total
Sites
Percent
of
Total
0 to 5 years23 — 23 11.2 %
6 to 10 years20 — 20 9.7 
11 to 20 years27 31 15.0 
21 to 40 years51 55 26.7 
41+ years72 77 37.4 
Total193 13 206 100.0 %
Final Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Costs
As of December 31, 2022, accrued final capping, closure and post-closure costs were $1,786.4 million, of which $75.2 million were current and $1,711.2 million were long-term as reflected in our consolidated balance sheets in accrued landfill and environmental costs included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Remediation and Other Charges for Landfill Matters
It is reasonably possible that we will need to adjust our accrued landfill and environmental liabilities to reflect the effects of new or additional information, to the extent that such information impacts the costs, timing or duration of the required actions. Future changes in our estimates of the costs, timing or duration of the required actions could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
For a description of our significant remediation matters, see Note 8, Landfill and Environmental Costs, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Investment in Landfills
As of December 31, 2022, we expect to spend an estimated additional $10.7 billion on existing landfills, primarily related to cell construction and environmental structures, over their remaining lives. Our total expected investment, excluding non-depletable land, estimated to be $15.6 billion, or $3.11 per cubic yard, is used in determining our depletion and amortization expense based on airspace consumed using the units-of-consumption method.
The following table reflects our future expected investment as of December 31, 2022 (in millions):
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Expected
Future
Investment
Total
Expected
Investment
Non-depletable landfill land$255.2 $— $255.2 
Landfill development costs9,574.2 10,696.7 20,270.9 
Construction-in-progress – landfill358.3 — 358.3 
Accumulated depletion and amortization(5,058.9)— (5,058.9)
Net investment in landfill land and development costs$5,128.8 $10,696.7 $15,825.5 
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The following table reflects our net investment in our landfills, excluding non-depletable land, and our depletion, amortization and accretion expense for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021:
20222021
Number of landfills owned or operated206 198 
Net investment, excluding non-depletable land (in millions)$4,873.6 $4,193.3 
Total estimated available disposal capacity (in millions of cubic yards)5,014.3 5,012.7 
Net investment per cubic yard$0.97 $0.84 
Landfill depletion and amortization expense (in millions)$433.7 $376.8 
Accretion expense (in millions)89.6 82.7 
523.3 459.5 
Airspace consumed (in millions of cubic yards)85.079.3 
Depletion, amortization and accretion expense per cubic yard of airspace consumed$6.16 $5.79 
During 2022 and 2021, our average compaction rate was approximately 2,000 pounds per cubic yard based primarily on a three-year historical moving average.
Property and Equipment
The following tables reflect the activity in our property and equipment accounts for the year ended December 31, 2022 (in millions of dollars):

Gross Property and Equipment

Balance as of December 31, 2021
Capital
Additions
RetirementsAcquisitions,
Net of
Divestitures
Non-Cash
Additions
for Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Adjustments
for
Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Impairments,
Transfers
and
Other
Adjustments
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Land$694.9 $2.4 $(1.7)$85.0 $— $— $(0.9)$779.7 
Landfill development costs8,539.6 14.5 — 590.4 60.1 20.2 349.4 9,574.2 
Vehicles and equipment8,576.9 759.6 (272.6)300.0 — — 101.4 9,465.3 
Buildings and improvements1,508.4 57.9 (10.0)126.9 — — 21.4 1,704.6 
Construction-in-progress - landfill279.3 390.9 — 38.6 — — (350.5)358.3 
Construction-in-progress - other182.9 338.0 (0.2)(1.1)— — (161.0)358.6 
Total$19,782.0 $1,563.3 $(284.5)$1,139.8 $60.1 $20.2 $(40.2)$22,240.7 
Accumulated Depreciation, Amortization and Depletion
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Additions
Charged
to
Expense
RetirementsAcquisitions,
Net of
Divestitures
Adjustments
for
Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Impairments,
Transfers
and
Other
Adjustments
Balance as of December 31, 2022
Landfill development costs$(4,625.6)$(440.1)$— $(1.6)$5.7 $2.7 $(5,058.9)
Vehicles and equipment(5,231.6)(735.9)265.7 7.6 — 14.3 (5,679.9)
Buildings and improvements(692.7)(79.4)6.9 0.6 — 6.7 (757.9)
Total$(10,549.9)$(1,255.4)$272.6 $6.6 $5.7 $23.7 $(11,496.7)
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The following tables reflect the activity in our property and equipment accounts for the year ended December 31, 2021 (in millions of dollars):

Gross Property and Equipment

Balance as of December 31, 2020
Capital
Additions
RetirementsAcquisitions,
Net of
Divestitures
Non-Cash
Additions
for Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Adjustments
for
Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Impairments,
Transfers
and
Other
Adjustments
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Land$633.4 $32.7 $(3.9)$16.6 $— $— $16.1 $694.9 
Landfill development costs7,991.7 6.5 — 65.5 46.7 58.9 370.3 8,539.6 
Vehicles and equipment8,119.0 651.0 (385.2)109.3 — — 82.8 8,576.9 
Buildings and improvements1,402.5 24.8 (6.9)20.9 0.5 — 66.6 1,508.4 
Construction-in-progress - landfill303.8 358.5 — — — — (383.0)279.3 
Construction-in-progress - other107.4 240.2 — 5.3 — — (170.0)182.9 
Total$18,557.8 $1,313.7 $(396.0)$217.6 $47.2 $58.9 $(17.2)$19,782.0 
Accumulated Depreciation, Amortization and Depletion
Balance as of December 31, 2020
Additions
Charged
to
Expense
RetirementsAcquisitions,
Net of
Divestitures
Adjustments
for
Asset
Retirement
Obligations
Impairments,
Transfers
and
Other
Adjustments
Balance as of December 31, 2021
Landfill development costs$(4,249.5)$(369.4)$— $0.5 $(7.2)$— $(4,625.6)
Vehicles and equipment(4,953.4)(665.4)376.3 — — 10.9 (5,231.6)
Buildings and improvements(628.7)(68.9)5.0 0.3 — (0.4)(692.7)
Total$(9,831.6)$(1,103.7)$381.3 $0.8 $(7.2)$10.5 $(10,549.9)
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The following is a summary of our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and marketable securities balances as of December 31:
20222021
Cash and cash equivalents$143.4 $29.0 
Restricted cash and marketable securities127.6 139.0 
Less: restricted marketable securities(56.7)(62.4)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents$214.3 $105.6 
Our restricted cash and marketable securities include, among other things, restricted cash and marketable securities pledged to regulatory agencies and governmental entities as financial guarantees of our performance under certain collection, landfill and transfer station contracts and permits, and relating to our final capping, closure and post-closure obligations at our landfills, and restricted cash and marketable securities related to our insurance obligations and restricted cash related to proceeds from the issuance of tax-exempt bonds that will be used to fund qualifying landfill-related expenditures in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The following table summarizes our restricted cash and marketable securities as of December 31:
20222021
Financing proceeds$— $12.4 
Capping, closure and post-closure obligations39.1 42.4 
Insurance88.5 84.2 
Total restricted cash and marketable securities$127.6 $139.0 

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Material Cash Requirements and Intended Uses of Cash
We expect existing cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities, cash flows from operations and financing activities to continue to be sufficient to fund our operating activities and cash commitments for investing and financing activities for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future. Our known current- and long-term uses of cash include, among other possible demands: (1) capital expenditures and leases, (2) acquisitions, (3) dividend payments, (4) repayments to service debt and other long-term obligations, (5) payments for asset retirement obligations and environmental liabilities and (6) share repurchases.
