5.REVENUE

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


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2018		2017		2018		2017
Commercial	$	369,543	$	342,961	$	1,080,261	$	1,005,110
Residential		300,026		286,068		881,927		845,493
Industrial and construction roll off		202,130		186,315		573,877		530,219
Total collection		871,699		815,344		2,536,065		2,380,822
Landfill		285,945		261,706		790,056		744,352
Transfer		187,961		155,058		495,317		445,612
Recycling		23,371		43,864		69,559		131,445
E&P		68,049		57,797		189,071		147,662
Intermodal and other		34,261		38,221		105,588		107,418
Intercompany		(190,176)		(165,512)		(524,447)		(483,998)
Total	$	1,281,110	$	1,206,478	$	3,661,209	$	3,473,313

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 11 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 for transport to transfer stations, or directly to landfills or recycling centers. Solid waste collection services include both recurring and temporary customer relationships. The standard customer service agreements generally range from one to three years in duration, although some exclusive franchises are for significantly longer periods. The fees received for collection services are based primarily on the market, collection frequency, type of service, type and volume or weight of the waste collected, the distance to the disposal facility and the cost of disposal.

In general, residential collection fees are billed monthly or quarterly in advance. Substantially all of the deferred revenue recognized as of June 30, 2018 was recognized as revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2018 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 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. 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 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.

Solid Waste Recycling

Solid waste recycling revenues are generated by offering residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers recycling services for a variety of recyclable materials, including compost, cardboard, office paper, plastic containers, glass bottles and ferrous and aluminum metals. The Company owns recycling operations and sells collected recyclable materials to third parties for processing before resale. 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 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 including closed loop collection systems and the sale of recovered products. E&P activity varies across market areas that are tied to the natural resource basins in which the drilling activity occurs and reflects the regulatory environment, pricing and disposal alternatives available in any given market. 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.

Revenue Recognition

Service obligations of a long-term nature, e.g., solid waste collection service contracts, are satisfied over time, and revenue is recognized based on the value provided to the customer during the period. 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. 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.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded when billed or accrued and represent claims against third parties that will be settled in cash. The carrying value of the Company’s receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts, represents their estimated net realizable value. The Company estimates its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical collection trends, type of customer such as municipal or non-municipal, the age of outstanding receivables and existing economic conditions. If events or changes in circumstances indicate that specific receivable balances may be impaired, further consideration is given to the collectability of those balances and the allowance is adjusted accordingly. Past-due receivable balances are written off when the Company’s internal collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due.

Contract Acquisition Costs

The incremental direct costs of obtaining a contract, which consist of sales incentives, are recognized as Other assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet, and are amortized to Selling, general and administrative expense over the estimated life of the relevant customer relationship, which ranges from one to five years. The Company applied the standard’s practical expedient that permits an entity to recognize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the entity would have recognized is one year or less. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $16,300 of deferred sales incentives. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company recorded amortization expense of $4,666 and $13,260, respectively, for sales incentives costs.