| SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company reflect the application of certain significant accounting policies as described below: Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Clean Harbors, Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions, which are evaluated on an ongoing basis, that affect the amounts reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions it believes to be reasonable at the time under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and disclosure, if any, of contingent assets and liabilities and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates and judgments. Cash, Cash Equivalents, Marketable Securities and Uncashed Checks Cash consists primarily of cash on deposit and money market accounts. The Company, through its wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary, invests in marketable securities. Marketable securities with maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase are classified as cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had total marketable securities as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2022 December 31, 2021 Commercial paper $ 5,035 $ — U.S. Treasury securities 28,973 — Total cash equivalents 34,008 — U.S. Treasury securities — 901 Municipal bonds 1,930 1,978 Commercial paper 24,075 21,160 Corporate notes and bonds 36,028 57,685 Total marketable securities 62,033 81,724 Total $ 96,041 $ 81,724 Realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale marketable securities in the years presented were immaterial. The majority of the marketable securities have a remaining maturity of less than one year and fair value approximates cost. The Company's cash management program with its revolving credit lender allows for the maintenance of a zero balance in the U.S. bank disbursement accounts that are used to issue vendor and payroll checks. When checks are presented to the bank for payment, cash deposits in amounts sufficient to fund the checks are made, at the Company's discretion, either from funds provided by other accounts or under the terms of the Company's revolving credit facility. Checks that have been written to vendors or employees but have not yet been presented for payment at the Company's bank are classified as uncashed checks as part of accounts payable and changes in the balance are reported as a financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Revenue Allowance On a regular basis, the Company evaluates its accounts receivable and establishes the allowance for doubtful accounts based on an evaluation of certain criteria and evidence of collection uncertainty including historical collection trends, reasonable expectations of future collections, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns. Past-due receivable balances are written off when the Company's collection efforts have been deemed unsuccessful in collecting the outstanding balance due. Due to the nature of the Company's businesses and the invoices that result from the services provided, customers may withhold payments and attempt to renegotiate amounts invoiced. In addition, for some of the services provided, the Company's invoices are based on quotes that, in limited instances can result in adjustments to revenue subsequent to billing. Based on industry knowledge and historical trends, the Company records a revenue allowance in anticipation of these expected adjustments. This practice causes the volume of activity flowing through the revenue allowance during the year to be higher than the balance at the end of the year. The revenue allowance is intended to cover the net amount of revenue adjustments that may need to be credited to customers' accounts in future periods. Management determines the appropriate total revenue allowance by evaluating the following factors on an invoice-by-invoice basis as well as on a consolidated level: trends in adjustments to previously billed amounts, existing economic conditions, communications with customers and other information as deemed applicable. Revenue allowance estimates can differ from the actual adjustments, but historically the revenue allowance has been sufficient to cover the net amount of the reserve adjustments issued in subsequent reporting periods. The following table reflects the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts and revenue allowance (in thousands): Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Revenue Allowance 2022 2021 2020 2022 2021 2020 Balance at January 1, $ 24,136 $ 24,634 $ 22,493 $ 16,004 $ 20,115 $ 16,218 Additions charged to earnings 7,783 8,018 10,133 54,836 34,319 45,784 Deductions from reserves, net of recoveries (7,260) (8,516) (7,992) (50,246) (38,430) (41,887) Balance at December 31, $ 24,659 $ 24,136 $ 24,634 $ 20,594 $ 16,004 $ 20,115 Credit Concentration Concentration of credit risks in accounts receivable is limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company's customer base throughout North America. The Company maintains policies over credit extension that include credit evaluations, credit limits and collection monitoring procedures on a customer-by-customer basis. However, the Company generally does not require collateral before services are performed. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable or more than 10% of total direct revenues in the periods presented. Inventories and Supplies Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of oil and oil products as well as the cost of supplies and drums, solvent and solution and other inventories is principally determined on a first-in, first-out ("FIFO") basis. The Company continually reviews its inventories for obsolete or unsalable items and adjusts its carrying value to reflect estimated realizable values. Property, Plant and Equipment, net (excluding landfill assets and finance lease right-of-use assets) Property, plant and equipment, net is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for major renewals and improvements which extend the life or usefulness of the asset are capitalized. Items of an ordinary repair or maintenance nature are charged directly to operating expense as incurred. During the construction and development period of an asset, the costs incurred, including