United States, et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al. Proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement, 70004-70026 [2020-24221]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
United States, et al. v. Waste
Management, Inc., et al. Proposed
Final Judgment and Competitive
Impact Statement
Notice is hereby given pursuant to the
Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act,
15 U.S.C. 16(b)–(h), that a proposed
Final Judgment, Stipulation, and
Competitive Impact Statement have
been filed with the United States
District Court for the District of
Columbia in United States of America,
et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al.,
Civil Action No. 1:20–cv–3063. On
October 23, 2020, the United States filed
a Complaint alleging that Waste
Management, Inc.’s proposed
acquisition of Advanced Disposal
Services, Inc. would violate Section 7 of
the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18. The
proposed Final Judgment, filed at the
same time as the Complaint, requires
Waste Management and Advanced
Disposal Services to divest certain
tangible and intangible assets in 57 local
markets located in 10 states.
Copies of the Complaint, proposed
Final Judgment, and Competitive Impact
Statement are available for inspection
on the Antitrust Division’s website at
https://www.justice.gov/atr and at the
Office of the Clerk of the United States
District Court for the District of
Columbia. Copies of these materials may
be obtained from the Antitrust Division
upon request and payment of the
copying fee set by Department of Justice
regulations.
Public comment is invited within 60
days of the date of this notice. Such
comments, including the name of the
submitter, and responses thereto will be
posted on the Antitrust Division’s
website, filed with the Court, and, under
certain circumstances, published in the
Federal Register. Comments should be
directed to Katrina Rouse, Chief,
Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace
Section, Antitrust Division, Department
of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite
8700, Washington, DC 20530
(telephone: 202–598–2459).
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Suzanne Morris,
Chief, Premerger and Division Statistics,
Antitrust Division.
United States District Court for the
District of Columbia
United States of America, U.S. Department
of Justice, Antitrust Division, 450 Fifth Street
NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530,
State of Florida, Office of Attorney General,
PL–01, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399,
State of Illinois, Illinois Attorney General,
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100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601,
State of Minnesota, Minnesota Attorney
General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400,
St. Paul, MN 55101, Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Office of Attorney General,
14th Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg,
PA 17120, and State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7857,
Madison, WI 53707, Plaintiffs, v. Waste
Management, Inc., 1001 Fannin Street,
Houston, TX 77002, and Advanced Disposal
Services, Inc., 90 Fort Wade Road, Ponte
Vedra, FL 32081, Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20–cv–3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
Complaint
The United States of America
(‘‘United States’’), acting under the
direction of the Attorney General of the
United States, and the States of Florida,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as
well as the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (‘‘Plaintiff States’’), bring
this civil antitrust action against
Defendants Waste Management, Inc.
(‘‘WMI’’) and Advanced Disposal
Services, Inc. (‘‘ADS’’) to enjoin WMI’s
proposed acquisition of ADS. The
United States and Plaintiff States
complain and allege as follows:
I. Nature of the Action
1. WMI’s proposed $4.6 billion
acquisition of its competitor, ADS,
would combine the largest and fourthlargest solid waste management
companies in the United States. The
proposed transaction presents the most
significant consolidation in the waste
industry in over a decade and would
eliminate critical competition in over 50
local markets in ten states in the eastern
half of the United States.
2. WMI and ADS compete
aggressively against each other to
provide waste collection and waste
disposal services in these local markets.
In each of these local markets, WMI and
ADS are either the only two or two of
only a few significant providers of small
container commercial waste (‘‘SCCW’’)
collection and municipal solid waste
(‘‘MSW’’) disposal, which are essential
for businesses, municipalities, and
towns throughout the country.
3. If the transaction proceeds to close
in its current form, consumers would
likely pay higher prices and receive
lower quality service. Competition
between WMI and ADS has resulted in
lower prices and improved service to
numerous customers, including towns
and cities, restaurants, offices,
apartment buildings, and other
businesses. Collection customers rely on
WMI and ADS to collect their waste
reliably and on a regular basis. In the
absence of competition between WMI
and ADS, these customers would likely
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pay more for waste collection and
receive lower quality service. Disposal
customers, such as independent and
municipally-owned waste haulers, rely
on WMI and ADS for affordable and
accessible waste disposal options,
including landfills and transfer stations,
to dispose of the waste they collect from
towns, cities, and other municipalities.
If the transaction is consummated as
proposed by Defendants, these disposal
customers would likely face higher fees
and less favorable access to WMI’s and
ADS’s disposal facilities.
4. The proposed transaction will
likely substantially lessen competition
for SCCW collection and MSW disposal
in over 50 local markets in the United
States in violation of Section 7 of the
Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18, and therefore
should be enjoined.
II. The Parties and the Transaction
5. WMI is a Delaware corporation
headquartered in Houston, Texas. WMI
is the largest solid waste hauling and
disposal company in the United States
and provides waste collection,
recycling, and disposal (including
transfer) services. WMI operates in 49
states and the District of Columbia. For
2019, WMI reported revenues of
approximately $15.5 billion.
6. ADS is a Delaware corporation
headquartered in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
It is the fourth-largest solid waste
hauling and disposal company in the
United States and provides waste
collection, recycling, and disposal
(including transfer) services. ADS
operates in 16 states, primarily in the
Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast
regions of the United States. For 2019,
ADS reported revenues of
approximately $1.6 billion.
7. On April 14, 2019, WMI agreed to
acquire all of the outstanding common
stock of ADS for approximately $4.9
billion. On June 24, 2020, WMI and
ADS agreed to a revised purchase price
of approximately $4.6 billion.
III. Jurisdiction and Venue
8. The United States brings this action
under Section 15 of the Clayton Act, 15
U.S.C. 25, as amended, to prevent and
restrain Defendants from violating
Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.
18.
9. The Plaintiff States bring this action
under Section 16 of the Clayton Act, 15
U.S.C. 26, to prevent and restrain
Defendants from violating Section 7 of
the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18. The
Plaintiff States, by and through their
respective Attorneys General, bring this
action as parens patriae on behalf of and
to protect the health and welfare of their
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citizens and the general economy in
each of their states.
10. Defendants’ activities
substantially affect interstate commerce.
They provide SCCW collection and
MSW disposal throughout the eastern
half of the United States. This Court has
subject matter jurisdiction over this
action pursuant to Section 15 of the
Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 25, and 28 U.S.C.
1331, 1337(a), and 1345.
11. Defendants have consented to
venue and personal jurisdiction in this
judicial district. Venue is proper in this
district under Section 12 of the Clayton
Act, 15 U.S.C. 22, and under 28 U.S.C.
1391(b) and (c).
IV. Relevant Markets
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A. Product Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection
12. SCCW (small container
commercial waste) collection is a
relevant product market. Waste
collection firms—also called haulers—
collect MSW (municipal solid waste)
from residential, commercial, and
industrial establishments, and transport
that waste to a disposal site, such as a
transfer station, landfill or incinerator,
for processing and disposal.
13. SCCW collection is the business of
collecting MSW from commercial and
industrial accounts, usually in small
containers (i.e., dumpsters with one to
ten cubic yards capacity), and
transporting or hauling such waste to a
disposal site. Typical SCCW collection
customers include office and apartment
buildings and retail establishments (e.g.,
stores and restaurants).
14. SCCW collection is distinct from
the collection of other types of waste
such as residential and roll-off waste,
each of which is subject to its own
regulatory scheme dictating the manner
in which it must be collected. An
individual commercial customer
typically generates substantially more
MSW than a residential customer. To
handle this high volume of MSW
efficiently, haulers often provide
commercial customers with small
containers for storing the waste. Haulers
organize their commercial accounts into
routes, and collect and transport the
MSW generated by these accounts in
front-end load (‘‘FEL’’) trucks uniquely
well suited for commercial waste
collection.
15. On a typical SCCW collection
route, an operator drives an FEL truck
to the customer’s container, engages a
mechanism that grasps and lifts the
container over the front of the truck, and
empties the container into the vehicle’s
storage section where the waste is
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compacted and stored. The operator
continues along the route, collecting
MSW from each of the commercial
accounts, until the vehicle is full. The
operator then drives the FEL truck to a
disposal facility, such as a transfer
station, landfill, or incinerator, and
empties the contents of the vehicle.
Depending on the number of locations
and amount of waste collected on the
route, the operator may make one or
more trips to the disposal facility in
servicing the route.
16. In contrast to an SCCW collection
route, a residential waste collection
route is highly labor intensive. A
residential customer’s MSW is typically
stored in much smaller containers, (e.g.,
garbage bags or trash cans) and instead
of using an FEL truck manned by a
single operator, residential waste
collection haulers routinely use rear-end
load or side-load trucks manned by twoor three-person teams. On residential
routes, crews often hand-load the
customer’s MSW by tossing garbage bags
and emptying trash cans into the
vehicle’s storage section. In light of
these differences, haulers typically
organize commercial customers into
separate routes from residential
customer routes.
17. Roll-off collection also is not a
substitute for SCCW collection. A rolloff container is much larger than an
SCCW container, and is serviced by a
truck capable of carrying a roll-off
container rather than an FEL truck.
Unlike SCCW customers, multiple rolloff customers are not served between
trips to the disposal site, as each roll-off
truck is typically only capable of
carrying one roll-off container at a time.
18. Other types of waste collection,
such as hazardous or medical waste
collection, also are not substitutes for
SCCW collection. These forms of
collection differ from SCCW collection
in the hauling equipment required, the
volume of waste collected, and the
facilities where the waste is disposed.
19. Thus, absent competition from
other SCCW collection firms, SCCW
collection providers could profitably
increase their prices without losing
significant sales to firms engaged in the
provision of other types of waste
collection services. In other words, in
the event of a small but significant price
increase for SCCW collection, customers
would not substitute to other forms of
collection in sufficient numbers so as to
render the price increase unprofitable.
SCCW collection is therefore a line of
commerce, or relevant product market,
for purposes of analyzing the effects of
the acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
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2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
20. MSW (municipal solid waste)
disposal is a relevant product market.
MSW is solid putrescible waste
generated by households and
commercial establishments such as
retail stores, offices, restaurants,
warehouses, and industrial facilities.
MSW has physical characteristics that
readily distinguish it from other liquid
or solid waste (e.g., waste from
manufacturing processes, regulated
medical waste, sewage, sludge,
hazardous waste, or waste generated by
construction or demolition sites).
21. Haulers must dispose of all MSW
at a permitted disposal facility. There
are three main types of disposal
facilities—landfills, incinerators, and
transfer stations. Such facilities must be
located on approved types of land and
operated under prescribed procedures.
Federal, state, and local safety,
environmental, zoning, and permit laws
and regulations dictate critical aspects
of storage, handling, transportation,
processing, and disposal of MSW. In
less densely populated areas, MSW
often is disposed of directly into
landfills that are permitted and
regulated by a state and the federal
government. Landfill permit restrictions
often impose limitations on the type and
amount of waste that can be deposited.
In many urban and suburban areas,
however, landfills are scarce due to high
population density and the limited
availability of suitable land. As a result,
MSW generated in such areas often is
burned in an incinerator or taken to a
transfer station. A transfer station is an
intermediate disposal site for the
processing and temporary storage of
MSW before it is transferred, in bulk, to
more distant landfills or incinerators for
final disposal.
22. Some haulers—including WMI
and ADS—are vertically integrated and
operate their own disposal facilities.
Vertically-integrated haulers often
prefer to dispose of waste at their own
disposal facilities. Depending on the
market, vertically-integrated haulers
may sell a portion of their disposal
capacity to customers in need of access
to a disposal facility. These disposal
customers include independent (nonvertically integrated) and municipallyowned haulers. Disposal customers rely
on the availability of cost-competitive
disposal capacity to serve their own
collection customers and to compete for
new ones.
23. Due to strict laws and regulations
that govern the disposal of MSW, there
are no reasonable substitutes for MSW
disposal, which must occur at landfills,
incinerators, or transfer stations. Thus,
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in the event of a small but significant
price increase from MSW disposal
firms, customers would not substitute to
other forms of disposal in sufficient
numbers so as to render the price
increase unprofitable. MSW disposal is
therefore a line of commerce, or relevant
product market, for purposes of
analyzing the effects of the acquisition
under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
B. Relevant Geographic Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection
24. SCCW collection generally is
provided in highly localized areas. This
is because a hauler needs a large
number of commercial accounts that are
reasonably close together to operate
efficiently and profitably. If there is
significant travel time between
customers, then the hauler earns less
money for the time that the truck
operates. Haulers, therefore, try to
minimize the ‘‘dead time’’ in which the
truck is operating and incurring costs
from fuel, wear and tear, and labor, but
not generating revenue from collecting
waste. Likewise, customers must be near
the hauler’s base of operations as it
would be unprofitable for a truck to
travel a long distance to the start of a
route. Haulers, therefore, generally
establish garages and related facilities to
serve as bases within each area served.
25. As currently contemplated, the
transaction would likely cause harm in
33 relevant geographic markets for
SCCW collection located in six states:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Those 33 markets are identified in
Appendix A. In each of these markets,
a hypothetical monopolist of SCCW
collection could profitably impose a
small but significant non-transitory
increase in price to local customers
without losing significant sales to more
distant competitors. Accordingly, each
of the areas listed in Appendix A
constitutes a relevant geographic market
and section of the country for purposes
of analyzing the effects of the
acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
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2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
26. Collection trucks transport MSW
to landfills, incinerators, and transfer
stations for disposal. The price and
availability of disposal sites close to a
hauler’s routes are major factors that
determine a hauler’s competitiveness
and profitability, as the cost of
transporting MSW to a disposal site—
including fuel, regular truck
maintenance, and hourly labor—is a
substantial component of the total cost
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of disposal. Haulers also prefer nearby
disposal sites to minimize the FEL truck
dead time. Due to the costs associated
with travel time and customers’
preference to have disposal sites close
by, an MSW disposal provider must
have local disposal facilities to be
competitive. The relevant markets for
MSW disposal markets are therefore
local, often consisting of no more than
a few counties.
27. As currently contemplated, the
transaction would likely cause harm in
24 relevant geographic markets for MSW
disposal located in eight states:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and
Wisconsin. Those 24 markets are
identified in Appendix B. In each of
these local markets, a hypothetical
monopolist of MSW disposal could
profitably impose a small but significant
non-transitory increase in price for the
disposal of MSW without losing
significant sales to more distant disposal
sites.
28. Accordingly, each of the areas
listed in Appendix B constitutes a
relevant geographic market and section
of the country for purposes of analyzing
the effects of the acquisition under
Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
V. Anticompetitive Effects
29. The proposed transaction would
substantially lessen competition and
harm consumers in each relevant market
by eliminating the substantial head-tohead competition that currently exists
between WMI and ADS. Businesses,
municipalities, independent haulers,
and other customers would pay higher
prices as a result of the acquisition.
30. WMI’s acquisition of ADS would
remove a significant competitor for
SCCW collection and MSW disposal in
markets that are already highly
concentrated and difficult to enter. WMI
and ADS compete head-to-head for
SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal
customers in each of the 57 geographic
markets identified in Appendices A and
B. In these geographic markets, WMI
and ADS each account for a substantial
share of total revenue generated from
SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal
and, in each relevant market, are two of
no more than four significant (i.e., not
fringe) competitors. See Appendices A
and B (providing a complete list of the
number of significant competitors in
each relevant market pre-merger). In
each SCCW collection market,
collection customers including offices,
apartment buildings, and retail
establishments have been able to secure
better collection rates and improved
service by threatening to switch to the
competing SCCW hauler. Likewise, in
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each MSW disposal market,
independent haulers and municipalities
have been able to negotiate more
favorable disposal rates by threatening
to move waste to the other competitor’s
disposal facilit(ies). In each of the
relevant markets identified in
Appendices A and B, the resulting
increase in concentration, loss of
competition, and the unlikeliness of
significant entry or expansion would
likely result in higher prices, lower
quality and level of service, and reduced
choice for SCCW collection and MSW
disposal customers.
VI. Entry
A. Difficulty of Entry Into Small
Container Commercial Waste Collection
31. Entry of new competitors into
SCCW collection in each of the relevant
markets identified in Appendix A
would be difficult and time-consuming
and is unlikely to prevent the harm to
competition that is likely to result if the
proposed transaction is consummated.
32. A new entrant in SCCW collection
could not provide a significant
competitive constraint on the prices that
market incumbents charge until
achieving a minimum efficient scale and
operating efficiency comparable to
existing competitors. In order to obtain
a comparable operating efficiency, a
new competitor would have to achieve
route densities similar to those of firms
already in the market. Incumbents in a
geographic market, however, can
prevent new entrants from winning a
large enough base of customers by
selectively lowering prices and entering
into longer term contracts with
collection customers.
B. Difficulty of Entry Into Municipal
Solid Waste Disposal
33. Entry of new competitors into
MSW disposal in each of the relevant
markets identified in Appendix B would
be difficult and time-consuming and is
unlikely to prevent the harm to
competition that is likely to result if the
proposed transaction is consummated.
34. A new entrant in MSW disposal
would need to obtain a permit to
construct a disposal facility or to
expand an existing one, and this process
is costly and time-consuming, typically
taking many years. Land suitable for
MSW disposal is scarce, as a landfill
must be constructed away from
environmentally-sensitive areas,
including fault zones, wetlands, flood
plains, and other restricted areas. Even
when suitable land is available, local
public opposition frequently increases
the time and uncertainty of the
permitting process.
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35. Construction of a new transfer
station or incinerator also is difficult
and time consuming and faces many of
the same challenges as new landfill
construction, including local public
opposition.
36. Entry by constructing and
permitting a new MSW disposal facility
would thus be costly and timeconsuming and unlikely to prevent
market incumbents from significantly
raising prices for MSW disposal in each
of the disposal markets following the
acquisition.
VII. Violations Alleged
37. WMI’s proposed acquisition of
ADS is likely to substantially lessen
competition in each of the relevant
markets set forth above in violation of
Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.
18.
38. The acquisition will likely have
the following anticompetitive effects,
among others, in the relevant markets:
a. Actual and potential competition
between WMI and ADS will be
eliminated;
b. competition generally will be
substantially lessened; and
c. prices will likely increase and
quality and the level of service will
likely decrease.
VIII. Request for Relief
39. The United States and the Plaintiff
States request that this Court:
a. Adjudge and decree WMI’s
acquisition of ADS to be unlawful and
in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton
Act, 15 U.S.C. 18;
b. preliminarily and permanently
enjoin Defendants and all persons acting
on their behalf from consummating the
proposed acquisition by WMI of ADS or
from entering into or carrying out any
other contract, agreement, plan, or
understanding, the effect of which
would be to combine WMI with ADS;
c. award the United States and the
Plaintiff States the costs for this action;
and
d. grant the United States and the
Plaintiff States such other relief as the
Court deems just and proper.
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Dated: October 23, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF UNITED
STATES:
lllllllllllllllllllll
Makan Delrahim (D.C. Bar #457795),
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust
Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Bernard A. Nigro, Jr. (D.C. Bar #412357),
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General,
Antitrust Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Alexander P. Okuliar (D.C. Bar #481103),
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust
Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Kathleen S. O’Neil,
Senior Director of Investigations and
Litigation, Antitrust Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Katrina H. Rouse (D.C. Bar #1013035),
Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace
Section, Antitrust Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Jay D. Owen,
Assistant Chief, Defense, Industrials, and
Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division.
lllllllllllllllllllll
Jeremy W. Cline * (D.C. Bar #1011073),
Stephen Harris,
Gabriella R. Moskowitz (D.C. Bar #1044309),
Kerrie J. Freeborn (D.C. Bar #503143),
Daniel J. Monahan, Jr.,
Veronica N. Onyema (D.C. Bar #979040)
Trial Attorneys, Defense, Industrials, and
Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, 450
Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC
20530, Telephone: (202) 598–2294,
Facsimile: (202) 514–9033, Email:
jeremy.cline@usdoj.gov.
* Lead Attorney To Be Noticed.
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Joseph B. Chervin,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of the
Attorney General of Illinois, Antitrust
Bureau, 100 W Randolph Street, 11th Floor,
Chicago, IL 60601, Telephone: (312) 814–
3722, Fax: (312) 814–4209, jchervin@
atg.state.il.us.
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF
MINNESOTA:
Keith Ellison,
Attorney General, State of Minnesota.
James W. Canaday,
Deputy Attorney General.
lllllllllllllllllll
Justin Moor,
Assistant Attorney General, Atty. Reg.
No. 0397596, 445 Minnesota Street,
Suite 1400, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101–
2130, (651) 757–1060, justin.moor@
ag.state.mn.us.
FOR PLAINTIFF COMMONWEALTH
OF PENNSYLVANIA:
Josh Shapiro,
Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
James A. Donahue, III,
Executive Deputy Attorney General,
jdonahue@attorneygeneral.gov.
Tracy W. Wertz,
Chief Deputy Attorney General, twertz@
attorneygeneral.gov.
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Norman W. Marden (PA Bar #203423),
Senior Deputy Attorney General,
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF FLORIDA:
nmarden@attorneygeneral.gov.
Ashley Moody,
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney
Attorney General.
General, Antitrust Section, Strawberry
Patricia A. Conners,
Square, 14th Floor, Harrisburg, PA
Chief Associate Deputy Attorney General.
lllllllllllllllllllll 17120, Telephone: (717) 787–4530.
Lizabeth A. Brady,
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF
Chief, Multistate Enforcement, Florida State
WISCONSIN:
Bar Number: 457991, Office of the Attorney
General, State of Florida, PL–01, The Capitol, Joshua L. Kaul,
Tallahassee, FL 32399–1050, Tel: (850) 414–
Attorney General, State of Wisconsin,
3300, Fax: (850) 488–9134, Email: liz.brady@
Wisconsin Department of Justice.
myfloridalegal.com.
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Colin G. Fraser,
Shannon A. Conlin (Pro Hac
Assistant Attorney General, Florida State Bar Forthcoming),
Number: 104741, Email: colin.fraser@
Assistant Attorney General, Post Office
myfloridalegal.com.
Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707–7857,
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF ILLINOIS:
(608) 266–1677, Conlinsa@
Kwame Raoul,
doj.state.wi.us.
Attorney General.
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Blake L. Harrop,
Chief, Antitrust Bureau.
Appendix A: SCCW Geographic
Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
SMALL CONTAINER COMMERCIAL WASTE
Geographic market
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
1. Lee County, Alabama .............................................................
2. Macon County, Alabama ........................................................
3. Mobile, Alabama .....................................................................
Lee County, AL ..........................................................................
Macon County, AL .....................................................................
City of Mobile, AL ......................................................................
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Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
3
2
3
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SMALL CONTAINER COMMERCIAL WASTE—Continued
Geographic market
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Montgomery County, Alabama ...............................................
Tuscaloosa, Alabama .............................................................
Jacksonville, Florida ...............................................................
Ocala, Florida .........................................................................
Augusta, Georgia ....................................................................
9. Rochester, Minnesota .............................................................
10. St. Cloud, Minnesota ............................................................
11. Calumet County, Wisconsin .................................................
12. Clark, Wisconsin ...................................................................
13. Dane County, Wisconsin ......................................................
14. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ............................
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Green Bay, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Green County, Wisconsin .....................................................
Green Lake, Wisconsin ........................................................
Eau Claire, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Jackson County, Wisconsin ..................................................
Jefferson County, Wisconsin ................................................
Kenosha County, Wisconsin .................................................
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin ..............................................
Langlade, Wisconsin .............................................................
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin ..............................................
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin .............................................................
Marathon, Wisconsin ............................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Price County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Rock County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Sauk County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Walworth County, Wisconsin ................................................
Waupaca, Wisconsin ............................................................
Waushara, Wisconsin ...........................................................
Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
Montgomery County, AL ............................................................
City of Tuscaloosa, AL ...............................................................
Duvall, St. Johns, and Clay Counties, FL .................................
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL .................................................
Columbia and Richmond Counties, GA and Edgefield and
Aiken Counties, SC.
City of Rochester, MN ...............................................................
City of St. Cloud, MN .................................................................
Calumet County, WI ...................................................................
Clark and Taylor Counties, WI ..................................................
Dane County, WI .......................................................................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington
Counties, WI.
Brown and Outagamie Counties, WI .........................................
Green County, WI ......................................................................
Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties, WI ...............
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI ....................................
Jackson County, WI ...................................................................
Jefferson County, WI .................................................................
Kenosha County, WI ..................................................................
Kewaunee County, WI ...............................................................
Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, and Shawano Counties, WI ...........
Manitowoc County, WI ...............................................................
Marinette and Oconto Counties, WI ..........................................
Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties, WI ............................
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ....................
Price County, WI ........................................................................
Rock County, WI ........................................................................
Sauk County, WI ........................................................................
Walworth County, WI .................................................................
Waupaca County, WI .................................................................
Waushara and Winnebago Counties, WI ..................................
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
2
3
3
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
2
Appendix B: MSW Disposal Geographic
Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
MSW DISPOSAL
Geographic market
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
East Central, Alabama ............................................................
Mobile, Alabama .....................................................................
Phenix City, Alabama .............................................................
Ocala, Florida .........................................................................
Atlanta, Georgia ......................................................................
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6. Kane County, Illinois ...............................................................
7. Lake County, Illinois ...............................................................
8. Northern Cook County, Illinois ................................................
9. Fort Wayne, Indiana ...............................................................
10. Detroit, Michigan ...................................................................
11. Bedford County, Pennsylvania .............................................
12. Fayette County, Pennsylvania ..............................................
13. Indiana County, Pennsylvania ..............................................
14. Somerset County, Pennsylvania ..........................................
15. State College, Pennsylvania .................................................
16. Dane County, Wisconsin ......................................................
17. Eau Claire, Wisconsin ..........................................................
18. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ............................
19. Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin ............
20. Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin .............................................
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Lee and Macon Counties, AL ....................................................
City of Mobile, AL ......................................................................
Phenix City, AL ..........................................................................
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL .................................................
Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
Kane County, IL .........................................................................
Lake County, IL ..........................................................................
Area west of Interstate 94 and north of Interstate 90 in Cook
County, Illinois.
Allen, Kosciusko, and Whitley Counties, IN ..............................
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties, MI .............................
Bedford County, PA ...................................................................
Fayette and Greene Counties, PA ............................................
Clarion, Jefferson, and Indiana Counties, PA ...........................
Cambria and Somerset Counties, PA .......................................
Centre and Clearfield Counties, PA ..........................................
Dane County, WI .......................................................................
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI ....................................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington
Counties, WI.
Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, WI ....................
Calumet, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc Counties, WI ..................
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Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
2
4
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
70009
MSW DISPOSAL—Continued
Geographic market
21.
22.
23.
24.
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Green County, Wisconsin .....................................................
Janesville, Wisconsin ............................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ..........................................................
St. Croix, Wisconsin .............................................................
United States District Court for the
District of Columbia
United States of America, State of Florida,
State of Illinois, State of Minnesota,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and State of
Wisconsin, Plaintiffs, v. Waste Management,
Inc., and Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.,
Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20–cv–3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
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Proposed Final Judgment
Whereas, Plaintiffs, United States of
America and the States of Florida,
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
(collectively, the ‘‘Plaintiff States’’),
filed their Complaint on October 23,
2020;
And whereas, the United States,
Plaintiff States, and Defendants, Waste
Management, Inc. (‘‘WMI’’) and
Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.
(‘‘ADS’’), have consented to entry of this
Final Judgment without the taking of
testimony, without trial or adjudication
of any issue of fact or law, and without
this Final Judgment constituting any
evidence against or admission by any
party regarding any issue of fact or law;
And whereas, Defendants agree to
make a divestiture to remedy the loss of
competition alleged in the Complaint;
And whereas, Defendants represent
that the divestiture and other relief
required by this Final Judgment can and
will be made and that Defendants will
not later raise a claim of hardship or
difficulty as grounds for asking the
Court to modify any provision of this
Final Judgment;
Now therefore, it is ordered, adjudged,
and decreed:
I. Jurisdiction
The Court has jurisdiction over the
subject matter of and each of the parties
to this action. The Complaint states a
claim upon which relief may be granted
against Defendants under Section 7 of
the Clayton Act, as amended (15 U.S.C.
18).
II. Definitions
As used in this Final Judgment:
A. ‘‘Acquirer’’ or ‘‘Acquirers’’ means
GFL or another entity or entities to
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Green County, WI ......................................................................
Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth Counties, WI ............................
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ....................
Pierce and St. Croix Counties, WI .............................................
which Defendants divest the Divestiture
Assets.
B. ‘‘WMI’’ means Defendant Waste
Management, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters in
Houston, Texas, its successors and
assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions,
groups, affiliates, partnerships, and joint
ventures, and their directors, officers,
managers, agents, and employees.
C. ‘‘ADS’’ means Defendant Advanced
Disposal Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters in
Ponte Vedra, Florida, its successors and
assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions,
groups, affiliates, partnerships, and joint
ventures, and their directors, officers,
managers, agents, and employees.
D. ‘‘GFL’’ means GFL Environmental
Inc., a Canadian corporation with is
headquarters in Ontario, Canada, its
successors and assigns, and its
subsidiaries, divisions, groups,
affiliates, partnerships, and joint
ventures, and their directors, officers,
managers, agents, and employees.
E. ‘‘Disposal’’ means the business of
disposing of waste into disposal sites,
including the use of transfer stations to
facilitate shipment of waste to other
disposal sites.
F. ‘‘MSW’’ means municipal solid
waste. Municipal solid waste is a term
of art used to describe solid putrescible
waste generated by households and
commercial establishments such as
retail stores, offices, restaurants,
warehouses, and non-manufacturing
activities in industrial facilities. MSW
does not include special handling waste
(e.g., waste from manufacturing
processes, regulated medical waste,
sewage, and sludge), hazardous waste,
or waste generated by construction or
demolition sites.
G. ‘‘Small Container Commercial
Waste Collection’’ (or ‘‘SCCW
Collection’’) means the business of
collecting MSW from commercial and
industrial accounts, usually in
‘‘dumpsters’’ (i.e., small containers with
one-to-ten cubic yards of storage
capacity), and transporting—or
‘‘hauling’’—that waste to a disposal site,
typically by use of a front-end, sideload, or rear-end truck. Typical Small
Container Commercial Waste Collection
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Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
3
3
2
3
customers include office and apartment
buildings and retail establishments (e.g.,
stores and restaurants).
H. ‘‘Residential Waste Collection’’
means the business of collecting MSW
from residential accounts and
transporting—or ‘‘hauling’’—such waste
to a disposal site, typically by use of a
rear-end or side-load truck. Typical
Residential Waste Collection customers
include single-family residences and
small apartment buildings.
I. ‘‘Roll-Off Waste Collection’’ means
the business of collecting MSW that is
stored in twenty-to-forty cubic yard
containers from commercial and
industrial accounts and transporting
that waste to a disposal site, typically by
use of a truck with a roll-off trailer
attachment.
J. ‘‘Commercial Recycling Collection’’
means the business of collecting
recyclables, which are discarded
materials that will be processed and
reused, from commercial and industrial
accounts and transporting those
recyclables to a recycling site (typically
called a ‘‘materials recovery facility,’’ or
‘‘MRF’’).
K. ‘‘Residential Recycling Collection’’
means the business of collecting
recyclables, which are discarded
materials that will be processed and
reused, from residential accounts and
transporting those recyclables to a
recycling site.
L. ‘‘Mixed Collection’’ or ‘‘Co-Collect’’
means the business of collecting a
mixture of commercial waste,
residential waste, and/or recycling and
transporting such waste and/or
recycling to a disposal or recycling site.
