Casella Waste Systems (CWST) 10-Q 1 May 19 2019 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 15, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000911177
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Trading Symbol	CWST
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		46,252,010
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		988,200

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,936	$ 4,007
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	72,243	74,937
Refundable income taxes	2,464	2,254
Prepaid expenses	6,730	7,345
Inventory	6,793	6,542
Other current assets	987	2,008
Total current assets	109,153	97,093
Property, plant and equipment, net	379,372	404,577
Right-of-use asset - operating leases	106,932
Goodwill	162,734	162,734
Intangible assets, net	33,366	34,767
Restricted assets	1,345	1,248
Cost method investments	11,264	11,264
Deferred income taxes	9,472	9,594
Other non-current assets	14,675	11,133
Total assets	828,313	732,410
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases	2,694	2,298
Accounts payable	49,385	57,289
Accrued payroll and related expenses	5,246	10,969
Accrued interest	2,582	2,415
Contract liabilities	2,315	3,074
Current accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs	11,360	11,633
Current lease liability - operating leases	9,968
Other accrued liabilities	23,531	23,819
Total current liabilities	107,081	111,497
Long-term debt and finance leases, less current portion	474,733	542,001
Accrued capping, closure and post-closure costs, less current portion	62,309	61,442
Lease liability - operating leases, less current portion	67,656
Deferred income taxes	2,585	2,519
Other long-term liabilities	30,915	30,783
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)
Additional paid-in capital	475,809	373,716
Accumulated deficit	(390,383)	(388,669)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,865)	(1,308)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	83,034	(15,832)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	828,313	732,410
Class A Common Stock
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)
Common stock	463	419
Class B Common Stock
Casella Waste Systems, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)
Common stock	$ 10	$ 10

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)vote$ / sharesshares	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)vote$ / sharesshares
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable - trade, allowance for doubtful accounts | $	$ 921	$ 931
Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation and amortization | $	$ 802,527	$ 878,701
Class A Common Stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued shares (in shares)	46,252,000	41,944,000
Common stock, outstanding shares (in shares)	46,252,000	41,944,000
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)	1,000,000	1,000,000
Common stock, issued shares (in shares)	988,000	988,000
Common stock, outstanding shares (in shares)	988,000	988,000
Votes per share held | vote	10	10

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 163,664	$ 147,455
Operating expenses:
Cost of operations	117,759	105,610
General and administration	22,742	21,027
Depreciation and amortization	17,489	15,983
Expense from acquisition activities and other items	677	0
Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net	555	1,586
Contract settlement charge	0	2,100
Development project charge	0	311
Total operating expenses	159,222	146,617
Operating income	4,442	838
Other expense (income):
Interest income	(117)	(29)
Interest expense	6,460	6,454
Other income	(216)	(89)
Other expense, net	6,127	6,336
Loss before income taxes	(1,685)	(5,498)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	29	(1,588)
Net loss	$ (1,714)	$ (3,910)
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic and diluted weighted average common share outstanding (in shares)	45,913	42,370
Basic and diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.09)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (1,714)	$ (3,910)
Hedging activity:
Interest rate swap settlements	(28)	(61)
Interest rate swap amounts reclassified into interest expense	25	53
Unrealized (loss) gain resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments	(1,554)	785
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,557)	777
Income tax provision related to items of other comprehensive (loss) income	0	209
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(1,557)	568
Comprehensive loss	$ (3,271)	$ (3,342)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCK

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Class A Common Stock	Class A Common StockCommon Stock	Class B Common Stock	Class B Common StockCommon Stock
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ (37,862)	$ 356,638	$ (395,107)	$ 184		$ 413		$ 10
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017						41,298		988
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuances of Class A common stock	310	306				$ 4
Issuances of Class A common stock (in shares)						402
Stock-based compensation	2,077	2,077
Net loss	(3,910)		(3,910)
Hedging activity	568			568
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2018	(38,817)	359,021	(398,999)	734		$ 417		$ 10
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018					41,700	41,700	988	988
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	(15,832)	373,716	(388,669)	(1,308)		$ 419		$ 10
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018					41,944	41,944	988	988
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Class A common stock - equity offering	100,446	100,410				$ 36
Issuance of Class A common stock - equity offering (in shares)						3,565
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisition	0	(1)				$ 1
Issuance of Class A common stock - acquisition (in shares)						67
Issuances of Class A common stock	260	253				$ 7
Issuances of Class A common stock (in shares)						676
Stock-based compensation	1,431	1,431
Net loss	(1,714)		(1,714)
Hedging activity	(1,557)			(1,557)
Ending balance at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 83,034	$ 475,809	$ (390,383)	$ (2,865)		$ 463		$ 10
Ending balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019					46,252	46,252	988	988

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss	$ (1,714)	$ (3,910)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	17,489	15,983
Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations	1,648	2,392
Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities	1,804	1,422
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount on long-term debt	575	689
Stock-based compensation	1,431	2,077
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(57)	(283)
Southbridge Landfill non-cash closure charge	0	1,403
Development project charge	0	311
Non-cash expense from acquisition activities and other items	14	0
Right-of-use asset - operating lease expense	2,579
Deferred income taxes	188	(1,187)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Accounts receivable	2,694	1,242
Accounts payable	(7,904)	1,405
Prepaid expenses, inventories and other assets	(3,430)	(504)
Accrued expenses, contract liabilities and other liabilities	(10,540)	(8,246)
Net cash provided by operating activities	4,777	12,794
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,222)	(18,958)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(18,243)	(8,918)
Payments on landfill operating lease contracts	0	(509)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	57	342
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,408)	(28,043)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	10,600	66,700
Principal payments on long-term debt	(80,746)	(51,364)
Proceeds from the exercise of share based awards	260	310
Proceeds from the issuance of Class A Common Stock	100,446		$ 0
Net cash provided by financing activities	30,560	15,646
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,929	397
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	4,007	1,995
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	19,936	2,392
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	5,718	5,547
Income taxes, net of refunds	51	36
Supplemental Disclosure of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Non-current assets obtained through long-term obligations	$ 2,473	$ 1,444

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	BASIS OF PRESENTATION Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (“Parent”), and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or “our”), is a regional, vertically integrated solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, recycling and organics services in the northeastern United States. We market recyclable metals, aluminum, plastics, paper, and corrugated cardboard, which have been processed at our recycling facilities, as well as recyclables purchased from third-parties. We manage our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through two regional operating segments, the Eastern and Western regions, each of which provides a full range of solid waste services, and our larger-scale recycling and commodity brokerage operations through our Recycling segment. Organics services, ancillary operations, along with major account and industrial services are included in our Other segment. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of the Parent and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for under either the equity method or the cost method of accounting, as appropriate. Our significant accounting policies are more fully discussed in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 , which was filed with the SEC on February 22, 2019. Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision given the available data, or simply cannot be readily calculated. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which include normal recurring and nonrecurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 may not be indicative of the results for any other interim period or the entire fiscal year. The consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 . Subsequent Events We have evaluated subsequent events or transactions that have occurred after the consolidated balance sheet date of March 31, 2019 through the date of filing of the consolidated financial statements with the SEC on this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We have determined that there are no subsequent events that require disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ACCOUNTING CHANGES

ACCOUNTING CHANGES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
ACCOUNTING CHANGES	ACCOUNTING CHANGES A table providing a brief description of recent Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") to the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) that we adopted and deemed to have a possible material effect on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows: Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards that are adopted effective January 1, 2019 ASU 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases ( Topic 842 ) Requires that a lessee recognize at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is the obligation of the lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. We adopted the guidance using the prospective optional transition method effective January 1, 2019, which allowed us to elect not to restate comparative periods and, if applicable, to recognize the effects of applying this guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2019. We did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon implementation. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and lease liability for leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. We also prospectively reclassified landfill operating lease payments, along with related accumulated depreciation, that were previously capitalized as property, plant and equipment to right-of-use asset - operating leases. Accordingly, the related cash outlays, which were historically considered cash flows from investing activities, were prospectively reclassified as cash flows from operating activities in accordance with Topic 842 . With the assistance of third-party resources, we designed internal controls over the adoption of this guidance and implemented a third-party enterprise lease management software solution. In conjunction with the implementation, we modified our lease policy and internal business processes to effectively manage and account for leases, and to support recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the accounting for our finance leases. This guidance required additional disclosure over leases in order to comply with the new lease standard. See Note 4, Leases for additional disclosure. A table providing a brief description of recent ASUs to the ASC issued by the FASB that are pending adoption and deemed to have a possible material effect on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows: Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards issued that are pending adoption ASU 2017-04: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other ( Topic 350 ) Requires that when an entity is performing its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test, it should compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount when calculating its impairment charge, noting that the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, if applicable, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when calculating its impairment charge. As of December 31, 2018, we did not record a goodwill impairment charge related to our annual goodwill impairment test because at that time the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its respective carrying value. Upon adoption, if the carrying value of any of these reporting units exceeds the fair value when we perform a goodwill impairment test, we would record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. This guidance is effective January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
REVENUE RECOGNITION	REVENUE RECOGNITION A table of revenues disaggregated by service line and timing of revenue recognition by operating segment for each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Eastern Western Recycling Other Total Revenues Collection $ 33,965 $ 49,597 $ — $ — $ 83,562 Landfill 3,717 15,468 — — 19,185 Transfer 8,986 5,275 — — 14,261 Customer solutions — — — 18,154 18,154 Recycling — 441 10,766 — 11,207 Organics — — — 13,596 13,596 Transportation — 2,046 — 517 2,563 Landfill gas-to-energy 329 807 — — 1,136 Total revenues $ 46,997 $ 73,634 $ 10,766 $ 32,267 $ 163,664 Transferred at a point-in-time $ 36 $ 309 $ 6,124 $ 267 $ 6,736 Transferred over time 46,961 73,325 4,642 32,000 156,928 Total revenues $ 46,997 $ 73,634 $ 10,766 $ 32,267 $ 163,664 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Eastern Western Recycling Other Total Revenues Collection $ 30,523 $ 36,484 $ — $ — $ 67,007 Landfill 5,960 14,540 — — 20,500 Transfer 7,560 5,606 — — 13,166 Customer solutions — — — 15,170 15,170 Recycling — 948 10,157 — 11,105 Organics — — — 12,200 12,200 Transportation — 5,824 — 684 6,508 Landfill gas-to-energy 462 1,337 — — 1,799 Total revenues $ 44,505 $ 64,739 $ 10,157 $ 28,054 $ 147,455 Transferred at a point-in-time $ 191 $ 368 $ 7,257 $ 357 $ 8,173 Transferred over time 44,314 64,371 2,900 27,697 139,282 Total revenues $ 44,505 $ 64,739 $ 10,157 $ 28,054 $ 147,455 Payments to customers that are not in exchange for a distinct good or service are recorded as a reduction of revenues. Rebates to certain customers associated with payments for recycled or organic materials that are received and subsequently processed and sold to other third-parties amounted to $1,338 and $1,468 in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 , respectively. Rebates are generally recorded as a reduction of revenues upon the sale of such materials, or upon receipt of the recycled materials at our facilities. These payments were previously recorded as a cost of operations. We did not record any revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 , respectively, from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods. Contract receivables, which are included in Accounts receivable - trade, net are recorded when billed or when related revenue is earned, if earlier, and represent claims against third-parties that will be settled in cash. Accounts receivable - trade, net includes gross receivables from contracts of $70,722 and $73,500 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Certain customers are billed in advance and, accordingly, recognition of the related revenues is deferred as a contract liability until the services are provided and control transferred to the customer. We recognized contract liabilities of $2,315 and $3,074 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Due to the short term nature of advanced billings, substantially all of the deferred revenue recognized as a contract liability as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were recognized as revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 , respectively, when the services were performed.

