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DEBT
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
DEBT DEBT
A summary of debt is as follows:
 December 31,
 20212020
Senior Secured Credit Facility:
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility due December 2026 ("Revolving Credit Facility"); bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.375%
$— $— 
Revolving Credit Facility due May 2023 amended and restated in December 2021; bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%
— — 
Amended and Restated Term Loan A Facility due December 2026 ("Term Loan Facility"); bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.375%
350,000 — 
Term Loan A Facility due May 2023 amended and restated in December 2021; bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.75%
— 350,000 
Tax-Exempt Bonds:
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014 ("New York Bonds 2014R-1") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2029; bearing interest at 2.875%
25,000 25,000 
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2014R-2 ("New York Bonds 2014R-2") due December 2044 - fixed rate interest period through 2026; bearing interest at 3.125%
15,000 15,000 
New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2020 ("New York Bonds 2020") due September 2050 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 2.750%
40,000 40,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2005R-3 ("FAME Bonds 2005R-3") due January 2025 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.25%
25,000 25,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-1 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-1") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 5.125%
15,000 15,000 
Finance Authority of Maine Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2015R-2 ("FAME Bonds 2015R-2") due August 2035 - fixed rate interest period through 2025; bearing interest at 4.375%
15,000 15,000 
Vermont Economic Development Authority Solid Waste Disposal Long-Term Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("Vermont Bonds") due April 2036 - fixed rate interest period through 2028; bearing interest at 4.625%
16,000 16,000 
Business Finance Authority of the State of New Hampshire Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds Series 2013 ("New Hampshire Bonds") due April 2029 - fixed rate interest period through 2029; bearing interest at 2.95%
11,000 11,000 
Other:
Finance leases maturing through December 2107; bearing interest at a weighted average of 3.6%
45,724 31,486 
Notes payable maturing through June 2027; bearing interest at a weighted average of 3.1%
4,846 4,933 
Principal amount of debt562,570 548,419 
Less—unamortized debt issuance costs (1)10,166 8,768 
Debt less unamortized debt issuance costs552,404 539,651 
Less—current maturities of debt9,901 9,240 
$542,503 $530,411 
(1)A summary of unamortized debt issuance costs by debt instrument follows:
December 31,
20212020
Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facility (collectively, the "Credit Facility")$5,884 $— 
Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan A Facility amended and restated in December 2021— 3,839 
New York Bonds 2014R-1933 1,000 
New York Bonds 2014R-2268 329 
New York Bonds 20201,283 1,461 
FAME Bonds 2005R-3262 347 
FAME Bonds 2015R-1
413 482 
FAME Bonds 2015R-2
268 343 
Vermont Bonds433 487 
New Hampshire Bonds422 480 
$10,166 $8,768 
Credit Facility
On December 22, 2021, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement ("Amended and Restated Credit Agreement"), which provides for a $350,000 aggregate principal amount Term Loan Facility and a $300,000 Revolving Credit Facility, with a $75,000 sublimit for letters of credit. The previous credit agreement included $347,375 aggregate principal amount of outstanding term loan and a revolving line of credit facility that had not been borrowed against at the time of amendment. The incremental proceeds from this transaction were used to pay related transaction expenses. We have the right to request, at our discretion, an increase in the amount of loans under the Credit Facility by an aggregate amount of $125,000, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Credit Facility has a 5-year term that matures in December 2026 and bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.375% per annum, which will be reduced to a rate of LIBOR plus as low as 1.125% upon us reaching a consolidated net leverage ratio of less than 2.25x. The Credit Facility contains customary benchmark replacement provisions pursuant to which, upon certain triggering events, the LIBOR benchmark used to calculate the LIBOR rate will be replaced with a secured overnight financing rate, as adjusted, on the terms and conditions in the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility is guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries and secured by substantially all of our assets. As of December 31, 2021, further advances were available under the Credit Facility in the amount of $271,945. The available amount is net of outstanding irrevocable letters of credit totaling $28,055, at which date no amount had been drawn.