M. ‘‘Yard Waste Collection’’ means
the business of collecting organic waste
from single-family and small residences
and transporting such waste to a
disposal site.
N. ‘‘Route’’ means a group of
customers receiving regularly scheduled
waste or recycling collection service as
of August 25, 2020, including customers
from that group for whom service has
been suspended due to issues related to
COVID–19, and any customers added to
that group between August 25, 2020 and
the date that the Route is divested to an
Acquirer.
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O. ‘‘Divestiture Assets’’ means all of
Defendants’ rights, titles, and interests
in and to:
1. The transfer stations and landfills
listed in Appendix A;
2. all property and assets, tangible and
intangible, wherever located, related to
or used in connection with the transfer
stations and landfills listed in Appendix
A, including but not limited to:
a. All real property, including but not
limited to fee simple interests, real
property leasehold interests and
renewal rights thereto, improvements to
real property, and options to purchase
any adjoining or other property, together
with all offices, garages, material
recovery facilities, and other related
facilities;
b. all tangible personal property,
including but not limited to capital
equipment, trucks and other vehicles,
scales, power supply equipment, and
office furniture, materials, and supplies;
c. all contracts, contractual rights, and
customer relationships; and all other
agreements, commitments, and
understandings, including but not
limited to swap agreements;
d. all licenses, permits, certifications,
approvals, consents, and authorizations,
and all pending applications or
renewals; and
e. copies of all records and data,
including but not limited to customer
lists, accounts, credits records, and
repair and performance records;
3. the hauling facilities and Routes
listed in Appendix B; and
4. all property and assets, tangible and
intangible, wherever located, related to
or used in connection with the Routes
listed in Appendix B, including but not
limited to:
a. All real property, including but not
limited to fee simple interests, real
property leasehold interests and
renewal rights thereto, improvements to
real property, and options to purchase
any adjoining or other property, together
with all offices, garages, and related
facilities;
b. all tangible personal property,
including but not limited to capital
equipment, trucks and other vehicles
(those assigned to Routes, and, at the
option of Acquirer, all spare vehicles,
containers, and supplies), scales, power
supply equipment, and office furniture,
materials, and supplies;
c. all contracts (except Straddle
Contracts), contractual rights, and
customer relationships; and all other
agreements, commitments, and
understandings, including but not
limited to swap agreements;
d. all licenses, permits, certifications,
approvals, consents, and authorizations,
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18:16 Nov 02, 2020
Jkt 253001
and all pending applications or
renewals; and
e. copies of all records and data,
including but not limited to customer
lists, accounts, and credits records, and
repair and performance records;
provided, however, that the assets
specified in Paragraphs II(O)(4)(a)–(e)
above do not include the facilities
identified in Appendix C.
P. ‘‘Straddle Contracts’’ means
customer waste or recycling collection
contracts that include a combination of
services and/or collection stops
included in the Divestiture Assets and
services and/or collection stops not
included in the Divestiture Assets.
Q. ‘‘Relevant Personnel’’ means all
full-time, part-time, or contract
employees of WMI or ADS, wherever
located, involved in the MSW Disposal,
Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection, Residential Waste
Collection, Roll-Off Waste Collection,
Commercial Recycling Collection,
Residential Recycling Collection, Mixed
Collection, or Yard Waste Collection
services provided for a Route or facility
included in the Divestiture Assets at any
time between April 15, 2019, and the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to GFL or another Acquirer.
The United States, in its sole discretion,
will resolve any disagreement regarding
which employees are Relevant
Personnel.
III. Applicability
A. This Final Judgment applies to
WMI and ADS, as defined above, and all
other persons, in active concert or
participation with any Defendant, who
receive actual notice of this Final
Judgment.
B. If, prior to complying with Section
IV and Section V of this Final Judgment,
Defendants sell or otherwise dispose of
all or substantially all of their assets or
of business units that include the
Divestiture Assets, Defendants must
require any purchaser to be bound by
the provisions of this Final Judgment.
Defendants need not obtain such an
agreement from the Acquirers.
IV. Divestitures
A. Defendants are ordered and
directed, within thirty (30) calendar
days after the Court’s entry of the Asset
Preservation Stipulation and Order in
this matter, to divest the Divestiture
Assets in a manner consistent with this
Final Judgment to GFL or an alternative
Acquirer acceptable to the United
States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States.
The United States, in its sole discretion,
may agree to one or more extensions of
this time period, not to exceed sixty (60)
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Frm 00008
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
calendar days in total, and will notify
the Court of any extensions.
B. Defendants must use their best
efforts to divest the Divestiture Assets as
expeditiously as possible and may not
take any action to impede the
permitting, operation, or divestiture of
the Divestiture Assets.
C. Unless the United States otherwise
consents in writing, divestiture
pursuant to this Final Judgment must
include the entire Divestiture Assets
and must be accomplished in such a
way as to satisfy the United States, in its
sole discretion, after consultation with
the Plaintiff States, that the Divestiture
Assets can and will be used by Acquirer
as part of a viable, ongoing MSW
Disposal business and a viable, ongoing
Small Commercial Container Waste
Collection business and that the
divestiture to Acquirer will remedy the
competitive harm alleged in the
Complaint.
D. The divestiture must be made to an
Acquirer that, in the United States’ sole
judgment, after consultation with the
Plaintiff States, has the intent and
capability (including the necessary
managerial, operational, technical, and
financial capability) to compete
effectively in the business of MSW
Disposal and Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection.
E. The divestiture must be
accomplished so as to satisfy the United
States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States,
that none of the terms of any agreement
between Acquirer and Defendants give
Defendants the ability unreasonably to
raise Acquirer’s costs, to lower
Acquirer’s efficiency, or otherwise to
interfere in the ability of Acquirer to
compete effectively.
F. Divestiture of the Divestiture Assets
may be made to one or more Acquirers,
provided that it is demonstrated to the
sole satisfaction of the United States,
after consultation with the Plaintiff
States, that the criteria required by
Paragraphs IV(C), IV(D), and IV(E) will
still be met.
G. In the event Defendants are
attempting to divest the Divestiture
Assets to an Acquirer other than GFL,
Defendants promptly must make
known, by usual and customary means,
the availability of the Divestiture Assets.
Defendants must inform any person
making an inquiry regarding a possible
purchase of the Divestiture Assets that
the Divestiture Assets are being divested
in accordance with this Final Judgment
and must provide that person with a
copy of this Final Judgment. Defendants
must offer to furnish to all prospective
Acquirers, subject to customary
confidentiality assurances, all
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information and documents relating to
the Divestiture Assets that are
customarily provided in a due-diligence
process; provided, however, that
Defendants need not provide
information or documents subject to the
attorney-client privilege or workproduct doctrine. Defendants must
make all information and documents
available to Plaintiffs at the same time
that the information and documents are
made available to any other person.
H. Defendants must provide
prospective Acquirers with (1) access to
make inspections of the Divestiture
Assets; (2) access to all environmental,
zoning, and other permitting documents
and information; and (3) access to all
financial, operational, or other
documents and information customarily
provided as part of a due diligence
process. Defendants also must disclose
all encumbrances on any part of the
Divestiture Assets, including on
intangible property.
I. Defendants must cooperate with
and assist Acquirer to identify and hire
all Relevant Personnel.
1. Within ten (10) business days
following the filing of the Complaint in
this matter, Defendants must identify all
Relevant Personnel to Acquirer and
Plaintiffs, including by providing
organization charts covering all
Relevant Personnel.
2. Within ten (10) business days
following receipt of a request by
Acquirer or the United States,
Defendants must provide to Acquirer
and Plaintiffs the following additional
information related to Relevant
Personnel: Name; job title; current
salary and benefits including most
recent bonus paid, aggregate annual
compensation, current target or
guaranteed bonus, if any, any retention
agreement or incentives, and any other
payments due to or promises made to
the employee; descriptions of reporting
relationships, past experience,
responsibilities, and training and
educational histories; lists of all
certifications; and all job performance
evaluations. If Defendants are barred by
any applicable law from providing any
of this information, within ten (10)
business days following receipt of the
request, Defendants must provide the
requested information to the full extent
permitted by law and also must provide
a written explanation of Defendants’
inability to provide the remaining
information.
3. At the request of Acquirer,
Defendants must promptly make
Relevant Personnel available for private
interviews with Acquirer during normal
business hours at a mutually agreeable
location.
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Jkt 253001
4. Defendants must not interfere with
any effort by Acquirer to employ any
Relevant Personnel. Interference
includes but is not limited to offering to
increase the compensation or improve
the benefits of Relevant Personnel
unless: (a) The offer is part of a
company-wide increase in
compensation or improvement in
benefits that was announced prior to
April 1, 2020; or (b) the offer is
approved by the United States in its sole
discretion. Defendants’ obligations
under this Paragraph will expire six (6)
months after the divestiture of the
Divestiture Assets pursuant to this Final
Judgment.
5. For Relevant Personnel who elect
employment with Acquirer within six
(6) months of the date on which the
Divestiture Assets are divested to
Acquirer, Defendants must waive all
non-compete and non-disclosure
agreements, vest all unvested pension
and other equity rights, provide any pay
pro-rata, provide all other compensation
and benefits that those Relevant
Personnel have fully or partially
accrued, and provide all other benefits
that those Relevant Personnel otherwise
would have been provided had the
Relevant Personnel continued
employment with Defendants, including
but not limited to any retention bonuses
or payments. Defendants may maintain
reasonable restrictions on disclosure by
Relevant Personnel of Defendants’
proprietary non-public information that
is unrelated to the business of MSW
Disposal, Small Commercial Container
Waste Collection, Residential Waste
Collection, Roll-Off Waste Collection,
Commercial Recycling Collection,
Residential Recycling Collection, Mixed
Collection, and Yard Waste Collection
and not otherwise required to be
disclosed by this Final Judgment.
6. For a period of twelve (12) months
from the date on which the Divestiture
Assets are divested to Acquirer,
Defendants may not solicit to rehire
Relevant Personnel who were hired by
Acquirer within six (6) months of the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to Acquirer unless (a) an
individual is terminated or laid off by
Acquirer or (b) Acquirer agrees in
writing that Defendants may solicit to
rehire that individual. Nothing in this
Paragraph prohibits Defendants from
advertising employment openings using
general solicitations or advertisements
and rehiring Relevant Personnel who
apply for an employment opening
through a general solicitation or
advertisement.
J. Defendants must warrant to
Acquirer that (1) the Divestiture Assets
will be operational and without material
PO 00000
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70011
defect on the date of their transfer to the
Acquirer; (2) there are no material
defects in the environmental, zoning, or
other permits pertaining to the
operation of the Divestiture Assets; and
(3) Defendants have disclosed all
encumbrances on any part of the
Divestiture Assets, including on
intangible property. Following the sale
of the Divestiture Assets, Defendants
must not undertake, directly or
indirectly, challenges to the
environmental, zoning, or other permits
pertaining to the operation of the
Divestiture Assets.
K. Defendants must assign,
subcontract, or otherwise transfer all
contracts (except Straddle Contracts),
agreements, and relationships (or
portions of such contracts, agreements,
and relationships) included in the
Divestiture Assets, including but not
limited to all supply and sales contracts
and swap agreements, to Acquirer;
provided, however, that for any contract
or agreement that requires the consent
of another party to assign, subcontract,
or otherwise transfer, Defendants must
use best efforts to accomplish the
assignment, subcontracting, or transfer.
Defendants must not interfere with any
negotiations between Acquirer and a
contracting party.
L. At the option of Acquirer, and
subject to approval by the United States
in its sole discretion, on or before the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to Acquirer, Defendants must
assign, subcontract, or otherwise
transfer all Straddle Contracts;
provided, however, that for any Straddle
Contract that requires the consent of
another party to assign, subcontract, or
otherwise transfer, Defendants must use
best efforts to accomplish the
assignment, subcontracting, or other
transfer. Defendants must not interfere
with any negotiations between Acquirer
and a contracting party.
M. Defendants must make best efforts
to assist Acquirer to obtain all necessary
licenses, registrations, and permits to
operate the Divestiture Assets. Until
Acquirer obtains the necessary licenses,
registrations, and permits, Defendants
must provide Acquirer with the benefit
of Defendants’ licenses, registrations,
and permits to the full extent
permissible by law.
N. At the option of Acquirer, and
subject to approval by the United States
in its sole discretion, on or before the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to Acquirer, Defendants must
enter into a contract to provide
transition services for back office,
human resources, accounting, employee
health and safety, and information
technology services and support for a
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period of up to six (6) months on terms
and conditions reasonably related to
market conditions for the provision of
the transition services. The United
States, in its sole discretion, may
approve one or more extensions of any
contract for transition services, for a
total of up to an additional six (6)
months. If Acquirer seeks an extension
of the term of any transition services
agreement, Defendants must notify the
United States in writing at least one (1)
month prior to the date the contract
expires. Acquirer may terminate a
contract for transition services without
cost or penalty at any time upon thirty
(30) days’ written notice to WMI. The
employee(s) of Defendants tasked with
providing these transition services must
not share any competitively sensitive
information of Acquirer with any other
employee of Defendants.
O. At the option of Acquirer, and
subject to approval by the United States
in its sole discretion, on or before the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to Acquirer, Defendants must
enter into a landfill disposal contract to
provide rights to landfill disposal at
ADS’s Orchard Hills Landfill, located at
8290 Highway 251 South, Davis
Junction, Illinois, 61020. The landfill
disposal contract must allow Acquirer
to dispose up to 1,200 tons of MSW per
day at the Orchard Hills Landfill for a
period of up to three (3) years from the
date on which the Divestiture Assets are
divested to Acquirer. Defendants must
operate the Orchard Hills gates, scale
houses, and disposal areas for the
benefit of Acquirer under terms and
conditions no less favorable than those
that Defendants provide to their own
vehicles. The United States, in its sole
discretion, may approve one or more
extensions of a landfill disposal contract
for a total of up to an additional two (2)
years. If Acquirer seeks an extension of
the term of a landfill disposal contract,
Defendants must notify the United
States, the State of Illinois, and the State
of Wisconsin in writing at least one (1)
month prior to the date the contract
expires. Acquirer may terminate a
contract for landfill disposal without
cost or penalty at any time upon thirty
(30) days’ written notice to WMI.
P. If any term of an agreement
between Defendants and Acquirer to
effectuate the divestiture required by
this Final Judgment varies from a term
of this Final Judgment, to the extent that
Defendants cannot fully comply with
both, this Final Judgment determines
Defendants’ obligations.
V. Appointment of Divestiture Trustee
A. If Defendants have not divested the
Divestiture Assets within the period
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specified in Paragraph IV(A),
Defendants must immediately notify
Plaintiffs of that fact in writing. Upon
application of the United States, the
Court will appoint a divestiture trustee
selected by the United States and
approved by the Court to effect the
divestiture(s) of any of the Divestiture
Assets.
B. After the appointment of a
divestiture trustee by the Court, only the
divestiture trustee will have the right to
sell the Divestiture Assets. The
divestiture trustee will have the power
and authority to accomplish the
divestiture(s) to an Acquirer or
Acquirers acceptable to the United
States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States, at
a price and on terms as are then
obtainable upon reasonable effort by the
divestiture trustee, subject to the
provisions of Sections IV, V, and VI of
this Final Judgment, and will have other
powers as the Court deems appropriate.
The divestiture trustee must sell the
Divestiture Assets as quickly as
possible.
C. Defendants may not object to a sale
by the divestiture trustee on any ground
other than malfeasance by the
divestiture trustee. Objections by
Defendants must be conveyed in writing
to Plaintiffs and the divestiture trustee
within ten (10) calendar days after the
divestiture trustee has provided the
notice of proposed divestiture required
under Section VI.
D. The divestiture trustee will serve at
the cost and expense of Defendants
pursuant to a written agreement, on
terms and conditions, including
confidentiality requirements and
conflict-of-interest certifications, that
are approved by the United States.
E. The divestiture trustee may hire at
the cost and expense of Defendants any
agents or consultants, including but not
limited to investment bankers,
attorneys, and accountants, that are
reasonably necessary in the divestiture
trustee’s judgment to assist with the
divestiture trustee’s duties. These agents
or consultants will be accountable
solely to the divestiture trustee and will
serve on terms and conditions,
including terms and conditions
governing confidentiality requirements
and conflict-of-interest certifications,
that are approved by the United States.
F. The compensation of the
divestiture trustee and agents or
consultants hired by the divestiture
trustee must be reasonable in light of the
value of the Divestiture Assets and
based on a fee arrangement that
provides the divestiture trustee with
incentives based on the price and terms
of the divestiture(s) and the speed with
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which it is accomplished. If the
divestiture trustee and Defendants are
unable to reach agreement on the
divestiture trustee’s compensation or
other terms and conditions of
engagement within fourteen (14)
calendar days of the appointment of the
divestiture trustee by the Court, the
United States may, in its sole discretion,
take appropriate action, including by
making a recommendation to the Court.
Within three (3) business days of hiring
an agent or consultant, the divestiture
trustee must provide written notice of
the hiring and rate of compensation to
Defendants and the United States.
G. The divestiture trustee must
account for all monies derived from the
sale of the Divestiture Assets sold by the
divestiture trustee and all costs and
expenses incurred. Within thirty (30)
calendar days of the date of the sale of
the Divestiture Assets, the divestiture
trustee must submit that accounting to
the Court for approval. After approval
by the Court of the divestiture trustee’s
accounting, including fees for unpaid
services and those of agents or
consultants hired by the divestiture
trustee, all remaining money must be
paid to Defendants and the trust will
then be terminated.
H. Defendants must use their best
efforts to assist the divestiture trustee to
accomplish the required divestiture.
Subject to reasonable protection for
trade secrets, other confidential
research, development, or commercial
information, or any applicable
privileges, Defendants must provide the
divestiture trustee and agents or
consultants retained by the divestiture
trustee with full and complete access to
all personnel, books, records, and
facilities of the Divestiture Assets.
Defendants also must provide or
develop financial and other information
relevant to the Divestiture Assets that
the divestiture trustee may reasonably
request. Defendants must not take any
action to interfere with or to impede the
divestiture trustee’s accomplishment of
the divestiture.
I. The divestiture trustee must
maintain complete records of all efforts
made to sell the Divestiture Assets,
including by filing monthly reports with
Plaintiffs setting forth the divestiture
trustee’s efforts to accomplish the
divestiture ordered by this Final
Judgment. The reports must include the
name, address, and telephone number of
each person who, during the preceding
month, made an offer to acquire,
expressed an interest in acquiring,
entered into negotiations to acquire, or
was contacted or made an inquiry about
acquiring any interest in the Divestiture
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Assets and must describe in detail each
contact with any such person.
J. If the divestiture trustee has not
accomplished the divestiture ordered by
this Final Judgment within six months
of appointment, the divestiture trustee
must promptly provide Plaintiffs with a
report setting forth: (1) The divestiture
trustee’s efforts to accomplish the
required divestiture; (2) the reasons, in
the divestiture trustee’s judgment, why
the required divestiture has not been
accomplished; and (3) the divestiture
trustee’s recommendations for
completing the divestiture. Following
receipt of that report, the United States
may make additional recommendations
consistent with the purpose of the trust
to the Court. The Court thereafter may
enter such orders as it deems
appropriate to carry out the purpose of
this Final Judgment, which may include
extending the trust and the term of the
divestiture trustee’s appointment by a
period requested by the United States.
K. The divestiture trustee will serve
until divestiture of all Divestiture Assets
is completed or for a term otherwise
ordered by the Court.
L. If the United States determines that
the divestiture trustee is not acting
diligently or in a reasonably costeffective manner, the United States may
recommend that the Court appoint a
substitute divestiture trustee.
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VI. Notice of Proposed Divestiture
A. Within two (2) business days
following execution of a definitive
divestiture agreement, Defendants or the
divestiture trustee, whichever is then
responsible for effecting the divestiture,
must notify Plaintiffs of a proposed
divestiture required by this Final
Judgment. If the divestiture trustee is
responsible for completing the
divestiture, the divestiture trustee also
must notify Defendants. The notice
must set forth the details of the
proposed divestiture and list the name,
address, and telephone number of each
person not previously identified who
offered or expressed an interest in or
desire to acquire any ownership interest
in the Divestiture Assets.
B. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of
receipt by the United States of this
notice, the United States may request
from Defendants, the proposed
Acquirer(s), other third parties, or the
divestiture trustee additional
information concerning the proposed
divestiture, the proposed Acquirer(s)
and other prospective Acquirers.
Defendants and the divestiture trustee
must furnish the additional information
requested within fifteen (15) calendar
days of the receipt of the request, unless
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the United States provides written
agreement to a different period.
C. Within forty-five (45) calendar days
after receipt of the notice required by
Paragraph VI(A) or within twenty (20)
calendar days after the United States has
been provided the additional
information requested pursuant to
Paragraph VI(B), whichever is later, the
United States must provide written
notice to Defendants and any divestiture
trustee that states whether or not the
United States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States,
objects to Acquirer(s) or any other
aspect of the proposed divestiture.
Without written notice that the United
States does not object, a divestiture may
not be consummated. If the United
States provides written notice that it
does not object, the divestiture may be
consummated, subject only to
Defendants’ limited right to object to the
sale under Paragraph V(C) of this Final
Judgment. Upon objection by
Defendants pursuant to Paragraph V(C),
a divestiture by the divestiture trustee
may not be consummated unless
approved by the Court.
D. No information or documents
obtained pursuant to this Section VI
may be divulged by Plaintiffs to any
person other than an authorized
representative of the executive branch of
the United States or an authorized
representative of the Plaintiff States,
except in the course of legal proceedings
to which the United States is a party,
including grand-jury proceedings, for
the purpose of evaluating a proposed
Acquirer or securing compliance with
this Final Judgment, or as otherwise
required by law.
E. In the event of a request by a third
party for disclosure of information
under the Freedom of Information Act,
5 U.S.C. 552, the Antitrust Division will
act in accordance with that statute and
the Department of Justice regulations at
28 CFR part 16, including the provision
on confidential commercial information
at 28 CFR 16.7. Persons submitting
information to the Antitrust Division
should designate the confidential
commercial information portions of all
applicable documents and information
under 28 CFR 16.7. Designations of
confidentiality expire ten years after
submission, ‘‘unless the submitter
requests and provides justification for a
longer designation period.’’ See 28 CFR
16.7(b).
F. If at the time that a person
furnishes information or documents to
the United States or the Plaintiff States
pursuant to this Section VI, that person
represents and identifies in writing
information or documents for which a
claim of protection may be asserted
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70013
under Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, and marks
each pertinent page of such material,
‘‘Subject to claim of protection under
Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure,’’ the United States and
the Plaintiff States must give that person
ten calendar days’ notice before
divulging the material in any legal
proceeding (other than a grand-jury
proceeding).
VII. Financing
Defendants may not finance all or any
part of any Acquirer’s purchase of all or
part of the Divestiture Assets made
pursuant to this Final Judgment.
VIII. Asset Preservation
Until the divestiture required by this
Final Judgment has been accomplished,
Defendants must take all steps necessary
to comply with the Asset Preservation
Stipulation and Order entered by the
Court. Defendants must take no action
that would jeopardize the divestiture
ordered by the Court.
IX. Affidavits
A. Within twenty (20) calendar days
of the filing of the Complaint in this
matter, and every thirty (30) calendar
days thereafter until the divestiture
required by this Final Judgment has
been completed, Defendants must
deliver to Plaintiffs an affidavit, signed
by each Defendant’s Chief Financial
Officer and General Counsel, describing
the fact and manner of Defendants’
compliance with this Final Judgment.
The United States, in its sole discretion,
may approve different signatories for the
affidavits.
B. Each affidavit must include: (1)
The name, address, and telephone
number of each person who, during the
preceding thirty (30) calendar days,
made an offer to acquire, expressed an
interest in acquiring, entered into
negotiations to acquire, or was
contacted or made an inquiry about
acquiring, an interest in the Divestiture
Assets and describe in detail each
contact with such persons during that
period; (2) a description of the efforts
Defendants have taken to solicit buyers
for and complete the sale of the
Divestiture Assets, and to provide
required information to prospective
Acquirers; and (3) a description of any
limitations placed by Defendants on
information provided to prospective
Acquirers. If the information set forth in
the affidavit is true and complete,
objection by the United States to
information provided by Defendants to
prospective Acquirers must be made
within fourteen (14) calendar days of
receipt of the affidavit.
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C. Defendants must keep all records of
any efforts made to divest the
Divestiture Assets until one year after
the divestiture has been completed.
D. Within twenty (20) calendar days
of the filing of the Complaint in this
matter, Defendants also must deliver to
Plaintiffs an affidavit signed by each
Defendant’s Chief Financial Officer and
General Counsel, that describes in
reasonable detail all actions Defendants
have taken and all steps Defendants
have implemented on an ongoing basis
to comply with Section VIII of this Final
Judgment. The United States, in its sole
discretion, may approve different
signatories for the affidavits.
E. If Defendants make any changes to
the efforts and actions outlined in any
earlier affidavits provided pursuant to
Paragraph IX(D), Defendants must,
within fifteen (15) calendar days after
any change is implemented, deliver to
Plaintiffs an affidavit describing those
changes.
F. Defendants must keep all records of
any efforts made to preserve the
Divestiture Assets until one year after
the divestiture has been completed.
X. Compliance Inspection
A. For the purposes of determining or
securing compliance with this Final
Judgment, or of related orders such as
the Asset Preservation Stipulation and
Order or of determining whether this
Final Judgment should be modified or
vacated, upon written request of an
authorized representative of the
Assistant Attorney General for the
Antitrust Division, and reasonable
notice to Defendants, Defendants must
permit, from time to time and subject to
legally recognized privileges, authorized
representatives, including agents
retained by the United States:
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1. To have access during Defendants’ office
hours to inspect and copy, or at the option
of the United States, to require Defendants to
provide electronic copies of all books,
ledgers, accounts, records, data, and
documents in the possession, custody, or
control of Defendants relating to any matters
contained in this Final Judgment; and
2. to interview, either informally or on the
record, Defendants’ officers, employees, or
agents, who may have their individual
counsel present, regarding such matters. The
interviews must be subject to the reasonable
convenience of the interviewee and without
restraint or interference by Defendants.
B. Upon the written request of an
authorized representative of the
Assistant Attorney General for the
Antitrust Division, Defendants must
submit written reports or respond to
written interrogatories, under oath if
requested, relating to any of the matters
contained in this Final Judgment.
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C. No information or documents
obtained by the United States pursuant
to this Section X may be divulged by
Plaintiffs to any person other than an
authorized representative of the
executive branch of the United States or
an authorized representative of the
Plaintiff States, except in the course of
legal proceedings to which the United
States is a party, including grand jury
proceedings, for the purpose of securing
compliance with this Final Judgment, or
as otherwise required by law.
D. In the event of a request by a third
party for disclosure of information
under the Freedom of Information Act,
5 U.S.C. 552, the Antitrust Division will
act in accordance with that statute and
the Department of Justice regulations at
28 CFR part 16, including the provision
on confidential commercial information
at 28 CFR 16.7. Defendants submitting
information to the Antitrust Division
should designate the confidential
commercial information portions of all
applicable documents and information
under 28 CFR 16.7. Designations of
confidentiality expire ten years after
submission, ‘‘unless the submitter
requests and provides justification for a
longer designation period.’’ See 28 CFR
16.7(b).
E. If at the time that Defendants
furnish information or documents to the
United States pursuant to this Section
X, Defendants represent and identify in
writing information or documents for
which a claim of protection may be
asserted under Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and
Defendants mark each pertinent page of
such material, ‘‘Subject to claim of
protection under Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,’’ the
United States must give Defendants ten
(10) calendar days’ notice before
divulging the material in any legal
proceeding (other than a grand jury
proceeding).
XI. Notification
A. Unless a transaction is otherwise
subject to the reporting and waiting
period requirements of the Hart-ScottRodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 18a (the
‘‘HSR Act’’), Defendants may not,
without first providing notification to
the United States and to any Plaintiff
State in which any of the assets or
interests are located, directly or
indirectly acquire (including through an
asset swap agreement) any assets of or
any interest, including a financial,
security, loan, equity, or management
interest, in any person or entity
involved in MSW Disposal and/or Small
Container Commercial Waste Collection
services in any area identified in
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Appendix D, where that person’s or
entity’s revenues for the 12 months
preceding the proposed acquisition from
MSW Disposal and/or Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection services
in the identified area were in excess of
$500,000. This provision also applies to
an acquisition of facilities that serve an
identified area but are located outside
the area and requires notice to any
Plaintiff State where an identified area
in the state is serviced by assets or
interests to be acquired that are located
outside of the state’s border.
B. Defendants must provide the
notification required by this Section XI
in the same format as, and in
accordance with the instructions
relating to, the Notification and Report
Form set forth in the Appendix to Part
803 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations as amended, except that the
information requested in Items 5
through 8 of the instructions must be
provided only about MSW Disposal and
Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection. Notification must be
provided at least thirty (30) calendar
days before acquiring any assets or
interest, and must include, beyond the
information required by the
instructions, the names of the principal
representatives who negotiated the
transaction on behalf of each party and
all management or strategic plans
discussing the proposed transaction. If,
within the thirty (30) calendar days
following notification, representatives of
the United States make a written request
for additional information, Defendants
may not consummate the proposed
transaction until thirty (30) calendar
days after submitting all requested
information.
C. Early termination of the waiting
periods set forth in this Section XI may
be requested and, where appropriate,
granted in the same manner as is
applicable under the requirements and
provisions of the HSR Act and rules
promulgated thereunder. This Section
XI must be broadly construed and any
ambiguity or uncertainty regarding
whether to file a notice under this
Section XI must be resolved in favor of
filing notice.
XII. Limitations on Reacquisition
Defendants may not reacquire any
part of or any interest in the Divestiture
Assets during the term of this Final
Judgment.
XIII. Retention of Jurisdiction
The Court retains jurisdiction to
enable any party to this Final Judgment
to apply to the Court at any time for
further orders and directions as may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out or
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construe this Final Judgment, to modify
any of its provisions, to enforce
compliance, and to punish violations of
its provisions.
XIV. Enforcement of Final Judgment
A. The United States retains and
reserves all rights to enforce the
provisions of this Final Judgment,
including the right to seek an order of
contempt from the Court. Defendants
agree that in a civil contempt action, a
motion to show cause, or a similar
action brought by the United States
regarding an alleged violation of this
Final Judgment, the United States may
establish a violation of this Final
Judgment and the appropriateness of a
remedy therefor by a preponderance of
the evidence, and Defendants waive any
argument that a different standard of
proof should apply.
B. This Final Judgment should be
interpreted to give full effect to the
procompetitive purposes of the antitrust
laws and to restore the competition the
United States and the Plaintiff States
allege was harmed by the challenged
conduct. Defendants agree that they may
be held in contempt of, and that the
Court may enforce, any provision of this
Final Judgment that, as interpreted by
the Court in light of these
procompetitive principles and applying
ordinary tools of interpretation, is stated
specifically and in reasonable detail,
whether or not it is clear and
unambiguous on its face. In any such
interpretation, the terms of this Final
Judgment should not be construed
against either party as the drafter.