LEASES

LEASES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
LEASES	LEASES We lease vehicles, equipment, property and other non-core equipment in the ordinary course of our business. Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases, as appropriate. Our leases have varying terms and may include renewal or purchase options, escalation clauses, restrictions, lease concessions, capital project funding, penalties or other obligations that we considered historically in determining minimum rental payments. We recognize lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We recognize depreciation expense for finance leases over either the useful life of the asset or the lease term based on the terms of the lease agreement. We are also party to landfill operation and management agreements. These agreements are long-term landfill operating contracts with government bodies whereby we receive tipping revenue, pay normal operating expenses and assume future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations. The government body retains ownership of the landfill. There is no bargain purchase option and title to the property does not pass to us at the end of the lease term. We allocate the consideration paid to the landfill airspace rights and underlying land lease based on the relative fair values. In addition to up-front or one-time payments, the landfill operating agreements may require us to make future minimum rental payments, including success/expansion fees, other direct costs and final capping, closure and post-closure costs. The value of all future minimum rental payments is amortized and charged to cost of operations over the life of the contract. We amortize the consideration allocated to airspace rights as airspace is utilized on a units-of-consumption basis and such amortization is charged to cost of operations as airspace is consumed (e.g., as tons are placed into the landfill). The underlying value of any land lease is amortized to cost of operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the operating agreement. As a part of the implementation of Topic 842 , we have elected to adopt the practical expedient package and to not elect the hindsight practical expedient in determining lease term. The practical expedient package allowed us to: 1) not reassess lease classification for existing leases; 2) not reassess whether a contract contains a lease for existing contracts; and 3) not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Accordingly, we retained the operating lease and finance lease classifications in all periods presented and did not alter Topic 840 accounting over operating leases in place at transition allowing us to use historical minimum rental payments when determining the right-of-use asset and lease liability for existing operating leases. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for core leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. For other non-core operating leases, which is comprised of small-dollar-value items such as office equipment, we continued to expense these costs in the period incurred rather than capitalizing such expenditures on our consolidated balance sheet. Accounting for finance leases was not impacted by the adoption of this guidance. Under Topic 842 , lease payments include: fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments, less any lease incentives paid or payable to the lessee; variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate; exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised; penalties for terminating a lease; and amounts where it is probable that we will owe under a residual value guarantee. Refundable deposits are not considered to be a fixed payment. Variable lease costs that are not based on an index or a rate are recorded to expenses in the period incurred. Lease term is determined at lease commencement, and includes any noncancellable period for which we have the right to use the underlying asset together with any periods covered by an option to extend or terminate the lease if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option to extend or not to exercise the option to terminate. The initial determination of a lease liability is calculated as the net present value of the lease payments not yet paid. The discount rate used to determine present value is the rate implicit in the lease, if present, or, if not present, our incremental borrowing rate, which is a rate that reflects interest that we would have to pay to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease and in a similar economic environment. For shorter term leases, such as vehicle and equipment leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate from our existing secured line of credit, adjusted based on term. For longer term leases, such as our landfill operating leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate based on an industry yield curve with a similar credit rating, adjusted by a company specific spread as determined by a third-party. A schedule of lease costs and other lease information follows: Three Months Ended Lease cost: Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 409 Interest expense 156 Operating lease cost: Fixed lease cost 4,227 Short-term lease cost 658 Variable lease cost 7 Total lease cost $ 5,457 Other information: Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Financing cash flows for finance leases $ 471 Operating cash flows for operating leases $ 2,043 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities $ 2,473 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities $ 415 Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years) 7.0 Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years) 11.3 Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases 5.3 % Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases 6.5 % Estimated minimum future lease obligations are as follows: Operating Leases Finance Leases Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 12,160 $ 2,257 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 12,845 3,171 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 10,394 2,634 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 8,236 2,039 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 6,488 1,871 Thereafter 65,269 4,816 Total lease payments 115,392 16,788 Less: interest expense (37,768 ) (3,284 ) Lease liability balance $ 77,624 $ 13,504
LEASES	LEASES We lease vehicles, equipment, property and other non-core equipment in the ordinary course of our business. Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases, as appropriate. Our leases have varying terms and may include renewal or purchase options, escalation clauses, restrictions, lease concessions, capital project funding, penalties or other obligations that we considered historically in determining minimum rental payments. We recognize lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We recognize depreciation expense for finance leases over either the useful life of the asset or the lease term based on the terms of the lease agreement. We are also party to landfill operation and management agreements. These agreements are long-term landfill operating contracts with government bodies whereby we receive tipping revenue, pay normal operating expenses and assume future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations. The government body retains ownership of the landfill. There is no bargain purchase option and title to the property does not pass to us at the end of the lease term. We allocate the consideration paid to the landfill airspace rights and underlying land lease based on the relative fair values. In addition to up-front or one-time payments, the landfill operating agreements may require us to make future minimum rental payments, including success/expansion fees, other direct costs and final capping, closure and post-closure costs. The value of all future minimum rental payments is amortized and charged to cost of operations over the life of the contract. We amortize the consideration allocated to airspace rights as airspace is utilized on a units-of-consumption basis and such amortization is charged to cost of operations as airspace is consumed (e.g., as tons are placed into the landfill). The underlying value of any land lease is amortized to cost of operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the operating agreement. As a part of the implementation of Topic 842 , we have elected to adopt the practical expedient package and to not elect the hindsight practical expedient in determining lease term. The practical expedient package allowed us to: 1) not reassess lease classification for existing leases; 2) not reassess whether a contract contains a lease for existing contracts; and 3) not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Accordingly, we retained the operating lease and finance lease classifications in all periods presented and did not alter Topic 840 accounting over operating leases in place at transition allowing us to use historical minimum rental payments when determining the right-of-use asset and lease liability for existing operating leases. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for core leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. For other non-core operating leases, which is comprised of small-dollar-value items such as office equipment, we continued to expense these costs in the period incurred rather than capitalizing such expenditures on our consolidated balance sheet. Accounting for finance leases was not impacted by the adoption of this guidance. Under Topic 842 , lease payments include: fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments, less any lease incentives paid or payable to the lessee; variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate; exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised; penalties for terminating a lease; and amounts where it is probable that we will owe under a residual value guarantee. Refundable deposits are not considered to be a fixed payment. Variable lease costs that are not based on an index or a rate are recorded to expenses in the period incurred. Lease term is determined at lease commencement, and includes any noncancellable period for which we have the right to use the underlying asset together with any periods covered by an option to extend or terminate the lease if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option to extend or not to exercise the option to terminate. The initial determination of a lease liability is calculated as the net present value of the lease payments not yet paid. The discount rate used to determine present value is the rate implicit in the lease, if present, or, if not present, our incremental borrowing rate, which is a rate that reflects interest that we would have to pay to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease and in a similar economic environment. For shorter term leases, such as vehicle and equipment leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate from our existing secured line of credit, adjusted based on term. For longer term leases, such as our landfill operating leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate based on an industry yield curve with a similar credit rating, adjusted by a company specific spread as determined by a third-party. A schedule of lease costs and other lease information follows: Three Months Ended Lease cost: Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 409 Interest expense 156 Operating lease cost: Fixed lease cost 4,227 Short-term lease cost 658 Variable lease cost 7 Total lease cost $ 5,457 Other information: Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Financing cash flows for finance leases $ 471 Operating cash flows for operating leases $ 2,043 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities $ 2,473 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities $ 415 Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years) 7.0 Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years) 11.3 Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases 5.3 % Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases 6.5 % Estimated minimum future lease obligations are as follows: Operating Leases Finance Leases Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 12,160 $ 2,257 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 12,845 3,171 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 10,394 2,634 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 8,236 2,039 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 6,488 1,871 Thereafter 65,269 4,816 Total lease payments 115,392 16,788 Less: interest expense (37,768 ) (3,284 ) Lease liability balance $ 77,624 $ 13,504

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

INTANGIBLE ASSETS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
INTANGIBLE ASSETS	INTANGIBLE ASSETS A summary of intangible assets by intangible asset type follows: Covenants Not-to-Compete Client Lists Total Balance, March 31, 2019 Intangible assets $ 21,750 $ 44,363 $ 66,113 Less accumulated amortization (17,820 ) (14,927 ) (32,747 ) $ 3,930 $ 29,436 $ 33,366 Covenants Not-to-Compete Client Lists Total Balance, December 31, 2018 Intangible assets $ 21,750 $ 44,363 $ 66,113 Less accumulated amortization (17,584 ) (13,762 ) (31,346 ) $ 4,166 $ 30,601 $ 34,767 Intangible amortization expense was $1,401 during the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to $568 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 . A summary of intangible amortization expense estimated for the five fiscal years following the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and thereafter follows: Estimated Future Amortization Expense as of March 31, 2019 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 4,200 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 $ 4,997 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 $ 4,094 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 $ 3,534 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 $ 3,231 Thereafter $ 13,310

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE	ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE Accrued final capping, closure and post-closure costs include the current and non-current portion of costs associated with obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure of our landfills. We estimate our future final capping, closure and post-closure costs in order to determine the final capping, closure and post-closure expense per ton of waste placed into each landfill. The anticipated time frame for paying these costs varies based on the remaining useful life of each landfill as well as the duration of the post-closure monitoring period. A summary of the changes to accrued final capping, closure and post-closure liabilities follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 73,075 $ 62,290 Obligations incurred 543 798 Revision in estimates (1) — 1,492 Accretion expense 1,607 1,383 Obligations settled (2) (1,556 ) (297 ) Ending balance $ 73,669 $ 65,666 (1) Relates to changes in estimates and assumptions associated with anticipated costs of future final capping, closure and post-closure activities at the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts landfill. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies and Note 11, Other Items and Charges for additional disclosure regarding the matter. (2) Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