Capital Expenditures and Leases
We make investments in property and equipment primarily to allow for growth of our service offerings. These investments are largely concentrated in vehicles and equipment and costs to construct our landfills. We expect to receive between $1.65 billion to $1.67 billion of property and equipment, net of proceeds from the sale of property and equipment, in 2023.
We lease property and equipment in the ordinary course of business under various lease agreements. The most significant lease obligations are for real property and equipment specific to our industry, including property operated as a landfill or transfer station and operating equipment. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of total future lease payments under operating and finance leases was $335.0 million and $430.3 million, respectively. For additional detail regarding our lease obligations, see Note 10, Leases, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Acquisitions
Our acquisition growth strategy focuses primarily on acquiring privately held recycling and solid waste companies and environmental solutions businesses that complement our existing business platform. We continue to invest in value-enhancing acquisitions in existing markets.
We expect to invest at least $500 million in acquisitions in 2023.
Dividend Payments
In October 2022, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.495 per share. Aggregate cash dividends declared were $603.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we recorded a quarterly dividend payable of $156.4 million to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 3, 2023, which was paid on January 13, 2023.
Debt and other long-term obligations
Debt repayments may include purchases of our outstanding indebtedness in the secondary market or otherwise. We believe that our excess cash, cash from operating activities and our availability to draw on our credit facilities provide us with sufficient financial resources to meet our anticipated capital requirements and maturing obligations as they come due.
We may choose to voluntarily retire certain portions of our outstanding debt before their maturity dates using cash from operations or additional borrowings. We may also explore opportunities in the capital markets to fund redemptions should market conditions be favorable. Early extinguishment of debt will result in an impairment charge in the period in which the debt is repaid. The loss on early extinguishment of debt relates to premiums paid to effectuate the repurchase and the relative portion of unamortized note discounts and debt issue costs.
In May 2022, we entered into a commercial paper program for the issuance and sale of unsecured commercial paper in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $500.0 million outstanding at any one time (the Commercial Paper Cap). In August 2022, the Commercial Paper Cap was increased to $1.0 billion. As of December 31, 2022, we had $1.0 billion principal value of commercial paper issued and outstanding under the program, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.670% and weighted average maturity of 36 days. In the event of a failed re-borrowing, we currently have availability under our Credit Facility to fund the amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program until they are re-borrowed successfully. Accordingly, we have classified these borrowings as long-term in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2022, the total principal value of our debt was $11.9 billion, of which $456.0 million is due in 2023.
We have several agreements that require us to dispose of a minimum number of tons at third-party disposal facilities. Under these put-or-pay agreements, we must pay for agreed-upon minimum volumes regardless of the actual number of tons placed at the facilities.
Our unconditional purchase commitments have varying expiration dates, with some extending through the remaining life of the respective landfill. Future minimum payments under unconditional purchase commitments consist primarily of (1) disposal related agreements, which include fixed or minimum royalty payments, host agreements and take-or-pay and put-or-pay agreements and (2) other obligations including committed capital expenditures and consulting service agreements. As of
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December 31, 2022, such purchase commitments, which do not qualify for recognition on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, amount to $745.2 million, of which $133.9 million was short-term.
For additional detail regarding our debt and known contractual and other obligation, see Note 9, Debt, and Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Liabilities
We have future obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure costs with respect to the landfills we own or operate as set forth in applicable landfill permits. As of December 31, 2022, our future obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure costs totaled $1.8 billion, of which $75.2 million was short-term.
Additionally, we are subject to an array of laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, and we remediate sites in the ordinary course of our business. Our environmental remediation liabilities primarily include costs associated with remediating groundwater, surface water and soil contamination, as well as controlling and containing methane gas migration and the related legal costs. As of December 31, 2022, our environmental liabilities totaled $487.5 million, of which $57.4 million was short-term.
For additional detail regarding our asset retirement obligations and environmental liabilities, see Note 8, Landfill and Environmental Costs, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Share Repurchases
In October 2020, our Board of Directors approved a $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization effective starting January 1, 2021 and extending through December 31, 2023. Share repurchases under the current program may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. While the Board of Directors has approved the program, the timing of any purchases, the prices and the number of shares of common stock to be purchased will be determined by our management, at its discretion, and will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The share repurchase program may be extended, suspended or discontinued at any time. As of December 31, 2022, the remaining authorized purchase capacity under our October 2020 repurchase program was $1.5 billion.
Summary of Cash Flow Activity
The major components of changes in cash flows for 2022 and 2021 are discussed in the following paragraphs. The following table summarizes our cash flow from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars):
20222021
Net cash provided by operating activities$3,190.0 $2,786.7 
Net cash used in investing activities$(4,423.0)$(2,466.1)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities$1,344.2 $(329.2)
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities
The most significant items affecting the comparison of our operating cash flows for 2022 and 2021 are summarized below.
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects from business acquisitions and divestitures, decreased our cash flow from operations by $231.0 million in 2022, compared to a decrease of $94.0 million during the same period in 2021, primarily as a result of the following:
Our accounts receivable, exclusive of the change in allowance for doubtful accounts and customer credits, increased $198.8 million during 2022, due to the timing of billings net of collections, compared to a $135.4 million increase in the same period in 2021. As of December 31, 2022, our days sales outstanding were 43.3, or 31.8 days net of deferred revenue, compared to 39.2, or 27.5 days net of deferred revenue, as of December 31, 2021.
Our prepaid expenses and other assets increased $83.8 million in 2022 compared to a $57.0 million increase in 2021, primarily due to additional SaaS implementation costs incurred related to the redesign of our general ledger, budgeting and procurement enterprise resource planning systems in 2022. Cash paid for income taxes was $185 million and $300 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively. Income taxes paid in 2022 and 2021 reflected benefits from tax credits from our continuing investments in solar energy.
Our accounts payable increased $106.4 million during 2022 compared to a $113.8 million increase during 2021, due to the timing of payments.
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Cash paid for capping, closure and post-closure obligations was $64.6 million during 2022 compared to $59.6 million for 2021. The increase in cash paid for capping, closure and post-closure obligations is primarily due to the timing of capping and post-closure payments at certain of our landfill sites.
Cash paid for remediation obligations was $2.4 million lower during 2022 compared to 2021.
In addition, cash paid for interest was $311.5 million and $249.4 million, excluding net swap settlements for our fixed to floating interest rate swaps, for 2022 and 2021, respectively.
We use cash flows from operations to fund capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividend payments, debt repayments and share repurchases.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
The most significant items affecting the comparison of our cash flows used in investing activities for 2022 and 2021 are summarized below:
Capital expenditures during 2022 were $1,454.0 million as compared to $1,316.3 million for 2021.
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment during 2022 were $32.8 million as compared to $19.5 million for 2021.