C. In an enforcement proceeding in
which the Court finds that Defendants
have violated this Final Judgment, the
United States may apply to the Court for
a one-time extension of this Final
Judgment, together with other relief that
may be appropriate. In connection with
a successful effort by the United States
to enforce this Final Judgment against a
Defendant, whether litigated or resolved
before litigation, that Defendant agrees
to reimburse the United States for the
fees and expenses of its attorneys, as
well as all other costs including experts’
fees, incurred in connection with that
enforcement effort, including in the
investigation of the potential violation.
D. For a period of four (4) years
following the expiration of this Final
Judgment, if the United States has
evidence that a Defendant violated this
Final Judgment before it expired, the
United States may file an action against
that Defendant in this Court requesting
that the Court order: (1) Defendant to
comply with the terms of this Final
Judgment for an additional term of at
least four years following the filing of
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the enforcement action; (2) all
appropriate contempt remedies; (3)
additional relief needed to ensure the
Defendant complies with the terms of
this Final Judgment; and (4) fees or
expenses as called for by this Section
XIV.
XV. Expiration of Final Judgment
Unless the Court grants an extension,
this Final Judgment will expire ten (10)
years from the date of its entry, except
that after five (5) years from the date of
its entry, this Final Judgment may be
terminated upon notice by the United
States, after consultation with the
Plaintiff States, to the Court and
Defendants that the divestiture has been
completed and the continuation of this
Final Judgment is no longer necessary or
in the public interest.
XVI. Public Interest Determination
Entry of this Final Judgment is in the
public interest. The parties have
complied with the requirements of the
Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act,
15 U.S.C. 16, including by making
available to the public copies of this
Final Judgment and the Competitive
Impact Statement, public comments
thereon, and any response to comments
by the United States. Based upon the
record before the Court, which includes
the Competitive Impact Statement and,
if applicable, any comments and
response to comments filed with the
Court, entry of this Final Judgment is in
the public interest.
Date: llllllllllllllll
[Court approval subject to procedures of
Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act,
15 U.S.C. 16]
lllllllllllllllllll
United States District Judge
Appendix A: List of Divested Landfills
and Transfer Stations (Paragraph
II(O)(1))
I. Alabama
a. ADS’s Stone’s Throw Landfill, located at
1303 Washington Boulevard, Tallassee,
Alabama 36078;
b. ADS’s Turkey Trot Landfill, located at
2328 Mannish Ryan Road, Citronelle,
Alabama 36522;
c. ADS’s Mobile Transfer Station, located
at 5740 Carole Plantation Road, Mobile,
Alabama 36582;
d. ADS’s Central Alabama Transfer Station,
located at 2141 Hunter Loop Road,
Montgomery, Alabama 36108;
e. ADS’s East Alabama Transfer Station,
located at 2100 Poplar Street, Opelika,
Alabama 36801;
f. WMI’s Phenix City Transfer Station,
located at 610 State Docks Road Southeast,
Phenix City, Alabama 36867.
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II. Georgia
a. ADS’s Eagle Point Landfill, located at
8880, 9465, 9385, and 9425 Old Federal
Road, Ball Ground, Georgia 30107 and Land
Lots 37, 38, 107 and 108, District 3, Canton,
Georgia;
b. ADS’s Gwinnett Transfer Station,
located at 535 Seaboard Industrial Drive,
Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046;
c. ADS’s Smyrna Transfer Station, located
at 4696 South Cobb Drive SE, Smyrna,
Georgia 30080;
d. ADS’s Welcome All Transfer Station,
located at 5225 Welcome All Road, College
Park, Georgia 30349;
e. ADS’s Cobb County Transfer Station,
located at 1897 County Services Parkway,
Marietta, Georgia 30008.
III. Florida
a. ADS’s Ocala Transfer Station, located at
5111 South Pine Avenue, Ocala, Florida
34479.
IV. Illinois
a. ADS’s Zion Landfill, located at 701
Green Bay Road, Zion, Illinois 60099;
b. ADS’s Rolling Meadows Transfer
Station, located at 3851 Berdnick Street,
Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008;
c. ADS’s Northbrook Transfer Station,
located at 2750 Shermer Road, Northbrook,
Illinois 60062;
d. WMI’s Elburn Transfer Station, located
at 1 N 138 Linlar Drive, Elburn, Illinois
60119.
V. Indiana
a. ADS’s Hoosier Landfill, located at 2710
East 800 South Road, Claypool, Indiana
46510;
b. ADS’s Fort Wayne Transfer Station,
located at 4429 Allen Martin Drive, Fort
Wayne, Indiana 46806.
VI. Michigan
a. ADS’s Arbor Hills Landfill, located at
10690 West Six Mile Road, Northville,
Michigan 48168;
b. ADS’s Pontiac Transfer Station, located
at 575 Collier Road, Auburn Hills, Michigan
48340;
c. ADS’s Dearborn Transfer Station, located
at 3051 Schaefer Road, Dearborn, Michigan
48126.
VII. Minnesota
a. ADS’s Rochester Transfer Station,
located at 4245 and 4225 Highway 14 East,
Rochester, Minnesota 55904.
VIII. Pennsylvania
a. ADS’s Sandy Run Landfill, located at
915 and 995 Landfill Road, Hopewell,
Pennsylvania 16650;
b. ADS’s Greentree Landfill, located at 635
Toby Road, Kersey, Pennsylvania 15846;
c. ADS Chestnut Valley Landfill, located at
1184 McClellandtown Road,
McClellandtown, Pennsylvania 15458;
d. ADS’s Diller Transfer Station, located at
6820 Wertzville Road, Enola, Pennsylvania
17025;
e. WMI’s Southern Alleghenies Landfill,
located at 843 Miller Picking Road,
Davidsville, Pennsylvania 15928.
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IX. Wisconsin
a. ADS’s Emerald Park Landfill, located at
W124 S10629 South 124th Street, Muskego,
Wisconsin 53150;
b. ADS’s Glacier Ridge Landfill, located at
N7296 Highway V, Horicon, Wisconsin
53032;
c. ADS’s Hickory Meadows Landfill,
located at W3105 Schneider Road, Hilbert,
Wisconsin 54129;
d. ADS’s Mallard Ridge Landfill, located at
W8470 State Road 11, Delavan, Wisconsin
53115;
e. ADS’s Seven Mile Creek Landfill,
located at 8001 Olson Drive, Eau Claire,
Wisconsin 54703;
f. ADS’s Waunakee Transfer Station,
located at 300, 304, 306, and 308 Raemisch
Road, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597;
g. ADS’s Fort Atkinson Transfer Station,
located at 1203, 1205, and 1215 Klement
Street, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538;
h. ADS’s Kenosha Transfer Station, located
at 5421 46th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin
53144;
i. ADS’s Muskego Transfer Station, located
at W143 S6350, W143 6400, and W144 S6350
College Court, Muskego, Wisconsin 53150;
j. ADS’s Germantown Transfer Station,
located at N104 W13075 Donges Bay Road,
Germantown, Wisconsin 53022;
k. ADS’s West Bend Transfer Station,
located at 803 North River Road and 1422
Lang Street, West Bend, Wisconsin 53095;
l. ADS’s Hartland Transfer Station, located
at 630 Industrial Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin
53029;
m. ADS’s Omro Transfer Station, located at
250 Alder Avenue, Omro, Wisconsin 54963
and W200 Ft. of Lot 4: CSM 5477 Omro,
Wisconsin 54963;
n. ADS’s De Pere Transfer Station, located
at 1799 County Trunk Hwy PP, De Pere,
Wisconsin 54115;
o. ADS’s Chilton Transfer Station
(Recyclery), located at 1113 Park and 1045
Park Street, Chilton, Wisconsin 53014;
p. ADS’s Door County Transfer Station,
located at 1509 Division Road, Sturgeon Bay,
Wisconsin 54235;
q. ADS’s Medford Transfer Station, located
at 645 Jensen Drive, Medford, Wisconsin
54451;
r. ADS’s Roberts Transfer Station, located
at 100 Packer Drive, Roberts, Wisconsin
54023;
s. ADS’s Horicon Transfer Station, located
at N7296 Highway V, Horicon, Wisconsin
53032;
t. ADS’s Waunakee Material Recovery
Facility, located at 300, 304, 306, and 308
Raemisch Road, Waunakee, Wisconsin
53597;
u. WMI’s Janesville Transfer Station,
located at 304 West Sunny Lane, Janesville,
Wisconsin 53546;
v. WMI’s Darlington Transfer Station,
located at 11500 Ames Road, Darlington,
Wisconsin 53530;
w. WMI’s Mosinee Transfer Station,
located at 204500 State Highway 34 (i.e.,
1372 State Highway 34), Mosinee, Wisconsin
54455;
x. WMI’s Antigo Transfer Station, located
at 1715 Deleglise Street, Antigo, Wisconsin
54409;
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y. WMI’s Chippewa Falls Transfer Station,
located at 11888 & 11863 30th Avenue,
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729;
z. WMI’s Sheboygan Falls Transfer Station,
located at 115 Birch Road, Sheboygan Falls,
Wisconsin 53085.
Appendix B: List of Divested Hauling
Facilities and Routes (Paragraph
II(O)(3))
I. Alabama
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. Tuscaloosa Routes: 710, 711, 712, and
713;
ii. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City
Routes: 901, 902, 908, 950, 951, 952, 953,
954, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, and 961;
iii. Mobile Routes: 900, 901, 910, 920, and
925;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City
Routes: 605, 606, 612, 613, 616, 622, 623, and
624;
c. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City
Routes: 409 (i.e. ‘‘Alex City Roll Off’’);
d. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1121
Wilbanks Street, Montgomery, Alabama
36108;
e. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1303
Washington Boulevard, Tallassee, Alabama
36078;
f. ADS’s hauling facility located at 4701
12th Street Northeast, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
35404;
g. ADS’s hauling facility located at 6225
Rangeline Road, Theodore, Alabama 36582;
h. ADS’s hauling facility located at 4342
Washington Street, Alexander City, Alabama
35010.
II. Georgia
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. Augusta routes: 901, 904, 905, 907, 908,
909, 910, and 911;
b. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1064
Franke Industrial Drive, Augusta, Georgia
30909.
III. Florida
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. Ocala Routes: 701, 702, 704, and 706;
ii. Jacksonville Routes: 901, 902, 906, 907,
908, 910, 911, 913, 918, 922;
b. The following WMI Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. St. Johns and Clay County Routes: J181,
J281, J381, J481, J581, J681, J189, J289, J389,
J489, J589, J689;
ii. Citrus County Routes: W180, W280,
W380, W480, W580, W680, W186, and
W475;
c. ADS’s hauling facility located at 5111
South Pine Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34480;
d. ADS’s hauling facility located at 7580
Philips Highway, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.
IV. Michigan
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
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i. Pontiac Routes: 751, 752, 753, 754, 755,
756, 757, 758, 759, 763, 765, 766, and 767;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 403, 405, 493, 495, 500,
501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 509, 514, 592,
595, 596, and 599;
c. The following ADS Yard Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 301, 401, 402, 492, 498,
and 901;
d. The following ADS Commercial
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 511, 771, and 772;
e. The following ADS Residential
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 507, 508, 597, and 598;
f. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 601, 602, 603, 604, 605,
606, 622, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657,
658, 659, and 670;
g. ADS hauling facility located at 575
Collier Road, Auburn Hills, Michigan 48340.
V. Minnesota
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. St. Cloud Routes: 710, 720, 730, and 740;
ii. Rochester Routes: 701, 705, 709, 711,
730, and 750;
b. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2355
12th Street Southeast, St. Cloud, Minnesota
56304;
c. ADS’s hauling facility located at 4245
and 4225 Highway 14 East, Rochester,
Minnesota 55904.
VI. Pennsylvania
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 711, 712, and
713;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste
Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 153, 154, 440,
443, 444, 447, 449, 451, 454, and 459;
c. The following ADS Commercial
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 725 and 811;
d. The following ADS Residential
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 801 and 805;
e. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste
Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 603;
f. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1192
McClellandtown Road, McClellandtown,
Pennsylvania 15458.
VII. Wisconsin
a. The following ADS Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. Beloit Routes: 100;
ii. Madison Routes: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104,
105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 301, and 401;
iii. Hartland Routes: 701, 702, 703, 704,
705, 706, 707, 708, 740, 741, and 742;
iv. Muskego Routes: 505, 924, 980, 981,
982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990,
991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, and
999;
v. West Bend and Horicon Routes: 705,
711, 725, 760, 761, 765, 766, 767, 771, 776,
and 777;
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vi. Omro Routes: 150, 151, 152, 153, 154,
155, 156, 157, 700, 702, 739, 742, 744, 745,
747, 748, and 778;
vii. Green Bay Routes: 701, 702, 703, 704,
705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 714, and 751;
viii. Chilton and Kaukauna Routes: 702,
703, 704, 705, 710, 711, 712, 713, and 714;
ix. Fort Atkinson Routes: 151, 152, 351,
352, and 353;
x. Door County Routes: 710 and 711;
xi. Medford Routes: 422 and 423;
xii. Waukegan Routes: 704, 708, and 709;
b. The following WMI Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection Routes:
i. Antigo Routes: O1AA, O1EE, O2DD,
O2EE, O2FF, O3AA, O3EE, O4AA, O4DD,
and O5EE;
ii. Chippewa Falls Routes: K1A1, K2A1,
K3A1, K3A3, K4A3, K5A1, and K5A3;
iii. Darlington Routes: F1A2, F2A3, and
F5A3;
iv. Sheboygan Routes: W1A7, W2A7,
W3A7, W4A7, and W5A7;
v. Janesville Routes: H1GC, H1GD, H1GF,
H2GC, H2GA, H2GD, H2GF, H3GF, H3GC,
H3GD, H4GD, H4GA, H4GC, H4GF, H5GF,
H5GC, H5GA, H5GD, H5GE, H6PZ, and
H6QZ;
vi. Mosinee Routes: G1A1, G1A2, G1A3,
G1A4, G1A5, G2A1, G2A2, G2A4, G2A5,
G2A6, G3A1, G3A2, G3A3, G3A4, G3A5,
G4A1, G4A5, G5A1, G5A2, G5A3, G5A4,
G5A5, and G1M1;
c. The following ADS Co-Collect Routes:
i. Green Bay Routes: 711, 712, 713, 715,
716, 717, and 719;
ii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 589;
iii. Door County Routes: 500, 501, 502, 503,
and 504;
d. The following ADS Mixed Collection
Routes:
i. Eau Claire Routes: 442;
e. The following ADS Residential Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Muskego Routes: 011, 504, 524, 525, 526,
527, 528, 529, 530, 536, 537, 541, 542, 548,
549, 550, 553, 595, and 599;
ii. Green Bay Routes: 500, 501, 502, 503,
504, 505, 506, 508, 509, 510, 512, 513, 514,
516, and 714;
iii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 551, 553, 554,
555, 557, 558, 559, 560, 562, and 571;
f. The following ADS Residential Recycling
Collection Routes:
i. Muskego Routes: 556, 584, 585, 701, 702,
703, 705, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 727, 735,
741, and 755;
ii. Green Bay Routes: 800, 801, 802, 803,
804, 805, 806, 807, 808, and 809;
iii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 653, 658, 659,
671, 672, 673, 674, 676, 677, and 680;
g. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste
Collection Routes:
i. Door County Routes: 606;
h. The following ADS Commercial
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Beloit Routes: 200;
ii. Madison Routes: 201, 202, 203, 204, 205,
206, 207, and 208;
iii. Hartland Routes: 815, 865, 885, 886,
888, 889, and 890;
iv. Muskego Routes: 014, 015, 017, 018,
019, 020, 021, 022, 023, 024, 025, and 026;
v. West Bend and Horicon Routes: 706,
751, 778, 780, 781, 782, 783, and 791;
vi. Omro Routes: 150, 152, 153, 154, 155,
156, 157, 779, 896, and 898;
vii. Green Bay Routes: 720, 721, 722, 723,
724, 725, and 726;
viii. Waukegan Routes: 725 and 751;
ix. Chilton and Kaukauna Routes: 401, 721,
722, 723, 724, 725, 730, and 731;
x. Fort Atkinson Routes: 251, 252, 254, and
451;
xi. Door County Routes: 710 and 711;
xii. Medford Routes: 428 and 448;
i. The following WMI Commercial
Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Antigo Routes: O1CC, O3DD, O3CC,
O4CC, and O5CC;
ii. Chippewa Falls Routes: K1A2, K2A2,
K3A2, K4A2, and K5A2;
iii. Darlington Routes: F3S1;
iv. Sheboygan Routes: W2S2 and W5S2;
v. Janesville Routes: H1IB, H1IC, H2IB,
H3IB, H3IC, H4IB, H5IF, H5IC, and H5IB;
vi. Mosinee Routes: G1G2, G1G4, G2G1,
G2G3, G3G1, G3G4, G4A4, G4G1, G4G2,
G4G3, G4G4, G5G1, and G5G4;
j. ADS’s hauling facility located at W143 S
6440 College Court, Muskego, Wisconsin
53150;
k. ADS’s hauling facility located at N7296
Highway V, Horicon, Wisconsin 53032;
l. ADS’s hauling facility located at 803
North River Road and 1422 Lang Street, West
Bend, Wisconsin 53095;
m. ADS’s hauling facility located at 250
Alder Avenue, Omro, Wisconsin 54963;
n. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1799
County Trunk Highway, De Pere, Wisconsin
54115;
o. ADS’s hauling facility located at 428
High Street, Chilton, Wisconsin 53014;
p. ADS’s hauling facility located at N2016
Vandenbroek Road, Kaukauna, Wisconsin
54130;
70017
q. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1509
Division Road, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
54235;
r. ADS’s hauling facility, located at 630
Industrial Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin 53029;
s. ADS’s hauling facility located at 645
Jensen Drive, Medford, Wisconsin 54451;
t. ADS’s hauling facility located at 300,
304, 306, and 308 Raemisch Road,
Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597;
u. ADS’s hauling facility located at 1203,
1205, and 1215 Klement Street, Fort
Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538;
v. WMI’s hauling facility located at 204500
State Highway 34 (i.e., 1372 State Highway
34), Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455;
w. WMI’s hauling facility located at 1715
Deleglise Street, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409;
x. WMI’s hauling facility located at 11888
& 11863 30th Avenue, Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin 54729;
y. WMI’s hauling facility located at 304
West Sunny Lane, Janesville, Wisconsin
53546;
z. WMI’s hauling facility located at 11500
Ames Road, Darlington, Wisconsin 53530.
Appendix C: List of Retained Hauling
Facilities (Paragraph II(O)(4)(e))
I. Florida
a. WMI’s hauling facility located at 8708
NE 44th Drive, Wildwood, Florida 34785;
b. WMI’s hauling facility located at 6501
Greenland Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32258.
II. Wisconsin
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2301 W
B R Townline Road, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511;
b. WMI’s hauling facility located at 301
Thomas Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
54935;
c. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2626
Mondovi Road, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701;
d. ADS’s hauling facility located at 559
Progress Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin 53029.
III. Illinois
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2230
Ernie Krueger Circle, Waukegan, Illinois
60087.
IV. Georgia
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 5734
Columbia Road, Grovetown, GA 30813.
Appendix D: Areas for Which the
Notice Provision in Paragraph XI(A)
Applies
Geographic market
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Relevant service
East Central, Alabama .............................................
Lee County, Alabama ...............................................
Macon County, Alabama ..........................................
Mobile, Alabama .......................................................
Montgomery County, Alabama .................................
Phenix City, Alabama ...............................................
Tuscaloosa, Alabama ...............................................
Jacksonville, Florida .................................................
Ocala, Florida ...........................................................
Atlanta, Georgia ........................................................
Lee and Macon Counties, AL .................................
Lee County, AL .......................................................
Macon County, AL ..................................................
City of Mobile, AL ....................................................
Montgomery County, AL .........................................
Phenix City, AL .......................................................
City of Tuscaloosa, AL ............................................
Duvall, St. Johns, and Clay Counties, FL ...............
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL ..............................
Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, and
Cobb Counties, GA.
Columbia and Richmond Counties, GA and
Edgefield and Aiken Counties, SC.
Kane County, IL ......................................................
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
Augusta, Georgia ......................................................
Kane County, Illinois .................................................
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SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
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Geographic market
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Lake County, Illinois .................................................
Northern Cook County, Illinois .................................
Lake County, IL .......................................................
Area west of Interstate 94 and north of Interstate
90 in Cook County, Illinois.
Allen, Kosciusko, and Whitley Counties, IN ...........
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties, MI ..........
City of Rochester, MN .............................................
City of St. Cloud, MN ..............................................
Centre and Clearfield Counties, PA ........................
Clarion, Jefferson, and Indiana Counties, PA ........
Fayette and Greene Counties, PA ..........................
Cambria and Somerset Counties, PA .....................
Bedford County, PA ................................................
Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, WI
Calumet County, WI ................................................
Clark and Taylor Counties, WI ................................
Dane County, WI .....................................................
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI .................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and
Washington Counties, WI.
Calumet, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc Counties, WI
Brown and Outagamie Counties, WI ......................
Green County, WI ...................................................
Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties,
WI.
Jackson County, WI ................................................
Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth Counties, WI .........
Jefferson County, WI ..............................................
Kenosha County, WI ...............................................
Kewaunee County, WI ............................................
Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, and Shawano Counties, WI.
Manitowoc County, WI ............................................
Marinette and Oconto Counties, WI .......................
Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties, WI ..........
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ..
Price County, WI .....................................................
Rock County, WI .....................................................
Sauk County, WI .....................................................
Pierce and St. Croix Counties, WI ..........................
Walworth County, WI ..............................................
Waupaca County, WI ..............................................
Waushara and Winnebago Counties, WI ...............
Fort Wayne, Indiana .................................................
Detroit, Michigan .......................................................
Rochester, Minnesota ...............................................
St. Cloud, Minnesota ................................................
State College, Pennsylvania ....................................
Indiana County, Pennsylvania ..................................
Fayette County, Pennsylvania ..................................
Somerset County, Pennsylvania ..............................
Bedford County, Pennsylvania .................................
Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Calumet County, Wisconsin .....................................
Clark, Wisconsin .......................................................
Dane County, Wisconsin ..........................................
Eau Claire, Wisconsin ..............................................
Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ................
Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin .................................
Green Bay, Wisconsin ..............................................
Green County, Wisconsin .........................................
Green Lake, Wisconsin ............................................
Jackson County, Wisconsin .....................................
Janesville, Wisconsin ...............................................
Jefferson County, Wisconsin ....................................
Kenosha County, Wisconsin ....................................
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin ..................................
Langlade, Wisconsin ................................................
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin .................................
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin .................................................
Marathon, Wisconsin ................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ..............................................
Price County, Wisconsin ..........................................
Rock County, Wisconsin ..........................................
Sauk County, Wisconsin ..........................................
St. Croix, Wisconsin .................................................
Walworth County, Wisconsin ....................................
Waupaca, Wisconsin ................................................
Waushara, Wisconsin ...............................................
United States District Court for the
District of Columbia
United States of America, State of Florida,
State of Illinois, State of Minnesota,
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and State of
Wisconsin, Plaintiffs, v. Waste Management,
Inc. and Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.,
Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20–cv–3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES3
Competitive Impact Statement
The United States of America, under
Section 2(b) of the Antitrust Procedures
and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(b)–(h)
(the ‘‘APPA’’ or ‘‘Tunney Act’’), files
this Competitive Impact Statement
relating to the proposed Final Judgment
submitted for entry in this civil antitrust
proceeding.
I. Nature and Purpose of the Proceeding
On April 14, 2019, Waste
Management, Inc (‘‘WMI’’) agreed to
acquire Advanced Disposal Services,
Inc. (‘‘ADS’’) for approximately $4.9
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billion. On June 24, 2020, WMI and
ADS agreed to a revised purchase price
of approximately $4.6 billion. The
United States, the States of Florida,
Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the
‘‘Plaintiff States’’) filed a civil antitrust
Complaint on October 23, 2020, seeking
to enjoin the proposed acquisition. The
Complaint alleges that the likely effect
of this acquisition would be to
substantially lessen competition for
Small Container Commercial Waste
(‘‘SCCW’’) collection or municipal solid
waste (‘‘MSW’’) disposal in 57
geographic markets in the eastern
United States in violation of Section 7
of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18.
At the same time the Complaint was
filed, the United States and the Plaintiff
States filed an Asset Preservation
Stipulation and Order (‘‘Stipulation and
Order’’) and proposed Final Judgment,
which are designed to remedy the loss
of competition alleged in the Complaint.
Under the proposed Final Judgment,
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Relevant service
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
which is explained more fully below,
Defendants are required to divest
specified SCCW collection and MSW
disposal assets in ten different states.
Under the terms of the Stipulation and
Order, Defendants will take certain
steps to ensure that the assets to be
divested are operated in such a way as
to ensure that the assets continue to be
ongoing, economically viable, and
active competitors in the provision of
Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection and MSW Disposal, and that
the assets maintain full economic
viability, marketability, and
competitiveness during the pendency of
the required divestiture.
The United States and Defendants
have stipulated that the proposed Final
Judgment may be entered after
compliance with the APPA. Entry of the
proposed Final Judgment will terminate
this action, except that the Court will
retain jurisdiction to construe, modify,
or enforce the provisions of the
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proposed Final Judgment and to punish
violations thereof.
II. Description of Events Giving Rise to
the Alleged Violation
A. The Defendants and the Proposed
Transaction
WMI is a Delaware corporation
headquartered in Houston, Texas. WMI
is the largest solid waste hauling and
disposal company in the United States
and provides waste collection,
recycling, and disposal (including
transfer) services. WMI operates in 49
states and the District of Columbia. For
2019, WMI reported revenues of
approximately $15.5 billion.
ADS is a Delaware corporation
headquartered in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
It is the fourth-largest solid waste
hauling and disposal company in the
United States and provides waste
collection, recycling, and disposal
(including transfer) services. ADS
operates in 16 states, primarily in the
Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast
regions of the United States. For 2019,
ADS reported revenues of
approximately $1.6 billion.
On April 14, 2019, WMI agreed to
acquire all of the outstanding common
stock of ADS for approximately $4.9
billion. On June 24, 2020, WMI and
ADS agreed to a revised purchase price
of approximately $4.6 billion.
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B. Relevant Product Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection
As alleged in the Complaint, SCCW
(small container commercial waste)
collection is a relevant product market.
Waste collection firms—also called
haulers—collect MSW (municipal solid
waste) from residential, commercial,
and industrial establishments, and
transport that waste to a disposal site,
such as a transfer station, landfill or
incinerator, for processing and disposal.
SCCW collection is the business of
collecting MSW from commercial and
industrial accounts, usually in small
containers (i.e., dumpsters with one to
ten cubic yards capacity), and
transporting or hauling that waste to a
disposal site. Typical SCCW collection
customers include office and apartment
buildings and retail establishments (e.g.,
stores and restaurants).
SCCW collection is distinct from the
collection of other types of waste such
as residential and roll-off waste, each of
which is subject to its own regulatory
scheme dictating the manner in which
it must be collected. An individual
commercial customer typically
generates substantially more MSW than
a residential customer. To handle this
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high volume of MSW efficiently, haulers
often provide commercial customers
with small containers for storing the
waste. Haulers organize their
commercial accounts into routes, and
collect and transport the MSW
generated by these accounts in front-end
load (‘‘FEL’’) trucks uniquely well
suited for commercial waste collection.
On a typical SCCW collection route,
an operator drives a FEL truck to the
customer’s container, engages a
mechanism that grasps and lifts the
container over the front of the truck, and
empties the container into the vehicle’s
storage section where the waste is
compacted and stored. The operator
continues along the route, collecting
MSW from each of the commercial
accounts, until the vehicle is full. The
operator then drives the FEL truck to a
disposal facility, such as a transfer
station, landfill, or incinerator, and
empties the contents of the vehicle.
Depending on the number of locations
and amount of waste collected on the
route, the operator may make one or
more trips to the disposal facility in
servicing the route.
In contrast to an SCCW collection
route, a residential waste collection
route is highly labor intensive. A
residential customer’s MSW is typically
stored in much smaller containers, (e.g.,
garbage bags or trash cans) and instead
of using an FEL manned by a single
operator, residential waste collection
haulers routinely use rear-end load or
side-load trucks manned by two- or
three-person teams. On residential
routes, crews often hand-load the
customer’s MSW by tossing garbage bags
and emptying trash cans into the
vehicle’s storage section. In light of
these differences, haulers typically
organize commercial customers into
separate routes from residential
customers.
Roll-off collection also is not a
substitute for SCCW collection. A rolloff container is much larger than an
SCCW container, and is serviced by a
truck capable of carrying a roll-off
container rather than an FEL. Unlike
SCCW customers, multiple roll-off
customers are not served between trips
to the disposal site because each roll-off
truck is typically capable of carrying
only one roll-off container at a time.
Other types of waste collection, such
as hazardous or medical waste
collection, also are not substitutes for
SCCW collection. These forms of
collection differ from SCCW collection
in the hauling equipment required, the
volume of waste collected, and the
facilities where the waste is disposed.
The Complaint alleges that, absent
competition from other SCCW
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collection firms, SCCW collection
providers could profitably increase their
prices without losing significant sales to
firms engaged in the provision of other
types of waste collection services. In
other words, in the event of a small but
significant price increase for SCCW
collection, customers would not
substitute to other forms of collection in
sufficient numbers so as to render the
price increase unprofitable.
Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that
SCCW collection is therefore a line of
commerce, or relevant product market,
for purposes of analyzing the effects of
the acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
As alleged in the Complaint, MSW
disposal is a relevant product market.
MSW is solid putrescible waste
generated by households and
commercial establishments such as
retail stores, offices, restaurants,
warehouses, and industrial facilities.
MSW has physical characteristics that
readily distinguish it from other liquid
or solid waste (e.g., waste from
manufacturing processes, regulated
medical waste, sewage, sludge,
hazardous waste, or waste generated by
construction or demolition sites).
Haulers must dispose of all MSW at
a permitted disposal facility. There are
three main types of disposal facilities—
landfills, incinerators, and transfer
stations. Such facilities must be located
on approved types of land and operated
under prescribed procedures. Federal,
state, and local safety, environmental,
zoning, and permit laws and regulations
dictate critical aspects of storage,
handling, transportation, processing and
disposal of MSW. In less densely
populated areas, MSW often is disposed
of directly into landfills that are
permitted and regulated by a state and
the federal government. Landfill permit
restrictions often impose limitations on
the type and amount of waste that can
be deposited. In many urban and
suburban areas, however, landfills are
scarce due to high population density
and the limited availability of suitable
land. As a result, MSW generated in
such areas often is burned in an
incinerator or taken to a transfer station.
A transfer station is an intermediate
disposal site for the processing and
temporary storage of MSW before it is
transferred, in bulk, to more distant
landfills or incinerators for final
disposal.
Some haulers—including WMI and
ADS—are vertically integrated and
operate their own disposal facilities.
Vertically-integrated haulers often
prefer to dispose of waste at their own
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disposal facilities. Depending on the
market, vertically-integrated haulers
may sell a portion of their disposal
capacity to customers in need of access
to a disposal facility. These disposal
customers include independent (nonvertically integrated) and municipallyowned haulers. Disposal customers rely
on the availability of cost-competitive
disposal capacity to serve their own
collection customers and to compete for
new ones.
According to the Complaint, due to
strict laws and regulations that govern
the disposal of MSW, there are no
reasonable substitutes for MSW
disposal, which must occur at landfills,
incinerators, or transfer stations. Thus,
in the event of a small but significant
price increase from MSW disposal
firms, customers would not substitute to
other forms of disposal in sufficient
numbers so as to render the price
increase unprofitable. Accordingly, the
Complaint alleges that MSW disposal is
a line of commerce, or relevant product
market, for purposes of analyzing the
effects of the acquisition under Section
7 of the Clayton Act.