LONG-TERM DEBT

LONG-TERM DEBT	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Debt And Derivatives Disclosure [Abstract]
LONG-TERM DEBT	LONG-TERM DEBT A summary of long-term debt and finance leases by debt instrument follows: March 31, December 31, Senior Secured Credit Facility: Revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% $ — $ 69,600 Term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% 350,000 350,000 Tax-Exempt Bonds: New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 3.75% 25,000 25,000 New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125% 15,000 15,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 ("FAME Bonds 2005R-3") due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25% 25,000 25,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-1") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125% 15,000 15,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-2") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375% 15,000 15,000 Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds") due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625% 16,000 16,000 Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("New Hampshire Bonds") due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 4.00% 11,000 11,000 Other: Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 5.3% 13,504 11,248 Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 2.90% 2,298 2,401 Principal amount of long-term debt and finance leases 487,802 555,249 Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (1) 10,375 10,950 Long-term debt and finance leases less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 477,427 544,299 Less—current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases 2,694 2,298 $ 474,733 $ 542,001 (1) A summary of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs by debt instrument follows: March 31, December 31, Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility") $ 6,708 $ 7,118 New York Bonds 2014 801 847 New York Bonds 2014R-2 435 450 FAME Bonds 2005R-3 496 517 FAME Bonds 2015R-1 604 622 FAME Bonds 2015R-2 474 493 Vermont Bonds 581 595 New Hampshire Bonds 276 308 $ 10,375 $ 10,950 Credit Facility As of March 31, 2019 , we are party to a credit agreement ("Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $350,000 Term Loan Facility and a $200,000 Revolving Credit Facility. We have the right to request, at our discretion, an increase in the amount of loans under the Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of $125,000 , subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Facility has a 5 -year term that matures in May 2023 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.00% per annum, which will be reduced to a rate of LIBOR plus, as low as, 1.25% upon us reaching a consolidated net leverage ratio of less than 2.25 x. The Credit Facility is guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. As of March 31, 2019 , further advances were available under the Credit Facility in the amount of $175,379 . The available amount is net of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit totaling $24,621 , at which date no amount had been drawn. The Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of March 31, 2019 , we were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement. In addition to these financial covenants, the Credit Agreement also contains a number of important customary affirmative and negative covenants which restrict, among other things, our ability to sell assets, incur additional debt, create liens, make investments, and pay dividends. We do not believe that these restrictions impact our ability to meet future liquidity needs. An event of default under any of our debt agreements could permit some of our lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, or, in the case of the Credit Facility, terminate the commitment to make further credit extensions thereunder, which could, in turn, trigger cross-defaults under other debt obligations. If we were unable to repay debt to our lenders, or were otherwise in default under any provision governing our outstanding debt obligations, our secured lenders could proceed against us and against the collateral securing that debt. Cash Flow Hedges As of March 31, 2019 , we had in place nine interest rate derivative agreements to hedge interest rate risk associated with the variable rate portion of our long-term debt. The hedging relationships between these interest rate derivative agreements and the variable rate interest payments related to the Term Loan Facility were originally considered highly effective based on quantitative assessments using regression analysis and, subsequently, based on a qualitative assessment performed as of March 31, 2019 . Therefore, we have designated these derivative instruments as effective cash flow hedges. The total notional amount of all of our interest rate derivative agreements is $190,000 and according to the terms of the agreements, we receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index and pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 2.54% . The agreements mature between February 2021 and May 2023. A summary of the effect of cash flow hedges related to derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet follows: Fair Value Balance Sheet Location March 31, December 31, Interest rate swaps Other current assets $ 260 $ 338 Interest rate swaps Other non-current assets 152 482 $ 412 $ 820 Interest rate swaps Other accrued liabilities $ 579 $ 387 Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities 2,433 1,555 $ 3,012 $ 1,942 Interest rate swaps Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (2,753 ) $ (1,196 ) Interest rate swaps - tax provision Accumulated other comprehensive loss (112 ) (112 ) $ (2,865 ) $ (1,308 ) A summary of the amount of loss on cash flow hedging relationships related to interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Statement of Operations Location (Expense) Income Interest expense $ (25 ) $ (53 )

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Proceedings In the ordinary course of our business and as a result of the extensive governmental regulation of the solid waste industry, we are subject to various judicial and administrative proceedings involving state and local agencies. In these proceedings, an agency may seek to impose fines or to revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit held by us. From time to time, we may also be subject to actions brought by special interest or other groups, adjacent landowners or residents in connection with the permitting and licensing of landfills and transfer stations, or allegations of environmental damage or violations of the permits and licenses pursuant to which we operate. In addition, we may be named defendants in various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the ordinary operation of a waste management business. In accordance with FASB ASC 450 - Contingencies, we accrue for legal proceedings, inclusive of legal costs, when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings to determine whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred and, if it is at least reasonably possible, whether a range of loss can be reasonably estimated under the provisions of FASB ASC 450-20. In instances where we determine that a loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate a range of loss we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate of the possible loss. 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 record an accrual in the amount that is the low end of such range. When a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, we will not record an accrual, but we will disclose our estimate of the possible range of loss where such estimate can be made in accordance with FASB ASC 450-20. Environmental Remediation Liability (including related litigation) We are subject to liability for environmental damage, including personal injury and property damage, that our solid waste, recycling and power generation facilities may cause to neighboring property owners, particularly as a result of the contamination of drinking water sources or soil, possibly including damage resulting from conditions that existed before we acquired the facilities. We may also be subject to liability for similar claims arising from off-site environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances if we or our predecessors arrange or arranged to transport, treat or dispose of those materials. The following matters represent our material outstanding claims. Southbridge Recycling & Disposal Park, Inc. In October 2015, our Southbridge Recycling and Disposal Park, Inc. (“SRD”) subsidiary reported to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MADEP”) results of analysis of samples collected pursuant to our existing permit from private drinking water wells located near the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts (“Town”) Landfill (“Southbridge Landfill”), which is operated by SRD. Those results indicated the presence of contaminants above the levels triggering notice and response obligations under MADEP regulations. In response to those results, we are carrying out an Immediate Response Action pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 21E (the "Charlton 21E Obligations") pursuant to state law. Further, we have implemented a plan to analyze and better understand the groundwater near the Southbridge Landfill and we are investigating with the objective of identifying the source or sources of the elevated levels of contamination measured in the well samples. If it is determined that some or all of the contamination originated at the Southbridge Landfill, we will work with the Town (the Southbridge Landfill owner and the former operator of an unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, which was used prior to our operation of a double-lined portion of the Southbridge Landfill commencing in 2004) to evaluate and allocate the liabilities related to the Charlton 21E Obligations. In July 2016, we sent correspondence to the Town pursuant to Chapter 21E of Massachusetts General Laws demanding that the Town reimburse us for the environmental response costs we had spent and that the Town be responsible for all such costs in the future, as well as any other costs or liabilities resulting from the release of contaminants from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill. The Town responded in September 2016, denying that the Southbridge Landfill is the source of such contamination, and claiming that if it is, that we may owe an indemnity to the Town pursuant to the Operating Agreement between us and the Town dated May 29, 2007, as amended. We entered into a Tolling Agreement with the Town to delay any further administrative or legal actions until our work with MADEP more specifically defines the parties’ responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations, if any. Please see below for further discussion of our relationship with the Town regarding the Charlton 21E Obligations. In February 2016, we and the Town received a Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") from a law firm purporting to represent residents proximate to the Southbridge Landfill (“Residents”), indicating its intent to file suit against us on behalf of the Residents alleging the groundwater contamination originated from the Southbridge Landfill. In February 2017, we received an additional Notice of Intent to Sue from the National Environmental Law Center under the Federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and RCRA (collectively the “Acts”) on behalf of Environment America, Inc., d/b/a Environment Massachusetts, and Toxics Action Center, Inc., which have referred to themselves as the Citizen Groups. The Citizen Groups alleged that we had violated the Acts, and that they intended to seek appropriate relief in federal court for those alleged violations. On or about June 9, 2017, a lawsuit was filed against us, SRD and the Town in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts (the “Massachusetts Court”) by the Citizen Groups and the Residents alleging violations of the Acts (the “Litigation”), and demanding a variety of remedies under the Acts, including fines, remediation, mitigation and costs of litigation, and remedies for violations of Massachusetts civil law related to personal and property damages, including remediation, diminution of property values, compensation for lost use and enjoyment of properties, enjoinment of further operation of the Southbridge Landfill, and costs of litigation, plus interest on any damage award, on behalf of the Residents. We believe the Litigation to be factually inaccurate, and without legal merit, and we and SRD intend to vigorously defend the Litigation. Nevertheless, we believe it is reasonably possible that a loss will occur as a result of the Litigation although an estimate of loss cannot be reasonably provided at this time. We also continue to believe the Town should be responsible for costs or liabilities associated with the Litigation relative to alleged contamination originating from the unlined portion of the Southbridge Landfill, although there can be no assurance that we will not be required to incur some or all of such costs and liabilities. In December 2017, we filed a Motion to Dismiss the Litigation, and on October 1, 2018, the Massachusetts Court granted our Motion to Dismiss, and accordingly, dismissed the Citizen Groups claims under the Acts. The Massachusetts Court has retained jurisdiction of the Residents claims. The Citizen Groups intend to appeal the Massachusetts Court’s decision to grant our Motion to Dismiss. The Residents moved for a stay of their case until the Citizen Groups appealed. We opposed the stay and in March 2019, the Massachusetts Court denied the Residents motion for a stay. We entered into an Administrative Consent Order on April 26, 2017 (the “ACO”), with MADEP, the Town, and the Town of Charlton, committing us to equally share the costs with MADEP, of up to $10,000 ( $5,000 each) for the Town to install a municipal waterline in the Town of Charlton ("Waterline"). Upon satisfactory completion of that Waterline, and other matters covered by the ACO, we and the Town will be released by MADEP from any future responsibilities for the Charlton 21E Obligations. We also entered into an agreement with the Town on April 28, 2017 entitled the “21E Settlement and Water System Construction Funding Agreement” (the “Waterline Agreement”), wherein we and the Town released each other from claims arising from the Charlton 21E Obligations. Pursuant to the Waterline Agreement, the Town will issue a twenty ( 20 ) year bond for our portion of the Waterline costs (up to $5,000 ). We have agreed to reimburse the Town for periodic payments under such bond. Construction of the waterline is expected to be completed in 2019. We have recorded an environmental remediation liability associated with the future installation of the Waterline in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 2.6% . Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. The changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Southbridge Landfill are as follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 5,173 $ 5,936 Accretion expense 34 39 Obligations settled (1) (141 ) (237 ) Ending balance $ 5,066 $ 5,738 (1) Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle. The costs and liabilities we may be required to incur in connection with the foregoing Southbridge Landfill matters could be material to our results of operations, our cash flows and our financial condition. Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability On December 20, 2000, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”) issued an Order on Consent (“Order”) which named Waste-Stream, Inc. (“WSI”), our subsidiary, General Motors Corporation (“GM”) and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation (“NiMo”) as Respondents. The Order required that the Respondents undertake certain work on a 25 -acre scrap yard and solid waste transfer station owned by WSI in Potsdam, New York, including the preparation of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (“Study”). A draft of the Study was submitted to the DEC in January 2009 (followed by a final report in May 2009). The Study estimated that the undiscounted costs associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $10,219 . On February 28, 2011, the DEC issued a Proposed Remedial Action Plan for the site and accepted public comments on the proposed remedy through March 29, 2011. We submitted comments to the DEC on this matter. In April 2011, the DEC issued the final Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the site. The ROD was subsequently rescinded by the DEC for failure to respond to all submitted comments. The preliminary ROD, however, estimated that the present cost associated with implementing the preferred remedies would be approximately $12,130 . The DEC issued the final ROD in June 2011 with proposed remedies consistent with its earlier ROD. An Order on Consent and Administrative Settlement naming WSI and NiMo as Respondents was executed by the Respondents and DEC with an effective date of October 25, 2013. On January 29, 2016, a Cost-Sharing Agreement was executed between WSI, NiMo, Alcoa Inc. (“Alcoa”) and Reynolds Metal Company (“Reynolds”) whereby Alcoa and Reynolds elected to voluntarily participate in the onsite remediation activities at a combined 15% participant share. A contractor has been awarded the work and significant expenditures relating to onsite remediation will be incurred in the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. WSI is jointly and severally liable with NiMo, Alcoa and Reynolds for the total cost to remediate. We have recorded an environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam site based on incurred costs to date and estimated costs to complete the remediation in other accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities. Our expenditures could be significantly higher if costs exceed estimates. We inflate the estimated costs in current dollars to the expected time of payment and discount the total cost to present value using a risk-free interest rate of 1.5% . A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam environmental remediation liability follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 5,614 $ 5,758 Obligations settled — (6 ) Ending balance $ 5,614 $ 5,752 North Country Environmental Services On or about March 8, 2018, the Citizen Groups described above delivered correspondence to our subsidiary, North Country Environmental Services, Inc. ("NCES") and us, providing notice of the Citizen Groups' intent to sue NCES and us for violations of the CWA in conjunction with NCES's operation of its landfill in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. On May 14, 2018, the Citizen Groups filed a lawsuit against NCES and us in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire (the “New Hampshire Court”) alleging violations of the CWA, arguing that ground water discharging into the Ammonoosuc River is a "point source" under the CWA (the "New Hampshire Litigation"). The New Hampshire Litigation seeks remediation and fines under the CWA. On June 15, 2018, we and NCES filed a Motion to Dismiss the New Hampshire Litigation. On July 13, 2018, the Citizen Groups filed objections to our Motion to Dismiss. On July 27, 2018, we filed a reply in support of our Motion to Dismiss. On September 25, 2018, the New Hampshire Court denied our Motion to Dismiss. In March of 2019, we filed a motion in the New Hampshire litigation asking for a stay of this litigation until certain appeals from discordant federal circuits were heard by the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”). SCOTUS has granted certiorari to hear such cases. Our motion for a stay is pending in the New Hampshire Litigation. We intend to continue to vigorously defend against the New Hampshire Litigation, which we believe is without merit.

