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 March 31,
	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.