OTHER ITEMS AND CHARGES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Unusual or Infrequent Items, or Both [Abstract]

Southbridge Landfill Closure Charge, Net

In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, we initiated the plan to cease operations of our Southbridge Landfill and later closed it in November 2018 when Southbridge Landfill reached its final capacity. Accordingly, in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, we recorded charges associated with the closure of our Southbridge Landfill as follows:


	Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2018
Legal and transaction costs (1)	$	2,285	$	2,709	$	2,102
Legal settlement charge (2)	2,000		—		1,216
Landfill closure project charge (3)	490		—		6,012
Environmental remediation charge (4)	(188)		—		—


Contract settlement charge (5)	—		—		8,724
Recovery on insurance settlement (6)	—		—		(10,000)
Southbridge Landfill closure charge, net	$	4,587	$	2,709	$	8,054

(1)We incurred legal costs as well as other transaction costs associated with various matters as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure.

(2)We established reserves and made payments associated with legal settlements associated with claims against us as part of the Southbridge Landfill closure.

(3)We recorded a landfill closure project charge associated with increased costs under the revised closure plan at our Southbridge Landfill.

(4)We recorded an environmental remediation reversal associated with the completion of environmental remediation at the site.

(5)We recorded a contract settlement charge associated with the closure of Southbridge Landfill and the remaining future obligations due to the Town of Southbridge under the landfill operating agreement with the Town of Southbridge.

(6)We recorded a recovery on an environmental insurance settlement associated with the Southbridge Landfill closure.

See Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies for further disclosure over the Southbridge Landfill closure..

Expense from Acquisition Activities and Other Items

In fiscal year 2020, we recorded a charge of $1,862 comprised primarily of legal, consulting and other similar costs associated with the acquisition and integration of acquired businesses or select development projects. In fiscal year 2019, we recorded a charge of $2,687 associated primarily with acquisition activities. In fiscal year 2018, we recorded a charge of $1,872 associated with acquisition activities and the write-off of deferred costs related to the expiration of our shelf registration statement. See Note 5, Business Combinations for disclosure regarding acquisition activity.

Contract Settlement Charge

In fiscal year 2018, we recorded a contract settlement charge of $2,100 associated with the termination and discounted buy-out of a commodities marketing and brokerage agreement.

Development Project Charge

In fiscal year 2018, we recorded a development project charge of $311 associated with previously deferred costs that were written off as a result of the negative vote in a public referendum relating to the NCES Landfill.