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Recent Developments In the three months ended March 31, 2019 , we completed a public offering of 3,565 shares of our Class A common stock at a public offering price of $29.50 per share. The offering resulted in net proceeds to us of $100,446 , after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The net proceeds from the offering were and are to be used for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions or development of new operations or assets with the goal of complementing or expanding our business, working capital and capital expenditures. Stock Based Compensation Shares Available For Issuance In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we adopted the 2016 Incentive Plan (“2016 Plan”). Under the 2016 Plan, we may grant awards up to an aggregate amount of shares equal to the sum of: (i) 2,250 shares of Class A common stock (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits and other similar events), plus (ii) such additional number of shares of Class A common stock (up to 2,723 shares) as is equal to the sum of the number of shares of Class A common stock that remained available for grant under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (“2006 Plan”) immediately prior to the expiration of the 2006 Plan and the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to awards granted under the 2006 Plan that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by us. As of March 31, 2019 , there were 1,553 Class A common stock equivalents available for future grant under the 2016 Plan. Stock Options Stock options are granted at a price equal to the prevailing fair value of our Class A common stock at the date of grant. Generally, stock options granted have a term not to exceed ten years and vest over a one year to four year period from the date of grant. The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimation, including estimates of the expected term stock option holders will retain their vested stock options before exercising them and the estimated volatility of our Class A common stock price over the expected term. A summary of stock option activity follows: Stock Options (1) Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, December 31, 2018 669 $ 6.37 Granted — $ — Exercised (65 ) $ 4.00 Forfeited — $ — Outstanding, March 31, 2019 604 $ 6.62 5.5 $ 17,463 Exercisable, March 31, 2019 604 $ 6.62 5.5 $ 17,463 Stock-based compensation expense for stock options was $0 during the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to $124 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 . During the three months ended March 31, 2019 , the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $2,017 . Other Stock Awards Restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units, with the exception of market-based performance stock units, are granted at a price equal to the fair value of our Class A common stock at the date of grant. The fair value of each market-based performance stock unit is estimated using a Monte Carlo pricing model, which requires extensive use of accounting judgment and financial estimation, including the estimated share price appreciation plus the value of dividends of our Class A common stock as compared to the Russell 2000 Index over the requisite service period. Generally, restricted stock awards granted to non-employee directors vest incrementally over a three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. Restricted stock units granted to non-employee directors typically vest in full on the first anniversary of the grant date. Restricted stock units granted to employees vest incrementally over an identified service period beginning on the grant date based on continued employment. Performance stock units granted to employees, including market-based performance stock units, vest at a future date following the grant date and are based on the attainment of performance targets and market achievements, as applicable. A summary of restricted stock, restricted stock unit and performance stock unit activity follows: Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units (1) Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, December 31, 2018 686 $ 15.56 Granted 66 $ 34.49 Class A Common Stock Vested (194 ) $ 10.75 Forfeited (4 ) $ 15.21 Outstanding, March 31, 2019 554 $ 19.54 1.4 $ 8,873 Unvested, March 31, 2019 819 $ 18.71 1.3 $ 13,796 (1) Market-based performance stock unit grants are included at the 100% attainment level. Attainment of the maximum performance targets and market achievements would result in the issuance of an additional 265 shares of Class A common stock currently included in unvested. Stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance stock units was $1,390 during the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to $1,930 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 . During the three months ended March 31, 2019 , the total fair value of other stock awards vested was $6,890 . As of March 31, 2019 , total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units was $4,607 , which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years. As of March 31, 2019 , maximum unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to outstanding performance stock units, assuming the attainment of maximum performance targets, was $3,786 to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years. We also recorded $41 of stock-based compensation expense related to our Amended and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to $23 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 . Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss A summary of the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss , net of tax follows: Interest Rate Swaps Balance, December 31, 2018 $ (1,308 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (1,582 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 25 Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive loss — Net current-period other comprehensive loss (1,557 ) Balance, March 31, 2019 $ (2,865 ) A summary of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss , net of tax follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations Interest rate swaps $ 25 $ 53 Interest expense 25 53 Loss before income taxes — 209 Provision (benefit) for income taxes $ 25 $ (156 ) Net loss

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER SHARE	EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the combined weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive shares, which include the assumed exercise of employee stock options, including market-based performance stock options based on the expected achievement of performance targets, unvested restricted stock awards, unvested restricted stock units and unvested performance stock units, including market-based performance units based on the expected achievement of performance targets. In computing diluted earnings per share, we utilize the treasury stock method. A summary of the numerator and denominators used in the computation of earnings per share follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Numerator: Net loss $ (1,714 ) $ (3,910 ) Denominators: Number of shares outstanding, end of period: Class A common stock 46,252 41,700 Class B common stock 988 988 Shares to be issued - acquisition 36 — Unvested restricted stock (9 ) (38 ) Effect of weighted average shares outstanding (1,354 ) (280 ) Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 45,913 42,370 Anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares 1,422 2,105

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]
OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES	OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES Expense from Acquisition Activities and Other Items In the three months ended March 31, 2019 , we recorded charges of $677 associated with acquisition activities. Contract Settlement Charge In the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded contract settlement charges of $2,100 associated with the termination and discounted buy-out of a commodities marketing and brokerage agreement. Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge, Net In June 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill as disclosed in Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies. Accordingly, in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 , we recorded charges associated with the closure of the Southbridge Landfill as follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Charlton settlement charge (1) $ — $ 1,216 Legal and other costs (2) 555 370 Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net $ 555 $ 1,586 (1) We established a reserve associated with settlement of the Town of Charlton's claim against us. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure. (2) We incurred legal costs as well as other costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure. Development Project Charge In the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded a development project charge of $311 associated with previously deferred costs that were written off as a result of the negative vote in a public referendum relating to the NCES landfill.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUM

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS	FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS We use a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of market prices and observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. In measuring the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, we rely on market data or assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable-trade, restricted investment securities held in trust on deposit with various banks as collateral for our obligations relative to our landfill final capping, closure and post-closure costs, interest rate swaps, trade payables and long-term debt. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable - trade and trade payables approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair value of restricted investment securities held in trust, which are valued using quoted market prices, are included as restricted assets in the Level 1 tier below. The fair value of the interest rate swaps included in the Level 2 tier below is calculated using discounted cash flow valuation methodologies based upon the one month LIBOR yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swaps. Recurring Fair Value Measurements Summaries of our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis follow: Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2019 Using: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment securities - landfill closure $ 1,345 $ — $ — Interest rate swaps — 412 — $ 1,345 $ 412 $ — Liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ — $ 3,012 $ — Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2018 Using: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment securities - landfill closure $ 1,248 $ — $ — Interest rate swaps — 820 $ 1,248 $ 820 $ — Liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ — $ 1,942 $ — Fair Value of Debt As of March 31, 2019 , the fair value of our fixed rate debt, including our FAME Bonds 2005R-3, FAME Bonds 2015R-1, FAME Bonds 2015R-2, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2014, New York Bonds 2014R-2 and New Hampshire Bonds was approximately $124,806 and the carrying value was $122,000 . The fair value of the FAME Bonds 2005R-3, the FAME Bonds 2015R-1, the FAME Bonds 2015R-2, the Vermont Bonds, the New York Bonds 2014, the New York Bonds 2014R-2 and the New Hampshire Bonds is considered to be Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy as the fair value is determined using market approach pricing provided by a third-party that utilizes pricing models and pricing systems, mathematical tools and judgment to determine the evaluated price for the security based on the market information of each of the bonds or securities with similar characteristics. As of March 31, 2019 , the carrying value of our Term Loan Facility was $350,000 and the carrying value of our Revolving Credit Facility was $0 . Their fair values are based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements, or Level 2 inputs, and approximate their carrying values. Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts of FAME Bonds 2005R-3, FAME Bonds 2015R-1, FAME Bonds 2015R-2, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2014, New York Bonds 2014R-2 and New Hampshire Bonds using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, a change in available market information, and/or the use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. These amounts have not been revalued, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.