interest expense, are classified as construction-in-progress. When the asset is ready for its intended use, the asset is reclassified to an appropriate asset classification and depreciation or amortization commences. The Company depreciates and amortizes the capitalized cost of these assets, using the straight-line method as follows: Asset Classification Estimated Useful Life Buildings and building improvements Buildings 20-42 years Leasehold and building improvements 2-45 years Camp and lodging equipment 8-15 years Vehicles 2-15 years Equipment Capitalized software and computer equipment 3-5 years Containers and railcars 8-16 years All other equipment 4-30 years Furniture and fixtures 5-8 years Gains and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment are included in Other income (expense), net. Fully depreciated assets are retained in property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation until they are removed from service. The Company tests asset groups for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment in the carrying value of long-lived assets is recognized if the expected future undiscounted cash flows derived from the assets, or group of assets, are less than their carrying value. The Company did not record any impairment charges related to long-lived assets in the periods presented. Business Combinations In accordance with the acquisition method of accounting, the purchase price paid for an acquisition is allocated to the assets and liabilities acquired based upon their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date, with the excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired recorded as goodwill. As required, a preliminary fair value is determined once a business is acquired, with the final determination of the fair value being completed no later than one year from the date of acquisition. Goodwill Goodwill is comprised of the purchase price of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually as of December 31 or when events or changes in the business environment indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit may exceed its fair value. This review is performed by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value is less than the carrying amount, a loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the fair value up to the carrying amount of goodwill. The Company determines its reporting units by identifying the components of each operating segment. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had three reporting units consisting of, Environmental Sales and Service, Environmental Facilities and Safety-Kleen Sustainability Solutions. See Note 8, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," for additional information related to the Company's goodwill impairment tests. Permits and Other Intangibles Costs related to acquiring licenses, permits and intangible assets, such as legal fees, site surveys, engineering costs and other expenditures are capitalized. Other intangible assets consist primarily of customer and supplier relationships, trademarks and trade names and developed technology. Permits relating to landfills are amortized on a units-of-consumption basis. All other permits are amortized over periods ranging from five two All finite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When such factors and circumstances exist, management compares the projected undiscounted future cash flows associated with the related asset or group of assets to the carrying amount. The impairment loss, if any, is measured as the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the asset or group of assets. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually as of December 31, or when events or changes in the business environment indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. If the fair value of the asset is less than the carrying amount, the impairment loss is measured as the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its fair value. Landfill Accounting The Company amortizes landfill improvements and certain landfill-related permits over the estimated useful lives. The units-of-consumption method is used to amortize land, landfill cell construction, asset retirement costs and remaining landfill cells and sites. The Company also utilizes the units-of-consumption method to record closure and post-closure obligations for landfill cells and sites. Under the units-of-consumption method, the Company includes future estimated construction and asset retirement costs, as well as costs incurred to date, in the amortization base of the landfill assets. Additionally, where appropriate, as described below, the Company includes probable expansion airspace that has yet to be permitted in the calculation of the total remaining useful life of the landfill. If it is determined that expansion capacity should no longer be considered in calculating the recoverability of a landfill asset, the Company may be required to recognize an asset impairment or incur significantly higher amortization expense. If at any time the Company makes the decision to abandon the expansion effort, the capitalized costs related to the expansion effort are expensed immediately. Landfill assets —Landfill assets include the costs of landfill site acquisition, permits and cell construction incurred to date. These amounts are recorded at cost, which includes capitalized interest as applicable. Landfill assets, net of amortization, are combined with management's estimate of the costs required to complete construction of the landfill to determine the amount to be amortized over the remaining estimated useful economic life of a site. Amortization of landfill assets is recorded on a units-of-consumption basis, such that the landfill assets should be completely amortized at the date the landfill ceases accepting waste. Amortization totaled $16.2 million, $13.7 million and $10.