During 2022 and 2021, we used $3,038.5 million and $1,221.7 million, respectively, for acquisitions and investments, net of cash acquired, including the cash used for the acquisition of US Ecology. During 2022 and 2021, we received $50.6 million and $46.3 million from business divestitures, respectively.
We intend to finance capital expenditures and acquisitions through cash on hand, restricted cash held for capital expenditures, cash flows from operations, our revolving credit facilities and tax-exempt bonds and other financings.
Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities
The most significant items affecting the comparison of our cash flows used in financing activities for 2022 and 2021 are summarized below:
We issued no senior notes during 2022. During 2021, we issued $700.0 million of senior notes for cash proceeds, net of discounts and fees, of $692.3 million. Net proceeds of notes payable and long-term debt were $2,164.6 million during 2022, compared to net payments of $150.2 million in 2021. For a more detailed discussion, see the Financial Condition section of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
During 2022, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of our stock for $203.5 million. During 2021, we repurchased 2.2 million shares of our stock for $252.2 million.
In July 2022, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our quarterly dividend to $0.495 per share. Dividends paid were $592.9 million and $552.6 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
During 2022 and 2021, cash paid for purchase price holdback releases and contingent purchase price related to acquisitions was $9.6 million and $21.3 million, respectively.
Financial Condition
Debt Obligations
As of December 31, 2022, we had $456.0 million of principal debt maturing within the next 12 months, which includes certain variable rate tax-exempt financing, debentures and finance lease obligations. All of our tax-exempt financings are remarketed either quarterly or semiannually by remarketing agents to effectively maintain a variable yield. The holders of the bonds can put them back to the remarketing agents at the end of each interest period. If the remarketing agent is unable to remarket our bonds, the remarketing agent can put the bonds to us. In the event of a failed remarketing, as of December 31, 2022, we had availability under our $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility to fund these bonds until they are remarketed successfully. In the event of a failed re-borrowing under our commercial paper program, we currently have availability under our Credit Facility to fund the amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program until they are re-borrowed successfully. Accordingly, we have classified these tax-exempt financings and commercial paper program borrowings as long-term in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022.
For further discussion of the components of our overall debt, see Note 9, Debt, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Credit Facilities
The Credit Facility
In August 2021, we entered into a $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility). Borrowings under the Credit Facility mature in August 2026. As permitted by the Credit Facility, we have the right to request two one-year extensions of the maturity date, but none of the lenders are committed to participate in such extension. The Credit Facility also includes a feature that allows us to increase availability, at our option, by an aggregate amount of up to $1.0 billion through increased commitments from existing lenders or the addition of new lenders.
At our option, borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a Base Rate, a daily floating London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), or a Eurodollar Rate, plus a current applicable margin of 0.910% based on our Debt Ratings (all as defined in the Credit Facility agreement). On the earliest of (i) the date that all available tenors of United States dollar LIBOR have permanently or indefinitely ceased to be provided or have been announced to be no longer representative, (ii) June 30, 2023 or (iii) the effective date of an election to opt into a secured overnight financing rate (SOFR), the LIBOR rate will be replaced by a forward-looking term rate based on SOFR or a daily rate based on SOFR published on such date.
The Credit Facility is subject to facility fees based on applicable rates defined in the Credit Facility agreement and the aggregate commitment, regardless of usage. Availability under our Credit Facility totaled $1,402.4 million and $2,633.8 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Credit Facility can be used for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, letters of credit and other general corporate purposes. The Credit Facility agreement requires us to comply with financial and other covenants. We may pay dividends and repurchase common stock if we are in compliance with these covenants.
We had $250.0 million and $24.3 million in borrowings outstanding under our Credit Facility as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We had $347.6 million and $341.9 million of letters of credit outstanding under our Credit Facility as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Uncommitted Credit Facility
In January 2022, we entered into a $200.0 million unsecured uncommitted revolving credit facility (the Uncommitted Credit Facility), which replaced the prior $135.0 million uncommitted credit facility. The Uncommitted Credit Facility bears interest at an annual percentage rate to be agreed upon by both parties. Borrowings under the Uncommitted Credit Facility can be used for working capital, letters of credit and other general corporate purposes. The agreement governing our Uncommitted Credit Facility requires us to comply with certain covenants. The Uncommitted Credit Facility may be terminated by either party at any time. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had no borrowings outstanding under our Uncommitted Credit Facility.
Financial and Other Covenants
The Credit Facility requires us to comply with financial and other covenants. To the extent we are not in compliance with these covenants, we cannot pay dividends or repurchase common stock. Compliance with covenants also is a condition for any incremental borrowings under the Credit Facility, and failure to meet these covenants would enable the lenders to require repayment of any outstanding loans (which would adversely affect our liquidity). Additionally, if we are not in compliance with these covenants, we could not use the availability under our Credit Facility to fund borrowings we currently make under our commercial paper program, if there is a failed reborrowing under that program. The Credit Facility provides that our total debt to EBITDA ratio may not exceed 3.75 to 1.00 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter. In the case of an "elevated ratio period", which may be elected by us if one or more acquisitions during a fiscal quarter involve aggregate consideration in excess of $200.0 million (the Trigger Quarter), the total debt to EBITDA ratio may not exceed 4.25 to 1.00 during the Trigger Quarter and each of the following three fiscal quarters. The Credit Facility also provides that there may not be more than two elevated ratio periods elected during the term of the Credit Facility agreement. During the second quarter of 2022, we exercised the elevated ratio clause in conjunction with our acquisition of US Ecology; as a result, we are subject to a 4.25 to 1.00 total debt to EBITDA ratio through March 31, 2023. We were in compliance with this debt covenant for each quarter of 2022. As of December 31, 2022, our total debt to EBITDA ratio was 3.12 compared to the 4.25 maximum allowed. As of December 31, 2022, we were in compliance with all other covenants under our Credit Facility.
EBITDA, which is a non-U.S. GAAP measure, is calculated as defined in our Credit Facility agreement. In this context, EBITDA is used solely to provide information regarding the extent to which we are in compliance with debt covenants and is not comparable to EBITDA used by other companies or used by us for other purposes.
Failure to comply with the financial and other covenants under the Credit Facility, as well as the occurrence of certain material adverse events, would constitute defaults and would allow the lenders under the Credit Facility to accelerate the maturity of all indebtedness under the Credit Facility. This could have an adverse effect on the availability of financial assurances. In addition, maturity acceleration on the Credit Facility constitutes an event of default under our other debt and derivative instruments, including our senior notes, and, therefore, our senior notes would also be subject to acceleration of maturity. If such
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acceleration were to occur, we would not have sufficient liquidity available to repay the indebtedness. We would likely have to seek an amendment under the Credit Facility for relief from the financial covenant or repay the debt with proceeds from the issuance of new debt or equity, or asset sales, if necessary. We may be unable to amend the Credit Facility or raise sufficient capital to repay such obligations in the event the maturity is accelerated.
Term Loan Facility
On April 29, 2022, we entered into a $1.0 billion unsecured Term Loan Facility (Term Loan Facility), which will mature on April 29, 2025. The Term Loan Facility bears interest at a base rate or a forward-looking SOFR, plus an applicable margin based on our debt ratings. The current weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 is 4.629%.
