text: In our opinion, the Ñnancial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the 
  consolidated Ñnancial position of Republic Services, Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and 
  the consolidated results of their operations and their cash Öows for each of the three years in the period ended 
  December 31, 2004 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the 
  related Ñnancial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic Ñnancial statements taken as a 
  whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. 
  
  As discussed in Note 1 to the Ñnancial statements, in 2003 Republic Services, Inc. changed its method of 
  accounting for Ñnal capping, closure and post-closure costs relating to its landÑlls and for methane gas 
  collection systems. 
  
  We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight 
  Board (United States), the eÅectiveness of Republic Services, Inc.'s internal control over Ñnancial reporting 
  as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control Ì Integrated Framework issued by 
  the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 
  2005, expressed an unqualiÑed opinion thereon. 