text: Our residential collection operations involve the curbside collection of refuse from small containers into 
  collection vehicles for transport to transfer stations or directly to landÑlls. Residential solid waste collection 
  services are typically performed under contracts with municipalities, which we generally secure by competitive 
  bid and which give our company exclusive rights to service all or a portion of the homes in their respective 
  jurisdictions. These contracts or franchises usually range in duration from one to Ñve years, although some of 
  our exclusive franchises are for signiÑcantly longer periods. Residential solid waste collection services may also 
  be performed on a subscription basis, in which individual households contract directly with our company. The 
  fees received for subscription residential collection are based primarily on market factors, frequency and type 
  of service, the distance to the disposal facility and cost of disposal. In general, subscription residential 
  collection fees are paid quarterly in advance by the residential customers receiving the service. 
  
  In our commercial and industrial collection operations, we supply our customers with waste containers of 
  varying sizes. We also rent compactors to large waste generators. Commercial collection services are generally 
  performed under one- to three-year service agreements, and fees are determined by such considerations as: 
  
  ‚ market factors, 
  
  ‚ collection frequency, 