SEGMENT REPORTING

SEGMENT REPORTING	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
SEGMENT REPORTING	SEGMENT REPORTING We report selected information about operating segments in a manner consistent with that used for internal management reporting. We classify our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through regional operating segments, our Western and Eastern regions. Revenues associated with our solid waste operations are derived mainly from solid waste collection and disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, transfer and recycling services in the northeastern United States. Our revenues in the Recycling segment are derived from municipalities and customers in the form of processing fees, tipping fees and commodity sales. Organics services, ancillary operations, along with major account and industrial services are included in our Other segment. Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Segment Outside revenues Inter-company revenue Depreciation and amortization Operating income (loss) Total assets Eastern $ 46,997 $ 10,771 $ 5,260 $ (626 ) $ 195,851 Western 73,634 20,101 10,239 5,356 493,775 Recycling 10,766 1,971 969 (941 ) 54,829 Other 32,267 533 1,021 653 83,858 Eliminations — (33,376 ) — — — $ 163,664 $ — $ 17,489 $ 4,442 $ 828,313 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Segment Outside revenues Inter-company revenue Depreciation and amortization Operating income (loss) Total assets Eastern $ 44,505 $ 11,306 $ 5,979 $ (1,812 ) $ 174,860 Western 64,739 18,631 8,032 7,194 342,285 Recycling 10,157 1,185 1,054 (5,167 ) 47,065 Other 28,054 317 918 623 67,165 Eliminations — (31,439 ) — — — $ 147,455 $ — $ 15,983 $ 838 $ 631,375 A summary of our revenues attributable to services provided follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Collection $ 83,080 $ 66,475 Disposal 36,054 40,234 Power generation 1,136 1,799 Processing 878 1,420 Solid waste operations 121,148 109,928 Organics 13,596 12,200 Customer solutions 18,154 15,170 Recycling 10,766 10,157 Total revenues $ 163,664 $ 147,455

ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Policies)

ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting	Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (“Parent”), and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “we”, “us” or “our”), is a regional, vertically integrated solid waste services company that provides collection, transfer, disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, recycling and organics services in the northeastern United States. We market recyclable metals, aluminum, plastics, paper, and corrugated cardboard, which have been processed at our recycling facilities, as well as recyclables purchased from third-parties. We manage our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through two regional operating segments, the Eastern and Western regions, each of which provides a full range of solid waste services, and our larger-scale recycling and commodity brokerage operations through our Recycling segment. Organics services, ancillary operations, along with major account and industrial services are included in our Other segment. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of the Parent and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for under either the equity method or the cost method of accounting, as appropriate. Our significant accounting policies are more fully discussed in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 , which was filed with the SEC on February 22, 2019.
Use of Estimates	Preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the accounting for and recognition and disclosure of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenses. We must make these estimates and assumptions because certain information that we use is dependent on future events, cannot be calculated with a high degree of precision given the available data, or simply cannot be readily calculated. In the opinion of management, these consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, which include normal recurring and nonrecurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results for the three months ended March 31, 2019 may not be indicative of the results for any other interim period or the entire fiscal year. The consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 .
Subsequent Events	We have evaluated subsequent events or transactions that have occurred after the consolidated balance sheet date of March 31, 2019 through the date of filing of the consolidated financial statements with the SEC on this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We have determined that there are no subsequent events that require disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Accounting Standards that are Adopted and Pending Adoption	Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards that are adopted effective January 1, 2019 ASU 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases ( Topic 842 ) Requires that a lessee recognize at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is the obligation of the lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. We adopted the guidance using the prospective optional transition method effective January 1, 2019, which allowed us to elect not to restate comparative periods and, if applicable, to recognize the effects of applying this guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2019. We did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon implementation. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and lease liability for leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. We also prospectively reclassified landfill operating lease payments, along with related accumulated depreciation, that were previously capitalized as property, plant and equipment to right-of-use asset - operating leases. Accordingly, the related cash outlays, which were historically considered cash flows from investing activities, were prospectively reclassified as cash flows from operating activities in accordance with Topic 842 . With the assistance of third-party resources, we designed internal controls over the adoption of this guidance and implemented a third-party enterprise lease management software solution. In conjunction with the implementation, we modified our lease policy and internal business processes to effectively manage and account for leases, and to support recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the accounting for our finance leases. This guidance required additional disclosure over leases in order to comply with the new lease standard. See Note 4, Leases for additional disclosure. A table providing a brief description of recent ASUs to the ASC issued by the FASB that are pending adoption and deemed to have a possible material effect on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows: Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards issued that are pending adoption ASU 2017-04: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other ( Topic 350 ) Requires that when an entity is performing its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test, it should compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount when calculating its impairment charge, noting that the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, if applicable, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when calculating its impairment charge. As of December 31, 2018, we did not record a goodwill impairment charge related to our annual goodwill impairment test because at that time the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its respective carrying value. Upon adoption, if the carrying value of any of these reporting units exceeds the fair value when we perform a goodwill impairment test, we would record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. This guidance is effective January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017.
Revenue Recognition	Contract receivables, which are included in Accounts receivable - trade, net are recorded when billed or when related revenue is earned, if earlier, and represent claims against third-parties that will be settled in cash. Accounts receivable - trade, net includes gross receivables from contracts of $70,722 and $73,500 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Certain customers are billed in advance and, accordingly, recognition of the related revenues is deferred as a contract liability until the services are provided and control transferred to the customer. We recognized contract liabilities of $2,315 and $3,074 as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 , respectively. Due to the short term nature of advanced billings, substantially all of the deferred revenue recognized as a contract liability as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were recognized as revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 , respectively, when the services were performed. Payments to customers that are not in exchange for a distinct good or service are recorded as a reduction of revenues.
Leases	We lease vehicles, equipment, property and other non-core equipment in the ordinary course of our business. Leases are classified as either operating leases or finance leases, as appropriate. Our leases have varying terms and may include renewal or purchase options, escalation clauses, restrictions, lease concessions, capital project funding, penalties or other obligations that we considered historically in determining minimum rental payments. We recognize lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. We recognize depreciation expense for finance leases over either the useful life of the asset or the lease term based on the terms of the lease agreement. We are also party to landfill operation and management agreements. These agreements are long-term landfill operating contracts with government bodies whereby we receive tipping revenue, pay normal operating expenses and assume future final capping, closure and post-closure obligations. The government body retains ownership of the landfill. There is no bargain purchase option and title to the property does not pass to us at the end of the lease term. We allocate the consideration paid to the landfill airspace rights and underlying land lease based on the relative fair values. In addition to up-front or one-time payments, the landfill operating agreements may require us to make future minimum rental payments, including success/expansion fees, other direct costs and final capping, closure and post-closure costs. The value of all future minimum rental payments is amortized and charged to cost of operations over the life of the contract. We amortize the consideration allocated to airspace rights as airspace is utilized on a units-of-consumption basis and such amortization is charged to cost of operations as airspace is consumed (e.g., as tons are placed into the landfill). The underlying value of any land lease is amortized to cost of operations on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the operating agreement. As a part of the implementation of Topic 842 , we have elected to adopt the practical expedient package and to not elect the hindsight practical expedient in determining lease term. The practical expedient package allowed us to: 1) not reassess lease classification for existing leases; 2) not reassess whether a contract contains a lease for existing contracts; and 3) not reassess initial direct costs for existing leases. Accordingly, we retained the operating lease and finance lease classifications in all periods presented and did not alter Topic 840 accounting over operating leases in place at transition allowing us to use historical minimum rental payments when determining the right-of-use asset and lease liability for existing operating leases. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for core leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. For other non-core operating leases, which is comprised of small-dollar-value items such as office equipment, we continued to expense these costs in the period incurred rather than capitalizing such expenditures on our consolidated balance sheet. Accounting for finance leases was not impacted by the adoption of this guidance. Under Topic 842 , lease payments include: fixed payments, including in-substance fixed payments, less any lease incentives paid or payable to the lessee; variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate; exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised; penalties for terminating a lease; and amounts where it is probable that we will owe under a residual value guarantee. Refundable deposits are not considered to be a fixed payment. Variable lease costs that are not based on an index or a rate are recorded to expenses in the period incurred. Lease term is determined at lease commencement, and includes any noncancellable period for which we have the right to use the underlying asset together with any periods covered by an option to extend or terminate the lease if we are reasonably certain to exercise the option to extend or not to exercise the option to terminate. The initial determination of a lease liability is calculated as the net present value of the lease payments not yet paid. The discount rate used to determine present value is the rate implicit in the lease, if present, or, if not present, our incremental borrowing rate, which is a rate that reflects interest that we would have to pay to borrow funds on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease and in a similar economic environment. For shorter term leases, such as vehicle and equipment leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate using the interest rate from our existing secured line of credit, adjusted based on term. For longer term leases, such as our landfill operating leases, we calculate our incremental borrowing rate based on an industry yield curve with a similar credit rating, adjusted by a company specific spread as determined by a third-party.
Accrued Final Capping, Closure and Post Closure	Accrued final capping, closure and post-closure costs include the current and non-current portion of costs associated with obligations for final capping, closure and post-closure of our landfills. We estimate our future final capping, closure and post-closure costs in order to determine the final capping, closure and post-closure expense per ton of waste placed into each landfill. The anticipated time frame for paying these costs varies based on the remaining useful life of each landfill as well as the duration of the post-closure monitoring period.
Commitments and Contingencies	In the ordinary course of our business and as a result of the extensive governmental regulation of the solid waste industry, we are subject to various judicial and administrative proceedings involving state and local agencies. In these proceedings, an agency may seek to impose fines or to revoke or deny renewal of an operating permit held by us. From time to time, we may also be subject to actions brought by special interest or other groups, adjacent landowners or residents in connection with the permitting and licensing of landfills and transfer stations, or allegations of environmental damage or violations of the permits and licenses pursuant to which we operate. In addition, we may be named defendants in various claims and suits pending for alleged damages to persons and property, alleged violations of certain laws and alleged liabilities arising out of matters occurring during the ordinary operation of a waste management business. In accordance with FASB ASC 450 - Contingencies, we accrue for legal proceedings, inclusive of legal costs, when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings to determine whether it is probable, reasonably possible or remote that a liability has been incurred and, if it is at least reasonably possible, whether a range of loss can be reasonably estimated under the provisions of FASB ASC 450-20. In instances where we determine that a loss is probable and we can reasonably estimate a range of loss we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate of the possible loss. 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 record an accrual in the amount that is the low end of such range. When a loss is reasonably possible, but not probable, we will not record an accrual, but we will disclose our estimate of the possible range of loss where such estimate can be made in accordance with FASB ASC 450-20.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	We use a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2, defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. We use valuation techniques that maximize the use of market prices and observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. In measuring the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, we rely on market data or assumptions that we believe market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. Assets and Liabilities Accounted for at Fair Value Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable-trade, restricted investment securities held in trust on deposit with various banks as collateral for our obligations relative to our landfill final capping, closure and post-closure costs, interest rate swaps, trade payables and long-term debt. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable - trade and trade payables approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. The fair value of restricted investment securities held in trust, which are valued using quoted market prices, are included as restricted assets in the Level 1 tier below. The fair value of the interest rate swaps included in the Level 2 tier below is calculated using discounted cash flow valuation methodologies based upon the one month LIBOR yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the swaps.
Segment Reporting	We report selected information about operating segments in a manner consistent with that used for internal management reporting. We classify our solid waste operations on a geographic basis through regional operating segments, our Western and Eastern regions. Revenues associated with our solid waste operations are derived mainly from solid waste collection and disposal, landfill, landfill gas-to-energy, transfer and recycling services in the northeastern United States. Our revenues in the Recycling segment are derived from municipalities and customers in the form of processing fees, tipping fees and commodity sales.

ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Tables)

ACCOUNTING CHANGES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles	A table providing a brief description of recent Accounting Standards Updates ("ASUs") to the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) that we adopted and deemed to have a possible material effect on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows: Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards that are adopted effective January 1, 2019 ASU 2016-02, as amended through March 2019: Leases ( Topic 842 ) Requires that a lessee recognize at the commencement date: a lease liability, which is the obligation of the lessee to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. We adopted the guidance using the prospective optional transition method effective January 1, 2019, which allowed us to elect not to restate comparative periods and, if applicable, to recognize the effects of applying this guidance as a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of January 1, 2019. We did not recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon implementation. Upon adopting this guidance, we recognized a right-of-use asset and lease liability for leases classified as operating leases with a term in excess of 12 months in our consolidated balance sheet. We also prospectively reclassified landfill operating lease payments, along with related accumulated depreciation, that were previously capitalized as property, plant and equipment to right-of-use asset - operating leases. Accordingly, the related cash outlays, which were historically considered cash flows from investing activities, were prospectively reclassified as cash flows from operating activities in accordance with Topic 842 . With the assistance of third-party resources, we designed internal controls over the adoption of this guidance and implemented a third-party enterprise lease management software solution. In conjunction with the implementation, we modified our lease policy and internal business processes to effectively manage and account for leases, and to support recognition and disclosure requirements under the new standard. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the accounting for our finance leases. This guidance required additional disclosure over leases in order to comply with the new lease standard. See Note 4, Leases for additional disclosure. A table providing a brief description of recent ASUs to the ASC issued by the FASB that are pending adoption and deemed to have a possible material effect on our consolidated financial statements based on current account balances and activity follows: Standard Description Effect on the Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters Accounting standards issued that are pending adoption ASU 2017-04: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other ( Topic 350 ) Requires that when an entity is performing its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test, it should compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount when calculating its impairment charge, noting that the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Additionally, if applicable, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when calculating its impairment charge. As of December 31, 2018, we did not record a goodwill impairment charge related to our annual goodwill impairment test because at that time the fair value of each reporting unit exceeded its respective carrying value. Upon adoption, if the carrying value of any of these reporting units exceeds the fair value when we perform a goodwill impairment test, we would record an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. This guidance is effective January 1, 2020 with early adoption permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed after January 1, 2017.

REVENUE RECOGNITION (Tables)

REVENUE RECOGNITION (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	A table of revenues disaggregated by service line and timing of revenue recognition by operating segment for each of the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Eastern Western Recycling Other Total Revenues Collection $ 33,965 $ 49,597 $ — $ — $ 83,562 Landfill 3,717 15,468 — — 19,185 Transfer 8,986 5,275 — — 14,261 Customer solutions — — — 18,154 18,154 Recycling — 441 10,766 — 11,207 Organics — — — 13,596 13,596 Transportation — 2,046 — 517 2,563 Landfill gas-to-energy 329 807 — — 1,136 Total revenues $ 46,997 $ 73,634 $ 10,766 $ 32,267 $ 163,664 Transferred at a point-in-time $ 36 $ 309 $ 6,124 $ 267 $ 6,736 Transferred over time 46,961 73,325 4,642 32,000 156,928 Total revenues $ 46,997 $ 73,634 $ 10,766 $ 32,267 $ 163,664 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Eastern Western Recycling Other Total Revenues Collection $ 30,523 $ 36,484 $ — $ — $ 67,007 Landfill 5,960 14,540 — — 20,500 Transfer 7,560 5,606 — — 13,166 Customer solutions — — — 15,170 15,170 Recycling — 948 10,157 — 11,105 Organics — — — 12,200 12,200 Transportation — 5,824 — 684 6,508 Landfill gas-to-energy 462 1,337 — — 1,799 Total revenues $ 44,505 $ 64,739 $ 10,157 $ 28,054 $ 147,455 Transferred at a point-in-time $ 191 $ 368 $ 7,257 $ 357 $ 8,173 Transferred over time 44,314 64,371 2,900 27,697 139,282 Total revenues $ 44,505 $ 64,739 $ 10,157 $ 28,054 $ 147,455

LEASES (Tables)

LEASES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of Lease Costs and Other Lease Information	A schedule of lease costs and other lease information follows: Three Months Ended Lease cost: Finance lease cost: Amortization of right-of-use assets $ 409 Interest expense 156 Operating lease cost: Fixed lease cost 4,227 Short-term lease cost 658 Variable lease cost 7 Total lease cost $ 5,457 Other information: Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Financing cash flows for finance leases $ 471 Operating cash flows for operating leases $ 2,043 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities $ 2,473 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities $ 415 Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years) 7.0 Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years) 11.3 Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases 5.3 % Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases 6.5 %
Schedule of estimated minimum future finance lease obligations	Estimated minimum future lease obligations are as follows: Operating Leases Finance Leases Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 12,160 $ 2,257 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 12,845 3,171 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 10,394 2,634 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 8,236 2,039 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 6,488 1,871 Thereafter 65,269 4,816 Total lease payments 115,392 16,788 Less: interest expense (37,768 ) (3,284 ) Lease liability balance $ 77,624 $ 13,504
Schedule of estimated minimum future operating lease obligations	Estimated minimum future lease obligations are as follows: Operating Leases Finance Leases Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 12,160 $ 2,257 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 12,845 3,171 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 10,394 2,634 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 8,236 2,039 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 6,488 1,871 Thereafter 65,269 4,816 Total lease payments 115,392 16,788 Less: interest expense (37,768 ) (3,284 ) Lease liability balance $ 77,624 $ 13,504

INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)

INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Intangible Assets by Intangible Asset Type	A summary of intangible assets by intangible asset type follows: Covenants Not-to-Compete Client Lists Total Balance, March 31, 2019 Intangible assets $ 21,750 $ 44,363 $ 66,113 Less accumulated amortization (17,820 ) (14,927 ) (32,747 ) $ 3,930 $ 29,436 $ 33,366 Covenants Not-to-Compete Client Lists Total Balance, December 31, 2018 Intangible assets $ 21,750 $ 44,363 $ 66,113 Less accumulated amortization (17,584 ) (13,762 ) (31,346 ) $ 4,166 $ 30,601 $ 34,767
Summary of Intangible Amortization Expense Estimated	A summary of intangible amortization expense estimated for the five fiscal years following the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and thereafter follows: Estimated Future Amortization Expense as of March 31, 2019 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019 $ 4,200 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 $ 4,997 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 $ 4,094 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 $ 3,534 Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 $ 3,231 Thereafter $ 13,310

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSUR_2

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Changes to Accrued Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Liabilities	A summary of the changes to accrued final capping, closure and post-closure liabilities follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 73,075 $ 62,290 Obligations incurred 543 798 Revision in estimates (1) — 1,492 Accretion expense 1,607 1,383 Obligations settled (2) (1,556 ) (297 ) Ending balance $ 73,669 $ 65,666 (1) Relates to changes in estimates and assumptions associated with anticipated costs of future final capping, closure and post-closure activities at the Town of Southbridge, Massachusetts landfill. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies and Note 11, Other Items and Charges for additional disclosure regarding the matter. (2) Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle.

LONG-TERM DEBT (Tables)

LONG-TERM DEBT (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Debt And Derivatives Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Components of Long-Term Debt and Capital Leases by Debt Instrument	A summary of long-term debt and finance leases by debt instrument follows: March 31, December 31, Senior Secured Credit Facility: Revolving line of credit facility ("Revolving Credit Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% $ — $ 69,600 Term loan A facility ("Term Loan Facility") due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% 350,000 350,000 Tax-Exempt Bonds: New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 3.75% 25,000 25,000 New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125% 15,000 15,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 ("FAME Bonds 2005R-3") due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25% 25,000 25,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-1") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125% 15,000 15,000 Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-2") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375% 15,000 15,000 Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds") due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625% 16,000 16,000 Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("New Hampshire Bonds") due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 4.00% 11,000 11,000 Other: Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 5.3% 13,504 11,248 Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 2.90% 2,298 2,401 Principal amount of long-term debt and finance leases 487,802 555,249 Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (1) 10,375 10,950 Long-term debt and finance leases less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs 477,427 544,299 Less—current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases 2,694 2,298 $ 474,733 $ 542,001 (1) A summary of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs by debt instrument follows: March 31, December 31, Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility") $ 6,708 $ 7,118 New York Bonds 2014 801 847 New York Bonds 2014R-2 435 450 FAME Bonds 2005R-3 496 517 FAME Bonds 2015R-1 604 622 FAME Bonds 2015R-2 474 493 Vermont Bonds 581 595 New Hampshire Bonds 276 308 $ 10,375 $ 10,950
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Related to Derivative Instruments	A summary of the amount of loss on cash flow hedging relationships related to interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Statement of Operations Location (Expense) Income Interest expense $ (25 ) $ (53 ) A summary of the effect of cash flow hedges related to derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet follows: Fair Value Balance Sheet Location March 31, December 31, Interest rate swaps Other current assets $ 260 $ 338 Interest rate swaps Other non-current assets 152 482 $ 412 $ 820 Interest rate swaps Other accrued liabilities $ 579 $ 387 Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities 2,433 1,555 $ 3,012 $ 1,942 Interest rate swaps Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (2,753 ) $ (1,196 ) Interest rate swaps - tax provision Accumulated other comprehensive loss (112 ) (112 ) $ (2,865 ) $ (1,308 )
Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	A summary of the effect of cash flow hedges related to derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet follows: Fair Value Balance Sheet Location March 31, December 31, Interest rate swaps Other current assets $ 260 $ 338 Interest rate swaps Other non-current assets 152 482 $ 412 $ 820 Interest rate swaps Other accrued liabilities $ 579 $ 387 Interest rate swaps Other long-term liabilities 2,433 1,555 $ 3,012 $ 1,942 Interest rate swaps Accumulated other comprehensive loss $ (2,753 ) $ (1,196 ) Interest rate swaps - tax provision Accumulated other comprehensive loss (112 ) (112 ) $ (2,865 ) $ (1,308 )

