Methane Project	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Methane Project [Abstract]
Methane Project	(9) Methane Project The methane facilities were placed into service on April 1, 2009. The methane facilities are being depreciated over the estimated useful life of approximately 33 years. This useful life is based on estimated landfill closure date of December 2041. The Company recorded depreciation expense of $0.05 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. In June 2012, the Company received a payment in the amount of approximately $1.0 million from the United States Department of the Treasury for a cash payment in lieu of tax credits relating to the methane facilities. The payment to the Company was authorized under Section 1603 of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grant amount was calculated pursuant to provisions applicable to a "landfill gas project," defined in this statute as a project generating electricity from landfill gas. The Company may not take investment tax credits for this facility as a result of accepting the cash payment, and is subject to annual reporting of the status of the project and recapture of all or a portion of the payment in the event the project were to be assigned to an ineligible nonprofit or governmental entity, during the five year period following the date of the award. The Company does not anticipate that the payment will be subject to recapture. Pursuant to the terms of the implementing federal regulations, the cash payment awarded is not treated as taxable income, but does reduce the taxable basis of the project by half of the grant amount. However, the book carrying amount of the property is reduced by the full amount of the payment.

(9) Methane Project

The methane facilities were placed into service on April 1, 2009. The methane facilities are being depreciated over the estimated useful life of approximately 33 years. This useful life is based on estimated landfill closure date of December 2041. The Company recorded depreciation expense of $0.05 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

In June 2012, the Company received a payment in the amount of approximately $1.0 million from the United States Department of the Treasury for a cash payment in lieu of tax credits relating to the methane facilities. The payment to the Company was authorized under Section 1603 of Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grant amount was calculated pursuant to provisions applicable to a "landfill gas project," defined in this statute as a project generating electricity from landfill gas. The Company may not take investment tax credits for this facility as a result of accepting the cash payment, and is subject to annual reporting of the status of the project and recapture of all or a portion of the payment in the event the project were to be assigned to an ineligible nonprofit or governmental entity, during the five year period following the date of the award. The Company does not anticipate that the payment will be subject to recapture. Pursuant to the terms of the implementing federal regulations, the cash payment awarded is not treated as taxable income, but does reduce the taxable basis of the project by half of the grant amount. However, the book carrying amount of the property is reduced by the full amount of the payment.