text: ‚***Integrated Operations.***We seek to achieve a high rate of internalization by controlling waste streams 
  from the point of collection through disposal. We expect that our fully integrated markets generally will 
  have a lower cost of operations and more favorable cash Öows than our non-integrated markets. 
  Through acquisitions and other market development activities, we create market-speciÑc, integrated 
  operations typically consisting of one or more collection companies, transfer stations and landÑlls. We 
  consider acquiring companies that own or operate landÑlls with signiÑcant permitted disposal capacity 
  and appropriate levels of waste volume. We also seek to acquire solid waste collection companies in 
  markets in which we own or operate landÑlls. In addition, we generate internal growth in our disposal 
  operations by developing new landÑlls and expanding our existing landÑlls from time to time in markets 
  in which we have signiÑcant collection operations or in markets that we determine lack suÇcient 
  disposal capacity. During the three months ended December 31, 2004, approximately 54% of the total 
  volume of waste that we collected was disposed of at landÑlls we own or operate. In a number of our 
  larger markets, we and our competitors are required to take waste to government-controlled disposal 
  facilities. This provides us with an opportunity to eÅectively compete in these markets without 
  investing in landÑll capacity. Because we do not have landÑll facilities or government-controlled 
  disposal facilities for all markets in which we provide collection services, we believe that through 
  landÑll and transfer station acquisitions and development we have the opportunity to increase our waste 
  internalization rate and further integrate our operations. By further integrating operations in existing 
  markets through acquisitions and development of landÑlls and transfer stations, we may be able to 
  reduce our disposal costs. 