Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

The Company’s operations primarily consist of providing non-hazardous waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services, E&P services, and intermodal services. The following table disaggregates the Company’s revenues by service line for the periods indicated:

Years Ended December 31, 

2025

  ​ ​ ​

2024

  ​ ​ ​

2023

Commercial

$

2,944,279

$

2,670,549

 

$

2,476,891

Residential

2,364,536

2,258,911

2,125,068

Industrial and construction roll off

1,439,281

1,403,313

1,333,020

Total collection

6,748,096

6,332,773

5,934,979

Landfill

1,541,904

1,557,872

1,483,397

Transfer

1,461,636

1,349,080

1,198,385

Recycling

240,057

241,873

147,039

E&P

688,761

521,504

232,211

Intermodal and other

175,465

191,887

171,721

Intercompany

(1,389,004)

(1,275,398)

(1,145,781)

Total

$

9,466,915

$

8,919,591

 

$

8,021,951

The factors that impact the timing and amount of revenue recognized for each service line may vary based on the nature of the service performed. Generally, the Company recognizes revenue at the time it performs a service. In the event that the Company bills for services in advance of performance, it recognizes deferred revenue for the amount billed and subsequently recognizes revenue at the time the service is provided.

See Note 17 for additional information regarding revenue by reportable segment.

Revenue by Service Line

Solid Waste Collection

The Company’s solid waste collection business involves the collection of waste from residential, commercial and industrial customers for transport to transfer stations, or directly to landfills or recycling centers. Solid waste collection services include both recurring and temporary customer relationships. The services are performed under service agreements, municipal contracts or franchise agreements with governmental entities. Existing franchise agreements and most of the existing municipal contracts give the Company the exclusive right to provide specified waste services in the specified territory during the contract term. These exclusive arrangements are awarded, at least initially, on a competitive bid basis and subsequently on a bid or negotiated basis. The standard customer service agreements generally range from one to five years in duration, although some exclusive franchises are for significantly longer periods. Residential collection services are also provided on a subscription basis with individual households. The fees the Company charges for collection services are based primarily on the market, collection frequency and level of service, route density, type and volume or weight of the waste collected, type of equipment and containers furnished, the distance to the disposal or processing facility, the cost of disposal or processing, and prices charged by competitors for similar services.

In general, residential collection fees are billed monthly or quarterly in advance. Substantially all of the deferred revenue recorded as of September 30, 2025 was recognized as revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2025 when the service was performed. Commercial customers are typically billed on a monthly basis based on the nature of the services provided during the period. Revenue recognized under these agreements is variable in nature based on the number of residential homes or businesses serviced during the period, the frequency of collection and the volume of waste collected. In addition, certain contracts have annual price escalation clauses that are tied to changes in an underlying base index such as a consumer price index which are unknown at contract inception.

Solid waste collection revenue from sources other than customer contracts primarily relates to lease revenue associated with compactors. Revenue from these leasing arrangements was not material and represented an insignificant amount of total revenue for each of the reported periods.

Landfill and Transfer Station

Revenue at landfills is primarily generated by charging tipping fees on a per ton and/or per yard basis to third parties based on the volume disposed and the nature of the waste. In general, fees are variable in nature and revenue is recognized at the time the waste is disposed at the facility.

Revenue at transfer stations is primarily generated by charging tipping or disposal fees on a per ton and/or per yard basis. The fees charged to third parties are based primarily on the market, type and volume or weight of the waste accepted, the distance to the disposal facility, the method of transportation used and the cost of disposal. In general, fees are billed and revenue is recognized at the time the service is performed. Revenue recognized under these agreements is variable in nature based on the volume of waste accepted at the transfer facility.

Many of the Company’s landfill and transfer station customers have entered into one to ten year disposal contracts, most of which provide for annual indexed price increases.

Solid Waste Recycling

Solid waste recycling revenues result from the sale of recycled commodities, which are generated by offering residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers recycling services for a variety of recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles and ferrous and aluminum metals. The Company owns and operates recycling operations and markets collected recyclable materials to third parties for processing before resale. In some instances, the Company utilizes a third party to market recycled materials. In certain instances, the Company issues recycling rebates to municipal or commercial customers, which can be based on the price it receives upon the sale of recycled commodities, a fixed contractual rate or other measures. The Company also receives rebates when it disposes of recycled commodities at third-party facilities. The fees received are based primarily on the market, type and volume or weight of the materials sold. In general, fees are billed and revenue is recognized at the time title is transferred. Revenue recognized under these agreements is variable in nature based on the volume of materials sold. In addition, the amount of revenue recognized is based on commodity prices at the time of sale, which are unknown at contract inception.

E&P Waste Treatment, Recovery and Disposal

E&P waste revenue is primarily generated through the treatment, recovery and disposal of non-hazardous exploration and production waste from vertical and horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, production and clean-up activity, as well as other services.  Revenue recognized under these agreements is variable in nature based on the volume of waste accepted or processed during the period.

Intermodal and Other

Intermodal revenue is primarily generated through providing intermodal services for the rail haul movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest through a network of intermodal facilities. The fees received for intermodal services are based on negotiated rates and vary depending on volume commitments by the shipper and destination. In general, fees are billed and revenue is recognized upon delivery.

Other revenues consist primarily of the sale of methane gas and renewable energy credits generated from the Company’s MSW landfills.

Revenue Recognition

Certain service arrangements and commodity sales are satisfied at a point in time, with revenue recognized when the related service has been performed or control of the product is transferred to the customer. Service obligations of a long-term nature, such as solid waste collection service contracts, are satisfied over time, and revenue is recognized based on the value provided to the customer during the period. In many of the Company’s markets, solid waste collection service contracts exist as exclusive franchise agreements or municipal contracts. The amount billed to the customer is based on variable elements such as the number of residential homes or businesses for which collection services are provided, the volume of waste collected, transported and disposed, and the nature of the waste accepted. Such contracts are generally within the Company’s collection, recycling and other lines of business and have a weighted average remaining contract life of approximately five years, excluding certain exclusive and perpetual agreements, such as governmental certificates. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for these contracts as its right to consideration corresponds directly to the value provided to the customer for services completed to date and all future variable consideration is allocated to wholly unsatisfied performance obligations.

Additionally, certain elements of long-term customer contracts are unknown upon entering into the contract, including the amount that will be billed in accordance with annual price escalation clauses, fuel recovery fee programs and commodity prices. The amount to be billed is often tied to changes in an underlying base index such as a consumer price index or a fuel or commodity index, and revenue is recognized once the index is established for the period.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 12, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 13, 2025
2023Feb 14, 2024
2022Feb 16, 2023
2021Feb 17, 2022
2020Feb 18, 2021
2019Feb 13, 2020
2018Feb 14, 2019

About Revenue Disclosures

Revenue disclosures under ASC 606 explain how a company identifies performance obligations, allocates transaction prices, and determines when revenue is recognized. This section is essential for understanding whether reported revenue reflects genuine economic activity or aggressive accounting choices. Analysts examine the mix of point-in-time versus over-time recognition, which directly affects revenue timing and comparability.

Key signals: rising contract liabilities (deferred revenue) suggest strong future revenue visibility, while declining contract assets may indicate slowing project milestones. Watch for variable consideration estimates — rebates, returns, and performance bonuses that require management judgment. Significant changes in disaggregated revenue by geography or product line can reveal shifting business mix before it appears in headline numbers. Compare revenue growth against contract liability growth to assess sustainability, and scrutinize any changes in the timing of recognition that coincide with earnings pressure.