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Changes in the determination of when the landfill will cease accepting waste, either through a business decision by the Company, determination that expansion capacity should no longer be considered probable or changes in estimates on annual airspace consumption, will impact the amortization expense of the landfill assets. Changes in estimated costs to complete construction are applied prospectively to the amortization rate. Landfill capacity —Landfill capacity, which is the basis for the amortization of landfill assets and for the accrual of final closure and post-closure obligations, represents total permitted airspace plus unpermitted airspace that management believes is highly probable of ultimately being permitted. As of December 31, 2022, there were no unpermitted expansions included in the Company's landfill accounting model. If actual expansion airspace is significantly different from management's estimate of expansion airspace, the amortization rates used for the units-of-consumption method would change, therefore impacting the Company's profitability. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had nine active landfill sites including the Company's two non-commercial landfills. It is anticipated that the non-commercial landfill at the Deer Park, Texas incineration facility will reach its permitted capacity early in 2023 at which point the Company will commence closure activities. This landfill has been excluded from the table below which includes the estimated remaining lives (based on anticipated waste volumes and remaining highly probable airspace) for the remaining eight landfills, as follows: Facility Name Location Remaining Permitted Remaining Highly Probable Airspace Buttonwillow California 20 5,197 Deer Trail Colorado 23 1,488 Grassy Mountain Utah 39 4,454 Kimball Nebraska 5 116 Lambton Ontario, Canada 47 4,443 Lone Mountain Oklahoma 16 3,412 Ryley Alberta, Canada 37 5,851 Sawyer North Dakota 83 3,309 28,270 At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no cubic yards of permitted, but not highly probable, airspace. The following table presents the remaining highly probable airspace from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022 (in thousands of cubic yards): 2022 2021 Remaining capacity, beginning of year 23,784 24,716 Changes in highly probable airspace, net 5,579 — Consumed (1,093) (932) Remaining capacity, end of year 28,270 23,784 In the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company received a permit for the expansion of its Ryley landfill in Alberta, Canada. In the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company had no changes in highly probable airspace. Amortization of cell construction costs and accrual of cell closure obligations —Landfills are typically comprised of a number of cells, which are constructed within a defined acreage (or footprint). The cells are typically discrete units, which require both separate construction and separate capping and closure procedures. Cell construction costs are the costs required to excavate and construct the landfill cell. These costs are typically amortized on a units-of-consumption basis, such that they are completely amortized when the specific cell ceases accepting waste. In some instances, the Company has landfills that are engineered and constructed as "progressive trenches." In progressive trench landfills, a number of contiguous cells form a progressive trench. In those instances, the Company amortizes cell construction costs over the airspace within the entire trench, such that the cell construction costs will be fully amortized at the end of the trench useful life. The design and construction of a landfill does not create a landfill asset retirement obligation. Rather, the asset retirement obligation for cell closure (the cost associated with capping each cell) is incurred in relatively small increments as waste is placed in the landfill. Therefore, the cost required to construct the cell cap is capitalized as an asset retirement cost and a liability of an equal amount is established, based on the discounted cash flow associated with each capping event, as airspace is consumed. Spending for cell capping is reflected as environmental expenditures within operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Landfill final closure and post-closure liabilities —The balance of landfill final closure and post-closure liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $62.3 million and $53.4 million, respectively. The Company has material financial commitments for the costs associated with requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and the comparable regulatory agency in Canada for landfill final closure and post-closure activities. The Company develops estimates for the cost of these activities based on an evaluation of site-specific facts and circumstances, including the Company's interpretation of current regulatory requirements and proposed regulatory changes. Such estimates may change in the future due to various circumstances including, but not limited to, permit modifications, changes in legislation or regulations, technological changes and results of environmental studies. Final closure costs are the costs incurred after the site ceases to accept waste, but before the landfill is certified as closed by the applicable state regulatory agency. These costs generally include the costs required to cap the final cell of the landfill (if not included in cell closure), the costs required to dismantle certain structures for landfills and other landfill improvements, and regulation-mandated groundwater monitoring and leachate management. Post-closure costs involve the maintenance and monitoring of a landfill site that has been certified closed by the applicable regulatory agency. These costs generally include groundwater monitoring and leachate management. Regulatory post-closure periods are generally 30 years after landfill closure. Final closure and post-closure obligations are accrued on a units-of-consumption basis, such that the present value of the final closure and post-closure obligations are fully accrued at the date the landfill ceases accepting waste. Cell closure, final closure and post-closure costs (also referred to as "asset retirement obligations") are calculated by estimating the total obligation in current dollars, adjusted for future inflation estimates and discounted at the Company's credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate (5.37% and 4.84% during 2022 and 2021, respectively). Non-Landfill