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C. Relevant Geographic Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection
As alleged in the Complaint, SCCW
collection generally is provided in
highly localized areas. This is because a
hauler needs a large number of
commercial accounts that are reasonably
close together to operate efficiently and
profitably. If there is significant travel
time between customers, then the hauler
earns less money for the time that the
truck operates. Haulers, therefore, try to
minimize the ‘‘dead time’’ in which the
truck is operating and incurring costs
from fuel, wear and tear, and labor, but
not generating revenue from collecting
waste. Likewise, customers must be near
the hauler’s base of operations as it
would be unprofitable for a truck to
travel a long distance to the start of a
route. Haulers, therefore, generally
establish garages and related facilities to
serve as bases within each area served.
As alleged in the Complaint, as
currently contemplated, the transaction
would likely cause harm in 33 relevant
geographic markets for SCCW collection
located in six states: Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin (identified in Appendix A).
In each of these markets, a hypothetical
monopolist of SCCW collection could
profitably impose a small but significant
non-transitory increase in price to local
customers without losing significant
sales to more distant competitors.
Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that
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each of the areas listed in Appendix A
constitutes a relevant geographic market
and section of the country for purposes
of analyzing the effects of the
acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
Collection trucks transport MSW to
landfills, incinerators, and transfer
stations for disposal. The price and
availability of disposal sites close to a
hauler’s routes are major factors that
determine a hauler’s competitiveness
and profitability, as the cost of
transporting MSW to a disposal site—
including fuel, regular truck
maintenance, and hourly labor—is a
substantial component of the total cost
of disposal. Haulers also prefer nearby
disposal sites to minimize the FEL dead
time. Due to the costs associated with
travel time and customers’ preference to
have disposal sites close by, an MSW
disposal provider must have local
disposal facilities to be competitive. The
relevant markets for MSW disposal
markets are therefore local, often
consisting no more than a few counties.
As alleged in the Complaint, as
currently contemplated, the transaction
would likely cause harm in 24 relevant
geographic markets for MSW disposal
located in eight states: Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
(identified in Appendix B). In each of
these local markets, a hypothetical
monopolist of MSW disposal could
profitably impose a small but significant
non-transitory increase in price for the
disposal of MSW without losing
significant sales to more distant disposal
sites.
Accordingly, the Complaint alleges
that each of the areas listed in Appendix
B constitutes a relevant geographic
market and section of the country for
purposes of analyzing the effects of the
acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
D. Anticompetitive Effects of the
Proposed Transaction
According to the Complaint, the
proposed transaction would
substantially lessen competition and
harm consumers in each alleged
relevant market by eliminating the
substantial head-to-head competition
that currently exists between WMI and
ADS. Businesses, municipalities,
independent haulers, and other
customers would pay higher prices as a
result of the acquisition.
WMI’s acquisition of ADS would
remove a significant competitor for
SCCW collection and MSW disposal in
markets that are already highly
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concentrated and difficult to enter. WMI
and ADS compete head-to-head for
SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal
customers in each of the 57 geographic
markets identified in Appendices A and
B. In these geographic markets, WMI
and ADS each account for a substantial
share of total revenue generated from
SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal
and, in each relevant market, are two of
no more than four significant (i.e., not
fringe) competitors. See Appendices A
and B (providing a complete list of the
number of significant competitors in
each relevant market pre-merger). In
each SCCW collection market alleged,
collection customers including offices,
apartment buildings, and retail
establishments, have been able to secure
better collection rates and improved
service by threatening to switch to the
competing SCCW hauler. Likewise, in
each MSW disposal market alleged,
independent haulers and municipalities
have been able to negotiate more
favorable disposal rates by threatening
to move waste to the other competitor’s
disposal facilit(ies). In each of the
relevant markets identified in
Appendices A and B, the resulting
increase in concentration, loss of
competition, and the unlikeliness of
significant entry or expansion would
likely result in higher prices, lower
quality and level of service, and reduced
choice for SCCW collection and MSW
disposal customers.
E. Difficulty of Entry
1. Difficulty of Entry Into Small
Container Commercial Waste Collection
According to the Complaint, entry of
new competitors into SCCW collection
in each of the relevant markets
identified in Appendix A would be
difficult and time-consuming and is
unlikely to prevent the harm to
competition that is likely to result if the
proposed transaction is consummated.
A new entrant in SCCW collection
could not provide a significant
competitive constraint on the prices that
market incumbents charge until
achieving a minimum efficient scale and
operating efficiency comparable to
existing competitors. In order to obtain
a comparable operating efficiency, a
new competitor would have to achieve
route densities similar to those of firms
already in the market. Incumbents in a
geographic market, however, can
prevent new entrants from winning a
large enough base of customers by
selectively lowering prices and entering
into longer term contracts with
collection customers.
2. Difficulty of Entry Into Municipal
Solid Waste Disposal
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According to the Complaint, entry of
new competitors into MSW disposal in
each of the relevant markets identified
in Appendix B would be difficult and
time-consuming and is unlikely to
prevent the harm to competition that is
likely to result if the proposed
transaction is consummated.
A new entrant in MSW disposal
would need to obtain a permit to
construct a disposal facility or to
expand an existing one, and this process
is costly and time-consuming, typically
taking many years. Land suitable for
MSW disposal is scarce as a landfill
must be constructed away from
environmentally-sensitive areas,
including fault zones, wetlands, flood
plains, and other restricted areas. Even
when suitable land is available, local
public opposition frequently increases
the time and uncertainty of the
permitting process. Construction of a
new transfer station or incinerator also
is difficult and time consuming and
faces many of the same challenges as
new landfill construction, including
local public opposition.
Entry by constructing and permitting
a new MSW disposal facility would thus
be costly and time-consuming and
unlikely to prevent market incumbents
from significantly raising prices for
MSW disposal in each of the disposal
markets following the acquisition.
III. Explanation of the Proposed Final
Judgment
The divestitures required by the
proposed Final Judgment will remedy
the loss of competition alleged in the
Complaint by establishing an
independent and economically viable
competitor in each of the SCCW
collection and MSW disposal markets
alleged in the Complaint.
Paragraph IV(A) of the proposed Final
Judgment requires that the Divestiture
Assets (capitalized terms are defined in
the proposed Final Judgment) be
divested within 30 days after the entry
of the Stipulation and Order by the
court to GFL Environmental Inc., or an
alternative Acquirer acceptable to the
United States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States.
The assets must be divested in such a
way as to satisfy the United States in its
sole discretion, after consultation with
the Plaintiff States, that the assets can
and will be operated by the purchaser
as a viable, ongoing SCCW collection
and MSW disposal business that can
compete effectively in each of the
markets alleged in the Complaint.
The Divestiture Assets are defined as
all tangible and intangible assets
relating to or used in connection with
the MSW disposal assets identified in
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Paragraphs II(O)(1) and II(O)(2) of the
proposed Final Judgment and the SCCW
collection assets identified in
Paragraphs II(O)(3) and II(O)(4) of the
proposed Final Judgment. The
Divestiture Assets include 15 landfills,
37 transfer stations, 29 hauling
locations, and over 200 Routes. The
Divestiture Assets also include, inter
alia, in each MSW disposal market
alleged: All tangible and intangible
property and assets related to or used in
connection with the transfer stations
and landfills, and in each SCCW
collection market alleged: All intangible
and tangible assets related to or used in
connection with the Routes except for
what the proposed Final Judgment
defines as Straddle Contracts and the
hauling facilities identified in Appendix
C.
Paragraph IV(K) of the proposed Final
Judgment facilitates the transfer of
customers and other contractual
relationships, except for Straddle
Contracts, to the Acquirer. Defendants
must transfer all contracts, agreements,
and relationships to the Acquirer and
must make best efforts to assign,
subcontract, or otherwise transfer
contracts or agreements that require the
consent of another party before
assignment, subcontracting or other
transfer. Straddle Contracts, which are
defined in Paragraph II(P) as customer
waste or recycling contracts that include
a combination of services and/or
collection stops included in the
Divestiture Assets and services and/or
collection stops not included in the
Divestiture Assets, and that make up a
small portion of the divestiture package,
are required under Paragraph IV(L) to be
divested at the option of the Acquirer so
that the Acquirer will have the option
to acquire the customer contracts which
it determines it can efficiently and
profitably serve.
The hauling facilities listed in
Appendix C are not part of the
Divestiture Assets because the Acquirer
will acquire other hauling locations
from which it can competitively run the
acquired Routes in those areas. In
certain markets, the Divestiture Assets
include not only SCCW collection and
MSW disposal assets, but also other
collection assets including Roll-Off,
Residential, and Recycling assets, which
should enhance the viability of the
Divestiture Assets.
The proposed Final Judgment
contains several provisions to facilitate
the transition of the Divestiture Assets
to the Acquirer. First, Paragraph IV(N)
of the proposed Final Judgment requires
Defendants, at the Acquirer’s option, to
enter into a transition services
agreement for back office, human
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resources, accounting, employee health
and safety, and information technology
services and support for the Divestiture
Assets for a period of up to six months.
The paragraph further provides that the
United States, in its sole discretion, may
approve one or more extensions of this
transition services agreement for a total
of up to an additional six months.
Second, Paragraph IV(O) of the
proposed Final Judgment requires
Defendants, at the Acquirer’s option, to
enter into a contract to provide rights to
landfill disposal at ADS’s Orchard Hill’s
landfill for a period of up to three years.
The paragraph further provides that the
United States, in its sole discretion, may
approve one or more extensions of the
agreement for a total of up to two
additional years. The proposed Final
Judgment also requires Defendants to
operate gates, side houses, and disposal
areas for the benefit of the Acquirer
under terms and conditions that are no
less favorable than those provided to
WMI’s own vehicles. This provision is
intended to give the Acquirer an
efficient outlet for the waste that it will
receive at the West Elburn Transfer
Station as it establishes itself in the
market.
The proposed Final Judgment also
contains provisions intended to
facilitate the Acquirer’s efforts to hire
certain employees. Paragraph IV(I) of
the proposed Final Judgment requires
Defendants to provide the Acquirer, the
United States, and the Plaintiff States
with organization charts and
information relating to certain
employees and to make them available
for interviews. It also provides that
Defendants must not interfere with any
negotiations by the Acquirer to hire
these employees. In addition, for
employees who elect employment with
the Acquirer, Defendants must waive all
non-compete and non-disclosure
agreements, vest all unvested pension
and other equity rights, provide any pay
pro-rata, provide all other compensation
and benefits that those employees have
fully or partially accrued, and provide
all other benefits that those employees
otherwise would have been provided
had those employees continued
employment with Defendants, including
but not limited to any retention bonuses
or payments. This paragraph further
provides that the Defendants may not
solicit to hire any employees who elect
employment with the Acquirer, unless
that individual is terminated or laid off
by the Acquirer or the Acquirer agrees
in writing that the Defendants may
solicit or hire that individual. The nonsolicitation period runs for 12 months
from the date of the divestiture.
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If the Defendants do not accomplish
the divestiture within the period
prescribed in Section IV of the proposed
Final Judgment, Section V of the
proposed Final Judgment provides that
the Court will appoint a divestiture
trustee selected by the United States to
effect the divestiture. If a divestiture
trustee is appointed, the proposed Final
Judgment provides that the Defendants
will pay all costs and expenses of the
trustee. The divestiture trustee’s
commission will be structured so as to
provide an incentive for the trustee
based on the price obtained and the
speed with which the divestiture is
accomplished. After the divestiture
trustee’s appointment becomes effective,
the trustee will provide monthly reports
to the Plaintiffs setting forth his or her
efforts to accomplish the divestiture. At
the end of six months, if the divestiture
has not been accomplished, the United
States may make recommendations to
the Court, which may enter such orders
as appropriate, in order to carry out the
purpose of the Final Judgment,
including by extending the trust or the
term of the divestiture trustee’s
appointment.
Section XI of the proposed Final
Judgment requires WMI to notify the
United States and any Plaintiff State in
which any of the assets or interests are
located in advance of acquiring, directly
or indirectly (including by asset swap),
in a transaction that would not
otherwise be reportable under the HartScott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 18a
(the ‘‘HSR Act’’), any interest in any
business engaged in waste collection or
disposal in a market where the
Complaint alleged a violation, which are
listed in Appendix D. The proposed
Final Judgment further provides for
waiting periods and opportunities for
the United States to obtain additional
information analogous to the provisions
of the HSR Act. The notification
requirement applies when the acquired
business’s annual revenues from the
relevant service in the market exceeded
$500,000 for the 12 months preceding
the proposed acquisition. Because many
of the markets alleged in the Complaint
are highly concentrated, it is important
for the Division and Plaintiff States to
receive notice of even small transactions
that have the potential to reduce
competition in these markets. Requiring
notification of any such acquisition will
permit the United States to assess the
competitive effects of that acquisition
before it is consummated and, if
necessary, seek to enjoin the
transaction.
The proposed Final Judgment also
contains provisions designed to promote
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compliance and make enforcement of
the Final Judgment as effective as
possible. Paragraph XIV(A) provides
that the United States retains and
reserves all rights to enforce the Final
Judgment, including the right to seek an
order of contempt from the Court. Under
the terms of this paragraph, Defendants
have agreed that in any civil contempt
action, any motion to show cause, or
any similar action brought by the United
States regarding an alleged violation of
the Final Judgment, the United States
may establish the violation and the
appropriateness of any remedy by a
preponderance of the evidence and that
the Defendants have waived any
argument that a different standard of
proof should apply. This provision
aligns the standard for compliance with
the Final Judgment with the standard of
proof that applies to the underlying
offense that the Final Judgment
addresses.
Paragraph XIV(B) provides additional
clarification regarding the interpretation
of the provisions of the proposed Final
Judgment. The proposed Final Judgment
is intended to restore competition the
United States and Plaintiff States allege
would otherwise be harmed by the
transaction. The Defendants agree that
they will abide by the proposed Final
Judgment, and that they may be held in
contempt of this Court for failing to
comply with any provision of the
proposed Final Judgment that is stated
specifically and in reasonable detail, as
interpreted in light of this
procompetitive purpose.
Paragraph XIV(C) of the proposed
Final Judgment provides that if the
Court finds in an enforcement
proceeding that a Defendant has
violated the Final Judgment, the United
States may apply to the Court for a onetime extension of the Final Judgment,
together with such other relief as may be
appropriate. In addition, to compensate
American taxpayers for any costs
associated with investigating and
enforcing violations of the Final
Judgment, Paragraph XIV(C) provides
that in any successful effort by the
United States to enforce the Final
Judgment against a Defendant, whether
litigated or resolved before litigation,
that Defendant will reimburse the
United States for attorneys’ fees,
experts’ fees, and other costs incurred in
connection with any effort to enforce
the Final Judgment, including the
investigation of the potential violation.
Paragraph XIV(D) states that the
United States may file an action against
a Defendant for violating the Final
Judgment for up to four years after the
Final Judgment has expired or been
terminated. This provision is meant to
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address circumstances such as when
evidence that a violation of the Final
Judgment occurred during the term of
the Final Judgment is not discovered
until after the Final Judgment has
expired or been terminated or when
there is not sufficient time for the
United States to complete an
investigation of an alleged violation
until after the Final Judgment has
expired or been terminated. This
provision, therefore, makes clear that,
for four years after the Final Judgment
has expired or been terminated, the
United States may still challenge a
violation that occurred during the term
of the Final Judgment.
Finally, Section XV of the proposed
Final Judgment provides that the Final
Judgment will expire ten years from the
date of its entry, except that after five
years from the date of its entry, the Final
Judgment may be terminated upon
notice by the United States to the Court
and the Defendants that the divestiture
has been completed and that
continuation of the Final Judgment is no
longer necessary or in the public
interest.
IV. Remedies Available to Potential
Private Litigants
Section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15
U.S.C. 15, provides that any person who
has been injured as a result of conduct
prohibited by the antitrust laws may
bring suit in federal court to recover
three times the damages the person has
suffered, as well as costs and reasonable
attorneys’ fees. Entry of the proposed
Final Judgment neither impairs nor
assists the bringing of any private
antitrust damage action. Under the
provisions of Section 5(a) of the Clayton
Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(a), the proposed Final
Judgment has no prima facie effect in
any subsequent private lawsuit that may
be brought against Defendants.
V. Procedures Available for
Modification of the Proposed Final
Judgment
The United States and Defendants
have stipulated that the proposed Final
Judgment may be entered by the Court
after compliance with the provisions of
the APPA, provided that the United
States has not withdrawn its consent.
The APPA conditions entry upon the
Court’s determination that the proposed
Final Judgment is in the public interest.
The APPA provides a period of at
least 60 days preceding the effective
date of the proposed Final Judgment
within which any person may submit to
the United States written comments
regarding the proposed Final Judgment.
Any person who wishes to comment
should do so within 60 days of the date
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of publication of this Competitive
Impact Statement in the Federal
Register, or the last date of publication
in a newspaper of the summary of this
Competitive Impact Statement,
whichever is later. All comments
received during this period will be
considered by the U.S. Department of
Justice, which remains free to withdraw
its consent to the proposed Final
Judgment at any time before the Court’s
entry of the Final Judgment. The
comments and the response of the
United States will be filed with the
Court. In addition, comments will be
posted on the U.S. Department of
Justice, Antitrust Division’s internet
website and, under certain
circumstances, published in the Federal
Register.
Written comments should be
submitted to: Katrina Rouse, Chief,
Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace
Section, Antitrust Division, U.S.
Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street
NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530.
The proposed Final Judgment
provides that the Court retains
jurisdiction over this action, and the
parties may apply to the Court for any
order necessary or appropriate for the
modification, interpretation, or
enforcement of the Final Judgment.
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VI. Alternatives to the Proposed Final
Judgment
As an alternative to the proposed
Final Judgment, the United States
considered a full trial on the merits
against Defendants. The United States
could have continued the litigation and
sought preliminary and permanent
injunctions against WMI’s acquisition of
ADS. The United States is satisfied,
however, that the divestiture of assets
described in the proposed Final
Judgment will remedy the
anticompetitive effects alleged in the
Complaint, preserving competition for
the provision of SCCW collection and
MSW disposal in each of the geographic
markets alleged in the Complaint. Thus,
the proposed Final Judgment achieves
all or substantially all of the relief the
United States would have obtained
through litigation, but avoids the time,
expense, and uncertainty of a full trial
on the merits of the Complaint.
VII. Standard of Review Under the
APPA for the Proposed Final Judgment
The Clayton Act, as amended by the
APPA, requires that proposed consent
judgments in antitrust cases brought by
the United States be subject to a 60-day
comment period, after which the Court
shall determine whether entry of the
proposed Final Judgment ‘‘is in the
public interest.’’ 15 U.S.C. 16(e)(1). In
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making that determination, the Court, in
accordance with the statute as amended
in 2004, is required to consider:
(A) The competitive impact of such
judgment, including termination of alleged
violations, provisions for enforcement and
modification, duration of relief sought,
anticipated effects of alternative remedies
actually considered, whether its terms are
ambiguous, and any other competitive
considerations bearing upon the adequacy of
such judgment that the court deems
necessary to a determination of whether the
consent judgment is in the public interest;
and
(B) the impact of entry of such judgment
upon competition in the relevant market or
markets, upon the public generally and
individuals alleging specific injury from the
violations set forth in the complaint
including consideration of the public benefit,
if any, to be derived from a determination of
the issues at trial.
15 U.S.C. 16(e)(1)(A) & (B). In
considering these statutory factors, the
Court’s inquiry is necessarily a limited
one as the government is entitled to
‘‘broad discretion to settle with the
defendant within the reaches of the
public interest.’’ United States v.
Microsoft Corp., 56 F.3d 1448, 1461
(D.C. Cir. 1995); United States v. U.S.
Airways Grp., Inc., 38 F. Supp. 3d 69,
75 (D.D.C. 2014) (explaining that the
‘‘court’s inquiry is limited’’ in Tunney
Act settlements); United States v. InBev
N.V./S.A., No. 08–1965 (JR), 2009 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 84787, at *3 (D.D.C. Aug.
11, 2009) (noting that a court’s review
of a consent judgment is limited and
only inquires ‘‘into whether the
government’s determination that the
proposed remedies will cure the
antitrust violations alleged in the
complaint was reasonable, and whether
the mechanism to enforce the final
judgment are clear and manageable’’).
As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit has held,
under the APPA a court considers,
among other things, the relationship
between the remedy secured and the
specific allegations in the government’s
complaint, whether the proposed Final
Judgment is sufficiently clear, whether
its enforcement mechanisms are
sufficient, and whether it may positively
harm third parties. See Microsoft, 56
F.3d at 1458–62. With respect to the
adequacy of the relief secured by the
proposed Final Judgment, a court may
not ‘‘make de novo determination of
facts and issues.’’ United States v. W.
Elec. Co., 993 F.2d 1572, 1577 (D.C. Cir.
1993) (quotation marks omitted); see
also Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1460–62;
United States v. Alcoa, Inc., 152 F.
Supp. 2d 37, 40 (D.D.C. 2001); United
States v. Enova Corp., 107 F. Supp. 2d
10, 16 (D.D.C. 2000); InBev, 2009 U.S.
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4701
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70023
Dist. LEXIS 84787, at *3. Instead, ‘‘[t]he
balancing of competing social and
political interests affected by a proposed
antitrust consent decree must be left, in
the first instance, to the discretion of the
Attorney General.’’ W. Elec. Co., 993
F.2d at 1577 (quotation marks omitted).
‘‘The court should bear in mind the
flexibility of the public interest inquiry:
The court’s function is not to determine
whether the resulting array of rights and
liabilities is one that will best serve
society, but only to confirm that the
resulting settlement is within the
reaches of the public interest.’’
Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1460 (quotation
marks omitted); see also United States v.
Deutsche Telekom AG, No. 19–2232
(TJK), 2020 WL 1873555, at *7 (D.D.C.
Apr. 14, 2020). More demanding
requirements would ‘‘have enormous
practical consequences for the
government’s ability to negotiate future
settlements,’’ contrary to congressional
intent. Id. at 1456. ‘‘The Tunney Act
was not intended to create a
disincentive to the use of the consent
decree.’’ Id.
The United States’ predictions about
the efficacy of the remedy are to be
afforded deference by the Court. See,
e.g., Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1461
(recognizing courts should give ‘‘due
respect to the Justice Department’s . . .
view of the nature of its case’’); United
States v. Iron Mountain, Inc., 217 F.
Supp. 3d 146, 152–53 (D.D.C. 2016) (‘‘In
evaluating objections to settlement
agreements under the Tunney Act, a
court must be mindful that [t]he
government need not prove that the
settlements will perfectly remedy the
alleged antitrust harms[;] it need only
provide a factual basis for concluding
that the settlements are reasonably
adequate remedies for the alleged
harms.’’) (internal citations omitted);
United States v. Republic Servs., Inc.,
723 F. Supp. 2d 157, 160 (D.D.C. 2010)
(noting ‘‘the deferential review to which
the government’s proposed remedy is
accorded’’); United States v. ArcherDaniels-Midland Co., 272 F. Supp. 2d 1,
6 (D.D.C. 2003) (‘‘A district court must
accord due respect to the government’s
prediction as to the effect of proposed
remedies, its perception of the market
structure, and its view of the nature of
the case.’’). The ultimate question is
whether ‘‘the remedies [obtained by the
Final Judgment are] so inconsonant with
the allegations charged as to fall outside
of the ‘reaches of the public interest.’’’
Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1461 (quoting W.
Elec. Co., 900 F.2d at 309).
Moreover, the Court’s role under the
APPA is limited to reviewing the
remedy in relationship to the violations
that the United States has alleged in its
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complaint, and does not authorize the
Court to ‘‘construct [its] own
hypothetical case and then evaluate the
decree against that case.’’ Microsoft, 56
F.3d at 1459; see also U.S. Airways, 38
F. Supp. 3d at 75 (noting that the court
must simply determine whether there is
a factual foundation for the
government’s decisions such that its
conclusions regarding the proposed
settlements are reasonable); InBev, 2009
U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84787, at *20 (‘‘[T]he
‘public interest’ is not to be measured by
comparing the violations alleged in the
complaint against those the court
believes could have, or even should
have, been alleged’’). Because the
‘‘court’s authority to review the decree
depends entirely on the government’s
exercising its prosecutorial discretion by
bringing a case in the first place,’’ it
follows that ‘‘the court is only
authorized to review the decree itself,’’
and not to ‘‘effectively redraft the
complaint’’ to inquire into other matters
that the United States did not pursue.
Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1459–60.
In its 2004 amendments to the APPA,
Congress made clear its intent to
preserve the practical benefits of using
consent judgments proposed by the
United States in antitrust enforcement,
Public Law 108–237 § 221, and added
the unambiguous instruction that
‘‘[n]othing in this section shall be
construed to require the court to
conduct an evidentiary hearing or to
require the court to permit anyone to
intervene.’’ 15 U.S.C. 16(e)(2); see also
U.S. Airways, 38 F. Supp. 3d at 76
(indicating that a court is not required
to hold an evidentiary hearing or to
permit intervenors as part of its review
under the Tunney Act). This language
explicitly wrote into the statute what
Congress intended when it first enacted
the Tunney Act in 1974. As Senator
Tunney explained: ‘‘[t]he court is
nowhere compelled to go to trial or to
engage in extended proceedings which
might have the effect of vitiating the
benefits of prompt and less costly
settlement through the consent decree
process.’’ 119 Cong. Rec. 24,598 (1973)
(statement of Sen. Tunney). ‘‘A court
can make its public interest
determination based on the competitive
impact statement and response to public
comments alone.’’ U.S. Airways, 38 F.
Supp. 3d at 76 (citing Enova Corp., 107
F. Supp. 2d at 17).
VIII. Determinative Documents
There are no determinative materials
or documents within the meaning of the
APPA that were considered by the
United States in formulating the
proposed Final Judgment.
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
lllllllllllllllllllll
Jeremy W. Cline, (D.C. Bar #1011073),
U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust
Division, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace
Section, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700,
Washington, DC 20530, (202) 598–2294,
jeremy.cline@usdoj.gov.
Appendix A: SCCW Geographic
Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
SMALL CONTAINER COMMERCIAL WASTE
Geographic market
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Lee County, Alabama .............................................................
Macon County, Alabama ........................................................
Mobile, Alabama .....................................................................
Montgomery County, Alabama ...............................................
Tuscaloosa, Alabama .............................................................
Jacksonville, Florida ...............................................................
Ocala, Florida .........................................................................
Augusta, Georgia ....................................................................
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES3
9. Rochester, Minnesota .............................................................
10. St. Cloud, Minnesota ............................................................
11. Calumet County, Wisconsin .................................................
12. Clark, Wisconsin ...................................................................
13. Dane County, Wisconsin ......................................................
14. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ............................
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
Green Bay, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Green County, Wisconsin .....................................................
Green Lake, Wisconsin ........................................................
Eau Claire, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Jackson County, Wisconsin ..................................................
Jefferson County, Wisconsin ................................................
Kenosha County, Wisconsin .................................................
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin ..............................................
Langlade, Wisconsin .............................................................
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin ..............................................
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin .............................................................
Marathon, Wisconsin ............................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ..........................................................
Price County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Rock County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Sauk County, Wisconsin .......................................................
Walworth County, Wisconsin ................................................
Waupaca, Wisconsin ............................................................
Waushara, Wisconsin ...........................................................
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Lee County, AL ..........................................................................
Macon County, AL .....................................................................
City of Mobile, AL ......................................................................
Montgomery County, AL ............................................................
City of Tuscaloosa, AL ...............................................................
Duvall, St. Johns, and Clay Counties, FL .................................
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL .................................................
Columbia and Richmond Counties, GA and Edgefield and
Aiken Counties, SC.
City of Rochester, MN ...............................................................
City of St. Cloud, MN .................................................................
Calumet County, WI ...................................................................
Clark and Taylor Counties, WI ..................................................
Dane County, WI .......................................................................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington
Counties, WI.
Brown and Outagamie Counties, WI .........................................
Green County, WI ......................................................................
Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties, WI ...............
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI ....................................
Jackson County, WI ...................................................................
Jefferson County, WI .................................................................
Kenosha County, WI ..................................................................
Kewaunee County, WI ...............................................................
Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, and Shawano Counties, WI ...........
Manitowoc County, WI ...............................................................
Marinette and Oconto Counties, WI ..........................................
Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties, WI ............................
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ....................
Price County, WI ........................................................................
Rock County, WI ........................................................................
Sauk County, WI ........................................................................
Walworth County, WI .................................................................
Waupaca County, WI .................................................................
Waushara and Winnebago Counties, WI ..................................
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Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
2
3
3
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
2
70025
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
Appendix B: MSW Disposal Geographic
Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
MSW DISPOSAL
Geographic market
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
East Central, Alabama ............................................................
Mobile, Alabama .....................................................................
Phenix City, Alabama .............................................................
Ocala, Florida .........................................................................
Atlanta, Georgia ......................................................................
6. Kane County, Illinois ...............................................................
7. Lake County, Illinois ...............................................................
8. Northern Cook County, Illinois ................................................
9. Fort Wayne, Indiana ...............................................................
10. Detroit, Michigan ...................................................................
11. Bedford County, Pennsylvania .............................................
12. Fayette County, Pennsylvania ..............................................
13. Indiana County, Pennsylvania ..............................................
14. Somerset County, Pennsylvania ..........................................
15. State College, Pennsylvania .................................................
16. Dane County, Wisconsin ......................................................
17. Eau Claire, Wisconsin ..........................................................
18. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ............................
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin ............
Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin .............................................
Green County, Wisconsin .....................................................
Janesville, Wisconsin ............................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ..........................................................
St. Croix, Wisconsin .............................................................
Appendix C: List of Retained Hauling
Facilities
III. Florida
a. WMI’s hauling facility located at 8708
NE 44th Drive, Wildwood, Florida 34785;
b. WMI’s hauling facility located at 6501
Greenland Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32258.
IV. Wisconsin
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2301 W
B R Townline Road, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511;
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES3
Number of
significant
competitors
pre-merger
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Lee and Macon Counties, AL ....................................................
City of Mobile, AL ......................................................................
Phenix City, AL ..........................................................................
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL .................................................
Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
Kane County, IL .........................................................................
Lake County, IL ..........................................................................
Area west of Interstate 94 and north of Interstate 90 in Cook
County, Illinois.
Allen, Kosciusko, and Whitley Counties, IN ..............................
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties, MI .............................
Bedford County, PA ...................................................................
Fayette and Greene Counties, PA ............................................
Clarion, Jefferson, and Indiana Counties, PA ...........................
Cambria and Somerset Counties, PA .......................................
Centre and Clearfield Counties, PA ..........................................
Dane County, WI .......................................................................
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI ....................................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington
Counties, WI.
Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, WI ....................
Calumet, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc Counties, WI ..................
Green County, WI ......................................................................
Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth Counties, WI ............................
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ....................
Pierce and St. Croix Counties, WI .............................................
b. WMI’s hauling facility located at 301
Thomas Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
54935;
c. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2626
Mondovi Road, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701;
d. ADS’s hauling facility located at 559
Progress Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin 53029.
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
4
3
4
2
4
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
3
VI. Georgia
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 5734
Columbia Road, Grovetown, GA 30813.