On May 2, 2022, we completed the acquisition of US Ecology using proceeds from the Term Loan Facility and borrowings under the Credit Facility. We had $1.0 billion in borrowings outstanding under the Term Loan Facility as of December 31, 2022.
Commercial Paper Program
In May 2022, we entered into a commercial paper program for the issuance and sale of unsecured commercial paper in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the Commercial Paper Cap. As of December 31, 2022, we had $1.0 billion principal value of commercial paper issued and outstanding under the program, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.670% and weighted average maturity of 36 days for the year ended December 31, 2022. In the event of a failed re-borrowing, we currently have availability under our Credit Facility to fund amounts currently borrowed under the commercial paper program until they are re-borrowed successfully. Accordingly, we have classified these borrowings as long-term in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022.
Senior Notes and Debentures
As of December 31, 2022, we had $8,107.8 million of unsecured senior notes and debentures, with maturities ranging from 2023 to 2050. Our senior notes and debentures are general unsecured obligations. Interest is payable semi-annually.
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Relationships
Our ability to obtain financing through the capital markets is a key component of our financial strategy. Historically, we have managed risk associated with executing this strategy, particularly as it relates to fluctuations in interest rates, by using a combination of fixed and floating rate debt. From time to time, we also have entered into interest rate swap and lock agreements to manage risk associated with interest rates, either to effectively convert specific fixed rate debt to a floating rate (fair value hedges), or to lock interest rates in anticipation of future debt issuances (cash flow hedges). We also acquired and novated a floating-to-fixed interest rate swap designated as a cash flow hedge in connection with our acquisition of US Ecology.
Additionally, we amended certain interest rate lock agreements, extending the mandatory maturity date and dedesignated them as cash flow hedges (the Extended Interest Rate Locks). In addition, we entered into offsetting interest rate swaps to offset future exposures to fair value fluctuations of the Extended Interest Rate Locks.
For a description of our derivative contracts and hedge accounting, see Note 9, Debt, to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Tax-Exempt Financings
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $1,182.0 million and $1,181.5 million of certain variable rate tax-exempt financings outstanding, respectively, with maturities ranging from 2023 to 2051. There were no tax-exempt financings issued during 2022. During 2021, we issued $205.0 million of tax-exempt financings.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority issued, for our benefit, $30.0 million of Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds. The proceeds from the issuance, after deferred issuance costs, will be used to fund qualifying landfill-related expenditures in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of which $30.0 million and $17.2 million was incurred and reimbursed to us as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $127.6 million and $139.0 million, respectively, of restricted cash and marketable securities. As of December 31, 2021, $12.4 million of the restricted cash and marketable securities balance represented proceeds from the issuance of the tax-exempt bonds.
Finance Leases
We had finance lease liabilities of $247.5 million and $249.4 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, with maturities ranging from 2023 to 2063 and 2022 to 2063, respectively.
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Credit Ratings
Our continued access to the debt capital markets and to new financing facilities, as well as our borrowing costs, depend on multiple factors, including market conditions, our operating performance and maintaining strong credit ratings. As of December 31, 2022, our credit ratings were BBB+, Baa2 and BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, Inc., respectively. If our credit ratings were downgraded, especially any downgrade to below investment grade, our ability to access the debt markets with the same flexibility that we have experienced historically, our cost of funds and other terms for new debt issuances, could be adversely impacted.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet debt or similar obligations, other than short-term operating leases and financial assurances, which are not classified as debt. We have no transactions or obligations with related parties that are not disclosed, consolidated into or reflected in our reported financial position or results of operations. We have not guaranteed any third-party debt.
Seasonality and Severe Weather
Our operations can be adversely affected by periods of inclement or severe weather, which could increase the volume of waste collected under our existing contracts (without corresponding compensation), delay the collection and disposal of waste, reduce the volume of waste delivered to our disposal sites, or delay the construction or expansion of our landfills and other facilities. Our operations also can be favorably affected by severe weather, which could increase the volume of waste in situations where we are able to charge for our additional services.
Contingencies
For a description of our commitments and contingencies, see Note 8, Landfill and Environmental Costs, Note 11, Income Taxes and Note 19, Commitments and Contingencies, to our audited consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Financial Assurance
We must provide financial assurance to governmental agencies and a variety of other entities under applicable environmental regulations relating to our landfill operations for capping, closure and post-closure costs, and related to our performance under certain collection, landfill and transfer station contracts. We satisfy these financial assurance requirements by providing surety bonds, letters of credit, or insurance policies (Financial Assurance Instruments), or trust deposits, which are included in restricted cash and marketable securities and other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. The amount of the financial assurance requirements for capping, closure and post-closure costs is determined by applicable state environmental regulations. The financial assurance requirements for capping, closure and post-closure costs may be associated with a portion of the landfill or the entire landfill. Generally, states require a third-party engineering specialist to determine the estimated capping, closure and post-closure costs that are used to determine the required amount of financial assurance for a landfill. The amount of financial assurance required can, and generally will, differ from the obligation determined and recorded under U.S. GAAP. The amount of the financial assurance requirements related to contract performance varies by contract. Additionally, we must provide financial assurance for our insurance program and collateral for certain performance obligations. We do not expect a material increase in financial assurance requirements during 2023, although the mix of Financial Assurance Instruments may change.
These Financial Assurance Instruments are issued in the normal course of business and are not classified as indebtedness. Because we currently have no liability for the Financial Assurance Instruments, they are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets; however, we record capping, closure and post-closure liabilities and insurance liabilities as they are incurred.
Critical Accounting Judgments and Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and necessarily include certain estimates and judgments made by management. The following is a list of accounting policies that we believe are the most critical in understanding our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows and that may require management to make subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. Our critical accounting estimates are those estimates that involve a significant level of uncertainty at the time the estimate was made, and changes in them have had or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from our estimates. We base our estimates on past experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, and we evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis. Such critical accounting policies, estimates and judgments are applicable to all of our operating segments.
We have noted examples of the estimates that are subject to uncertainty in the accounting for these areas below.
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Landfill Accounting
Landfill operating costs are treated as period expenses and are not discussed further in this section.
Our landfill assets and liabilities fall into the following two categories, each of which requires accounting judgments and estimates:
Landfill development costs that are capitalized as an asset.
Landfill retirement obligations relating to our capping, closure and post-closure liabilities that result in a corresponding landfill retirement asset.
We use life-cycle accounting and the units-of-consumption method to recognize landfill development costs over the life of the site. In life-cycle accounting, all current and future capitalized costs to acquire and construct a site are calculated and charged to expense based on the consumption of cubic yards of available airspace. Obligations associated with final capping, closure and post-closure are also capitalized and amortized on a units-of-consumption basis as airspace is consumed. Cost and airspace estimates are developed at least annually by engineers.
Landfill Development Costs
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had net landfill development costs of $4,515.3 million and $3,914.0 million, respectively. Changes in these estimates may be sensitive to changes in cost estimates, inflation and applicable regulations.