Closure and Post-Closure Liabilities The balance of non-landfill closure and post-closure liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $56.6 million and $45.7 million, respectively. Non-landfill closure and post-closure obligations arise when the Company commences non-landfill facility operations and include costs required to dismantle and decontaminate certain structures and other costs incurred during the closure process. Post-closure costs, if required, include associated maintenance and monitoring costs as required by the closure permit. Post-closure periods are performance-based and are not typically specified in terms of years in the closure permit, but generally range from 10 to 30 years or more. The Company records its non-landfill closure and post-closure liability by: (i) estimating the current cost of closing a non-landfill facility and the post-closure care of that facility, if required, based upon the closure plan that the Company is required to follow under its operating permit, or in the event the facility operates with a permit that does not contain a closure plan, based upon legally enforceable closure commitments made by the Company to various government agencies; (ii) estimates as to when future operations may cease; (iii) cost estimates of closing the non-landfill facility using the inflation rate to the time of closing; and (iv) discounting the future value back to the present using the credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. The estimates for non-landfill closure and post-closure liabilities are inherently uncertain due to the possibility that permit and regulatory requirements will change in the future, impacting the estimation of total costs and the timing of the expenditures. Management reviews non-landfill closure and post-closure liabilities for changes to key assumptions that would impact the amount of the recorded liabilities. Changes that would prompt management to revise a liability estimate include changes in legal requirements that impact the Company's expected closure plan or scope of work, in the market price of a significant cost item, in the estimate as to when future operations at a location might cease or in the expected timing of the costs. Changes in estimates for non-landfill closure and post-closure events immediately impact the liability and the value of the corresponding asset. If a change is made to a fully-amortized asset, the adjustment is charged immediately to expense. When a change in estimate relates to an asset that has not been fully amortized, the adjustment to the asset is recognized in income prospectively as a component of amortization. Historically, changes to non-landfill closure and post-closure estimates have not been material. Remedial Liabilities The balance of remedial liabilities at December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $116.3 million and $111.9 million, respectively. Remedial liabilities, including Superfund liabilities, include the costs of removal or containment of contaminated material, treatment of potentially contaminated groundwater and maintenance and monitoring costs necessary to comply with regulatory requirements. Most of the Company's remedial liabilities relate to the active and inactive hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities which the Company acquired and Superfund sites owned by third-parties for which the Company, or the prior owners of certain of the Company's facilities for which the Company may have certain indemnification obligations, have been identified as potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") or potential PRPs. The Company's estimate of remedial liabilities involves an analysis of such factors as: (i) the nature and extent of environmental contamination (if any); (ii) the terms of applicable permits and agreements with regulatory authorities as to cleanup procedures and whether modifications to such permits and agreements will likely need to be negotiated; (iii) the cost of performing anticipated cleanup activities based upon current technology; and (iv) in the case of Superfund and other sites where other parties will also be responsible for a portion of the cleanup costs, the likely allocation of such costs and the ability of such other parties to pay their share. The measurement of remedial liabilities is reviewed at least quarterly and changes in estimates are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations when identified. Where the Company concludes that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount can be estimated, a liability is recognized. Remedial liabilities are inherently difficult to estimate. Estimating remedial liabilities requires that the existing environmental contamination be understood. There are risks that the actual quantities of contaminants differ from the results of the site investigation, and that contaminants exist that have not been previously identified. In addition, the amount of remedial liabilities recorded is dependent on the remedial method selected. There is a risk that funds will be expended on a remedial solution that is not successful, which could result in the Company incurring the incremental costs of an alternative solution. Such estimates, which are subject to change, are subsequently revised if and when additional or new information becomes available. Remedial liabilities are discounted when the timing of the payments is determinable and the amounts are estimable. In the case of remedial liabilities assumed in connection with acquisitions, acquired liabilities are recorded at fair value as of the dates of the acquisitions calculated by inflating costs in current dollars using an estimate of future inflation rates as of the respective acquisition dates until the expected time of payment, and then discounting the amount of the payments to their present value using a risk-free discount rate as of the acquisition dates. Discount rates used in the present value determination of the Company's remedial liabilities range from 1.37% to 4.90%. Self-Insurance Liabilities The Company self-insures a significant portion of expected losses related to workers' compensation, employee medical, comprehensive general liability and vehicle liability. Liabilities associated with these losses are recorded based on the Company's estimates of the ultimate cost to settle incurred claims. These recorded liabilities are estimated based on independent actuarial estimates and judgments which consider the frequency and settlement amount of historical claims data and are discounted to present value using a risk-free interest rate. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the Company's customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The majority of the Company’s revenues are for services, which are recognized based on time and materials incurred at contractually agreed-upon rates. Product revenues are recognized when the products are delivered and control transfers to the customer. The Company’s payment terms vary by the type of customers and the products or services offered. The periods between invoicing and when payments are due are not significant. Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenue, and the Company's shipping and handling costs are included in costs of revenues. In the course of operations, the Company collects sales tax and other excise taxes from its customers and recognizes a current liability, which is then relieved when the taxes are remitted to the appropriate government authorities. The Company excludes sales and other excise taxes that it collects from customers from its revenues. Foreign Currency The Company has international operations in Canada and administrative support services located in India. The functional currencies of foreign operations are the local currency and therefore assets and liabilities of those foreign operations are translated to U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses at the average exchange rate for the period. Gains and losses from the translation of the consolidated financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. Dollars are included in stockholders' equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Gains and losses from transactions not denominated in the functional currency of an entity are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. Recorded balances that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are remeasured to the functional currency using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date and gains or losses are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. Defined Contribution Plan The Company has defined contribution plans under which eligible employees may contribute up to the maximum amount as provided by law. The Company matches a portion of these employee contributions and contributed $25.3 million, $20.5 million and $18.6 million in 2022, 2021 and 2020 respectively. Advertising Expense Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $9.4 million in 2022, $6.0 million in 2021 and $9.0 million in 2020. Stock-Based Compensation Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which generally represents the vesting period. In addition, the Company issues awards with performance targets established prior to or at the grant date. The expense for these awards is recognized over the requisite service period when management believes it is probable those performance targets will be achieved. The fair value of the Company's grants are based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on the respective dates of grant. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Stock-based compensation is recognized in selling, general and administrative expense. Interest Rate Derivatives The Company enters into interest rate derivative agreements as part of the overall strategy to hedge against fluctuations in variable interest rates. These interest rate derivatives swap a variable interest rate for a fixed interest rate and have been designated as cash flow hedges. The Company assesses the hedge’s effectiveness at the inception of the hedge and at regular intervals throughout the life of the derivative. To the extent that the interest rate swap is highly effective, changes in fair value are recorded in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Amounts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into interest expense on the consolidated statement of operations in the same period or periods during which the hedged transactions affect earnings. Although it was determined that the interest rate swaps will be a highly effective hedge, any portion of the interest rate swaps subsequently determined to be ineffective will be recognized in earnings. Further, if it becomes probable that a forecasted transaction designated as the hedged item will not occur, any gain or loss deferred is recognized in interest expense at that time. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is calculated using discounted cash flow valuation methodologies based upon the one-month variable rate yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the interest rate swaps and as such is considered a Level 2 measure according to the fair value hierarchy. The Company recognizes the fair value of the derivative instruments by counterparty as either a net asset, included in Other assets, or net liability, included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, on the consolidated balance sheets. Income Taxes Current income tax expense approximates cash to be paid or refunded for taxes for the applicable period. Deferred tax expense or benefit is the result of changes between deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the temporary differences between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities as well as from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards as measured by the enacted tax rates which will be in effect when these differences reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is generally recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company evaluates the recoverability of future tax deductions and credits and a valuation allowance is established by tax jurisdiction when, based on an evaluation of both positive and negative objective verifiable evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes and measures a tax benefit from uncertain tax positions when it is more likely than not that the tax positio |