Appendix D: Areas for Which the
Notice Provision in Paragraph XI(A) of
the Proposed Final Judgment Applies
V. Illinois
a. ADS’s hauling facility located at 2230
Ernie Krueger Circle, Waukegan, Illinois
60087.
Geographic market
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Relevant service
East Central, Alabama ......................................................
Lee County, Alabama .......................................................
Macon County, Alabama ..................................................
Mobile, Alabama ...............................................................
Lee and Macon Counties, AL .........................................
Lee County, AL ...............................................................
Macon County, AL ..........................................................
City of Mobile, AL ............................................................
Montgomery County, Alabama .........................................
Phenix City, Alabama .......................................................
Tuscaloosa, Alabama .......................................................
Jacksonville, Florida .........................................................
Ocala, Florida ...................................................................
Montgomery County, AL .................................................
Phenix City, AL ...............................................................
City of Tuscaloosa, AL ....................................................
Duvall, St. Johns, and Clay Counties, FL .......................
Marion and Citrus Counties, FL ......................................
Atlanta, Georgia ................................................................
Cherokee, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Fulton, Clayton, and
Cobb Counties, GA.
Columbia and Richmond Counties, GA and Edgefield
and Aiken Counties, SC.
Kane County, IL ..............................................................
Lake County, IL ...............................................................
Area west of Interstate 94 and north of Interstate 90 in
Cook County, Illinois.
Allen, Kosciusko, and Whitley Counties, IN ...................
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW
Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and MSW
Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
Augusta, Georgia ..............................................................
Kane County, Illinois .........................................................
Lake County, Illinois .........................................................
Northern Cook County, Illinois ..........................................
Fort Wayne, Indiana .........................................................
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SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
70026
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 / Notices
Geographic market
Counties/municipalities within geographic market
Detroit, Michigan ...............................................................
Rochester, Minnesota .......................................................
St. Cloud, Minnesota ........................................................
State College, Pennsylvania .............................................
Indiana County, Pennsylvania ..........................................
Fayette County, Pennsylvania ..........................................
Somerset County, Pennsylvania ......................................
Bedford County, Pennsylvania .........................................
Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin ........
Calumet County, Wisconsin .............................................
Clark, Wisconsin ...............................................................
Dane County, Wisconsin ..................................................
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties, MI ..................
City of Rochester, MN .....................................................
City of St. Cloud, MN ......................................................
Centre and Clearfield Counties, PA ................................
Clarion, Jefferson, and Indiana Counties, PA ................
Fayette and Greene Counties, PA ..................................
Cambria and Somerset Counties, PA .............................
Bedford County, PA ........................................................
Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties, WI .........
Calumet County, WI ........................................................
Clark and Taylor Counties, WI ........................................
Dane County, WI .............................................................
Eau Claire, Wisconsin ......................................................
Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, WI .........................
Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Wisconsin ........................
Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin .........................................
Green Bay, Wisconsin ......................................................
Green County, Wisconsin .................................................
Dodge, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and Washington Counties, WI.
Calumet, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc Counties, WI .......
Brown and Outagamie Counties, WI ..............................
Green County, WI ...........................................................
Green Lake, Wisconsin ....................................................
Jackson County, Wisconsin ..............................................
Janesville, Wisconsin ........................................................
Jefferson County, Wisconsin ............................................
Kenosha County, Wisconsin .............................................
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin ..........................................
Langlade, Wisconsin .........................................................
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin ..........................................
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin .........................................................
Marathon, Wisconsin ........................................................
Milwaukee, Wisconsin ......................................................
Columbia, Green Lake, and Marquette Counties, WI ....
Jackson County, WI ........................................................
Jefferson, Rock, and Walworth Counties, WI .................
Jefferson County, WI ......................................................
Kenosha County, WI .......................................................
Kewaunee County, WI ....................................................
Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, and Shawano Counties, WI
Manitowoc County, WI ....................................................
Marinette and Oconto Counties, WI ...............................
Marathon, Portage, and Wood Counties, WI ..................
Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha Counties, WI ..........
Price County, Wisconsin ...................................................
Rock County, Wisconsin ...................................................
Sauk County, Wisconsin ...................................................
St. Croix, Wisconsin .........................................................
Walworth County, Wisconsin ............................................
Waupaca, Wisconsin ........................................................
Waushara, Wisconsin .......................................................
Price County, WI .............................................................
Rock County, WI .............................................................
Sauk County, WI .............................................................
Pierce and St. Croix Counties, WI ..................................
Walworth County, WI ......................................................
Waupaca County, WI ......................................................
Waushara and Winnebago Counties, WI .......................
[FR Doc. 2020–24221 Filed 11–2–20; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 4410–11–P
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Relevant service
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and
Disposal.
SCCW Collection and
Disposal.
SCCW Collection and
Disposal.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and
Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection and
Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW Disposal.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
SCCW Collection.
MSW
MSW
MSW
MSW
MSW
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 213 (Tuesday, November 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70004-70026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24221]
[[Page 70003]]
Vol. 85
Tuesday,
No. 213
November 3, 2020
Part VI
Department of Justice
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Antitrust Division
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United States, et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al. Proposed Final
Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 213 / Tuesday, November 3, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 70004]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
United States, et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al. Proposed
Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement
Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and
Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h), that a proposed Final Judgment,
Stipulation, and Competitive Impact Statement have been filed with the
United States District Court for the District of Columbia in United
States of America, et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al., Civil
Action No. 1:20-cv-3063. On October 23, 2020, the United States filed a
Complaint alleging that Waste Management, Inc.'s proposed acquisition
of Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. would violate Section 7 of the
Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18. The proposed Final Judgment, filed at the
same time as the Complaint, requires Waste Management and Advanced
Disposal Services to divest certain tangible and intangible assets in
57 local markets located in 10 states.
Copies of the Complaint, proposed Final Judgment, and Competitive
Impact Statement are available for inspection on the Antitrust
Division's website at https://www.justice.gov/atr and at the Office of
the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia. Copies of these materials may be obtained from the Antitrust
Division upon request and payment of the copying fee set by Department
of Justice regulations.
Public comment is invited within 60 days of the date of this
notice. Such comments, including the name of the submitter, and
responses thereto will be posted on the Antitrust Division's website,
filed with the Court, and, under certain circumstances, published in
the Federal Register. Comments should be directed to Katrina Rouse,
Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division,
Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC
20530 (telephone: 202-598-2459).
Suzanne Morris,
Chief, Premerger and Division Statistics, Antitrust Division.
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States of America, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust
Division, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530,
State of Florida, Office of Attorney General, PL-01, The Capitol,
Tallahassee, FL 32399, State of Illinois, Illinois Attorney General,
100 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601, State of Minnesota,
Minnesota Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St.
Paul, MN 55101, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Attorney
General, 14th Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, and
State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7857,
Madison, WI 53707, Plaintiffs, v. Waste Management, Inc., 1001
Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77002, and Advanced Disposal Services,
Inc., 90 Fort Wade Road, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081, Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20-cv-3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
Complaint
The United States of America (``United States''), acting under the
direction of the Attorney General of the United States, and the States
of Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as well as the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (``Plaintiff States''), bring this civil
antitrust action against Defendants Waste Management, Inc. (``WMI'')
and Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (``ADS'') to enjoin WMI's proposed
acquisition of ADS. The United States and Plaintiff States complain and
allege as follows:
I. Nature of the Action
1. WMI's proposed $4.6 billion acquisition of its competitor, ADS,
would combine the largest and fourth-largest solid waste management
companies in the United States. The proposed transaction presents the
most significant consolidation in the waste industry in over a decade
and would eliminate critical competition in over 50 local markets in
ten states in the eastern half of the United States.
2. WMI and ADS compete aggressively against each other to provide
waste collection and waste disposal services in these local markets. In
each of these local markets, WMI and ADS are either the only two or two
of only a few significant providers of small container commercial waste
(``SCCW'') collection and municipal solid waste (``MSW'') disposal,
which are essential for businesses, municipalities, and towns
throughout the country.
3. If the transaction proceeds to close in its current form,
consumers would likely pay higher prices and receive lower quality
service. Competition between WMI and ADS has resulted in lower prices
and improved service to numerous customers, including towns and cities,
restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, and other businesses.
Collection customers rely on WMI and ADS to collect their waste
reliably and on a regular basis. In the absence of competition between
WMI and ADS, these customers would likely pay more for waste collection
and receive lower quality service. Disposal customers, such as
independent and municipally-owned waste haulers, rely on WMI and ADS
for affordable and accessible waste disposal options, including
landfills and transfer stations, to dispose of the waste they collect
from towns, cities, and other municipalities. If the transaction is
consummated as proposed by Defendants, these disposal customers would
likely face higher fees and less favorable access to WMI's and ADS's
disposal facilities.
4. The proposed transaction will likely substantially lessen
competition for SCCW collection and MSW disposal in over 50 local
markets in the United States in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton
Act, 15 U.S.C. 18, and therefore should be enjoined.
II. The Parties and the Transaction
5. WMI is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas.
WMI is the largest solid waste hauling and disposal company in the
United States and provides waste collection, recycling, and disposal
(including transfer) services. WMI operates in 49 states and the
District of Columbia. For 2019, WMI reported revenues of approximately
$15.5 billion.
6. ADS is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Ponte Vedra,
Florida. It is the fourth-largest solid waste hauling and disposal
company in the United States and provides waste collection, recycling,
and disposal (including transfer) services. ADS operates in 16 states,
primarily in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions of the
United States. For 2019, ADS reported revenues of approximately $1.6
billion.
7. On April 14, 2019, WMI agreed to acquire all of the outstanding
common stock of ADS for approximately $4.9 billion. On June 24, 2020,
WMI and ADS agreed to a revised purchase price of approximately $4.6
billion.
III. Jurisdiction and Venue
8. The United States brings this action under Section 15 of the
Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 25, as amended, to prevent and restrain
Defendants from violating Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18.
9. The Plaintiff States bring this action under Section 16 of the
Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 26, to prevent and restrain Defendants from
violating Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18. The Plaintiff
States, by and through their respective Attorneys General, bring this
action as parens patriae on behalf of and to protect the health and
welfare of their
[[Page 70005]]
citizens and the general economy in each of their states.
10. Defendants' activities substantially affect interstate
commerce. They provide SCCW collection and MSW disposal throughout the
eastern half of the United States. This Court has subject matter
jurisdiction over this action pursuant to Section 15 of the Clayton
Act, 15 U.S.C. 25, and 28 U.S.C. 1331, 1337(a), and 1345.
11. Defendants have consented to venue and personal jurisdiction in
this judicial district. Venue is proper in this district under Section
12 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 22, and under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b) and
(c).
IV. Relevant Markets
A. Product Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
12. SCCW (small container commercial waste) collection is a
relevant product market. Waste collection firms--also called haulers--
collect MSW (municipal solid waste) from residential, commercial, and
industrial establishments, and transport that waste to a disposal site,
such as a transfer station, landfill or incinerator, for processing and
disposal.
13. SCCW collection is the business of collecting MSW from
commercial and industrial accounts, usually in small containers (i.e.,
dumpsters with one to ten cubic yards capacity), and transporting or
hauling such waste to a disposal site. Typical SCCW collection
customers include office and apartment buildings and retail
establishments (e.g., stores and restaurants).
14. SCCW collection is distinct from the collection of other types
of waste such as residential and roll-off waste, each of which is
subject to its own regulatory scheme dictating the manner in which it
must be collected. An individual commercial customer typically
generates substantially more MSW than a residential customer. To handle
this high volume of MSW efficiently, haulers often provide commercial
customers with small containers for storing the waste. Haulers organize
their commercial accounts into routes, and collect and transport the
MSW generated by these accounts in front-end load (``FEL'') trucks
uniquely well suited for commercial waste collection.
15. On a typical SCCW collection route, an operator drives an FEL
truck to the customer's container, engages a mechanism that grasps and
lifts the container over the front of the truck, and empties the
container into the vehicle's storage section where the waste is
compacted and stored. The operator continues along the route,
collecting MSW from each of the commercial accounts, until the vehicle
is full. The operator then drives the FEL truck to a disposal facility,
such as a transfer station, landfill, or incinerator, and empties the
contents of the vehicle. Depending on the number of locations and
amount of waste collected on the route, the operator may make one or
more trips to the disposal facility in servicing the route.
16. In contrast to an SCCW collection route, a residential waste
collection route is highly labor intensive. A residential customer's
MSW is typically stored in much smaller containers, (e.g., garbage bags
or trash cans) and instead of using an FEL truck manned by a single
operator, residential waste collection haulers routinely use rear-end
load or side-load trucks manned by two- or three-person teams. On
residential routes, crews often hand-load the customer's MSW by tossing
garbage bags and emptying trash cans into the vehicle's storage
section. In light of these differences, haulers typically organize
commercial customers into separate routes from residential customer
routes.
17. Roll-off collection also is not a substitute for SCCW
collection. A roll-off container is much larger than an SCCW container,
and is serviced by a truck capable of carrying a roll-off container
rather than an FEL truck. Unlike SCCW customers, multiple roll-off
customers are not served between trips to the disposal site, as each
roll-off truck is typically only capable of carrying one roll-off
container at a time.
18. Other types of waste collection, such as hazardous or medical
waste collection, also are not substitutes for SCCW collection. These
forms of collection differ from SCCW collection in the hauling
equipment required, the volume of waste collected, and the facilities
where the waste is disposed.
19. Thus, absent competition from other SCCW collection firms, SCCW
collection providers could profitably increase their prices without
losing significant sales to firms engaged in the provision of other
types of waste collection services. In other words, in the event of a
small but significant price increase for SCCW collection, customers
would not substitute to other forms of collection in sufficient numbers
so as to render the price increase unprofitable. SCCW collection is
therefore a line of commerce, or relevant product market, for purposes
of analyzing the effects of the acquisition under Section 7 of the
Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
20. MSW (municipal solid waste) disposal is a relevant product
market. MSW is solid putrescible waste generated by households and
commercial establishments such as retail stores, offices, restaurants,
warehouses, and industrial facilities. MSW has physical characteristics
that readily distinguish it from other liquid or solid waste (e.g.,
waste from manufacturing processes, regulated medical waste, sewage,
sludge, hazardous waste, or waste generated by construction or
demolition sites).
21. Haulers must dispose of all MSW at a permitted disposal
facility. There are three main types of disposal facilities--landfills,
incinerators, and transfer stations. Such facilities must be located on
approved types of land and operated under prescribed procedures.
Federal, state, and local safety, environmental, zoning, and permit
laws and regulations dictate critical aspects of storage, handling,
transportation, processing, and disposal of MSW. In less densely
populated areas, MSW often is disposed of directly into landfills that
are permitted and regulated by a state and the federal government.
Landfill permit restrictions often impose limitations on the type and
amount of waste that can be deposited. In many urban and suburban
areas, however, landfills are scarce due to high population density and
the limited availability of suitable land. As a result, MSW generated
in such areas often is burned in an incinerator or taken to a transfer
station. A transfer station is an intermediate disposal site for the
processing and temporary storage of MSW before it is transferred, in
bulk, to more distant landfills or incinerators for final disposal.
22. Some haulers--including WMI and ADS--are vertically integrated
and operate their own disposal facilities. Vertically-integrated
haulers often prefer to dispose of waste at their own disposal
facilities. Depending on the market, vertically-integrated haulers may
sell a portion of their disposal capacity to customers in need of
access to a disposal facility. These disposal customers include
independent (non-vertically integrated) and municipally-owned haulers.
Disposal customers rely on the availability of cost-competitive
disposal capacity to serve their own collection customers and to
compete for new ones.
23. Due to strict laws and regulations that govern the disposal of
MSW, there are no reasonable substitutes for MSW disposal, which must
occur at landfills, incinerators, or transfer stations. Thus,
[[Page 70006]]
in the event of a small but significant price increase from MSW
disposal firms, customers would not substitute to other forms of
disposal in sufficient numbers so as to render the price increase
unprofitable. MSW disposal is therefore a line of commerce, or relevant
product market, for purposes of analyzing the effects of the
acquisition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
B. Relevant Geographic Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
24. SCCW collection generally is provided in highly localized
areas. This is because a hauler needs a large number of commercial
accounts that are reasonably close together to operate efficiently and
profitably. If there is significant travel time between customers, then
the hauler earns less money for the time that the truck operates.
Haulers, therefore, try to minimize the ``dead time'' in which the
truck is operating and incurring costs from fuel, wear and tear, and
labor, but not generating revenue from collecting waste. Likewise,
customers must be near the hauler's base of operations as it would be
unprofitable for a truck to travel a long distance to the start of a
route. Haulers, therefore, generally establish garages and related
facilities to serve as bases within each area served.
25. As currently contemplated, the transaction would likely cause
harm in 33 relevant geographic markets for SCCW collection located in
six states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Minnesota, and
Wisconsin. Those 33 markets are identified in Appendix A. In each of
these markets, a hypothetical monopolist of SCCW collection could
profitably impose a small but significant non-transitory increase in
price to local customers without losing significant sales to more
distant competitors. Accordingly, each of the areas listed in Appendix
A constitutes a relevant geographic market and section of the country
for purposes of analyzing the effects of the acquisition under Section
7 of the Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
26. Collection trucks transport MSW to landfills, incinerators, and
transfer stations for disposal. The price and availability of disposal
sites close to a hauler's routes are major factors that determine a
hauler's competitiveness and profitability, as the cost of transporting
MSW to a disposal site--including fuel, regular truck maintenance, and
hourly labor--is a substantial component of the total cost of disposal.
Haulers also prefer nearby disposal sites to minimize the FEL truck
dead time. Due to the costs associated with travel time and customers'
preference to have disposal sites close by, an MSW disposal provider
must have local disposal facilities to be competitive. The relevant
markets for MSW disposal markets are therefore local, often consisting
of no more than a few counties.
27. As currently contemplated, the transaction would likely cause
harm in 24 relevant geographic markets for MSW disposal located in
eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Those 24 markets are identified in
Appendix B. In each of these local markets, a hypothetical monopolist
of MSW disposal could profitably impose a small but significant non-
transitory increase in price for the disposal of MSW without losing
significant sales to more distant disposal sites.
28. Accordingly, each of the areas listed in Appendix B constitutes
a relevant geographic market and section of the country for purposes of
analyzing the effects of the acquisition under Section 7 of the Clayton
Act.
V. Anticompetitive Effects
29. The proposed transaction would substantially lessen competition
and harm consumers in each relevant market by eliminating the
substantial head-to-head competition that currently exists between WMI
and ADS. Businesses, municipalities, independent haulers, and other
customers would pay higher prices as a result of the acquisition.
30. WMI's acquisition of ADS would remove a significant competitor
for SCCW collection and MSW disposal in markets that are already highly
concentrated and difficult to enter. WMI and ADS compete head-to-head
for SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal customers in each of the 57
geographic markets identified in Appendices A and B. In these
geographic markets, WMI and ADS each account for a substantial share of
total revenue generated from SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal and,
in each relevant market, are two of no more than four significant
(i.e., not fringe) competitors. See Appendices A and B (providing a
complete list of the number of significant competitors in each relevant
market pre-merger). In each SCCW collection market, collection
customers including offices, apartment buildings, and retail
establishments have been able to secure better collection rates and
improved service by threatening to switch to the competing SCCW hauler.
Likewise, in each MSW disposal market, independent haulers and
municipalities have been able to negotiate more favorable disposal
rates by threatening to move waste to the other competitor's disposal
facilit(ies). In each of the relevant markets identified in Appendices
A and B, the resulting increase in concentration, loss of competition,
and the unlikeliness of significant entry or expansion would likely
result in higher prices, lower quality and level of service, and
reduced choice for SCCW collection and MSW disposal customers.
VI. Entry
A. Difficulty of Entry Into Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
31. Entry of new competitors into SCCW collection in each of the
relevant markets identified in Appendix A would be difficult and time-
consuming and is unlikely to prevent the harm to competition that is
likely to result if the proposed transaction is consummated.
32. A new entrant in SCCW collection could not provide a
significant competitive constraint on the prices that market incumbents
charge until achieving a minimum efficient scale and operating
efficiency comparable to existing competitors. In order to obtain a
comparable operating efficiency, a new competitor would have to achieve
route densities similar to those of firms already in the market.
Incumbents in a geographic market, however, can prevent new entrants
from winning a large enough base of customers by selectively lowering
prices and entering into longer term contracts with collection
customers.
B. Difficulty of Entry Into Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
33. Entry of new competitors into MSW disposal in each of the
relevant markets identified in Appendix B would be difficult and time-
consuming and is unlikely to prevent the harm to competition that is
likely to result if the proposed transaction is consummated.
34. A new entrant in MSW disposal would need to obtain a permit to
construct a disposal facility or to expand an existing one, and this
process is costly and time-consuming, typically taking many years. Land
suitable for MSW disposal is scarce, as a landfill must be constructed
away from environmentally-sensitive areas, including fault zones,
wetlands, flood plains, and other restricted areas. Even when suitable
land is available, local public opposition frequently increases the
time and uncertainty of the permitting process.
[[Page 70007]]
35. Construction of a new transfer station or incinerator also is
difficult and time consuming and faces many of the same challenges as
new landfill construction, including local public opposition.
36. Entry by constructing and permitting a new MSW disposal
facility would thus be costly and time-consuming and unlikely to
prevent market incumbents from significantly raising prices for MSW
disposal in each of the disposal markets following the acquisition.
VII. Violations Alleged
37. WMI's proposed acquisition of ADS is likely to substantially
lessen competition in each of the relevant markets set forth above in
violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18.
38. The acquisition will likely have the following anticompetitive
effects, among others, in the relevant markets:
a. Actual and potential competition between WMI and ADS will be
eliminated;
b. competition generally will be substantially lessened; and
c. prices will likely increase and quality and the level of service
will likely decrease.
VIII. Request for Relief
39. The United States and the Plaintiff States request that this
Court:
a. Adjudge and decree WMI's acquisition of ADS to be unlawful and
in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18;
b. preliminarily and permanently enjoin Defendants and all persons
acting on their behalf from consummating the proposed acquisition by
WMI of ADS or from entering into or carrying out any other contract,
agreement, plan, or understanding, the effect of which would be to
combine WMI with ADS;
c. award the United States and the Plaintiff States the costs for
this action; and
d. grant the United States and the Plaintiff States such other
relief as the Court deems just and proper.
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF UNITED STATES:
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Makan Delrahim (D.C. Bar #457795),
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division.
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Bernard A. Nigro, Jr. (D.C. Bar #412357),
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division.
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Alexander P. Okuliar (D.C. Bar #481103),
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division.
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Kathleen S. O'Neil,
Senior Director of Investigations and Litigation, Antitrust
Division.
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Katrina H. Rouse (D.C. Bar #1013035),
Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust
Division.
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Jay D. Owen,
Assistant Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section,
Antitrust Division.
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Jeremy W. Cline * (D.C. Bar #1011073),
Stephen Harris,
Gabriella R. Moskowitz (D.C. Bar #1044309),
Kerrie J. Freeborn (D.C. Bar #503143),
Daniel J. Monahan, Jr.,
Veronica N. Onyema (D.C. Bar #979040)
Trial Attorneys, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section,
Antitrust Division, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC
20530, Telephone: (202) 598-2294, Facsimile: (202) 514-9033, Email:
[email protected].
* Lead Attorney To Be Noticed.
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF FLORIDA:
Ashley Moody,
Attorney General.
Patricia A. Conners,
Chief Associate Deputy Attorney General.
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Lizabeth A. Brady,
Chief, Multistate Enforcement, Florida State Bar Number: 457991,
Office of the Attorney General, State of Florida, PL-01, The
Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050, Tel: (850) 414-3300, Fax: (850)
488-9134, Email: [email protected].
Colin G. Fraser,
Assistant Attorney General, Florida State Bar Number: 104741, Email:
[email protected].
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF ILLINOIS:
Kwame Raoul,
Attorney General.
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Blake L. Harrop,
Chief, Antitrust Bureau.
Joseph B. Chervin,
Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of
Illinois, Antitrust Bureau, 100 W Randolph Street, 11th Floor,
Chicago, IL 60601, Telephone: (312) 814-3722, Fax: (312) 814-4209,
[email protected].
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Keith Ellison,
Attorney General, State of Minnesota.
James W. Canaday,
Deputy Attorney General.
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Justin Moor,
Assistant Attorney General, Atty. Reg. No. 0397596, 445 Minnesota
Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-2130, (651) 757-1060,
[email protected].
FOR PLAINTIFF COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA:
Josh Shapiro,
Attorney General of Pennsylvania.
James A. Donahue, III,
Executive Deputy Attorney General, [email protected].
Tracy W. Wertz,
Chief Deputy Attorney General, [email protected].
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Norman W. Marden (PA Bar #203423),
Senior Deputy Attorney General, [email protected].
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Antitrust Section, Strawberry
Square, 14th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120, Telephone: (717) 787-4530.
FOR PLAINTIFF STATE OF WISCONSIN:
Joshua L. Kaul,
Attorney General, State of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Justice.
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Shannon A. Conlin (Pro Hac Forthcoming),
Assistant Attorney General, Post Office Box 7857, Madison, WI 53707-
7857, (608) 266-1677, [email protected].
Appendix A: SCCW Geographic Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
Small Container Commercial Waste
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Counties/municipalities significant
Geographic market within geographic competitors
market pre-merger
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Lee County, Alabama......... Lee County, AL......... 3
2. Macon County, Alabama....... Macon County, AL....... 2
3. Mobile, Alabama............. City of Mobile, AL..... 3
[[Page 70008]]
4. Montgomery County, Alabama.. Montgomery County, AL.. 3
5. Tuscaloosa, Alabama......... City of Tuscaloosa, AL. 3
6. Jacksonville, Florida....... Duvall, St. Johns, and 3
Clay Counties, FL.
7. Ocala, Florida.............. Marion and Citrus 3
Counties, FL.
8. Augusta, Georgia............ Columbia and Richmond 4
Counties, GA and
Edgefield and Aiken
Counties, SC.
9. Rochester, Minnesota........ City of Rochester, MN.. 3
10. St. Cloud, Minnesota....... City of St. Cloud, MN.. 3
11. Calumet County, Wisconsin.. Calumet County, WI..... 2
12. Clark, Wisconsin........... Clark and Taylor 3
Counties, WI.
13. Dane County, Wisconsin..... Dane County, WI........ 3
14. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, 2
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan,
and Washington
Counties, WI.
15. Green Bay, Wisconsin....... Brown and Outagamie 4
Counties, WI.
16. Green County, Wisconsin.... Green County, WI....... 3
17. Green Lake, Wisconsin...... Columbia, Green Lake, 2
and Marquette
Counties, WI.
18. Eau Claire, Wisconsin...... Chippewa and Eau Claire 4
Counties, WI.
19. Jackson County, Wisconsin.. Jackson County, WI..... 3
20. Jefferson County, Wisconsin Jefferson County, WI... 3
21. Kenosha County, Wisconsin.. Kenosha County, WI..... 2
22. Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Kewaunee County, WI.... 2
23. Langlade, Wisconsin........ Langlade, Lincoln, 2
Oneida, and Shawano
Counties, WI.
24. Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Manitowoc County, WI... 3
25. Mar-Oco, Wisconsin......... Marinette and Oconto 3
Counties, WI.
26. Marathon, Wisconsin........ Marathon, Portage, and 3
Wood Counties, WI.
27. Milwaukee, Wisconsin....... Milwaukee, Racine, and 2
Waukesha Counties, WI.
28. Price County, Wisconsin.... Price County, WI....... 3
29. Rock County, Wisconsin..... Rock County, WI........ 3
30. Sauk County, Wisconsin..... Sauk County, WI........ 3
31. Walworth County, Wisconsin. Walworth County, WI.... 3
32. Waupaca, Wisconsin......... Waupaca County, WI..... 4
33. Waushara, Wisconsin........ Waushara and Winnebago 2
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix B: MSW Disposal Geographic Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
MSW Disposal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Counties/municipalities significant
Geographic market within geographic competitors
market pre-merger
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. East Central, Alabama....... Lee and Macon Counties, 2
AL.
2. Mobile, Alabama............. City of Mobile, AL..... 3
3. Phenix City, Alabama........ Phenix City, AL........ 2
4. Ocala, Florida.............. Marion and Citrus 3
Counties, FL.
5. Atlanta, Georgia............ Cherokee, Forsyth, 3
Gwinnett, Fulton,
Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
6. Kane County, Illinois....... Kane County, IL........ 3
7. Lake County, Illinois....... Lake County, IL........ 3
8. Northern Cook County, Area west of Interstate 4
Illinois. 94 and north of
Interstate 90 in Cook
County, Illinois.
9. Fort Wayne, Indiana......... Allen, Kosciusko, and 3
Whitley Counties, IN.
10. Detroit, Michigan.......... Wayne, Macomb and 4
Oakland Counties, MI.
11. Bedford County, Bedford County, PA..... 2
Pennsylvania.
12. Fayette County, Fayette and Greene 4
Pennsylvania. Counties, PA.
13. Indiana County, Clarion, Jefferson, and 3
Pennsylvania. Indiana Counties, PA.
14. Somerset County, Cambria and Somerset 2
Pennsylvania. Counties, PA.
15. State College, Pennsylvania Centre and Clearfield 3
Counties, PA.
16. Dane County, Wisconsin..... Dane County, WI........ 3
17. Eau Claire, Wisconsin...... Chippewa and Eau Claire 2
Counties, WI.
18. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, 2
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan,
and Washington
Counties, WI.
19. Greater Green Bay, Brown, Outagamie, and 2
Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Winnebago Counties, WI.
20. Greater Manitowoc, Calumet, Kewaunee, and 2
Wisconsin. Manitowoc Counties, WI.
[[Page 70009]]
21. Green County, Wisconsin.... Green County, WI....... 3
22. Janesville, Wisconsin...... Jefferson, Rock, and 3
Walworth Counties, WI.
23. Milwaukee, Wisconsin....... Milwaukee, Racine, and 2
Waukesha Counties, WI.
24. St. Croix, Wisconsin....... Pierce and St. Croix 3
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States of America, State of Florida, State of Illinois,
State of Minnesota, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and State of
Wisconsin, Plaintiffs, v. Waste Management, Inc., and Advanced
Disposal Services, Inc., Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20-cv-3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
Proposed Final Judgment
Whereas, Plaintiffs, United States of America and the States of
Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota and the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (collectively, the ``Plaintiff States''), filed their
Complaint on October 23, 2020;
And whereas, the United States, Plaintiff States, and Defendants,
Waste Management, Inc. (``WMI'') and Advanced Disposal Services, Inc.
(``ADS''), have consented to entry of this Final Judgment without the
taking of testimony, without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact
or law, and without this Final Judgment constituting any evidence
against or admission by any party regarding any issue of fact or law;
And whereas, Defendants agree to make a divestiture to remedy the
loss of competition alleged in the Complaint;
And whereas, Defendants represent that the divestiture and other
relief required by this Final Judgment can and will be made and that
Defendants will not later raise a claim of hardship or difficulty as
grounds for asking the Court to modify any provision of this Final
Judgment;
Now therefore, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed:
I. Jurisdiction
The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of and each of
the parties to this action. The Complaint states a claim upon which
relief may be granted against Defendants under Section 7 of the Clayton
Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 18).
II. Definitions
As used in this Final Judgment:
A. ``Acquirer'' or ``Acquirers'' means GFL or another entity or
entities to which Defendants divest the Divestiture Assets.