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Environmental Liability Associated with Potsdam	The changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Southbridge Landfill are as follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 5,173 $ 5,936 Accretion expense 34 39 Obligations settled (1) (141 ) (237 ) Ending balance $ 5,066 $ 5,738 (1) Includes amounts that are being processed through accounts payable as a part of our disbursements cycle. A summary of the changes to the environmental remediation liability associated with the Potsdam environmental remediation liability follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Beginning balance $ 5,614 $ 5,758 Obligations settled — (6 ) Ending balance $ 5,614 $ 5,752

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Equity [Abstract]
Summary of Stock Option Activity	A summary of stock option activity follows: Stock Options (1) Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, December 31, 2018 669 $ 6.37 Granted — $ — Exercised (65 ) $ 4.00 Forfeited — $ — Outstanding, March 31, 2019 604 $ 6.62 5.5 $ 17,463 Exercisable, March 31, 2019 604 $ 6.62 5.5 $ 17,463
Summary of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit and Performance-based Stock Unit Activity	A summary of restricted stock, restricted stock unit and performance stock unit activity follows: Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units (1) Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, December 31, 2018 686 $ 15.56 Granted 66 $ 34.49 Class A Common Stock Vested (194 ) $ 10.75 Forfeited (4 ) $ 15.21 Outstanding, March 31, 2019 554 $ 19.54 1.4 $ 8,873 Unvested, March 31, 2019 819 $ 18.71 1.3 $ 13,796 (1) Market-based performance stock unit grants are included at the 100% attainment level. Attainment of the maximum performance targets and market achievements would result in the issuance of an additional 265 shares of Class A common stock currently included in unvested.
Summary of Changes in Balances of Each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	A summary of the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss , net of tax follows: Interest Rate Swaps Balance, December 31, 2018 $ (1,308 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications (1,582 ) Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss 25 Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive loss — Net current-period other comprehensive loss (1,557 ) Balance, March 31, 2019 $ (2,865 )
Summary of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	A summary of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss , net of tax follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Details About Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations Interest rate swaps $ 25 $ 53 Interest expense 25 53 Loss before income taxes — 209 Provision (benefit) for income taxes $ 25 $ (156 ) Net loss

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Summary of Numerator and Denominators Used in Computation of Earnings Per Share	A summary of the numerator and denominators used in the computation of earnings per share follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Numerator: Net loss $ (1,714 ) $ (3,910 ) Denominators: Number of shares outstanding, end of period: Class A common stock 46,252 41,700 Class B common stock 988 988 Shares to be issued - acquisition 36 — Unvested restricted stock (9 ) (38 ) Effect of weighted average shares outstanding (1,354 ) (280 ) Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 45,913 42,370 Anti-dilutive potentially issuable shares 1,422 2,105

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES (Tables

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]
Environmental Exit Costs by Cost	In June 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of the Southbridge Landfill as disclosed in Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies. Accordingly, in the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 , we recorded charges associated with the closure of the Southbridge Landfill as follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Charlton settlement charge (1) $ — $ 1,216 Legal and other costs (2) 555 370 Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net $ 555 $ 1,586 (1) We established a reserve associated with settlement of the Town of Charlton's claim against us. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure. (2) We incurred legal costs as well as other costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure. See Note 8, Commitments and Contingencies for additional disclosure.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTR_2

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value	Summaries of our financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis follow: Fair Value Measurement at March 31, 2019 Using: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment securities - landfill closure $ 1,345 $ — $ — Interest rate swaps — 412 — $ 1,345 $ 412 $ — Liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ — $ 3,012 $ — Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2018 Using: Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Assets: Restricted investment securities - landfill closure $ 1,248 $ — $ — Interest rate swaps — 820 $ 1,248 $ 820 $ — Liabilities: Interest rate swaps $ — $ 1,942 $ —

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)

SEGMENT REPORTING (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Segment Outside revenues Inter-company revenue Depreciation and amortization Operating income (loss) Total assets Eastern $ 46,997 $ 10,771 $ 5,260 $ (626 ) $ 195,851 Western 73,634 20,101 10,239 5,356 493,775 Recycling 10,766 1,971 969 (941 ) 54,829 Other 32,267 533 1,021 653 83,858 Eliminations — (33,376 ) — — — $ 163,664 $ — $ 17,489 $ 4,442 $ 828,313 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Segment Outside revenues Inter-company revenue Depreciation and amortization Operating income (loss) Total assets Eastern $ 44,505 $ 11,306 $ 5,979 $ (1,812 ) $ 174,860 Western 64,739 18,631 8,032 7,194 342,285 Recycling 10,157 1,185 1,054 (5,167 ) 47,065 Other 28,054 317 918 623 67,165 Eliminations — (31,439 ) — — — $ 147,455 $ — $ 15,983 $ 838 $ 631,375
Summary of Revenues Attributable to Services Provided by Company	A summary of our revenues attributable to services provided follows: Three Months Ended 2019 2018 Collection $ 83,080 $ 66,475 Disposal 36,054 40,234 Power generation 1,136 1,799 Processing 878 1,420 Solid waste operations 121,148 109,928 Organics 13,596 12,200 Customer solutions 18,154 15,170 Recycling 10,766 10,157 Total revenues $ 163,664 $ 147,455

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019regional_operating_segment
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of regional operating segments	2

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Narrative

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (163,664,000)	$ (147,455,000)
Revenue recognized	0
Gross receivables from contracts	70,722,000		$ 73,500,000
Contract liabilities	2,315,000		$ 3,074,000
Adjustments | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,338,000	$ 1,468,000

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Disaggreg

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 163,664	$ 147,455
Transferred at a point-in-time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,736	8,173
Transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	156,928	139,282
Collection
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	83,562	67,007
Landfill
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	19,185	20,500
Transfer
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	14,261	13,166
Customer solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	18,154	15,170
Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	11,207	11,105
Organics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	13,596	12,200
Transportation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,563	6,508
Landfill gas-to-energy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	1,136	1,799
Eastern
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	46,997	44,505
Eastern | Transferred at a point-in-time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	36	191
Eastern | Transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	46,961	44,314
Eastern | Collection
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	33,965	30,523
Eastern | Landfill
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	3,717	5,960
Eastern | Transfer
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	8,986	7,560
Eastern | Customer solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Eastern | Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Eastern | Organics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Eastern | Transportation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Eastern | Landfill gas-to-energy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	329	462
Western
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	73,634	64,739
Western | Transferred at a point-in-time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	309	368
Western | Transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	73,325	64,371
Western | Collection
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	49,597	36,484
Western | Landfill
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	15,468	14,540
Western | Transfer
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	5,275	5,606
Western | Customer solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Western | Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	441	948
Western | Organics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Western | Transportation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	2,046	5,824
Western | Landfill gas-to-energy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	807	1,337
Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,766	10,157
Recycling | Transferred at a point-in-time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	6,124	7,257
Recycling | Transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	4,642	2,900
Recycling | Collection
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Landfill
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Transfer
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Customer solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	10,766	10,157
Recycling | Organics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Transportation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Recycling | Landfill gas-to-energy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Other
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	32,267	28,054
Other | Transferred at a point-in-time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	267	357
Other | Transferred over time
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	32,000	27,697
Other | Collection
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Other | Landfill
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Other | Transfer
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Other | Customer solutions
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	18,154	15,170
Other | Recycling
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	0	0
Other | Organics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	13,596	12,200
Other | Transportation
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	517	684
Other | Landfill gas-to-energy
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from contracts with customers	$ 0	$ 0

LEASES - Schedule of Lease Cost

LEASES - Schedule of Lease Costs and Other Lease Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets	$ 409
Interest expense	156
Operating lease cost:
Fixed lease cost	4,227
Short-term lease cost	658
Variable lease cost	7
Total lease cost	5,457
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Financing cash flows for finance leases	471
Operating cash flows for operating leases	2,043
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities	2,473
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	$ 415
Weighted-average remaining lease term - finance leases (years)	7 years
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (years)	11 years 3 months 18 days
Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases	5.30%
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases	6.50%

LEASES - Schedule of estimated

LEASES - Schedule of estimated minimum future finance lease obligations (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
Operating Leases
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019	$ 12,160
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020	12,845
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021	10,394
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022	8,236
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023	6,488
Thereafter	65,269
Total lease payments	115,392
Less: interest expense	(37,768)
Lease liability balance	77,624
Finance Leases
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019	2,257
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020	3,171
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021	2,634
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022	2,039
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023	1,871
Thereafter	4,816
Total lease payments	16,788
Less: interest expense	(3,284)
Lease liability balance	$ 13,504

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Assets by Intangible Asset Type (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	$ 66,113	$ 66,113
Less accumulated amortization	(32,747)	(31,346)
Intangible assets, net	33,366	34,767
Covenants Not-to-Compete
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	21,750	21,750
Less accumulated amortization	(17,820)	(17,584)
Intangible assets, net	3,930	4,166
Client Lists
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets	44,363	44,363
Less accumulated amortization	(14,927)	(13,762)
Intangible assets, net	$ 29,436	$ 30,601

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible amortization expenses	$ 1,401	$ 568

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary o_2

INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Amortization Expense Estimated (Detail) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2019	$ 4,200
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2020	4,997
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2021	4,094
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022	3,534
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023	3,231
Thereafter	$ 13,310

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSUR_3

ACCRUED FINAL CAPPING, CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE - Summary of Changes to Accrued Capping, Closure and Post-Closure Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Asset Retirement Obligation, Roll Forward Analysis [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 73,075	$ 62,290
Obligations incurred	543	798
Revision in estimates	0	1,492
Accretion expense	1,607	1,383
Obligations settled	(1,556)	(297)
Ending balance	$ 73,669	$ 65,666

LONG-TERM DEBT - Summary of Com

LONG-TERM DEBT - Summary of Components of Long-Term Debt and Capital Leases by Debt Instrument (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 487,802	$ 555,249
Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 5.3%	13,504
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	10,375	10,950
Long-term debt and finance leases less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	477,427	544,299
Less—current maturities of long-term debt and finance leases	2,694	2,298
Non current portion of long term debt and capital lease obligation	$ 474,733	542,001
Weighted-average interest rate - finance leases	5.30%
Revolving line of credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 0	$ 69,600
Revolving line of credit facility (Revolving Credit Facility) due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%	2.00%
Secured Debt | Term loan A facility (Term Loan Facility) due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 350,000	$ 350,000
Secured Debt | Term loan A facility (Term Loan Facility) due May 2023; bearing interest at LIBOR plus 2.00% | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%	2.00%
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 (New York Bonds 2014) due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 3.75%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 801	$ 847
Stated interest rate	3.75%	3.75%
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 (New York Bonds 2014R-2) due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 15,000	$ 15,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 435	$ 450
Stated interest rate	3.125%	3.125%
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 (FAME Bonds 2005R-3) due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 496	$ 517
Stated interest rate	5.25%	5.25%
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 (FAME Bonds 2015R-1) due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 15,000	$ 15,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 604	$ 622
Stated interest rate	5.125%	5.125%
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 (FAME Bonds 2015R-2) due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 15,000	$ 15,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 474	$ 493
Stated interest rate	4.375%	4.375%
Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 (Vermont Bonds) due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 16,000	$ 16,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 581	$ 595
Stated interest rate	4.625%	4.625%
Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 (New Hampshire Bonds) due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2019; bearing interest at 4.00%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 11,000	$ 11,000
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 276	$ 308
Stated interest rate	4.00%	4.00%
Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 5.3%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease		$ 11,248
Weighted average interest rate		5.30%
Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 2.90%
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt and capital lease	$ 2,298	$ 2,401
Weighted average interest rate	2.90%	2.90%
Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the Credit Facility)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less—unamortized discount and debt issuance costs	$ 6,708	$ 7,118