Site permits. To develop, construct and operate a landfill, we must obtain permits from various regulatory agencies at the local, state and federal levels. The permitting process requires an initial site study to determine whether the location is feasible for landfill operations. The initial studies are reviewed by our environmental management group and then submitted to the regulatory agencies for approval. During the development stage we capitalize certain costs that we incur after site selection but before the receipt of all required permits if we believe that it is probable that the site will be permitted.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Changes in legislative or regulatory requirements may cause changes to the landfill site permitting process. These changes could make it more difficult and costly to obtain and maintain a landfill permit.
Studies performed could be inaccurate, which could result in the denial or revocation of a permit and changes to accounting assumptions. Conditions could exist that were not identified in the study, which may make the location not feasible for a landfill and could result in the denial of a permit. Denial or revocation of a permit could impair the recorded value of the landfill asset.
Actions by neighboring parties, private citizen groups or others to oppose our efforts to obtain, maintain or expand permits could result in denial, revocation or suspension of a permit, which could adversely impact the economic viability of the landfill and could impair the recorded value of the landfill. As a result of opposition to our obtaining a permit, improved technical information as a project progresses, or changes in the anticipated economics associated with a project, we may decide to reduce the scope of, or abandon, a project, which could result in an asset impairment.
Technical landfill design. Upon receipt of initial regulatory approval, technical landfill designs are prepared. The technical designs, which include the detailed specifications to develop and construct all components of the landfill including the types and quantities of materials that will be required, are reviewed by our environmental management group. The technical designs are submitted to the regulatory agencies for approval. Upon approval of the technical designs, the regulatory agencies issue permits to develop and operate the landfill.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Changes in legislative or regulatory requirements may require changes in the landfill technical designs. These changes could make it more difficult and costly to meet new design standards.
Technical design requirements, as approved, may need modifications at some future point in time.
Technical designs could be inaccurate and could result in increased construction costs, difficulty in obtaining a permit or the use of rates to recognize the amortization of landfill development costs and asset retirement obligations that are not appropriate.
Permitted and probable landfill disposal capacity. Included in the technical designs are factors that determine the ultimate disposal capacity of the landfill. These factors include the area over which the landfill will be developed, such as the depth of excavation, the height of the landfill elevation and the angle of the side-slope construction. The disposal capacity of the landfill is calculated in cubic yards. This measurement of volume is then converted to a disposal capacity expressed in tons based on a site-specific expected density to be achieved over the remaining operating life of the landfill.
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These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Estimates of future disposal capacity may change as a result of changes in legislative or regulatory design requirements.
The density of waste may vary due to variations in operating conditions, including waste compaction practices, site design, climate and the nature of the waste.
Capacity is defined in cubic yards but waste received is measured in tons. The number of tons per cubic yard varies by type of waste and our rate of compaction.
Development costs. The types of costs that are detailed in the technical design specifications generally include excavation, natural and synthetic liners, construction of leachate collection systems, installation of methane gas collection systems and monitoring probes, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, construction of leachate management facilities and other costs associated with the development of the site. We review the adequacy of our cost estimates on an annual basis by comparing estimated costs with third-party bids or contractual arrangements, reviewing the changes in year-over-year cost estimates for reasonableness, and comparing our resulting development cost per acre with prior period costs. These development costs, together with any costs incurred to acquire, design and permit the landfill, including capitalized interest, are recorded to the landfill asset on the balance sheet as incurred.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Actual future costs of construction materials and third-party labor could differ from the costs we have estimated because of the level of demand and the availability of the required materials and labor. Technical designs could be altered due to unexpected operating conditions, regulatory changes or legislative changes.
Landfill development asset amortization. To match the expense related to the landfill asset with the revenue generated by the landfill operations, we amortize the landfill development asset over its operating life on a per-ton basis as waste is accepted at the landfill. The landfill asset is fully amortized at the end of a landfill’s operating life. The per-ton rate is calculated by dividing the sum of the landfill development asset net book value plus estimated future development costs (as described above) for the landfill, by the landfill’s estimated remaining disposal capacity. The expected future development costs are not inflated or discounted, but rather expressed in nominal dollars. This rate is applied to each ton accepted at the landfill to arrive at amortization expense for the period.
Amortization rates may be sensitive to the original cost basis of the landfill, including acquisition costs, which in turn is determined by geographic location and market values. We secure significant landfill assets through business acquisitions and value them at the time of acquisition based on fair value. Amortization rates are also influenced by site-specific engineering and cost factors.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Changes in our future development cost estimates or our disposal capacity will normally result in a change in our amortization rates and will impact amortization expense prospectively. An unexpected significant increase in estimated costs or reduction in disposal capacity could affect the ongoing economic viability of the landfill and result in asset impairment.
On at least an annual basis, we update the estimates of future development costs and remaining disposal capacity for each landfill. These costs and disposal capacity estimates are reviewed and approved by senior operations management annually. Changes in cost estimates and disposal capacity are reflected prospectively in the landfill amortization rates that are updated annually. See our Results of Operations section in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for discussion on changes to our landfill depletion and amortization.
Landfill Asset Retirement Obligations
We have two types of retirement obligations related to landfills: (1) capping and (2) closure and post-closure. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, our asset retirement obligations related to capping, closure and post-closure were $1,786.4 million and $1,507.3 million, respectively. Changes in these estimates may be sensitive to changes in available airspace, cost estimates, inflation, our credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate and applicable regulations.
Obligations associated with final capping activities that occur during the operating life of the landfill are recognized on a units-of-consumption basis as airspace is consumed within each discrete capping event. Obligations related to closure and post-closure activities that occur after the landfill has ceased operations are recognized on a units-of-consumption basis as airspace is consumed throughout the entire life of the landfill. Landfill retirement obligations are capitalized as the related liabilities are recognized and amortized using the units-of-consumption method over the airspace consumed within the capping event or the airspace consumed within the entire landfill, depending on the nature of the obligation. All obligations are initially measured at
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estimated fair value. Fair value is calculated on a present value basis using an inflation rate and our credit-adjusted, risk-free rate in effect at the time the liabilities were incurred. Future costs for final capping, closure and post-closure are developed at least annually by engineers, and are inflated to future value using estimated future payment dates and inflation rate projections.
Landfill capping. As individual areas within each landfill reach capacity, we must cap and close the areas in accordance with the landfill site permit. These requirements are detailed in each landfill's technical design, which is reviewed and approved by the regulatory agency issuing the landfill site permit.
Closure and post-closure. Closure costs are costs incurred after a landfill stops receiving waste, but prior to being certified as closed. After the entire landfill has reached capacity and is certified closed, we must continue to maintain and monitor the site for a post-closure period, which generally extends for 30 years. Costs associated with closure and post-closure requirements generally include maintenance of the site, the monitoring of methane gas collection systems and groundwater systems and other activities that occur after the site has ceased accepting waste. Costs associated with post-closure monitoring generally include groundwater sampling, analysis and statistical reports, third-party labor associated with gas system operations and maintenance, transportation and disposal of leachate and erosion control costs related to the final cap.
Landfill retirement obligation liabilities and assets. Estimates of the total future costs required to cap, close and monitor each landfill as specified by the landfill permit are updated annually. The estimates include inflation, the specific timing of future cash outflows and the anticipated waste flow into the capping events. Our cost estimates are inflated to the period of performance using an estimate of inflation, which is updated annually and is based upon the ten year average consumer price index (1.9% in 2022 and 1.7% in 2021).