B. ``WMI'' means Defendant Waste Management, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters in Houston, Texas, its successors and
assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates,
partnerships, and joint ventures, and their directors, officers,
managers, agents, and employees.
C. ``ADS'' means Defendant Advanced Disposal Services, Inc., a
Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Florida, its
successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups,
affiliates, partnerships, and joint ventures, and their directors,
officers, managers, agents, and employees.
D. ``GFL'' means GFL Environmental Inc., a Canadian corporation
with is headquarters in Ontario, Canada, its successors and assigns,
and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships, and
joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents, and
employees.
E. ``Disposal'' means the business of disposing of waste into
disposal sites, including the use of transfer stations to facilitate
shipment of waste to other disposal sites.
F. ``MSW'' means municipal solid waste. Municipal solid waste is a
term of art used to describe solid putrescible waste generated by
households and commercial establishments such as retail stores,
offices, restaurants, warehouses, and non-manufacturing activities in
industrial facilities. MSW does not include special handling waste
(e.g., waste from manufacturing processes, regulated medical waste,
sewage, and sludge), hazardous waste, or waste generated by
construction or demolition sites.
G. ``Small Container Commercial Waste Collection'' (or ``SCCW
Collection'') means the business of collecting MSW from commercial and
industrial accounts, usually in ``dumpsters'' (i.e., small containers
with one-to-ten cubic yards of storage capacity), and transporting--or
``hauling''--that waste to a disposal site, typically by use of a
front-end, side-load, or rear-end truck. Typical Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection customers include office and apartment
buildings and retail establishments (e.g., stores and restaurants).
H. ``Residential Waste Collection'' means the business of
collecting MSW from residential accounts and transporting--or
``hauling''--such waste to a disposal site, typically by use of a rear-
end or side-load truck. Typical Residential Waste Collection customers
include single-family residences and small apartment buildings.
I. ``Roll-Off Waste Collection'' means the business of collecting
MSW that is stored in twenty-to-forty cubic yard containers from
commercial and industrial accounts and transporting that waste to a
disposal site, typically by use of a truck with a roll-off trailer
attachment.
J. ``Commercial Recycling Collection'' means the business of
collecting recyclables, which are discarded materials that will be
processed and reused, from commercial and industrial accounts and
transporting those recyclables to a recycling site (typically called a
``materials recovery facility,'' or ``MRF'').
K. ``Residential Recycling Collection'' means the business of
collecting recyclables, which are discarded materials that will be
processed and reused, from residential accounts and transporting those
recyclables to a recycling site.
L. ``Mixed Collection'' or ``Co-Collect'' means the business of
collecting a mixture of commercial waste, residential waste, and/or
recycling and transporting such waste and/or recycling to a disposal or
recycling site.
M. ``Yard Waste Collection'' means the business of collecting
organic waste from single-family and small residences and transporting
such waste to a disposal site.
N. ``Route'' means a group of customers receiving regularly
scheduled waste or recycling collection service as of August 25, 2020,
including customers from that group for whom service has been suspended
due to issues related to COVID-19, and any customers added to that
group between August 25, 2020 and the date that the Route is divested
to an Acquirer.
[[Page 70010]]
O. ``Divestiture Assets'' means all of Defendants' rights, titles,
and interests in and to:
1. The transfer stations and landfills listed in Appendix A;
2. all property and assets, tangible and intangible, wherever
located, related to or used in connection with the transfer stations
and landfills listed in Appendix A, including but not limited to:
a. All real property, including but not limited to fee simple
interests, real property leasehold interests and renewal rights
thereto, improvements to real property, and options to purchase any
adjoining or other property, together with all offices, garages,
material recovery facilities, and other related facilities;
b. all tangible personal property, including but not limited to
capital equipment, trucks and other vehicles, scales, power supply
equipment, and office furniture, materials, and supplies;
c. all contracts, contractual rights, and customer relationships;
and all other agreements, commitments, and understandings, including
but not limited to swap agreements;
d. all licenses, permits, certifications, approvals, consents, and
authorizations, and all pending applications or renewals; and
e. copies of all records and data, including but not limited to
customer lists, accounts, credits records, and repair and performance
records;
3. the hauling facilities and Routes listed in Appendix B; and
4. all property and assets, tangible and intangible, wherever
located, related to or used in connection with the Routes listed in
Appendix B, including but not limited to:
a. All real property, including but not limited to fee simple
interests, real property leasehold interests and renewal rights
thereto, improvements to real property, and options to purchase any
adjoining or other property, together with all offices, garages, and
related facilities;
b. all tangible personal property, including but not limited to
capital equipment, trucks and other vehicles (those assigned to Routes,
and, at the option of Acquirer, all spare vehicles, containers, and
supplies), scales, power supply equipment, and office furniture,
materials, and supplies;
c. all contracts (except Straddle Contracts), contractual rights,
and customer relationships; and all other agreements, commitments, and
understandings, including but not limited to swap agreements;
d. all licenses, permits, certifications, approvals, consents, and
authorizations, and all pending applications or renewals; and
e. copies of all records and data, including but not limited to
customer lists, accounts, and credits records, and repair and
performance records; provided, however, that the assets specified in
Paragraphs II(O)(4)(a)-(e) above do not include the facilities
identified in Appendix C.
P. ``Straddle Contracts'' means customer waste or recycling
collection contracts that include a combination of services and/or
collection stops included in the Divestiture Assets and services and/or
collection stops not included in the Divestiture Assets.
Q. ``Relevant Personnel'' means all full-time, part-time, or
contract employees of WMI or ADS, wherever located, involved in the MSW
Disposal, Small Container Commercial Waste Collection, Residential
Waste Collection, Roll-Off Waste Collection, Commercial Recycling
Collection, Residential Recycling Collection, Mixed Collection, or Yard
Waste Collection services provided for a Route or facility included in
the Divestiture Assets at any time between April 15, 2019, and the date
on which the Divestiture Assets are divested to GFL or another
Acquirer. The United States, in its sole discretion, will resolve any
disagreement regarding which employees are Relevant Personnel.
III. Applicability
A. This Final Judgment applies to WMI and ADS, as defined above,
and all other persons, in active concert or participation with any
Defendant, who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment.
B. If, prior to complying with Section IV and Section V of this
Final Judgment, Defendants sell or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of their assets or of business units that include the
Divestiture Assets, Defendants must require any purchaser to be bound
by the provisions of this Final Judgment. Defendants need not obtain
such an agreement from the Acquirers.
IV. Divestitures
A. Defendants are ordered and directed, within thirty (30) calendar
days after the Court's entry of the Asset Preservation Stipulation and
Order in this matter, to divest the Divestiture Assets in a manner
consistent with this Final Judgment to GFL or an alternative Acquirer
acceptable to the United States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States. The United States, in its sole
discretion, may agree to one or more extensions of this time period,
not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days in total, and will notify the
Court of any extensions.
B. Defendants must use their best efforts to divest the Divestiture
Assets as expeditiously as possible and may not take any action to
impede the permitting, operation, or divestiture of the Divestiture
Assets.
C. Unless the United States otherwise consents in writing,
divestiture pursuant to this Final Judgment must include the entire
Divestiture Assets and must be accomplished in such a way as to satisfy
the United States, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the
Plaintiff States, that the Divestiture Assets can and will be used by
Acquirer as part of a viable, ongoing MSW Disposal business and a
viable, ongoing Small Commercial Container Waste Collection business
and that the divestiture to Acquirer will remedy the competitive harm
alleged in the Complaint.
D. The divestiture must be made to an Acquirer that, in the United
States' sole judgment, after consultation with the Plaintiff States,
has the intent and capability (including the necessary managerial,
operational, technical, and financial capability) to compete
effectively in the business of MSW Disposal and Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection.
E. The divestiture must be accomplished so as to satisfy the United
States, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the Plaintiff
States, that none of the terms of any agreement between Acquirer and
Defendants give Defendants the ability unreasonably to raise Acquirer's
costs, to lower Acquirer's efficiency, or otherwise to interfere in the
ability of Acquirer to compete effectively.
F. Divestiture of the Divestiture Assets may be made to one or more
Acquirers, provided that it is demonstrated to the sole satisfaction of
the United States, after consultation with the Plaintiff States, that
the criteria required by Paragraphs IV(C), IV(D), and IV(E) will still
be met.
G. In the event Defendants are attempting to divest the Divestiture
Assets to an Acquirer other than GFL, Defendants promptly must make
known, by usual and customary means, the availability of the
Divestiture Assets. Defendants must inform any person making an inquiry
regarding a possible purchase of the Divestiture Assets that the
Divestiture Assets are being divested in accordance with this Final
Judgment and must provide that person with a copy of this Final
Judgment. Defendants must offer to furnish to all prospective
Acquirers, subject to customary confidentiality assurances, all
[[Page 70011]]
information and documents relating to the Divestiture Assets that are
customarily provided in a due-diligence process; provided, however,
that Defendants need not provide information or documents subject to
the attorney-client privilege or work-product doctrine. Defendants must
make all information and documents available to Plaintiffs at the same
time that the information and documents are made available to any other
person.
H. Defendants must provide prospective Acquirers with (1) access to
make inspections of the Divestiture Assets; (2) access to all
environmental, zoning, and other permitting documents and information;
and (3) access to all financial, operational, or other documents and
information customarily provided as part of a due diligence process.
Defendants also must disclose all encumbrances on any part of the
Divestiture Assets, including on intangible property.
I. Defendants must cooperate with and assist Acquirer to identify
and hire all Relevant Personnel.
1. Within ten (10) business days following the filing of the
Complaint in this matter, Defendants must identify all Relevant
Personnel to Acquirer and Plaintiffs, including by providing
organization charts covering all Relevant Personnel.
2. Within ten (10) business days following receipt of a request by
Acquirer or the United States, Defendants must provide to Acquirer and
Plaintiffs the following additional information related to Relevant
Personnel: Name; job title; current salary and benefits including most
recent bonus paid, aggregate annual compensation, current target or
guaranteed bonus, if any, any retention agreement or incentives, and
any other payments due to or promises made to the employee;
descriptions of reporting relationships, past experience,
responsibilities, and training and educational histories; lists of all
certifications; and all job performance evaluations. If Defendants are
barred by any applicable law from providing any of this information,
within ten (10) business days following receipt of the request,
Defendants must provide the requested information to the full extent
permitted by law and also must provide a written explanation of
Defendants' inability to provide the remaining information.
3. At the request of Acquirer, Defendants must promptly make
Relevant Personnel available for private interviews with Acquirer
during normal business hours at a mutually agreeable location.
4. Defendants must not interfere with any effort by Acquirer to
employ any Relevant Personnel. Interference includes but is not limited
to offering to increase the compensation or improve the benefits of
Relevant Personnel unless: (a) The offer is part of a company-wide
increase in compensation or improvement in benefits that was announced
prior to April 1, 2020; or (b) the offer is approved by the United
States in its sole discretion. Defendants' obligations under this
Paragraph will expire six (6) months after the divestiture of the
Divestiture Assets pursuant to this Final Judgment.
5. For Relevant Personnel who elect employment with Acquirer within
six (6) months of the date on which the Divestiture Assets are divested
to Acquirer, Defendants must waive all non-compete and non-disclosure
agreements, vest all unvested pension and other equity rights, provide
any pay pro-rata, provide all other compensation and benefits that
those Relevant Personnel have fully or partially accrued, and provide
all other benefits that those Relevant Personnel otherwise would have
been provided had the Relevant Personnel continued employment with
Defendants, including but not limited to any retention bonuses or
payments. Defendants may maintain reasonable restrictions on disclosure
by Relevant Personnel of Defendants' proprietary non-public information
that is unrelated to the business of MSW Disposal, Small Commercial
Container Waste Collection, Residential Waste Collection, Roll-Off
Waste Collection, Commercial Recycling Collection, Residential
Recycling Collection, Mixed Collection, and Yard Waste Collection and
not otherwise required to be disclosed by this Final Judgment.
6. For a period of twelve (12) months from the date on which the
Divestiture Assets are divested to Acquirer, Defendants may not solicit
to rehire Relevant Personnel who were hired by Acquirer within six (6)
months of the date on which the Divestiture Assets are divested to
Acquirer unless (a) an individual is terminated or laid off by Acquirer
or (b) Acquirer agrees in writing that Defendants may solicit to rehire
that individual. Nothing in this Paragraph prohibits Defendants from
advertising employment openings using general solicitations or
advertisements and rehiring Relevant Personnel who apply for an
employment opening through a general solicitation or advertisement.
J. Defendants must warrant to Acquirer that (1) the Divestiture
Assets will be operational and without material defect on the date of
their transfer to the Acquirer; (2) there are no material defects in
the environmental, zoning, or other permits pertaining to the operation
of the Divestiture Assets; and (3) Defendants have disclosed all
encumbrances on any part of the Divestiture Assets, including on
intangible property. Following the sale of the Divestiture Assets,
Defendants must not undertake, directly or indirectly, challenges to
the environmental, zoning, or other permits pertaining to the operation
of the Divestiture Assets.
K. Defendants must assign, subcontract, or otherwise transfer all
contracts (except Straddle Contracts), agreements, and relationships
(or portions of such contracts, agreements, and relationships) included
in the Divestiture Assets, including but not limited to all supply and
sales contracts and swap agreements, to Acquirer; provided, however,
that for any contract or agreement that requires the consent of another
party to assign, subcontract, or otherwise transfer, Defendants must
use best efforts to accomplish the assignment, subcontracting, or
transfer. Defendants must not interfere with any negotiations between
Acquirer and a contracting party.
L. At the option of Acquirer, and subject to approval by the United
States in its sole discretion, on or before the date on which the
Divestiture Assets are divested to Acquirer, Defendants must assign,
subcontract, or otherwise transfer all Straddle Contracts; provided,
however, that for any Straddle Contract that requires the consent of
another party to assign, subcontract, or otherwise transfer, Defendants
must use best efforts to accomplish the assignment, subcontracting, or
other transfer. Defendants must not interfere with any negotiations
between Acquirer and a contracting party.
M. Defendants must make best efforts to assist Acquirer to obtain
all necessary licenses, registrations, and permits to operate the
Divestiture Assets. Until Acquirer obtains the necessary licenses,
registrations, and permits, Defendants must provide Acquirer with the
benefit of Defendants' licenses, registrations, and permits to the full
extent permissible by law.
N. At the option of Acquirer, and subject to approval by the United
States in its sole discretion, on or before the date on which the
Divestiture Assets are divested to Acquirer, Defendants must enter into
a contract to provide transition services for back office, human
resources, accounting, employee health and safety, and information
technology services and support for a
[[Page 70012]]
period of up to six (6) months on terms and conditions reasonably
related to market conditions for the provision of the transition
services. The United States, in its sole discretion, may approve one or
more extensions of any contract for transition services, for a total of
up to an additional six (6) months. If Acquirer seeks an extension of
the term of any transition services agreement, Defendants must notify
the United States in writing at least one (1) month prior to the date
the contract expires. Acquirer may terminate a contract for transition
services without cost or penalty at any time upon thirty (30) days'
written notice to WMI. The employee(s) of Defendants tasked with
providing these transition services must not share any competitively
sensitive information of Acquirer with any other employee of
Defendants.
O. At the option of Acquirer, and subject to approval by the United
States in its sole discretion, on or before the date on which the
Divestiture Assets are divested to Acquirer, Defendants must enter into
a landfill disposal contract to provide rights to landfill disposal at
ADS's Orchard Hills Landfill, located at 8290 Highway 251 South, Davis
Junction, Illinois, 61020. The landfill disposal contract must allow
Acquirer to dispose up to 1,200 tons of MSW per day at the Orchard
Hills Landfill for a period of up to three (3) years from the date on
which the Divestiture Assets are divested to Acquirer. Defendants must
operate the Orchard Hills gates, scale houses, and disposal areas for
the benefit of Acquirer under terms and conditions no less favorable
than those that Defendants provide to their own vehicles. The United
States, in its sole discretion, may approve one or more extensions of a
landfill disposal contract for a total of up to an additional two (2)
years. If Acquirer seeks an extension of the term of a landfill
disposal contract, Defendants must notify the United States, the State
of Illinois, and the State of Wisconsin in writing at least one (1)
month prior to the date the contract expires. Acquirer may terminate a
contract for landfill disposal without cost or penalty at any time upon
thirty (30) days' written notice to WMI.
P. If any term of an agreement between Defendants and Acquirer to
effectuate the divestiture required by this Final Judgment varies from
a term of this Final Judgment, to the extent that Defendants cannot
fully comply with both, this Final Judgment determines Defendants'
obligations.
V. Appointment of Divestiture Trustee
A. If Defendants have not divested the Divestiture Assets within
the period specified in Paragraph IV(A), Defendants must immediately
notify Plaintiffs of that fact in writing. Upon application of the
United States, the Court will appoint a divestiture trustee selected by
the United States and approved by the Court to effect the
divestiture(s) of any of the Divestiture Assets.
B. After the appointment of a divestiture trustee by the Court,
only the divestiture trustee will have the right to sell the
Divestiture Assets. The divestiture trustee will have the power and
authority to accomplish the divestiture(s) to an Acquirer or Acquirers
acceptable to the United States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States, at a price and on terms as are
then obtainable upon reasonable effort by the divestiture trustee,
subject to the provisions of Sections IV, V, and VI of this Final
Judgment, and will have other powers as the Court deems appropriate.
The divestiture trustee must sell the Divestiture Assets as quickly as
possible.
C. Defendants may not object to a sale by the divestiture trustee
on any ground other than malfeasance by the divestiture trustee.
Objections by Defendants must be conveyed in writing to Plaintiffs and
the divestiture trustee within ten (10) calendar days after the
divestiture trustee has provided the notice of proposed divestiture
required under Section VI.
D. The divestiture trustee will serve at the cost and expense of
Defendants pursuant to a written agreement, on terms and conditions,
including confidentiality requirements and conflict-of-interest
certifications, that are approved by the United States.
E. The divestiture trustee may hire at the cost and expense of
Defendants any agents or consultants, including but not limited to
investment bankers, attorneys, and accountants, that are reasonably
necessary in the divestiture trustee's judgment to assist with the
divestiture trustee's duties. These agents or consultants will be
accountable solely to the divestiture trustee and will serve on terms
and conditions, including terms and conditions governing
confidentiality requirements and conflict-of-interest certifications,
that are approved by the United States.
F. The compensation of the divestiture trustee and agents or
consultants hired by the divestiture trustee must be reasonable in
light of the value of the Divestiture Assets and based on a fee
arrangement that provides the divestiture trustee with incentives based
on the price and terms of the divestiture(s) and the speed with which
it is accomplished. If the divestiture trustee and Defendants are
unable to reach agreement on the divestiture trustee's compensation or
other terms and conditions of engagement within fourteen (14) calendar
days of the appointment of the divestiture trustee by the Court, the
United States may, in its sole discretion, take appropriate action,
including by making a recommendation to the Court. Within three (3)
business days of hiring an agent or consultant, the divestiture trustee
must provide written notice of the hiring and rate of compensation to
Defendants and the United States.
G. The divestiture trustee must account for all monies derived from
the sale of the Divestiture Assets sold by the divestiture trustee and
all costs and expenses incurred. Within thirty (30) calendar days of
the date of the sale of the Divestiture Assets, the divestiture trustee
must submit that accounting to the Court for approval. After approval
by the Court of the divestiture trustee's accounting, including fees
for unpaid services and those of agents or consultants hired by the
divestiture trustee, all remaining money must be paid to Defendants and
the trust will then be terminated.
H. Defendants must use their best efforts to assist the divestiture
trustee to accomplish the required divestiture. Subject to reasonable
protection for trade secrets, other confidential research, development,
or commercial information, or any applicable privileges, Defendants
must provide the divestiture trustee and agents or consultants retained
by the divestiture trustee with full and complete access to all
personnel, books, records, and facilities of the Divestiture Assets.
Defendants also must provide or develop financial and other information
relevant to the Divestiture Assets that the divestiture trustee may
reasonably request. Defendants must not take any action to interfere
with or to impede the divestiture trustee's accomplishment of the
divestiture.
I. The divestiture trustee must maintain complete records of all
efforts made to sell the Divestiture Assets, including by filing
monthly reports with Plaintiffs setting forth the divestiture trustee's
efforts to accomplish the divestiture ordered by this Final Judgment.
The reports must include the name, address, and telephone number of
each person who, during the preceding month, made an offer to acquire,
expressed an interest in acquiring, entered into negotiations to
acquire, or was contacted or made an inquiry about acquiring any
interest in the Divestiture
[[Page 70013]]
Assets and must describe in detail each contact with any such person.
J. If the divestiture trustee has not accomplished the divestiture
ordered by this Final Judgment within six months of appointment, the
divestiture trustee must promptly provide Plaintiffs with a report
setting forth: (1) The divestiture trustee's efforts to accomplish the
required divestiture; (2) the reasons, in the divestiture trustee's
judgment, why the required divestiture has not been accomplished; and
(3) the divestiture trustee's recommendations for completing the
divestiture. Following receipt of that report, the United States may
make additional recommendations consistent with the purpose of the
trust to the Court. The Court thereafter may enter such orders as it
deems appropriate to carry out the purpose of this Final Judgment,
which may include extending the trust and the term of the divestiture
trustee's appointment by a period requested by the United States.
K. The divestiture trustee will serve until divestiture of all
Divestiture Assets is completed or for a term otherwise ordered by the
Court.
L. If the United States determines that the divestiture trustee is
not acting diligently or in a reasonably cost-effective manner, the
United States may recommend that the Court appoint a substitute
divestiture trustee.
VI. Notice of Proposed Divestiture
A. Within two (2) business days following execution of a definitive
divestiture agreement, Defendants or the divestiture trustee, whichever
is then responsible for effecting the divestiture, must notify
Plaintiffs of a proposed divestiture required by this Final Judgment.
If the divestiture trustee is responsible for completing the
divestiture, the divestiture trustee also must notify Defendants. The
notice must set forth the details of the proposed divestiture and list
the name, address, and telephone number of each person not previously
identified who offered or expressed an interest in or desire to acquire
any ownership interest in the Divestiture Assets.
B. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the United
States of this notice, the United States may request from Defendants,
the proposed Acquirer(s), other third parties, or the divestiture
trustee additional information concerning the proposed divestiture, the
proposed Acquirer(s) and other prospective Acquirers. Defendants and
the divestiture trustee must furnish the additional information
requested within fifteen (15) calendar days of the receipt of the
request, unless the United States provides written agreement to a
different period.
C. Within forty-five (45) calendar days after receipt of the notice
required by Paragraph VI(A) or within twenty (20) calendar days after
the United States has been provided the additional information
requested pursuant to Paragraph VI(B), whichever is later, the United
States must provide written notice to Defendants and any divestiture
trustee that states whether or not the United States, in its sole
discretion, after consultation with the Plaintiff States, objects to
Acquirer(s) or any other aspect of the proposed divestiture. Without
written notice that the United States does not object, a divestiture
may not be consummated. If the United States provides written notice
that it does not object, the divestiture may be consummated, subject
only to Defendants' limited right to object to the sale under Paragraph
V(C) of this Final Judgment. Upon objection by Defendants pursuant to
Paragraph V(C), a divestiture by the divestiture trustee may not be
consummated unless approved by the Court.
D. No information or documents obtained pursuant to this Section VI
may be divulged by Plaintiffs to any person other than an authorized
representative of the executive branch of the United States or an
authorized representative of the Plaintiff States, except in the course
of legal proceedings to which the United States is a party, including
grand-jury proceedings, for the purpose of evaluating a proposed
Acquirer or securing compliance with this Final Judgment, or as
otherwise required by law.
E. In the event of a request by a third party for disclosure of
information under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, the
Antitrust Division will act in accordance with that statute and the
Department of Justice regulations at 28 CFR part 16, including the
provision on confidential commercial information at 28 CFR 16.7.
Persons submitting information to the Antitrust Division should
designate the confidential commercial information portions of all
applicable documents and information under 28 CFR 16.7. Designations of
confidentiality expire ten years after submission, ``unless the
submitter requests and provides justification for a longer designation
period.'' See 28 CFR 16.7(b).
F. If at the time that a person furnishes information or documents
to the United States or the Plaintiff States pursuant to this Section
VI, that person represents and identifies in writing information or
documents for which a claim of protection may be asserted under Rule
26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and marks each
pertinent page of such material, ``Subject to claim of protection under
Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,'' the United
States and the Plaintiff States must give that person ten calendar
days' notice before divulging the material in any legal proceeding
(other than a grand-jury proceeding).
VII. Financing
Defendants may not finance all or any part of any Acquirer's
purchase of all or part of the Divestiture Assets made pursuant to this
Final Judgment.
VIII. Asset Preservation
Until the divestiture required by this Final Judgment has been
accomplished, Defendants must take all steps necessary to comply with
the Asset Preservation Stipulation and Order entered by the Court.
Defendants must take no action that would jeopardize the divestiture
ordered by the Court.
IX. Affidavits
A. Within twenty (20) calendar days of the filing of the Complaint
in this matter, and every thirty (30) calendar days thereafter until
the divestiture required by this Final Judgment has been completed,
Defendants must deliver to Plaintiffs an affidavit, signed by each
Defendant's Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, describing the
fact and manner of Defendants' compliance with this Final Judgment. The
United States, in its sole discretion, may approve different
signatories for the affidavits.
B. Each affidavit must include: (1) The name, address, and
telephone number of each person who, during the preceding thirty (30)
calendar days, made an offer to acquire, expressed an interest in
acquiring, entered into negotiations to acquire, or was contacted or
made an inquiry about acquiring, an interest in the Divestiture Assets
and describe in detail each contact with such persons during that
period; (2) a description of the efforts Defendants have taken to
solicit buyers for and complete the sale of the Divestiture Assets, and
to provide required information to prospective Acquirers; and (3) a
description of any limitations placed by Defendants on information
provided to prospective Acquirers. If the information set forth in the
affidavit is true and complete, objection by the United States to
information provided by Defendants to prospective Acquirers must be
made within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the affidavit.
[[Page 70014]]
C. Defendants must keep all records of any efforts made to divest
the Divestiture Assets until one year after the divestiture has been
completed.
D. Within twenty (20) calendar days of the filing of the Complaint
in this matter, Defendants also must deliver to Plaintiffs an affidavit
signed by each Defendant's Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel,
that describes in reasonable detail all actions Defendants have taken
and all steps Defendants have implemented on an ongoing basis to comply
with Section VIII of this Final Judgment. The United States, in its
sole discretion, may approve different signatories for the affidavits.
E. If Defendants make any changes to the efforts and actions
outlined in any earlier affidavits provided pursuant to Paragraph
IX(D), Defendants must, within fifteen (15) calendar days after any
change is implemented, deliver to Plaintiffs an affidavit describing
those changes.
F. Defendants must keep all records of any efforts made to preserve
the Divestiture Assets until one year after the divestiture has been
completed.
X. Compliance Inspection
A. For the purposes of determining or securing compliance with this
Final Judgment, or of related orders such as the Asset Preservation
Stipulation and Order or of determining whether this Final Judgment
should be modified or vacated, upon written request of an authorized
representative of the Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust
Division, and reasonable notice to Defendants, Defendants must permit,
from time to time and subject to legally recognized privileges,
authorized representatives, including agents retained by the United
States:
1. To have access during Defendants' office hours to inspect and
copy, or at the option of the United States, to require Defendants
to provide electronic copies of all books, ledgers, accounts,
records, data, and documents in the possession, custody, or control
of Defendants relating to any matters contained in this Final
Judgment; and
2. to interview, either informally or on the record, Defendants'
officers, employees, or agents, who may have their individual
counsel present, regarding such matters. The interviews must be
subject to the reasonable convenience of the interviewee and without
restraint or interference by Defendants.
B. Upon the written request of an authorized representative of the
Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, Defendants must
submit written reports or respond to written interrogatories, under
oath if requested, relating to any of the matters contained in this
Final Judgment.
C. No information or documents obtained by the United States
pursuant to this Section X may be divulged by Plaintiffs to any person
other than an authorized representative of the executive branch of the
United States or an authorized representative of the Plaintiff States,
except in the course of legal proceedings to which the United States is
a party, including grand jury proceedings, for the purpose of securing
compliance with this Final Judgment, or as otherwise required by law.
D. In the event of a request by a third party for disclosure of
information under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552, the
Antitrust Division will act in accordance with that statute and the
Department of Justice regulations at 28 CFR part 16, including the
provision on confidential commercial information at 28 CFR 16.7.
Defendants submitting information to the Antitrust Division should
designate the confidential commercial information portions of all
applicable documents and information under 28 CFR 16.7. Designations of
confidentiality expire ten years after submission, ``unless the
submitter requests and provides justification for a longer designation
period.'' See 28 CFR 16.7(b).
E. If at the time that Defendants furnish information or documents
to the United States pursuant to this Section X, Defendants represent
and identify in writing information or documents for which a claim of
protection may be asserted under Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure, and Defendants mark each pertinent page of such
material, ``Subject to claim of protection under Rule 26(c)(1)(G) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,'' the United States must give
Defendants ten (10) calendar days' notice before divulging the material
in any legal proceeding (other than a grand jury proceeding).
XI. Notification
A. Unless a transaction is otherwise subject to the reporting and
waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 18a (the ``HSR Act''),
Defendants may not, without first providing notification to the United
States and to any Plaintiff State in which any of the assets or
interests are located, directly or indirectly acquire (including
through an asset swap agreement) any assets of or any interest,
including a financial, security, loan, equity, or management interest,
in any person or entity involved in MSW Disposal and/or Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection services in any area identified in Appendix
D, where that person's or entity's revenues for the 12 months preceding
the proposed acquisition from MSW Disposal and/or Small Container
Commercial Waste Collection services in the identified area were in
excess of $500,000. This provision also applies to an acquisition of
facilities that serve an identified area but are located outside the
area and requires notice to any Plaintiff State where an identified
area in the state is serviced by assets or interests to be acquired
that are located outside of the state's border.
B. Defendants must provide the notification required by this
Section XI in the same format as, and in accordance with the
instructions relating to, the Notification and Report Form set forth in
the Appendix to Part 803 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations
as amended, except that the information requested in Items 5 through 8
of the instructions must be provided only about MSW Disposal and Small
Container Commercial Waste Collection. Notification must be provided at
least thirty (30) calendar days before acquiring any assets or
interest, and must include, beyond the information required by the
instructions, the names of the principal representatives who negotiated
the transaction on behalf of each party and all management or strategic
plans discussing the proposed transaction. If, within the thirty (30)
calendar days following notification, representatives of the United
States make a written request for additional information, Defendants
may not consummate the proposed transaction until thirty (30) calendar
days after submitting all requested information.
C. Early termination of the waiting periods set forth in this
Section XI may be requested and, where appropriate, granted in the same
manner as is applicable under the requirements and provisions of the
HSR Act and rules promulgated thereunder. This Section XI must be
broadly construed and any ambiguity or uncertainty regarding whether to
file a notice under this Section XI must be resolved in favor of filing
notice.
XII. Limitations on Reacquisition
Defendants may not reacquire any part of or any interest in the
Divestiture Assets during the term of this Final Judgment.
XIII. Retention of Jurisdiction
The Court retains jurisdiction to enable any party to this Final
Judgment to apply to the Court at any time for further orders and
directions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out or
[[Page 70015]]
construe this Final Judgment, to modify any of its provisions, to
enforce compliance, and to punish violations of its provisions.