LONG-TERM DEBT - Credit Facilit

LONG-TERM DEBT - Credit Facility (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years
Net leverage ratio	2.25
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 175,379,000
Line of Credit | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Floor interest rate received	1.25%
Line of Credit | Maximum | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Floor interest rate received	2.00%
Secured Debt | Term Loan Facility | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 350,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility Due 2023 | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum	200,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	24,621,000
Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional revolver capacity	$ 125,000,000

LONG-TERM DEBT - Cash Flow Hedg

LONG-TERM DEBT - Cash Flow Hedges (Details) - Cash Flow Hedging - Interest Rate Derivative	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)interest_rate_derviative
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate derivatives entered into | interest_rate_derviative	9
Notional amount | $	$ 190,000,000
Weighted average percentage rate paid	2.54%

LONG-TERM DEBT - Schedule Of Ca

LONG-TERM DEBT - Schedule Of Cash Flow Hedges Related to Derivative Instruments On the Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge derivatives, assets	$ 412		$ 820
Cash flow hedge derivatives, liabilities	3,012		1,942
Unrealized (loss) gain resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments	(1,554)	$ 785
Other current assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge derivatives, assets	260		338
Other non-current assets | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge derivatives, assets	152		482
Other accrued liabilities | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge derivatives, liabilities	579		387
Other long-term liabilities | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge derivatives, liabilities	2,433		1,555
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Unrealized (loss) gain resulting from changes in fair value of derivative instruments	(2,753)		(1,196)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, interest rate swaps - tax provision	(112)		(112)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (2,865)		$ (1,308)

LONG-TERM DEBT - Schedule of Lo

LONG-TERM DEBT - Schedule of Loss On Cash Flow Hedges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Designated as Hedging Instrument | Interest rate swaps | Interest expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Other comprehensive loss, reclassification adjustment from AOCI	$ (25)	$ (53)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)	Apr. 28, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019	Apr. 26, 2017USD ($)	Jan. 29, 2016	Apr. 30, 2011USD ($)	May 31, 2009USD ($)	Dec. 20, 2000a
Southbridge Landfill
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Risk free interest percentage rate		2.60%
Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Risk free interest percentage rate		1.50%
Scrap yard and solid waste transfer station (in acres) | a							25
Undiscounted costs preferred remedies					$ 12,130,000	$ 10,219,000
Remediation activities, participant share percentage				15.00%
21E Settlement and Water System Construction Funding Agreement | Bonds
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Bond period	20 years
21E Settlement and Water System Construction Funding Agreement | Bonds | Maximum
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Amount of costs	$ 5,000,000
Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss			$ 5,000,000
Notice of Intent to Sue under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act | MADEP and Casella Waste System
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimate of possible loss			$ 10,000,000

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_2

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Southbridge Landfill Environmental Remediation Liability (Details) - Southbridge Landfill - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 5,173	$ 5,936
Accretion expense	34	39
Obligations settled	(141)	(237)
Ending balance	$ 5,066	$ 5,738

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES_3

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability (Detail) - Potsdam Environmental Remediation Liability - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 5,614	$ 5,758
Obligations settled	0	(6)
Ending balance	$ 5,614	$ 5,752

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Addition

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016
Stock Options
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 0	$ 124
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised	2,017
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance-Based Stock Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 1,390	1,930
Restricted Stock Awards | Non-Employee Director
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Options vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Total fair value of other stock awards vested	$ 6,890
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	4,607
Maximum | Performance-Based Stock Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	$ 3,786
Weighted Average | Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, weighted average period	1 year 10 months 4 days
Weighted Average | Performance-Based Stock Units
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, weighted average period	1 year 1 month
2016 Plan
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Options granted period	10 years
2016 Plan | Minimum
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Options vesting period	1 year
2016 Plan | Maximum
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Options vesting period	4 years
Amended and Restated 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 41	$ 23
Class A Common Stock | 2016 Plan
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common stock, authorized shares (in shares)			2,250,000
Number of shares available for future grant (in shares)	1,553,000
Class A Common Stock | 2006 Incentive Plan
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Common stock, additional authorized shares (in shares)			2,723,000
Public Stock Offering | Class A Common Stock
Limited Partners' Capital Account [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued (in shares)	3,565,000
Sale of stock, price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 29.50
Sale of stock, net proceeds	$ 100,446

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summary

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Detail) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Stock Options
Beginning balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares	669
Granted (in shares) | shares	0
Exercised (in shares) | shares	(65)
Forfeited (in shares) | shares	0
Ending balance, outstanding (in shares) | shares	604
Exercisable at end of period (in shares) | shares	604
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Beginning balance, outstanding (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 6.37
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	4
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	0
Ending balance, outstanding (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	6.62
Exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 6.62
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) and Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding	5 years 5 months 13 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Exercisable	5 years 5 months 13 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at end of period | $	$ 17,463
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at end of period | $	$ 17,463

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summar_2

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summary of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit and Performance-based Stock Unit Activity (Detail) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance-Based Stock Units
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)	686
Granted (in shares)	66
Forfeited (in shares)	(4)
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)	554
Unvested, at end of period (in shares)	819
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 15.56
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	34.49
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	15.21
Outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	19.54
Unvested at end of period (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 18.71
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) and Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Outstanding	1 year 4 months 23 days
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Unvested	1 year 3 months 20 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Outstanding at end of period | $	$ 8,873
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Unvested at end of period | $	$ 13,796
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance-Based Stock Units | Class A Common Stock
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, and Performance Stock Units
Class A Common Stock Vested (in shares)	(194)
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Class A Common Stock Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 10.75
Performance-Based Stock Units
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) and Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Performance-based stock units, percentage of attainment level	100.00%
Performance-Based Stock Units | Class A Common Stock
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years) and Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Number of performance-based stock units (in shares)	265

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summar_3

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summary of Changes in Balances of Each Component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (15,832)
Ending balance	83,034
Interest Rate Swaps
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,308)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	(1,582)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	25
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive loss	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,557)
Ending balance	$ (2,865)

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summar_4

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - Summary of Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 6,460	$ 6,454
Loss before income taxes	1,685	5,498
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(29)	1,588
Net loss	1,714	3,910
Interest rate swaps | Interest Rate Swaps | Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense	25	53
Loss before income taxes	(25)	(53)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	209
Net loss	$ (25)	$ 156

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details)

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Numerator:
Net loss	$ (1,714)	$ (3,910)
Number of shares outstanding, end of period:
Shares to be issued - acquisition (in shares)	36	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares, Restricted Stock (in shares)	(9)	(38)
Effect of weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	(1,354)	(280)
Basic and diluted weighted average common share outstanding (in shares)	45,913	42,370
Antidilutive potentially issuable shares (in shares)	1,422	2,105
Class A Common Stock
Number of shares outstanding, end of period:
Common stock, outstanding shares (in shares)	46,252	41,700	41,944
Class B Common Stock
Number of shares outstanding, end of period:
Common stock, outstanding shares (in shares)	988	988	988

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES (Detail

OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Environmental Remediation Obligations [Abstract]
Acquisition activities	$ 677
Contract settlement charge	0	$ 2,100
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net	555	1,586
Project development charge	0	311
Southbridge Landfill
Site Contingency [Line Items]
Charlton settlement charge	0	1,216
Legal settlement	555	370
Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net	$ 555	$ 1,586

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTR_3

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Recurring Fair Value Measurements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure	$ 1,345	$ 1,248
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Assets:
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Total	1,345	1,248
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Restricted investment securities - landfill closure
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure	1,345	1,248
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Assets:
Interest rate swaps	412	820
Total	412	820
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	3,012	1,942
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Restricted investment securities - landfill closure
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Assets:
Interest rate swaps	0
Total	0	0
Liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Restricted investment securities - landfill closure
Assets:
Restricted investment securities - landfill closure	$ 0	$ 0

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTR_4

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019USD ($)
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of revolver debt	$ 0
Fair Value | Fixed Rate Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of fixed rate debt	124,806
Carrying Value | Fixed Rate Bonds
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of fixed rate debt	122,000
Carrying Value | Term Loan B Facility due October 2023; bore interest at LIBOR plus 2.50% | Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of fixed rate debt	$ 350,000

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 163,664	$ 147,455
Depreciation and amortization	17,489	15,983
Operating income (loss)	4,442	838
Total assets	828,313		$ 732,410
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	163,664	147,455
Depreciation and amortization	17,489	15,983
Operating income (loss)	4,442	838
Total assets	828,313	631,375
Operating Segments | Eastern
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	46,997	44,505
Depreciation and amortization	5,260	5,979
Operating income (loss)	(626)	(1,812)
Total assets	195,851	174,860
Operating Segments | Western
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	73,634	64,739
Depreciation and amortization	10,239	8,032
Operating income (loss)	5,356	7,194
Total assets	493,775	342,285
Operating Segments | Recycling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,766	10,157
Depreciation and amortization	969	1,054
Operating income (loss)	(941)	(5,167)
Total assets	54,829	47,065
Operating Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	32,267	28,054
Depreciation and amortization	1,021	918
Operating income (loss)	653	623
Total assets	83,858	67,165
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(33,376)	(31,439)
Eliminations | Eastern
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,771	11,306
Eliminations | Western
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	20,101	18,631
Eliminations | Recycling
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,971	1,185
Eliminations | Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 533	$ 317

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary o_2

SEGMENT REPORTING - Summary of Revenues Attributable to Services Provided by Company (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 163,664	$ 147,455
Collection
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	83,080	66,475
Disposal
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	36,054	40,234
Power generation
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	1,136	1,799
Processing
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	878	1,420
Solid waste operations
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	121,148	109,928
Organics
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	13,596	12,200
Customer solutions
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	18,154	15,170
Recycling
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 10,766	$ 10,157

Uncategorized Items - cwst-2019

Label	Element	Value
Retained Earnings [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ 18,000
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	$ (18,000)