The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated net leverage ratio, to be measured at the end of each fiscal quarter. In addition to these financial covenants, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement also contains a number of important customary affirmative and negative covenants which restrict, among other things, our ability to sell assets, incur additional debt, create liens, make investments, and pay dividends. As of December 31, 2021, we were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. We do not believe that these restrictions impact our ability to meet future liquidity needs. An event of default under any of our debt agreements could permit some of our lenders, including the lenders under the Credit Facility, to declare all amounts borrowed from them to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, or, in the case of the Credit Facility, terminate the commitment to make further credit extensions thereunder, which could, in turn, trigger cross-defaults under other debt obligations. If we were unable to repay debt to our lenders or were otherwise in default under any provision governing our outstanding debt obligations, our secured lenders could proceed against us and against the collateral securing that debt.
Tax-Exempt Financings
New York Bonds. In fiscal year 2020, we completed the issuance of $40,000 aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2020. The New York Bonds 2020, which are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 2.75% per annum from September 2, 2020 through September 1, 2025, at which time they may be converted to a variable interest rate period or to a new term interest rate period. The New York Bonds 2020 mature on September 1, 2050. As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding $40,000 aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2020.
In fiscal year 2019, we completed the remarketing of $25,000 aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2014R-1. As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding $25,000 aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2014R-1 and $15,000 aggregate principal amount of New York Bonds 2014R-2 issued by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation under the indenture dated December 1, 2014 (collectively, the “New York Bonds 2014”). The New York Bonds 2014R-1 accrue interest at 2.875% per annum through December 2, 2029, at which time they may be converted from a fixed rate to a variable rate. The New York Bonds 2014R-2 accrue interest at 3.125% per annum through May 31, 2026, at which time they may be converted from a fixed rate to a variable rate. The New York Bonds 2014, which are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, require interest payments on June 1 and December 1 of each year and mature on December 1, 2044. We borrowed the proceeds of the New York Bonds 2014 to finance or refinance certain capital projects in the state of New York and to pay certain costs of issuance of the New York Bonds 2014.
Maine Bonds. As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding $25,000 aggregate principal amount of FAME Bonds 2005R-3, $15,000 aggregate principal amount of FAME Bonds 2015R-1, and $15,000 aggregate principal amount of FAME Bonds 2015R-2 (collectively, the "FAME Bonds"). The FAME Bonds 2005R-3 accrue interest at 5.25% per annum, and interest is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year until such bonds mature on January 1, 2025. The FAME Bonds 2015R-1 accrue interest at 5.125% per annum through August 1, 2025, at which time they may be converted from a fixed to a variable rate, and interest is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year until the FAME Bonds 2015R-1 mature on August 1, 2035. The FAME Bonds 2015R-2 accrue interest at 4.375% per annum through July 31, 2025, at which time they may be converted from a fixed to a variable rate, and interest is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year until the FAME Bonds 2015R-2 mature on August 1, 2035. The FAME Bonds are unsecured and guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries. We borrowed the proceeds of the offering of the FAME Bonds to finance or refinance the costs of certain of our solid waste landfill facilities and solid waste collection, organics and transfer, recycling and hauling facilities, and to pay certain costs of the issuance of the FAME Bonds.
Vermont Bonds. As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding $16,000 aggregate principal amount of Vermont Bonds. The Vermont Bonds, which are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 4.625% per annum through April 2, 2028, after which time there is a mandatory tender, and interest is payable semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year. The Vermont Bonds mature on April 1, 2036. We borrowed the proceeds of the Vermont Bonds to finance or refinance certain qualifying property, plant and equipment assets purchased in the state of Vermont.
New Hampshire Bonds. In fiscal year 2019, we completed the remarketing of $11,000 aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured New Hampshire Bonds. As of December 31, 2021, we had outstanding $11,000 aggregate principal amount of New Hampshire Bonds. The New Hampshire Bonds, which are guaranteed jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally by all of our significant wholly-owned subsidiaries, accrue interest at 2.95% per annum through maturity on April 1, 2029 and interest. During the fixed interest rate period, the New Hampshire Bonds are not supported by a letter of credit. Interest is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year. We borrowed the proceeds of the New Hampshire Bonds to finance or refinance certain qualifying property, plant and equipment assets purchased in the state of New Hampshire.