XIV. Enforcement of Final Judgment
A. The United States retains and reserves all rights to enforce the
provisions of this Final Judgment, including the right to seek an order
of contempt from the Court. Defendants agree that in a civil contempt
action, a motion to show cause, or a similar action brought by the
United States regarding an alleged violation of this Final Judgment,
the United States may establish a violation of this Final Judgment and
the appropriateness of a remedy therefor by a preponderance of the
evidence, and Defendants waive any argument that a different standard
of proof should apply.
B. This Final Judgment should be interpreted to give full effect to
the procompetitive purposes of the antitrust laws and to restore the
competition the United States and the Plaintiff States allege was
harmed by the challenged conduct. Defendants agree that they may be
held in contempt of, and that the Court may enforce, any provision of
this Final Judgment that, as interpreted by the Court in light of these
procompetitive principles and applying ordinary tools of
interpretation, is stated specifically and in reasonable detail,
whether or not it is clear and unambiguous on its face. In any such
interpretation, the terms of this Final Judgment should not be
construed against either party as the drafter.
C. In an enforcement proceeding in which the Court finds that
Defendants have violated this Final Judgment, the United States may
apply to the Court for a one-time extension of this Final Judgment,
together with other relief that may be appropriate. In connection with
a successful effort by the United States to enforce this Final Judgment
against a Defendant, whether litigated or resolved before litigation,
that Defendant agrees to reimburse the United States for the fees and
expenses of its attorneys, as well as all other costs including
experts' fees, incurred in connection with that enforcement effort,
including in the investigation of the potential violation.
D. For a period of four (4) years following the expiration of this
Final Judgment, if the United States has evidence that a Defendant
violated this Final Judgment before it expired, the United States may
file an action against that Defendant in this Court requesting that the
Court order: (1) Defendant to comply with the terms of this Final
Judgment for an additional term of at least four years following the
filing of the enforcement action; (2) all appropriate contempt
remedies; (3) additional relief needed to ensure the Defendant complies
with the terms of this Final Judgment; and (4) fees or expenses as
called for by this Section XIV.
XV. Expiration of Final Judgment
Unless the Court grants an extension, this Final Judgment will
expire ten (10) years from the date of its entry, except that after
five (5) years from the date of its entry, this Final Judgment may be
terminated upon notice by the United States, after consultation with
the Plaintiff States, to the Court and Defendants that the divestiture
has been completed and the continuation of this Final Judgment is no
longer necessary or in the public interest.
XVI. Public Interest Determination
Entry of this Final Judgment is in the public interest. The parties
have complied with the requirements of the Antitrust Procedures and
Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16, including by making available to the
public copies of this Final Judgment and the Competitive Impact
Statement, public comments thereon, and any response to comments by the
United States. Based upon the record before the Court, which includes
the Competitive Impact Statement and, if applicable, any comments and
response to comments filed with the Court, entry of this Final Judgment
is in the public interest.
Date:------------------------------------------------------------------
[Court approval subject to procedures of Antitrust Procedures and
Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
United States District Judge
Appendix A: List of Divested Landfills and Transfer Stations (Paragraph
II(O)(1))
I. Alabama
a. ADS's Stone's Throw Landfill, located at 1303 Washington
Boulevard, Tallassee, Alabama 36078;
b. ADS's Turkey Trot Landfill, located at 2328 Mannish Ryan
Road, Citronelle, Alabama 36522;
c. ADS's Mobile Transfer Station, located at 5740 Carole
Plantation Road, Mobile, Alabama 36582;
d. ADS's Central Alabama Transfer Station, located at 2141
Hunter Loop Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36108;
e. ADS's East Alabama Transfer Station, located at 2100 Poplar
Street, Opelika, Alabama 36801;
f. WMI's Phenix City Transfer Station, located at 610 State
Docks Road Southeast, Phenix City, Alabama 36867.
II. Georgia
a. ADS's Eagle Point Landfill, located at 8880, 9465, 9385, and
9425 Old Federal Road, Ball Ground, Georgia 30107 and Land Lots 37,
38, 107 and 108, District 3, Canton, Georgia;
b. ADS's Gwinnett Transfer Station, located at 535 Seaboard
Industrial Drive, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046;
c. ADS's Smyrna Transfer Station, located at 4696 South Cobb
Drive SE, Smyrna, Georgia 30080;
d. ADS's Welcome All Transfer Station, located at 5225 Welcome
All Road, College Park, Georgia 30349;
e. ADS's Cobb County Transfer Station, located at 1897 County
Services Parkway, Marietta, Georgia 30008.
III. Florida
a. ADS's Ocala Transfer Station, located at 5111 South Pine
Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34479.
IV. Illinois
a. ADS's Zion Landfill, located at 701 Green Bay Road, Zion,
Illinois 60099;
b. ADS's Rolling Meadows Transfer Station, located at 3851
Berdnick Street, Rolling Meadows, Illinois 60008;
c. ADS's Northbrook Transfer Station, located at 2750 Shermer
Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062;
d. WMI's Elburn Transfer Station, located at 1 N 138 Linlar
Drive, Elburn, Illinois 60119.
V. Indiana
a. ADS's Hoosier Landfill, located at 2710 East 800 South Road,
Claypool, Indiana 46510;
b. ADS's Fort Wayne Transfer Station, located at 4429 Allen
Martin Drive, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46806.
VI. Michigan
a. ADS's Arbor Hills Landfill, located at 10690 West Six Mile
Road, Northville, Michigan 48168;
b. ADS's Pontiac Transfer Station, located at 575 Collier Road,
Auburn Hills, Michigan 48340;
c. ADS's Dearborn Transfer Station, located at 3051 Schaefer
Road, Dearborn, Michigan 48126.
VII. Minnesota
a. ADS's Rochester Transfer Station, located at 4245 and 4225
Highway 14 East, Rochester, Minnesota 55904.
VIII. Pennsylvania
a. ADS's Sandy Run Landfill, located at 915 and 995 Landfill
Road, Hopewell, Pennsylvania 16650;
b. ADS's Greentree Landfill, located at 635 Toby Road, Kersey,
Pennsylvania 15846;
c. ADS Chestnut Valley Landfill, located at 1184 McClellandtown
Road, McClellandtown, Pennsylvania 15458;
d. ADS's Diller Transfer Station, located at 6820 Wertzville
Road, Enola, Pennsylvania 17025;
e. WMI's Southern Alleghenies Landfill, located at 843 Miller
Picking Road, Davidsville, Pennsylvania 15928.
[[Page 70016]]
IX. Wisconsin
a. ADS's Emerald Park Landfill, located at W124 S10629 South
124th Street, Muskego, Wisconsin 53150;
b. ADS's Glacier Ridge Landfill, located at N7296 Highway V,
Horicon, Wisconsin 53032;
c. ADS's Hickory Meadows Landfill, located at W3105 Schneider
Road, Hilbert, Wisconsin 54129;
d. ADS's Mallard Ridge Landfill, located at W8470 State Road 11,
Delavan, Wisconsin 53115;
e. ADS's Seven Mile Creek Landfill, located at 8001 Olson Drive,
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54703;
f. ADS's Waunakee Transfer Station, located at 300, 304, 306,
and 308 Raemisch Road, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597;
g. ADS's Fort Atkinson Transfer Station, located at 1203, 1205,
and 1215 Klement Street, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538;
h. ADS's Kenosha Transfer Station, located at 5421 46th Street,
Kenosha, Wisconsin 53144;
i. ADS's Muskego Transfer Station, located at W143 S6350, W143
6400, and W144 S6350 College Court, Muskego, Wisconsin 53150;
j. ADS's Germantown Transfer Station, located at N104 W13075
Donges Bay Road, Germantown, Wisconsin 53022;
k. ADS's West Bend Transfer Station, located at 803 North River
Road and 1422 Lang Street, West Bend, Wisconsin 53095;
l. ADS's Hartland Transfer Station, located at 630 Industrial
Drive, Hartland, Wisconsin 53029;
m. ADS's Omro Transfer Station, located at 250 Alder Avenue,
Omro, Wisconsin 54963 and W200 Ft. of Lot 4: CSM 5477 Omro,
Wisconsin 54963;
n. ADS's De Pere Transfer Station, located at 1799 County Trunk
Hwy PP, De Pere, Wisconsin 54115;
o. ADS's Chilton Transfer Station (Recyclery), located at 1113
Park and 1045 Park Street, Chilton, Wisconsin 53014;
p. ADS's Door County Transfer Station, located at 1509 Division
Road, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 54235;
q. ADS's Medford Transfer Station, located at 645 Jensen Drive,
Medford, Wisconsin 54451;
r. ADS's Roberts Transfer Station, located at 100 Packer Drive,
Roberts, Wisconsin 54023;
s. ADS's Horicon Transfer Station, located at N7296 Highway V,
Horicon, Wisconsin 53032;
t. ADS's Waunakee Material Recovery Facility, located at 300,
304, 306, and 308 Raemisch Road, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597;
u. WMI's Janesville Transfer Station, located at 304 West Sunny
Lane, Janesville, Wisconsin 53546;
v. WMI's Darlington Transfer Station, located at 11500 Ames
Road, Darlington, Wisconsin 53530;
w. WMI's Mosinee Transfer Station, located at 204500 State
Highway 34 (i.e., 1372 State Highway 34), Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455;
x. WMI's Antigo Transfer Station, located at 1715 Deleglise
Street, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409;
y. WMI's Chippewa Falls Transfer Station, located at 11888 &
11863 30th Avenue, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729;
z. WMI's Sheboygan Falls Transfer Station, located at 115 Birch
Road, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin 53085.
Appendix B: List of Divested Hauling Facilities and Routes (Paragraph
II(O)(3))
I. Alabama
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Tuscaloosa Routes: 710, 711, 712, and 713;
ii. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City Routes: 901, 902, 908,
950, 951, 952, 953, 954, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, and 961;
iii. Mobile Routes: 900, 901, 910, 920, and 925;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste Collection Routes:
i. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City Routes: 605, 606, 612,
613, 616, 622, 623, and 624;
c. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste Collection Routes:
i. Montgomery/Tallassee/Alexander City Routes: 409 (i.e. ``Alex
City Roll Off'');
d. ADS's hauling facility located at 1121 Wilbanks Street,
Montgomery, Alabama 36108;
e. ADS's hauling facility located at 1303 Washington Boulevard,
Tallassee, Alabama 36078;
f. ADS's hauling facility located at 4701 12th Street Northeast,
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35404;
g. ADS's hauling facility located at 6225 Rangeline Road,
Theodore, Alabama 36582;
h. ADS's hauling facility located at 4342 Washington Street,
Alexander City, Alabama 35010.
II. Georgia
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Augusta routes: 901, 904, 905, 907, 908, 909, 910, and 911;
b. ADS's hauling facility located at 1064 Franke Industrial
Drive, Augusta, Georgia 30909.
III. Florida
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Ocala Routes: 701, 702, 704, and 706;
ii. Jacksonville Routes: 901, 902, 906, 907, 908, 910, 911, 913,
918, 922;
b. The following WMI Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. St. Johns and Clay County Routes: J181, J281, J381, J481,
J581, J681, J189, J289, J389, J489, J589, J689;
ii. Citrus County Routes: W180, W280, W380, W480, W580, W680,
W186, and W475;
c. ADS's hauling facility located at 5111 South Pine Avenue,
Ocala, Florida 34480;
d. ADS's hauling facility located at 7580 Philips Highway,
Jacksonville, Florida 32256.
IV. Michigan
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759,
763, 765, 766, and 767;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 403, 405, 493, 495, 500, 501, 502, 503, 504,
505, 506, 509, 514, 592, 595, 596, and 599;
c. The following ADS Yard Waste Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 301, 401, 402, 492, 498, and 901;
d. The following ADS Commercial Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 511, 771, and 772;
e. The following ADS Residential Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 507, 508, 597, and 598;
f. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste Collection Routes:
i. Pontiac Routes: 601, 602, 603, 604, 605, 606, 622, 651, 652,
653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, and 670;
g. ADS hauling facility located at 575 Collier Road, Auburn
Hills, Michigan 48340.
V. Minnesota
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. St. Cloud Routes: 710, 720, 730, and 740;
ii. Rochester Routes: 701, 705, 709, 711, 730, and 750;
b. ADS's hauling facility located at 2355 12th Street Southeast,
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56304;
c. ADS's hauling facility located at 4245 and 4225 Highway 14
East, Rochester, Minnesota 55904.
VI. Pennsylvania
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 711, 712, and 713;
b. The following ADS Residential Waste Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 153, 154, 440, 443, 444, 447, 449,
451, 454, and 459;
c. The following ADS Commercial Recycling Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 725 and 811;
d. The following ADS Residential Recycling Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 801 and 805;
e. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste Collection Routes:
i. McClellandtown Routes: 603;
f. ADS's hauling facility located at 1192 McClellandtown Road,
McClellandtown, Pennsylvania 15458.
VII. Wisconsin
a. The following ADS Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Beloit Routes: 100;
ii. Madison Routes: 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108,
109, 301, and 401;
iii. Hartland Routes: 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708,
740, 741, and 742;
iv. Muskego Routes: 505, 924, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986,
987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, and 999;
v. West Bend and Horicon Routes: 705, 711, 725, 760, 761, 765,
766, 767, 771, 776, and 777;
[[Page 70017]]
vi. Omro Routes: 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 700,
702, 739, 742, 744, 745, 747, 748, and 778;
vii. Green Bay Routes: 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708,
709, 714, and 751;
viii. Chilton and Kaukauna Routes: 702, 703, 704, 705, 710, 711,
712, 713, and 714;
ix. Fort Atkinson Routes: 151, 152, 351, 352, and 353;
x. Door County Routes: 710 and 711;
xi. Medford Routes: 422 and 423;
xii. Waukegan Routes: 704, 708, and 709;
b. The following WMI Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
Routes:
i. Antigo Routes: O1AA, O1EE, O2DD, O2EE, O2FF, O3AA, O3EE,
O4AA, O4DD, and O5EE;
ii. Chippewa Falls Routes: K1A1, K2A1, K3A1, K3A3, K4A3, K5A1,
and K5A3;
iii. Darlington Routes: F1A2, F2A3, and F5A3;
iv. Sheboygan Routes: W1A7, W2A7, W3A7, W4A7, and W5A7;
v. Janesville Routes: H1GC, H1GD, H1GF, H2GC, H2GA, H2GD, H2GF,
H3GF, H3GC, H3GD, H4GD, H4GA, H4GC, H4GF, H5GF, H5GC, H5GA, H5GD,
H5GE, H6PZ, and H6QZ;
vi. Mosinee Routes: G1A1, G1A2, G1A3, G1A4, G1A5, G2A1, G2A2,
G2A4, G2A5, G2A6, G3A1, G3A2, G3A3, G3A4, G3A5, G4A1, G4A5, G5A1,
G5A2, G5A3, G5A4, G5A5, and G1M1;
c. The following ADS Co-Collect Routes:
i. Green Bay Routes: 711, 712, 713, 715, 716, 717, and 719;
ii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 589;
iii. Door County Routes: 500, 501, 502, 503, and 504;
d. The following ADS Mixed Collection Routes:
i. Eau Claire Routes: 442;
e. The following ADS Residential Waste Collection Routes:
i. Muskego Routes: 011, 504, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530,
536, 537, 541, 542, 548, 549, 550, 553, 595, and 599;
ii. Green Bay Routes: 500, 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 508,
509, 510, 512, 513, 514, 516, and 714;
iii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 551, 553, 554, 555, 557, 558, 559,
560, 562, and 571;
f. The following ADS Residential Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Muskego Routes: 556, 584, 585, 701, 702, 703, 705, 707, 708,
709, 710, 711, 727, 735, 741, and 755;
ii. Green Bay Routes: 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807,
808, and 809;
iii. Fort Atkinson Routes: 653, 658, 659, 671, 672, 673, 674,
676, 677, and 680;
g. The following ADS Roll-Off Waste Collection Routes:
i. Door County Routes: 606;
h. The following ADS Commercial Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Beloit Routes: 200;
ii. Madison Routes: 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, and 208;
iii. Hartland Routes: 815, 865, 885, 886, 888, 889, and 890;
iv. Muskego Routes: 014, 015, 017, 018, 019, 020, 021, 022, 023,
024, 025, and 026;
v. West Bend and Horicon Routes: 706, 751, 778, 780, 781, 782,
783, and 791;
vi. Omro Routes: 150, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 779, 896,
and 898;
vii. Green Bay Routes: 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, and 726;
viii. Waukegan Routes: 725 and 751;
ix. Chilton and Kaukauna Routes: 401, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725,
730, and 731;
x. Fort Atkinson Routes: 251, 252, 254, and 451;
xi. Door County Routes: 710 and 711;
xii. Medford Routes: 428 and 448;
i. The following WMI Commercial Recycling Collection Routes:
i. Antigo Routes: O1CC, O3DD, O3CC, O4CC, and O5CC;
ii. Chippewa Falls Routes: K1A2, K2A2, K3A2, K4A2, and K5A2;
iii. Darlington Routes: F3S1;
iv. Sheboygan Routes: W2S2 and W5S2;
v. Janesville Routes: H1IB, H1IC, H2IB, H3IB, H3IC, H4IB, H5IF,
H5IC, and H5IB;
vi. Mosinee Routes: G1G2, G1G4, G2G1, G2G3, G3G1, G3G4, G4A4,
G4G1, G4G2, G4G3, G4G4, G5G1, and G5G4;
j. ADS's hauling facility located at W143 S 6440 College Court,
Muskego, Wisconsin 53150;
k. ADS's hauling facility located at N7296 Highway V, Horicon,
Wisconsin 53032;
l. ADS's hauling facility located at 803 North River Road and
1422 Lang Street, West Bend, Wisconsin 53095;
m. ADS's hauling facility located at 250 Alder Avenue, Omro,
Wisconsin 54963;
n. ADS's hauling facility located at 1799 County Trunk Highway,
De Pere, Wisconsin 54115;
o. ADS's hauling facility located at 428 High Street, Chilton,
Wisconsin 53014;
p. ADS's hauling facility located at N2016 Vandenbroek Road,
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130;
q. ADS's hauling facility located at 1509 Division Road,
Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin 54235;
r. ADS's hauling facility, located at 630 Industrial Drive,
Hartland, Wisconsin 53029;
s. ADS's hauling facility located at 645 Jensen Drive, Medford,
Wisconsin 54451;
t. ADS's hauling facility located at 300, 304, 306, and 308
Raemisch Road, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597;
u. ADS's hauling facility located at 1203, 1205, and 1215
Klement Street, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin 53538;
v. WMI's hauling facility located at 204500 State Highway 34
(i.e., 1372 State Highway 34), Mosinee, Wisconsin 54455;
w. WMI's hauling facility located at 1715 Deleglise Street,
Antigo, Wisconsin 54409;
x. WMI's hauling facility located at 11888 & 11863 30th Avenue,
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729;
y. WMI's hauling facility located at 304 West Sunny Lane,
Janesville, Wisconsin 53546;
z. WMI's hauling facility located at 11500 Ames Road,
Darlington, Wisconsin 53530.
Appendix C: List of Retained Hauling Facilities (Paragraph II(O)(4)(e))
I. Florida
a. WMI's hauling facility located at 8708 NE 44th Drive,
Wildwood, Florida 34785;
b. WMI's hauling facility located at 6501 Greenland Road,
Jacksonville, Florida 32258.
II. Wisconsin
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 2301 W B R Townline Road,
Beloit, Wisconsin 53511;
b. WMI's hauling facility located at 301 Thomas Street, Fond du
Lac, Wisconsin 54935;
c. ADS's hauling facility located at 2626 Mondovi Road, Eau
Claire, Wisconsin 54701;
d. ADS's hauling facility located at 559 Progress Drive,
Hartland, Wisconsin 53029.
III. Illinois
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 2230 Ernie Krueger Circle,
Waukegan, Illinois 60087.
IV. Georgia
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 5734 Columbia Road,
Grovetown, GA 30813.
Appendix D: Areas for Which the Notice Provision in Paragraph XI(A)
Applies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Counties/
Geographic market municipalities within Relevant service
geographic market
------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Central, Alabama......... Lee and Macon MSW Disposal.
Counties, AL.
Lee County, Alabama........... Lee County, AL........ SCCW Collection.
Macon County, Alabama......... Macon County, AL...... SCCW Collection.
Mobile, Alabama............... City of Mobile, AL.... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Montgomery County, Alabama.... Montgomery County, AL. SCCW Collection.
Phenix City, Alabama.......... Phenix City, AL....... MSW Disposal.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama........... City of Tuscaloosa, AL SCCW Collection.
Jacksonville, Florida......... Duvall, St. Johns, and SCCW Collection.
Clay Counties, FL.
Ocala, Florida................ Marion and Citrus SCCW Collection
Counties, FL. and MSW
Disposal.
Atlanta, Georgia.............. Cherokee, Forsyth, MSW Disposal.
Gwinnett, Fulton,
Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
Augusta, Georgia.............. Columbia and Richmond SCCW Collection.
Counties, GA and
Edgefield and Aiken
Counties, SC.
Kane County, Illinois......... Kane County, IL....... MSW Disposal.
[[Page 70018]]
Lake County, Illinois......... Lake County, IL....... MSW Disposal.
Northern Cook County, Illinois Area west of MSW Disposal.
Interstate 94 and
north of Interstate
90 in Cook County,
Illinois.
Fort Wayne, Indiana........... Allen, Kosciusko, and MSW Disposal.
Whitley Counties, IN.
Detroit, Michigan............. Wayne, Macomb and MSW Disposal.
Oakland Counties, MI.
Rochester, Minnesota.......... City of Rochester, MN. SCCW Collection.
St. Cloud, Minnesota.......... City of St. Cloud, MN. SCCW Collection.
State College, Pennsylvania... Centre and Clearfield MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania.. Clarion, Jefferson, MSW Disposal.
and Indiana Counties,
PA.
Fayette County, Pennsylvania.. Fayette and Greene MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Cambria and Somerset MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Bedford County, Pennsylvania.. Bedford County, PA.... MSW Disposal.
Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Brown, Outagamie, and MSW Disposal.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Winnebago Counties,
WI.
Calumet County, Wisconsin..... Calumet County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Clark, Wisconsin.............. Clark and Taylor SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Dane County, Wisconsin........ Dane County, WI....... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin......... Chippewa and Eau SCCW Collection
Claire Counties, WI. and MSW
Disposal.
Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, SCCW Collection
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and MSW
and Washington Disposal.
Counties, WI.
Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin.. Calumet, Kewaunee, and MSW Disposal.
Manitowoc Counties,
WI.
Green Bay, Wisconsin.......... Brown and Outagamie SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Green County, Wisconsin....... Green County, WI...... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Green Lake, Wisconsin......... Columbia, Green Lake, SCCW Collection.
and Marquette
Counties, WI.
Jackson County, Wisconsin..... Jackson County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Janesville, Wisconsin......... Jefferson, Rock, and MSW Disposal.
Walworth Counties, WI.
Jefferson County, Wisconsin... Jefferson County, WI.. SCCW Collection.
Kenosha County, Wisconsin..... Kenosha County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.... Kewaunee County, WI... SCCW Collection.
Langlade, Wisconsin........... Langlade, Lincoln, SCCW Collection.
Oneida, and Shawano
Counties, WI.
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin... Manitowoc County, WI.. SCCW Collection.
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin............ Marinette and Oconto SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Marathon, Wisconsin........... Marathon, Portage, and SCCW Collection.
Wood Counties, WI.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.......... Milwaukee, Racine, and SCCW Collection
Waukesha Counties, WI. and MSW
Disposal.
Price County, Wisconsin....... Price County, WI...... SCCW Collection.
Rock County, Wisconsin........ Rock County, WI....... SCCW Collection.
Sauk County, Wisconsin........ Sauk County, WI....... SCCW Collection.
St. Croix, Wisconsin.......... Pierce and St. Croix MSW Disposal.
Counties, WI.
Walworth County, Wisconsin.... Walworth County, WI... SCCW Collection.
Waupaca, Wisconsin............ Waupaca County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Waushara, Wisconsin........... Waushara and Winnebago SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States of America, State of Florida, State of Illinois,
State of Minnesota, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and State of
Wisconsin, Plaintiffs, v. Waste Management, Inc. and Advanced
Disposal Services, Inc., Defendants.
Civil Action No.: 1:20-cv-3063
Judge: Hon. John D. Bates
Competitive Impact Statement
The United States of America, under Section 2(b) of the Antitrust
Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h) (the ``APPA'' or
``Tunney Act''), files this Competitive Impact Statement relating to
the proposed Final Judgment submitted for entry in this civil antitrust
proceeding.
I. Nature and Purpose of the Proceeding
On April 14, 2019, Waste Management, Inc (``WMI'') agreed to
acquire Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. (``ADS'') for approximately
$4.9 billion. On June 24, 2020, WMI and ADS agreed to a revised
purchase price of approximately $4.6 billion. The United States, the
States of Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the ``Plaintiff States'') filed a civil
antitrust Complaint on October 23, 2020, seeking to enjoin the proposed
acquisition. The Complaint alleges that the likely effect of this
acquisition would be to substantially lessen competition for Small
Container Commercial Waste (``SCCW'') collection or municipal solid
waste (``MSW'') disposal in 57 geographic markets in the eastern United
States in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18.
At the same time the Complaint was filed, the United States and the
Plaintiff States filed an Asset Preservation Stipulation and Order
(``Stipulation and Order'') and proposed Final Judgment, which are
designed to remedy the loss of competition alleged in the Complaint.
Under the proposed Final Judgment, which is explained more fully below,
Defendants are required to divest specified SCCW collection and MSW
disposal assets in ten different states. Under the terms of the
Stipulation and Order, Defendants will take certain steps to ensure
that the assets to be divested are operated in such a way as to ensure
that the assets continue to be ongoing, economically viable, and active
competitors in the provision of Small Container Commercial Waste
Collection and MSW Disposal, and that the assets maintain full economic
viability, marketability, and competitiveness during the pendency of
the required divestiture.
The United States and Defendants have stipulated that the proposed
Final Judgment may be entered after compliance with the APPA. Entry of
the proposed Final Judgment will terminate this action, except that the
Court will retain jurisdiction to construe, modify, or enforce the
provisions of the
[[Page 70019]]
proposed Final Judgment and to punish violations thereof.
II. Description of Events Giving Rise to the Alleged Violation
A. The Defendants and the Proposed Transaction
WMI is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Houston, Texas. WMI
is the largest solid waste hauling and disposal company in the United
States and provides waste collection, recycling, and disposal
(including transfer) services. WMI operates in 49 states and the
District of Columbia. For 2019, WMI reported revenues of approximately
$15.5 billion.
ADS is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Ponte Vedra,
Florida. It is the fourth-largest solid waste hauling and disposal
company in the United States and provides waste collection, recycling,
and disposal (including transfer) services. ADS operates in 16 states,
primarily in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions of the
United States. For 2019, ADS reported revenues of approximately $1.6
billion.
On April 14, 2019, WMI agreed to acquire all of the outstanding
common stock of ADS for approximately $4.9 billion. On June 24, 2020,
WMI and ADS agreed to a revised purchase price of approximately $4.6
billion.
B. Relevant Product Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
As alleged in the Complaint, SCCW (small container commercial
waste) collection is a relevant product market. Waste collection
firms--also called haulers--collect MSW (municipal solid waste) from
residential, commercial, and industrial establishments, and transport
that waste to a disposal site, such as a transfer station, landfill or
incinerator, for processing and disposal.
SCCW collection is the business of collecting MSW from commercial
and industrial accounts, usually in small containers (i.e., dumpsters
with one to ten cubic yards capacity), and transporting or hauling that
waste to a disposal site. Typical SCCW collection customers include
office and apartment buildings and retail establishments (e.g., stores
and restaurants).
SCCW collection is distinct from the collection of other types of
waste such as residential and roll-off waste, each of which is subject
to its own regulatory scheme dictating the manner in which it must be
collected. An individual commercial customer typically generates
substantially more MSW than a residential customer. To handle this high
volume of MSW efficiently, haulers often provide commercial customers
with small containers for storing the waste. Haulers organize their
commercial accounts into routes, and collect and transport the MSW
generated by these accounts in front-end load (``FEL'') trucks uniquely
well suited for commercial waste collection.
On a typical SCCW collection route, an operator drives a FEL truck
to the customer's container, engages a mechanism that grasps and lifts
the container over the front of the truck, and empties the container
into the vehicle's storage section where the waste is compacted and
stored. The operator continues along the route, collecting MSW from
each of the commercial accounts, until the vehicle is full. The
operator then drives the FEL truck to a disposal facility, such as a
transfer station, landfill, or incinerator, and empties the contents of
the vehicle. Depending on the number of locations and amount of waste
collected on the route, the operator may make one or more trips to the
disposal facility in servicing the route.
In contrast to an SCCW collection route, a residential waste
collection route is highly labor intensive. A residential customer's
MSW is typically stored in much smaller containers, (e.g., garbage bags
or trash cans) and instead of using an FEL manned by a single operator,
residential waste collection haulers routinely use rear-end load or
side-load trucks manned by two- or three-person teams. On residential
routes, crews often hand-load the customer's MSW by tossing garbage
bags and emptying trash cans into the vehicle's storage section. In
light of these differences, haulers typically organize commercial
customers into separate routes from residential customers.
Roll-off collection also is not a substitute for SCCW collection. A
roll-off container is much larger than an SCCW container, and is
serviced by a truck capable of carrying a roll-off container rather
than an FEL. Unlike SCCW customers, multiple roll-off customers are not
served between trips to the disposal site because each roll-off truck
is typically capable of carrying only one roll-off container at a time.
Other types of waste collection, such as hazardous or medical waste
collection, also are not substitutes for SCCW collection. These forms
of collection differ from SCCW collection in the hauling equipment
required, the volume of waste collected, and the facilities where the
waste is disposed.
The Complaint alleges that, absent competition from other SCCW
collection firms, SCCW collection providers could profitably increase
their prices without losing significant sales to firms engaged in the
provision of other types of waste collection services. In other words,
in the event of a small but significant price increase for SCCW
collection, customers would not substitute to other forms of collection
in sufficient numbers so as to render the price increase unprofitable.
Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that SCCW collection is therefore a
line of commerce, or relevant product market, for purposes of analyzing
the effects of the acquisition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
As alleged in the Complaint, MSW disposal is a relevant product
market. MSW is solid putrescible waste generated by households and
commercial establishments such as retail stores, offices, restaurants,
warehouses, and industrial facilities. MSW has physical characteristics
that readily distinguish it from other liquid or solid waste (e.g.,
waste from manufacturing processes, regulated medical waste, sewage,
sludge, hazardous waste, or waste generated by construction or
demolition sites).
Haulers must dispose of all MSW at a permitted disposal facility.
There are three main types of disposal facilities--landfills,
incinerators, and transfer stations. Such facilities must be located on
approved types of land and operated under prescribed procedures.
Federal, state, and local safety, environmental, zoning, and permit
laws and regulations dictate critical aspects of storage, handling,
transportation, processing and disposal of MSW. In less densely
populated areas, MSW often is disposed of directly into landfills that
are permitted and regulated by a state and the federal government.
Landfill permit restrictions often impose limitations on the type and
amount of waste that can be deposited. In many urban and suburban
areas, however, landfills are scarce due to high population density and
the limited availability of suitable land. As a result, MSW generated
in such areas often is burned in an incinerator or taken to a transfer
station. A transfer station is an intermediate disposal site for the
processing and temporary storage of MSW before it is transferred, in
bulk, to more distant landfills or incinerators for final disposal.