The present value of the remaining capping costs for specific capping events and the remaining closure and post-closure costs for each landfill are recorded as incurred on a per-ton basis. These liabilities are incurred as disposal capacity is consumed at the landfill.
Capping, closure and post-closure liabilities are recorded in layers and discounted using our credit-adjusted risk-free rate in effect at the time the obligation is incurred (4.2% in 2022 and 3.4% in 2021 ).
Retirement obligations are increased each year to reflect the passage of time by accreting the balance at the weighted average credit-adjusted risk-free rate that was used to calculate each layer of the recorded liabilities. This accretion is charged to operating expenses. Actual cash expenditures reduce the asset retirement obligation liabilities as they are made.
Corresponding retirement obligation assets are recorded for the same value as the additions to the capping, closure and post-closure liabilities. The retirement obligation assets are amortized to expense on a per-ton basis as disposal capacity is consumed. The per-ton rate is calculated by dividing the sum of each of the recorded retirement obligation asset’s net book value and expected future additions to the retirement obligation asset by the remaining disposal capacity. A per-ton rate is determined for each separate capping event based on the disposal capacity relating to that event. Closure and post-closure per-ton rates are based on the total disposal capacity of the landfill.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Changes in legislative or regulatory requirements, including changes in capping, closure activities or post-closure monitoring activities, types and quantities of materials used, or term of post-closure care, could cause changes in our cost estimates.
Changes in the landfill retirement obligation due to changes in the anticipated waste flow, changes in airspace compaction estimates or changes in the timing of expenditures for closed landfills and fully incurred but unpaid capping events are recorded in results of operations prospectively. This could result in unanticipated increases or decreases in expense.
Actual timing of disposal capacity utilization could differ from projected timing, causing differences in timing of when amortization and accretion expense is recognized for capping, closure and post-closure liabilities.
Changes in inflation rates could impact our actual future costs and our total liabilities.
Changes in our capital structure or market conditions could result in changes to the credit-adjusted risk-free rate used to discount the liabilities, which could cause changes in future recorded liabilities, assets and expense.
Amortization rates could change in the future based on the evaluation of new facts and circumstances relating to landfill capping design, post-closure monitoring requirements, or the inflation or discount rate.
On an annual basis, we update our estimates of future capping, closure and post-closure costs and of future disposal capacity for each landfill. Revisions in estimates of our costs or timing of expenditures are recognized immediately as increases or decreases to the capping, closure and post-closure liabilities and the corresponding retirement obligation assets. Changes in the assets result in changes to the amortization rates which are applied prospectively, except for fully incurred capping events and closed
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landfills, where the changes are recorded immediately in results of operations since the associated disposal capacity has already been consumed. See our Results of Operations section in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for discussion on changes to our landfill depletion and amortization.
Permitted and probable disposal capacity. Disposal capacity is determined by the specifications detailed in the landfill permit. We classify this disposal capacity as permitted. We also include probable expansion disposal capacity in our remaining disposal capacity estimates, thus including additional disposal capacity being sought through means of a permit expansion. Probable expansion disposal capacity has not yet received final approval from the applicable regulatory agencies, but we have determined that certain critical criteria have been met and that the successful completion of the expansion is probable. We have developed six criteria that must be met before an expansion area is designated as probable expansion airspace. We believe that satisfying all of these criteria demonstrates a high likelihood that expansion airspace that is incorporated in our landfill costing will be permitted. However, because some of these criteria are judgmental, they may exclude expansion airspace that will eventually be permitted or include expansion airspace that will not be permitted. In either of these scenarios, our amortization, depletion and accretion expense could change significantly. Our internal criteria to classify disposal capacity as probable expansion airspace are as follows:
We own the land associated with the expansion airspace or control it pursuant to an option agreement;
We are committed to supporting the expansion project financially and with appropriate resources;
There are no identified fatal flaws or impediments associated with the project, including political impediments;
Progress is being made on the project;
The expansion is attainable within a reasonable time frame; and
We believe it is likely we will receive the expansion permit.
After successfully meeting these criteria, the disposal capacity that will result from the planned expansion is included in our remaining disposal capacity estimates. Additionally, for purposes of calculating landfill amortization and capping, closure and post-closure rates, we include the incremental costs to develop, construct, close and monitor the related probable expansion disposal capacity.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
We may be unsuccessful in obtaining permits for probable expansion disposal capacity because of the failure to obtain the final local, state, provincial, or federal permits or due to other unknown reasons. If we are unsuccessful in obtaining permits for probable expansion disposal capacity, or the disposal capacity for which we obtain approvals is less than what was estimated, both our estimated total costs and disposal capacity will be reduced, which generally increases the rates we charge for landfill amortization and capping, closure and post-closure accruals. An unexpected decrease in disposal capacity could also cause an asset impairment.
Environmental Liabilities
We are subject to an array of laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, and we remediate sites in the ordinary course of our business. Under current laws and regulations, we may be responsible for environmental remediation at sites that we either own or operate, including sites that we have acquired, or sites where we have (or a company that we have acquired has) delivered waste. Our environmental remediation liabilities primarily include costs associated with remediating groundwater, surface water and soil contamination, as well as controlling and containing methane gas migration and the related legal costs. To estimate our ultimate liability at these sites, we evaluate several factors, including the nature and extent of contamination at each identified site, the required remediation methods, timing of expenditures, the apportionment of responsibility among the potentially responsible parties and the financial viability of those parties. We accrue for costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when such costs are probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with accounting for loss contingencies. We periodically review the status of all environmental matters and update our estimates of the likelihood of and future expenditures for remediation as necessary. Changes in the liabilities resulting from these reviews are recognized currently in earnings in the period in which the adjustment is known. Adjustments to estimates are reasonably possible in the near term and may result in changes to recorded amounts. With the exception of those obligations assumed in certain business combinations, environmental obligations are recorded on an undiscounted basis. Environmental obligations assumed in certain business combinations are initially estimated on a discounted basis, and accreted to full value over time through charges to interest expense. Adjustments arising from changes in amounts and timing of estimated costs and settlements may result in increases or decreases in these obligations and are calculated on a discounted basis as they were initially estimated on a discounted basis. These adjustments are charged to operating income when they are known. We perform a comprehensive review of our environmental obligations annually and also review changes in facts and circumstances associated with these obligations at least quarterly. See our Results of Operations section in this Management's Discussion and
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Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for discussion on our remediation adjustments. We have not reduced the liabilities we have recorded for recoveries from other potentially responsible parties or insurance companies. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, we had $487.5 million and $454.9 million of environmental liabilities, respectively. Changes in these estimates may be sensitive to changes in cost estimates, timing of estimated costs and settlements, inflation, our credit-adjusted, risk-free interest rate and applicable regulations.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
We cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts of our environmental remediation liabilities. Our estimates of these liabilities require assumptions about uncertain future events. Thus, our estimates could change substantially as additional information becomes available regarding the nature or extent of contamination, the required remediation methods, timing of expenditures, the final apportionment of responsibility among the potentially responsible parties identified, the financial viability of those parties and the actions of governmental agencies or private parties with interests in the matter. The actual environmental costs may exceed our current and future accruals for these costs, and any adjustments could be material.