Interest Expense
The components of interest expense are as follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
 202120202019
Interest expense on long-term debt and finance leases$19,201 $20,084 $22,553 
Amortization of debt issuance costs 2,288 2,169 2,293 
Letter of credit fees458 531 519 
Less: capitalized interest(718)(413)(263)
Total interest expense$21,229 $22,371 $25,102 
Cash Flow Hedges
Our strategy to reduce exposure to interest rate risk involves entering into interest rate derivative agreements to hedge against adverse movements in interest rates related to the variable rate portion of our long-term debt. We have designated these derivative instruments as highly effective cash flow hedges, and therefore the change in fair value is recorded in our stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in interest expense at the same time as interest expense is affected by the hedged transactions. Differences paid or received over the life of the agreements are recorded as additions to or reductions of interest expense on the underlying debt and included in cash flows from operating activities.
As of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, our active interest rate derivative agreements had a total notional amount of $195,000 and $190,000, respectively. According to the terms of the agreements, we receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index, in some instances restricted by a 0.0% floor, and pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 2.51%. The agreements mature between February 2022 and December 2026.
Additionally, we have forward starting interest rate derivative agreements that replace active agreements with a total notional amount of $85,000 that mature between February 2027 and May 2028. We will receive interest based on the 1-month LIBOR index, restricted by a 0.0% floor, and will pay interest at a weighted average rate of approximately 1.55%.
We have designated these derivative instruments as highly effective cash flow hedges, and therefore the change in fair value is recorded in our stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in interest expense at the same time as interest expense is affected by the hedged transactions. Differences paid or received over the life of the agreements are recorded as additions to or reductions of interest expense on the underlying debt and included in cash flows from operating activities.
A summary of the effect of cash flow hedges related to derivative instruments on the consolidated balance sheet follows:
Fair Value
Balance Sheet LocationDecember 31,
2021		December 31,
2020
Interest rate swapsOther non-current assets$424 $— 
Interest rate swapsOther accrued liabilities$3,796 $4,774 
Interest rate swapsOther long-term liabilities1,380 8,463 
Total$5,176 $13,237 
Interest rate swapsAccumulated other comprehensive loss, net$(4,935)$(13,434)
Interest rate swaps - tax benefit Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net(168)1,917 
$(5,103)$(11,517)
A summary of the amount of expense on cash flow hedging relationships related to interest rate swaps reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net into earnings follows:
 Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
Statement of Operations Location202120202019
Interest expense$4,763 $3,679 $115 
Fair Value of Debt
As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of our fixed rate debt, including the FAME Bonds, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2020, New York Bonds 2014 and New Hampshire Bonds was approximately $175,330 and the carrying value was $162,000. The fair value of the FAME Bonds, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2020, New York Bonds 2014 and New Hampshire Bonds is considered to be Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy as the fair value is determined using market approach pricing provided by a third-party that utilizes pricing models and pricing systems, mathematical tools and judgment to determine the evaluated price for the security based on the market information of each of the bonds or securities with similar characteristics.
As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of our Term Loan Facility was $350,000 and the carrying value of our Revolving Credit Facility was $0. Their fair values are based on current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements, or Level 2 inputs, and approximate their carrying values.
Although we have determined the estimated fair value amounts of the FAME Bonds, Vermont Bonds, New York Bonds 2020, New York Bonds 2014 and New Hampshire Bonds using available market information and commonly accepted valuation methodologies, a change in available market information, and/or the use of different assumptions and/or estimation methodologies could have a material effect on the estimated fair values. These amounts have not been revalued, and current estimates of fair value could differ significantly from the amounts presented.
Future Maturities of Debt
Aggregate principal maturities of debt are as follows:
Estimated Future Payments as of December 31, 2021
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2022$9,901 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 20238,085 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 202411,400 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 202541,975 
Fiscal year ending December 31, 2026345,001 
Thereafter146,208 
$562,570