PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

The Company depreciates and amortizes the cost of these assets, using the straight-line method as follows:



Asset Classification		Estimated Useful Life
Buildings and building improvements
Buildings		30–40 years
Land, leasehold and building improvements		5–40 years
Camp equipment		12–15 years
Vehicles		3–12 years
Equipment
Capitalized software and computer equipment		3 years
Solar equipment		20 years
Containers and railcars		15–20 years
All other equipment		8–10 years
Furniture and fixtures		5–8 years

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):



	December 31,		December 31,
	2012		2011
Land	$	106,037	$	37,185
Asset retirement costs (non-landfill)	10,450		2,529
Landfill assets	77,952		58,466
Buildings and improvements	329,617		189,445
Camp equipment	135,827		110,242
Vehicles	385,172		231,980
Equipment	1,061,090		729,154
Furniture and fixtures	6,757		3,759
Construction in progress	31,780		24,522
	2,144,682		1,387,282
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization	612,919		483,335
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,531,763	$	903,947

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the useful life and salvage value of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

+ References+ Details