Actual amounts could differ from the estimated liabilities as a result of changes in estimated future litigation costs to pursue the matter to ultimate resolution.
An unanticipated environmental liability that arises could result in a material charge to our consolidated statements of income.
Insurance Reserves and Related Costs
Our insurance policies for workers' compensation, commercial general liability, commercial auto liability and environmental liability are high deductible, or retention programs. The deductibles, or retentions, range from $3 million to $10 million. The employee-related health benefits are also subject to a high-deductible insurance policy. Accruals for deductibles or retentions are based on claims filed and actuarial estimates of claims development and claims incurred but not reported. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, our insurance reserves were $502.6 million and $497.4 million, respectively. Changes in these estimates may be sensitive to changes in the frequency, severity and settlement amount of claims.
These estimates are subject to uncertainty attributable to:
Incident rates, including frequency and severity and other actuarial assumptions could change causing our current and future actuarially determined obligations to change, which would be reflected in our consolidated statements of income in the period in which such adjustment is known.
Recorded reserves may not be adequate to cover the future payment of claims. Adjustments, if any, to estimates recorded resulting from ultimate claim payments would be reflected in the consolidated statements of income in the periods in which such adjustments are known.
The settlement costs to discharge our obligations, including legal and health care costs, could increase or decrease causing current estimates of our insurance reserves to change.
New Accounting Standards
For a description of new accounting standards that may affect us, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Our major market risk exposure of our financial instruments is changing interest rates in the United States and fluctuations in LIBOR or, following the termination of LIBOR, SOFR. We intend to manage interest rate risk through the use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt. The carrying value of our variable rate debt approximates fair value because interest rates are variable and, accordingly, approximates current market rates for instruments with similar risk and maturities. The fair value of our debt is determined as of the balance sheet date and is subject to change. We have historically entered into multiple swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on our variable rate debt.
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The table below provides information about certain of our market-sensitive financial instruments and constitutes a forward-looking statement.
 Expected Maturity Date  
 20232024202520262027ThereafterTotal
Fair Value
as of
December 31, 2022
Fixed rate debt:
Amount outstanding (in millions)$311.8 $910.4 $860.6 $508.9 $658.5 $5,212.8 $8,463.0 $7,638.5 
Variable rate debt:
Amount outstanding (in millions)$144.2 $20.7 $1,000.0 $1,331.8 $— $942.5 $3,439.2 $3,430.2 
The fixed and variable rate debt amounts above exclude the remaining non-cash discounts, premiums and adjustments to fair value totaling $116.7 million.
As of December 31, 2022, we had $3,349.1 million of floating rate debt including floating interest rate swap contracts. If interest rates increased or decreased by 100 basis points on our variable rate debt, annualized interest expense and net cash payments for interest would increase or decrease by approximately $33 million. This analysis does not reflect the effect that interest rates would have on other items, such as new borrowings and the impact on the economy. See Note 9, Debt, of the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information regarding how we manage interest rate risk.
Fuel Price Risk
Fuel costs represent a significant operating expense. When economically practical, we may enter into new fuel hedges, renew contracts, or engage in other strategies to mitigate market risk. As of December 31, 2022, we had no fuel hedges in place. While we charge fuel recovery fees to a majority of our customers, we are unable to charge such fees to all customers.
At current consumption levels, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel costs by approximately $27 million per year. Offsetting these changes in fuel expense would result in changes in our fuel recovery fee charged to our customers. At current participation rates, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel recovery fee by approximately $31 million per year.
Our operations also require the use of certain petrochemical-based products (such as liners at our landfills) the cost of which may vary with the price of petrochemicals. An increase in the price of petrochemicals could increase the cost of those products, which would increase our operating and capital costs. We also are susceptible to increases in fuel recovery fees from our vendors.
Our fuel costs were $631.1 million during 2022, or 4.7% of revenue, compared to $383.0 million, or 3.4% of revenue, during 2021.
Commodities Price Risk
We market recovered materials such as old corrugated containers and old newsprint from our recycling centers. Changes in market supply and demand for recycled commodities causes volatility in commodity prices. In prior periods, we have entered into derivative instruments such as swaps and costless collars designated as cash flow hedges to manage our exposure to changes in prices of these commodities. As of December 31, 2022, we had no recycling commodity hedges in place.
At current volumes and mix of materials, we believe a $10 change in the price of recycled commodities would change both annual revenue and operating income by approximately $10 million.
Revenue from recycling processing and commodity sales during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $359.3 million and $420.5 million, respectively.
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ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 2022
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 2022
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 2022

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Republic Services, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Republic Services, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 22, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Landfill Development Asset Amortization
Description of the Matter
At December 31, 2022, the net book value of the Company’s landfill development assets totaled $4,515.3 million, and the associated landfill development asset amortization expense for 2022 was $433.7 million. Significant assumptions used in calculating the amortization expense include estimated future development costs associated with the land, permitting, cell construction and environmental structures of the landfill in relation to airspace consumed to date and total estimated available airspace. These assumptions have a significant effect on the total landfill amortization expense. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, costs and airspace estimates are developed at least annually, or more often if significant facts change.
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How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
Auditing landfill development asset amortization expense is complex due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in the calculation of the expense and required the involvement of specialists to assist us with evaluating estimated future development costs and certain assumptions to project total estimated available airspace.
We tested controls that address the risks of material misstatement relating to the measurement and valuation of landfill development asset amortization expense. For example, we tested controls over the estimation of future landfill development costs and management’s review of the assumptions to project total estimated available airspace.
To test the landfill development asset amortization expense, our audit procedures included, among others, assessing methodologies and testing the significant assumptions discussed above related to the underlying cost and airspace data used by the Company. We compared the significant assumptions used by management to historical trends and, when available, to comparable size landfills accepting the same type of waste. We also tested the completeness and accuracy of the historical data utilized in the development of the amortization expense. Regarding available airspace, we evaluated the Company’s estimation of the landfill disposal capacity through a comparison of airspace to historical estimates and annual aerial surveys. We involved EY engineering specialists to assist us with evaluating estimated future development costs and certain assumptions to project total estimated available airspace.
Landfill Final Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Costs
Description of the Matter
At December 31, 2022, the carrying value of the Company’s landfill final capping, closure and post-closure costs totaled $1,786.4 million. As discussed in Notes 2 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, asset retirement obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure are measured at their estimated fair value. Management updates the assumptions used to estimate asset retirement obligations at least annually, or more often if significant facts change. These assumptions include estimated future costs associated with the final capping, closure and post-closure activities at each landfill, airspace consumed to date, estimated available airspace, projected annual tonnage volume, projected timing of capping, closure and post-closure activities and estimated inflation and discount rates. These assumptions have a significant effect on the estimated asset retirement obligation.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit
Auditing the landfill asset retirement obligation is complex due to the highly judgmental nature of the assumptions used in the measurement process and required the involvement of specialists to assist us with evaluating the costs estimated for the capping, closure and post-closure activities and certain assumptions to project total estimated available airspace.
We tested controls that address the risks of material misstatement relating to the completeness, measurement and valuation of the asset retirement obligation. For example, we tested controls over management’s development of the landfill asset retirement obligation models to estimate the future liability and management’s review of data inputs and projections.
To test the landfill asset retirement obligation, our audit procedures included, among others, assessing methodologies used by the Company, testing the completeness of activities included in the estimate (e.g., gas monitoring and leachate management) and testing the significant assumptions discussed above, as well as the underlying costs and other estimates used by the Company in its development of these assumptions. We compared the significant assumptions used by management to historical trends and, when available, to comparable size landfills accepting the same type of waste. We also tested the completeness and accuracy of the historical data utilized in preparing the estimate. We involved EY engineering specialists to assist us with evaluating the costs estimated for the capping, closure and post-closure activities and the reasons for significant changes in assumptions from historical trends and determined whether the change from the historical trend was appropriate and identified timely. EY engineering specialists were also involved in evaluating certain assumptions to project total estimated available airspace.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.
Phoenix, Arizona
February 22, 2023
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Republic Services, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Republic Services, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Republic Services, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of Republic Services, Inc. as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and our report dated February 22, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
As indicated in the accompanying Report of Management on Republic Services, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management’s assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of US Ecology, which are included in the 2022 consolidated financial statements of the Company and constituted approximately 6% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also did not include an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of US Ecology.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Report of Management on Republic Services, Inc.’s Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Phoenix, Arizona
February 22, 2023
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REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except per share data)
December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$143.4 $29.0 
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts and other of $51.9 and $38.5, respectively
1,677.2 1,271.4 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets536.5 410.4 
Total current assets2,357.1 1,710.8 
Restricted cash and marketable securities127.6 139.0 
Property and equipment, net10,744.0 9,232.1 
Goodwill14,451.5 12,826.0 
Other intangible assets, net347.2 259.5 
Other assets1,025.5 787.6 
Total assets$29,052.9 $24,955.0 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$1,221.8 $910.0 
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt456.0 8.2 
Deferred revenue443.0 381.3 
Accrued landfill and environmental costs, current portion132.6 124.5 
Accrued interest79.0 62.1 
Other accrued liabilities1,058.3 929.5 
Total current liabilities3,390.7 2,415.6 
Long-term debt, net of current maturities11,329.5 9,546.2 
Accrued landfill and environmental costs, net of current portion2,141.3 1,837.7 
Deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities, net1,528.8 1,229.5 
Insurance reserves, net of current portion315.1 303.9 
Other long-term liabilities660.7 642.4 
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share; 50 shares authorized; none issued
— — 
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 750 shares authorized; 320.3 and 319.6 issued including shares held in treasury, respectively
3.2 3.2 
Additional paid-in capital2,843.2 2,789.5 
Retained earnings7,356.3 6,475.6 
Treasury stock, at cost; 4.2 and 2.4 shares, respectively
(504.6)(274.8)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax(12.1)(14.6)
Total Republic Services, Inc. stockholders’ equity9,686.0 8,978.9 
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiary0.8 0.8 
Total stockholders’ equity9,686.8 8,979.7 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$29,052.9 $24,955.0 
        
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
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REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except per share data)
 
Years Ended December 31,
 202220212020
Revenue$13,511.3 $11,295.0 $10,153.6 
Expenses:
Cost of operations8,205.0 6,737.7 6,100.5 
Depreciation, amortization and depletion1,351.6 1,185.5 1,075.9 
Accretion89.6 82.7 82.9 
Selling, general and administrative1,454.3 1,195.8 1,053.0 
Adjustment to withdrawal liability for multiemployer pension funds
(1.6)— 34.5 
(Gain) loss on business divestitures and impairments, net(6.3)0.5 77.7 
Restructuring charges27.0 16.6 20.0 
Operating income2,391.7 2,076.2 1,709.1 
Interest expense(395.6)(314.6)(355.6)
Loss from unconsolidated equity method investments(165.6)(188.5)(118.2)
Loss on extinguishment of debt— — (101.9)
Interest income3.3 2.5 5.2 
Other (expense) income, net(2.3)(0.5)4.1 
Income before income taxes1,831.5 1,575.1 1,142.7 
Provision for income taxes343.9 282.8 173.1 
Net income1,487.6 1,292.3 969.6 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiary
— (1.9)(2.4)
Net income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.$1,487.6 $1,290.4 $967.2 
Basic earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Basic earnings per share$4.70 $4.05 $3.03 
Weighted average common shares outstanding316.5 318.8 319.3 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Republic Services, Inc. stockholders:
Diluted earnings per share$4.69 $4.04 $3.02 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding317.1 319.4 319.8 
Cash dividends per common share$1.91 $1.77 $1.66 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in millions)
 
 
Years Ended December 31,
 202220212020
Net income$1,487.6 $1,292.3 $969.6 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Hedging activity:
Realized loss reclassified into earnings1.1 4.6 5.8 
Unrealized gain (loss)8.4 — (22.5)
Pension activity:
Change in funded status of pension plan obligations(2.0)(6.8)2.1 
Foreign currency activity:
Loss on foreign currency translation(5.0)— — 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax2.5 (2.2)(14.6)
Comprehensive income1,490.1 1,290.1 955.0 
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests— (1.9)(2.4)
Comprehensive income attributable to Republic Services, Inc.$1,490.1 $1,288.2 $952.6 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)
 Republic Services, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity 
Common StockAdditional
Paid-In Capital
Retained EarningsTreasury
Stock
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of TaxNon-controlling Interests In Consolidated SubsidiaryTotal
 SharesAmountSharesAmount
Balance as of December 31, 2019
353.3 $3.5 $4,994.8 $5,317.3 (34.5)$(2,199.6)$2.2 $2.7 $8,120.9 
Net income— — — 967.2 — — — 2.4 969.6 
Change in the value of derivative instruments, net of tax of $(5.9)
— — — — — — (16.7)— (16.7)
Employee benefit plan liability adjustments, net of tax of $0.8
— — — — — — 2.1 — 2.1 
Cash dividends declared— — — (528.8)— — — — (528.8)
Issuances of common stock1.3 — 21.6 — (0.1)(17.7)— — 3.9 
Stock-based compensation— — 40.7 (3.9)— — — — 36.8 
Purchase of common stock for treasury
— — — — (1.2)(98.8)— — (98.8)
Shares returned to unissued status
(35.8)(0.3)(2,315.7)— 35.8 2,316.0 — — — 
Distributions paid
— — — — — — — (0.2)(0.2)
Balance as of December 31, 2020
318.8 3.2 2,741.4 5,751.8 — (0.1)(12.4)4.9 8,488.8 
Net income— — — 1,290.4 — — — 1.9 1,292.3 
Change in the value of derivative instruments, net of tax of $1.6
— — — — — — 4.6 — 4.6 
Employee benefit plan liability adjustments, net of tax of $(2.4)
— — — — — — (6.8)— (6.8)
Cash dividends declared— — — (563.0)— — — — (563.0)
Issuances of common stock0.8 — 10.5 — (0.2)(22.5)— — (12.0)
Stock-based compensation— — 60.3 (3.6)— — — — 56.7 
Purchase of common stock for treasury
— —