Some haulers--including WMI and ADS--are vertically integrated and
operate their own disposal facilities. Vertically-integrated haulers
often prefer to dispose of waste at their own
[[Page 70020]]
disposal facilities. Depending on the market, vertically-integrated
haulers may sell a portion of their disposal capacity to customers in
need of access to a disposal facility. These disposal customers include
independent (non-vertically integrated) and municipally-owned haulers.
Disposal customers rely on the availability of cost-competitive
disposal capacity to serve their own collection customers and to
compete for new ones.
According to the Complaint, due to strict laws and regulations that
govern the disposal of MSW, there are no reasonable substitutes for MSW
disposal, which must occur at landfills, incinerators, or transfer
stations. Thus, in the event of a small but significant price increase
from MSW disposal firms, customers would not substitute to other forms
of disposal in sufficient numbers so as to render the price increase
unprofitable. Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that MSW disposal is a
line of commerce, or relevant product market, for purposes of analyzing
the effects of the acquisition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
C. Relevant Geographic Markets
1. Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
As alleged in the Complaint, SCCW collection generally is provided
in highly localized areas. This is because a hauler needs a large
number of commercial accounts that are reasonably close together to
operate efficiently and profitably. If there is significant travel time
between customers, then the hauler earns less money for the time that
the truck operates. Haulers, therefore, try to minimize the ``dead
time'' in which the truck is operating and incurring costs from fuel,
wear and tear, and labor, but not generating revenue from collecting
waste. Likewise, customers must be near the hauler's base of operations
as it would be unprofitable for a truck to travel a long distance to
the start of a route. Haulers, therefore, generally establish garages
and related facilities to serve as bases within each area served.
As alleged in the Complaint, as currently contemplated, the
transaction would likely cause harm in 33 relevant geographic markets
for SCCW collection located in six states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
South Carolina, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (identified in Appendix A). In
each of these markets, a hypothetical monopolist of SCCW collection
could profitably impose a small but significant non-transitory increase
in price to local customers without losing significant sales to more
distant competitors. Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that each of
the areas listed in Appendix A constitutes a relevant geographic market
and section of the country for purposes of analyzing the effects of the
acquisition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
2. Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
Collection trucks transport MSW to landfills, incinerators, and
transfer stations for disposal. The price and availability of disposal
sites close to a hauler's routes are major factors that determine a
hauler's competitiveness and profitability, as the cost of transporting
MSW to a disposal site--including fuel, regular truck maintenance, and
hourly labor--is a substantial component of the total cost of disposal.
Haulers also prefer nearby disposal sites to minimize the FEL dead
time. Due to the costs associated with travel time and customers'
preference to have disposal sites close by, an MSW disposal provider
must have local disposal facilities to be competitive. The relevant
markets for MSW disposal markets are therefore local, often consisting
no more than a few counties.
As alleged in the Complaint, as currently contemplated, the
transaction would likely cause harm in 24 relevant geographic markets
for MSW disposal located in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (identified in
Appendix B). In each of these local markets, a hypothetical monopolist
of MSW disposal could profitably impose a small but significant non-
transitory increase in price for the disposal of MSW without losing
significant sales to more distant disposal sites.
Accordingly, the Complaint alleges that each of the areas listed in
Appendix B constitutes a relevant geographic market and section of the
country for purposes of analyzing the effects of the acquisition under
Section 7 of the Clayton Act.
D. Anticompetitive Effects of the Proposed Transaction
According to the Complaint, the proposed transaction would
substantially lessen competition and harm consumers in each alleged
relevant market by eliminating the substantial head-to-head competition
that currently exists between WMI and ADS. Businesses, municipalities,
independent haulers, and other customers would pay higher prices as a
result of the acquisition.
WMI's acquisition of ADS would remove a significant competitor for
SCCW collection and MSW disposal in markets that are already highly
concentrated and difficult to enter. WMI and ADS compete head-to-head
for SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal customers in each of the 57
geographic markets identified in Appendices A and B. In these
geographic markets, WMI and ADS each account for a substantial share of
total revenue generated from SCCW collection and/or MSW disposal and,
in each relevant market, are two of no more than four significant
(i.e., not fringe) competitors. See Appendices A and B (providing a
complete list of the number of significant competitors in each relevant
market pre-merger). In each SCCW collection market alleged, collection
customers including offices, apartment buildings, and retail
establishments, have been able to secure better collection rates and
improved service by threatening to switch to the competing SCCW hauler.
Likewise, in each MSW disposal market alleged, independent haulers and
municipalities have been able to negotiate more favorable disposal
rates by threatening to move waste to the other competitor's disposal
facilit(ies). In each of the relevant markets identified in Appendices
A and B, the resulting increase in concentration, loss of competition,
and the unlikeliness of significant entry or expansion would likely
result in higher prices, lower quality and level of service, and
reduced choice for SCCW collection and MSW disposal customers.
E. Difficulty of Entry
1. Difficulty of Entry Into Small Container Commercial Waste Collection
According to the Complaint, entry of new competitors into SCCW
collection in each of the relevant markets identified in Appendix A
would be difficult and time-consuming and is unlikely to prevent the
harm to competition that is likely to result if the proposed
transaction is consummated.
A new entrant in SCCW collection could not provide a significant
competitive constraint on the prices that market incumbents charge
until achieving a minimum efficient scale and operating efficiency
comparable to existing competitors. In order to obtain a comparable
operating efficiency, a new competitor would have to achieve route
densities similar to those of firms already in the market. Incumbents
in a geographic market, however, can prevent new entrants from winning
a large enough base of customers by selectively lowering prices and
entering into longer term contracts with collection customers.
2. Difficulty of Entry Into Municipal Solid Waste Disposal
[[Page 70021]]
According to the Complaint, entry of new competitors into MSW
disposal in each of the relevant markets identified in Appendix B would
be difficult and time-consuming and is unlikely to prevent the harm to
competition that is likely to result if the proposed transaction is
consummated.
A new entrant in MSW disposal would need to obtain a permit to
construct a disposal facility or to expand an existing one, and this
process is costly and time-consuming, typically taking many years. Land
suitable for MSW disposal is scarce as a landfill must be constructed
away from environmentally-sensitive areas, including fault zones,
wetlands, flood plains, and other restricted areas. Even when suitable
land is available, local public opposition frequently increases the
time and uncertainty of the permitting process. Construction of a new
transfer station or incinerator also is difficult and time consuming
and faces many of the same challenges as new landfill construction,
including local public opposition.
Entry by constructing and permitting a new MSW disposal facility
would thus be costly and time-consuming and unlikely to prevent market
incumbents from significantly raising prices for MSW disposal in each
of the disposal markets following the acquisition.
III. Explanation of the Proposed Final Judgment
The divestitures required by the proposed Final Judgment will
remedy the loss of competition alleged in the Complaint by establishing
an independent and economically viable competitor in each of the SCCW
collection and MSW disposal markets alleged in the Complaint.
Paragraph IV(A) of the proposed Final Judgment requires that the
Divestiture Assets (capitalized terms are defined in the proposed Final
Judgment) be divested within 30 days after the entry of the Stipulation
and Order by the court to GFL Environmental Inc., or an alternative
Acquirer acceptable to the United States, in its sole discretion, after
consultation with the Plaintiff States. The assets must be divested in
such a way as to satisfy the United States in its sole discretion,
after consultation with the Plaintiff States, that the assets can and
will be operated by the purchaser as a viable, ongoing SCCW collection
and MSW disposal business that can compete effectively in each of the
markets alleged in the Complaint.
The Divestiture Assets are defined as all tangible and intangible
assets relating to or used in connection with the MSW disposal assets
identified in Paragraphs II(O)(1) and II(O)(2) of the proposed Final
Judgment and the SCCW collection assets identified in Paragraphs
II(O)(3) and II(O)(4) of the proposed Final Judgment. The Divestiture
Assets include 15 landfills, 37 transfer stations, 29 hauling
locations, and over 200 Routes. The Divestiture Assets also include,
inter alia, in each MSW disposal market alleged: All tangible and
intangible property and assets related to or used in connection with
the transfer stations and landfills, and in each SCCW collection market
alleged: All intangible and tangible assets related to or used in
connection with the Routes except for what the proposed Final Judgment
defines as Straddle Contracts and the hauling facilities identified in
Appendix C.
Paragraph IV(K) of the proposed Final Judgment facilitates the
transfer of customers and other contractual relationships, except for
Straddle Contracts, to the Acquirer. Defendants must transfer all
contracts, agreements, and relationships to the Acquirer and must make
best efforts to assign, subcontract, or otherwise transfer contracts or
agreements that require the consent of another party before assignment,
subcontracting or other transfer. Straddle Contracts, which are defined
in Paragraph II(P) as customer waste or recycling contracts that
include a combination of services and/or collection stops included in
the Divestiture Assets and services and/or collection stops not
included in the Divestiture Assets, and that make up a small portion of
the divestiture package, are required under Paragraph IV(L) to be
divested at the option of the Acquirer so that the Acquirer will have
the option to acquire the customer contracts which it determines it can
efficiently and profitably serve.
The hauling facilities listed in Appendix C are not part of the
Divestiture Assets because the Acquirer will acquire other hauling
locations from which it can competitively run the acquired Routes in
those areas. In certain markets, the Divestiture Assets include not
only SCCW collection and MSW disposal assets, but also other collection
assets including Roll-Off, Residential, and Recycling assets, which
should enhance the viability of the Divestiture Assets.
The proposed Final Judgment contains several provisions to
facilitate the transition of the Divestiture Assets to the Acquirer.
First, Paragraph IV(N) of the proposed Final Judgment requires
Defendants, at the Acquirer's option, to enter into a transition
services agreement for back office, human resources, accounting,
employee health and safety, and information technology services and
support for the Divestiture Assets for a period of up to six months.
The paragraph further provides that the United States, in its sole
discretion, may approve one or more extensions of this transition
services agreement for a total of up to an additional six months.
Second, Paragraph IV(O) of the proposed Final Judgment requires
Defendants, at the Acquirer's option, to enter into a contract to
provide rights to landfill disposal at ADS's Orchard Hill's landfill
for a period of up to three years. The paragraph further provides that
the United States, in its sole discretion, may approve one or more
extensions of the agreement for a total of up to two additional years.
The proposed Final Judgment also requires Defendants to operate gates,
side houses, and disposal areas for the benefit of the Acquirer under
terms and conditions that are no less favorable than those provided to
WMI's own vehicles. This provision is intended to give the Acquirer an
efficient outlet for the waste that it will receive at the West Elburn
Transfer Station as it establishes itself in the market.
The proposed Final Judgment also contains provisions intended to
facilitate the Acquirer's efforts to hire certain employees. Paragraph
IV(I) of the proposed Final Judgment requires Defendants to provide the
Acquirer, the United States, and the Plaintiff States with organization
charts and information relating to certain employees and to make them
available for interviews. It also provides that Defendants must not
interfere with any negotiations by the Acquirer to hire these
employees. In addition, for employees who elect employment with the
Acquirer, Defendants must waive all non-compete and non-disclosure
agreements, vest all unvested pension and other equity rights, provide
any pay pro-rata, provide all other compensation and benefits that
those employees have fully or partially accrued, and provide all other
benefits that those employees otherwise would have been provided had
those employees continued employment with Defendants, including but not
limited to any retention bonuses or payments. This paragraph further
provides that the Defendants may not solicit to hire any employees who
elect employment with the Acquirer, unless that individual is
terminated or laid off by the Acquirer or the Acquirer agrees in
writing that the Defendants may solicit or hire that individual. The
non-solicitation period runs for 12 months from the date of the
divestiture.
[[Page 70022]]
If the Defendants do not accomplish the divestiture within the
period prescribed in Section IV of the proposed Final Judgment, Section
V of the proposed Final Judgment provides that the Court will appoint a
divestiture trustee selected by the United States to effect the
divestiture. If a divestiture trustee is appointed, the proposed Final
Judgment provides that the Defendants will pay all costs and expenses
of the trustee. The divestiture trustee's commission will be structured
so as to provide an incentive for the trustee based on the price
obtained and the speed with which the divestiture is accomplished.
After the divestiture trustee's appointment becomes effective, the
trustee will provide monthly reports to the Plaintiffs setting forth
his or her efforts to accomplish the divestiture. At the end of six
months, if the divestiture has not been accomplished, the United States
may make recommendations to the Court, which may enter such orders as
appropriate, in order to carry out the purpose of the Final Judgment,
including by extending the trust or the term of the divestiture
trustee's appointment.
Section XI of the proposed Final Judgment requires WMI to notify
the United States and any Plaintiff State in which any of the assets or
interests are located in advance of acquiring, directly or indirectly
(including by asset swap), in a transaction that would not otherwise be
reportable under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 18a (the ``HSR Act''), any interest in any
business engaged in waste collection or disposal in a market where the
Complaint alleged a violation, which are listed in Appendix D. The
proposed Final Judgment further provides for waiting periods and
opportunities for the United States to obtain additional information
analogous to the provisions of the HSR Act. The notification
requirement applies when the acquired business's annual revenues from
the relevant service in the market exceeded $500,000 for the 12 months
preceding the proposed acquisition. Because many of the markets alleged
in the Complaint are highly concentrated, it is important for the
Division and Plaintiff States to receive notice of even small
transactions that have the potential to reduce competition in these
markets. Requiring notification of any such acquisition will permit the
United States to assess the competitive effects of that acquisition
before it is consummated and, if necessary, seek to enjoin the
transaction.
The proposed Final Judgment also contains provisions designed to
promote compliance and make enforcement of the Final Judgment as
effective as possible. Paragraph XIV(A) provides that the United States
retains and reserves all rights to enforce the Final Judgment,
including the right to seek an order of contempt from the Court. Under
the terms of this paragraph, Defendants have agreed that in any civil
contempt action, any motion to show cause, or any similar action
brought by the United States regarding an alleged violation of the
Final Judgment, the United States may establish the violation and the
appropriateness of any remedy by a preponderance of the evidence and
that the Defendants have waived any argument that a different standard
of proof should apply. This provision aligns the standard for
compliance with the Final Judgment with the standard of proof that
applies to the underlying offense that the Final Judgment addresses.
Paragraph XIV(B) provides additional clarification regarding the
interpretation of the provisions of the proposed Final Judgment. The
proposed Final Judgment is intended to restore competition the United
States and Plaintiff States allege would otherwise be harmed by the
transaction. The Defendants agree that they will abide by the proposed
Final Judgment, and that they may be held in contempt of this Court for
failing to comply with any provision of the proposed Final Judgment
that is stated specifically and in reasonable detail, as interpreted in
light of this procompetitive purpose.
Paragraph XIV(C) of the proposed Final Judgment provides that if
the Court finds in an enforcement proceeding that a Defendant has
violated the Final Judgment, the United States may apply to the Court
for a one-time extension of the Final Judgment, together with such
other relief as may be appropriate. In addition, to compensate American
taxpayers for any costs associated with investigating and enforcing
violations of the Final Judgment, Paragraph XIV(C) provides that in any
successful effort by the United States to enforce the Final Judgment
against a Defendant, whether litigated or resolved before litigation,
that Defendant will reimburse the United States for attorneys' fees,
experts' fees, and other costs incurred in connection with any effort
to enforce the Final Judgment, including the investigation of the
potential violation.
Paragraph XIV(D) states that the United States may file an action
against a Defendant for violating the Final Judgment for up to four
years after the Final Judgment has expired or been terminated. This
provision is meant to address circumstances such as when evidence that
a violation of the Final Judgment occurred during the term of the Final
Judgment is not discovered until after the Final Judgment has expired
or been terminated or when there is not sufficient time for the United
States to complete an investigation of an alleged violation until after
the Final Judgment has expired or been terminated. This provision,
therefore, makes clear that, for four years after the Final Judgment
has expired or been terminated, the United States may still challenge a
violation that occurred during the term of the Final Judgment.
Finally, Section XV of the proposed Final Judgment provides that
the Final Judgment will expire ten years from the date of its entry,
except that after five years from the date of its entry, the Final
Judgment may be terminated upon notice by the United States to the
Court and the Defendants that the divestiture has been completed and
that continuation of the Final Judgment is no longer necessary or in
the public interest.
IV. Remedies Available to Potential Private Litigants
Section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 15, provides that any
person who has been injured as a result of conduct prohibited by the
antitrust laws may bring suit in federal court to recover three times
the damages the person has suffered, as well as costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees. Entry of the proposed Final Judgment neither impairs
nor assists the bringing of any private antitrust damage action. Under
the provisions of Section 5(a) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(a), the
proposed Final Judgment has no prima facie effect in any subsequent
private lawsuit that may be brought against Defendants.
V. Procedures Available for Modification of the Proposed Final Judgment
The United States and Defendants have stipulated that the proposed
Final Judgment may be entered by the Court after compliance with the
provisions of the APPA, provided that the United States has not
withdrawn its consent. The APPA conditions entry upon the Court's
determination that the proposed Final Judgment is in the public
interest.
The APPA provides a period of at least 60 days preceding the
effective date of the proposed Final Judgment within which any person
may submit to the United States written comments regarding the proposed
Final Judgment. Any person who wishes to comment should do so within 60
days of the date
[[Page 70023]]
of publication of this Competitive Impact Statement in the Federal
Register, or the last date of publication in a newspaper of the summary
of this Competitive Impact Statement, whichever is later. All comments
received during this period will be considered by the U.S. Department
of Justice, which remains free to withdraw its consent to the proposed
Final Judgment at any time before the Court's entry of the Final
Judgment. The comments and the response of the United States will be
filed with the Court. In addition, comments will be posted on the U.S.
Department of Justice, Antitrust Division's internet website and, under
certain circumstances, published in the Federal Register.
Written comments should be submitted to: Katrina Rouse, Chief,
Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S.
Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC
20530.
The proposed Final Judgment provides that the Court retains
jurisdiction over this action, and the parties may apply to the Court
for any order necessary or appropriate for the modification,
interpretation, or enforcement of the Final Judgment.
VI. Alternatives to the Proposed Final Judgment
As an alternative to the proposed Final Judgment, the United States
considered a full trial on the merits against Defendants. The United
States could have continued the litigation and sought preliminary and
permanent injunctions against WMI's acquisition of ADS. The United
States is satisfied, however, that the divestiture of assets described
in the proposed Final Judgment will remedy the anticompetitive effects
alleged in the Complaint, preserving competition for the provision of
SCCW collection and MSW disposal in each of the geographic markets
alleged in the Complaint. Thus, the proposed Final Judgment achieves
all or substantially all of the relief the United States would have
obtained through litigation, but avoids the time, expense, and
uncertainty of a full trial on the merits of the Complaint.
VII. Standard of Review Under the APPA for the Proposed Final Judgment
The Clayton Act, as amended by the APPA, requires that proposed
consent judgments in antitrust cases brought by the United States be
subject to a 60-day comment period, after which the Court shall
determine whether entry of the proposed Final Judgment ``is in the
public interest.'' 15 U.S.C. 16(e)(1). In making that determination,
the Court, in accordance with the statute as amended in 2004, is
required to consider:
(A) The competitive impact of such judgment, including
termination of alleged violations, provisions for enforcement and
modification, duration of relief sought, anticipated effects of
alternative remedies actually considered, whether its terms are
ambiguous, and any other competitive considerations bearing upon the
adequacy of such judgment that the court deems necessary to a
determination of whether the consent judgment is in the public
interest; and
(B) the impact of entry of such judgment upon competition in the
relevant market or markets, upon the public generally and
individuals alleging specific injury from the violations set forth
in the complaint including consideration of the public benefit, if
any, to be derived from a determination of the issues at trial.
15 U.S.C. 16(e)(1)(A) & (B). In considering these statutory
factors, the Court's inquiry is necessarily a limited one as the
government is entitled to ``broad discretion to settle with the
defendant within the reaches of the public interest.'' United States v.
Microsoft Corp., 56 F.3d 1448, 1461 (D.C. Cir. 1995); United States v.
U.S. Airways Grp., Inc., 38 F. Supp. 3d 69, 75 (D.D.C. 2014)
(explaining that the ``court's inquiry is limited'' in Tunney Act
settlements); United States v. InBev N.V./S.A., No. 08-1965 (JR), 2009
U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84787, at *3 (D.D.C. Aug. 11, 2009) (noting that a
court's review of a consent judgment is limited and only inquires
``into whether the government's determination that the proposed
remedies will cure the antitrust violations alleged in the complaint
was reasonable, and whether the mechanism to enforce the final judgment
are clear and manageable'').
As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
has held, under the APPA a court considers, among other things, the
relationship between the remedy secured and the specific allegations in
the government's complaint, whether the proposed Final Judgment is
sufficiently clear, whether its enforcement mechanisms are sufficient,
and whether it may positively harm third parties. See Microsoft, 56
F.3d at 1458-62. With respect to the adequacy of the relief secured by
the proposed Final Judgment, a court may not ``make de novo
determination of facts and issues.'' United States v. W. Elec. Co., 993
F.2d 1572, 1577 (D.C. Cir. 1993) (quotation marks omitted); see also
Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1460-62; United States v. Alcoa, Inc., 152 F.
Supp. 2d 37, 40 (D.D.C. 2001); United States v. Enova Corp., 107 F.
Supp. 2d 10, 16 (D.D.C. 2000); InBev, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 84787, at
*3. Instead, ``[t]he balancing of competing social and political
interests affected by a proposed antitrust consent decree must be left,
in the first instance, to the discretion of the Attorney General.'' W.
Elec. Co., 993 F.2d at 1577 (quotation marks omitted). ``The court
should bear in mind the flexibility of the public interest inquiry: The
court's function is not to determine whether the resulting array of
rights and liabilities is one that will best serve society, but only to
confirm that the resulting settlement is within the reaches of the
public interest.'' Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1460 (quotation marks
omitted); see also United States v. Deutsche Telekom AG, No. 19-2232
(TJK), 2020 WL 1873555, at *7 (D.D.C. Apr. 14, 2020). More demanding
requirements would ``have enormous practical consequences for the
government's ability to negotiate future settlements,'' contrary to
congressional intent. Id. at 1456. ``The Tunney Act was not intended to
create a disincentive to the use of the consent decree.'' Id.
The United States' predictions about the efficacy of the remedy are
to be afforded deference by the Court. See, e.g., Microsoft, 56 F.3d at
1461 (recognizing courts should give ``due respect to the Justice
Department's . . . view of the nature of its case''); United States v.
Iron Mountain, Inc., 217 F. Supp. 3d 146, 152-53 (D.D.C. 2016) (``In
evaluating objections to settlement agreements under the Tunney Act, a
court must be mindful that [t]he government need not prove that the
settlements will perfectly remedy the alleged antitrust harms[;] it
need only provide a factual basis for concluding that the settlements
are reasonably adequate remedies for the alleged harms.'') (internal
citations omitted); United States v. Republic Servs., Inc., 723 F.
Supp. 2d 157, 160 (D.D.C. 2010) (noting ``the deferential review to
which the government's proposed remedy is accorded''); United States v.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., 272 F. Supp. 2d 1, 6 (D.D.C. 2003) (``A
district court must accord due respect to the government's prediction
as to the effect of proposed remedies, its perception of the market
structure, and its view of the nature of the case.''). The ultimate
question is whether ``the remedies [obtained by the Final Judgment are]
so inconsonant with the allegations charged as to fall outside of the
`reaches of the public interest.''' Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1461 (quoting
W. Elec. Co., 900 F.2d at 309).
Moreover, the Court's role under the APPA is limited to reviewing
the remedy in relationship to the violations that the United States has
alleged in its
[[Page 70024]]
complaint, and does not authorize the Court to ``construct [its] own
hypothetical case and then evaluate the decree against that case.''
Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1459; see also U.S. Airways, 38 F. Supp. 3d at 75
(noting that the court must simply determine whether there is a factual
foundation for the government's decisions such that its conclusions
regarding the proposed settlements are reasonable); InBev, 2009 U.S.
Dist. LEXIS 84787, at *20 (``[T]he `public interest' is not to be
measured by comparing the violations alleged in the complaint against
those the court believes could have, or even should have, been
alleged''). Because the ``court's authority to review the decree
depends entirely on the government's exercising its prosecutorial
discretion by bringing a case in the first place,'' it follows that
``the court is only authorized to review the decree itself,'' and not
to ``effectively redraft the complaint'' to inquire into other matters
that the United States did not pursue. Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1459-60.
In its 2004 amendments to the APPA, Congress made clear its intent
to preserve the practical benefits of using consent judgments proposed
by the United States in antitrust enforcement, Public Law 108-237 Sec.
221, and added the unambiguous instruction that ``[n]othing in this
section shall be construed to require the court to conduct an
evidentiary hearing or to require the court to permit anyone to
intervene.'' 15 U.S.C. 16(e)(2); see also U.S. Airways, 38 F. Supp. 3d
at 76 (indicating that a court is not required to hold an evidentiary
hearing or to permit intervenors as part of its review under the Tunney
Act). This language explicitly wrote into the statute what Congress
intended when it first enacted the Tunney Act in 1974. As Senator
Tunney explained: ``[t]he court is nowhere compelled to go to trial or
to engage in extended proceedings which might have the effect of
vitiating the benefits of prompt and less costly settlement through the
consent decree process.'' 119 Cong. Rec. 24,598 (1973) (statement of
Sen. Tunney). ``A court can make its public interest determination
based on the competitive impact statement and response to public
comments alone.'' U.S. Airways, 38 F. Supp. 3d at 76 (citing Enova
Corp., 107 F. Supp. 2d at 17).
VIII. Determinative Documents
There are no determinative materials or documents within the
meaning of the APPA that were considered by the United States in
formulating the proposed Final Judgment.
Dated: October 23, 2020.
Respectfully submitted,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy W. Cline, (D.C. Bar #1011073),
U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Defense,
Industrials, and Aerospace Section, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700,
Washington, DC 20530, (202) 598-2294, [email protected].
Appendix A: SCCW Geographic Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
Small Container Commercial Waste
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Counties/municipalities significant
Geographic market within geographic competitors
market pre-merger
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Lee County, Alabama......... Lee County, AL......... 3
2. Macon County, Alabama....... Macon County, AL....... 2
3. Mobile, Alabama............. City of Mobile, AL..... 3
4. Montgomery County, Alabama.. Montgomery County, AL.. 3
5. Tuscaloosa, Alabama......... City of Tuscaloosa, AL. 3
6. Jacksonville, Florida....... Duvall, St. Johns, and 3
Clay Counties, FL.
7. Ocala, Florida.............. Marion and Citrus 3
Counties, FL.
8. Augusta, Georgia............ Columbia and Richmond 4
Counties, GA and
Edgefield and Aiken
Counties, SC.
9. Rochester, Minnesota........ City of Rochester, MN.. 3
10. St. Cloud, Minnesota....... City of St. Cloud, MN.. 3
11. Calumet County, Wisconsin.. Calumet County, WI..... 2
12. Clark, Wisconsin........... Clark and Taylor 3
Counties, WI.
13. Dane County, Wisconsin..... Dane County, WI........ 3
14. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, 2
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan,
and Washington
Counties, WI.
15. Green Bay, Wisconsin....... Brown and Outagamie 4
Counties, WI.
16. Green County, Wisconsin.... Green County, WI....... 3
17. Green Lake, Wisconsin...... Columbia, Green Lake, 2
and Marquette
Counties, WI.
18. Eau Claire, Wisconsin...... Chippewa and Eau Claire 4
Counties, WI.
19. Jackson County, Wisconsin.. Jackson County, WI..... 3
20. Jefferson County, Wisconsin Jefferson County, WI... 3
21. Kenosha County, Wisconsin.. Kenosha County, WI..... 2
22. Kewaunee County, Wisconsin. Kewaunee County, WI.... 2
23. Langlade, Wisconsin........ Langlade, Lincoln, 2
Oneida, and Shawano
Counties, WI.
24. Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Manitowoc County, WI... 3
25. Mar-Oco, Wisconsin......... Marinette and Oconto 3
Counties, WI.
26. Marathon, Wisconsin........ Marathon, Portage, and 3
Wood Counties, WI.
27. Milwaukee, Wisconsin....... Milwaukee, Racine, and 2
Waukesha Counties, WI.
28. Price County, Wisconsin.... Price County, WI....... 3
29. Rock County, Wisconsin..... Rock County, WI........ 3
30. Sauk County, Wisconsin..... Sauk County, WI........ 3
31. Walworth County, Wisconsin. Walworth County, WI.... 3
32. Waupaca, Wisconsin......... Waupaca County, WI..... 4
33. Waushara, Wisconsin........ Waushara and Winnebago 2
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 70025]]
Appendix B: MSW Disposal Geographic Markets and Number of Significant
Competitors Pre-Merger
MSW Disposal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Counties/municipalities significant
Geographic market within geographic competitors
market pre-merger
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. East Central, Alabama....... Lee and Macon Counties, 2
AL.
2. Mobile, Alabama............. City of Mobile, AL..... 3
3. Phenix City, Alabama........ Phenix City, AL........ 2
4. Ocala, Florida.............. Marion and Citrus 3
Counties, FL.
5. Atlanta, Georgia............ Cherokee, Forsyth, 3
Gwinnett, Fulton,
Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
6. Kane County, Illinois....... Kane County, IL........ 3
7. Lake County, Illinois....... Lake County, IL........ 3
8. Northern Cook County, Area west of Interstate 4
Illinois. 94 and north of
Interstate 90 in Cook
County, Illinois.
9. Fort Wayne, Indiana......... Allen, Kosciusko, and 3
Whitley Counties, IN.
10. Detroit, Michigan.......... Wayne, Macomb and 4
Oakland Counties, MI.
11. Bedford County, Bedford County, PA..... 2
Pennsylvania.
12. Fayette County, Fayette and Greene 4
Pennsylvania. Counties, PA.
13. Indiana County, Clarion, Jefferson, and 3
Pennsylvania. Indiana Counties, PA.
14. Somerset County, Cambria and Somerset 2
Pennsylvania. Counties, PA.
15. State College, Pennsylvania Centre and Clearfield 3
Counties, PA.
16. Dane County, Wisconsin..... Dane County, WI........ 3
17. Eau Claire, Wisconsin...... Chippewa and Eau Claire 2
Counties, WI.
18. Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, 2
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan,
and Washington
Counties, WI.
19. Greater Green Bay, Brown, Outagamie, and 2
Appleton, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Winnebago Counties, WI.
20. Greater Manitowoc, Calumet, Kewaunee, and 2
Wisconsin. Manitowoc Counties, WI.
21. Green County, Wisconsin.... Green County, WI....... 3
22. Janesville, Wisconsin...... Jefferson, Rock, and 3
Walworth Counties, WI.
23. Milwaukee, Wisconsin....... Milwaukee, Racine, and 2
Waukesha Counties, WI.
24. St. Croix, Wisconsin....... Pierce and St. Croix 3
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appendix C: List of Retained Hauling Facilities
III. Florida
a. WMI's hauling facility located at 8708 NE 44th Drive,
Wildwood, Florida 34785;
b. WMI's hauling facility located at 6501 Greenland Road,
Jacksonville, Florida 32258.
IV. Wisconsin
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 2301 W B R Townline Road,
Beloit, Wisconsin 53511;
b. WMI's hauling facility located at 301 Thomas Street, Fond du
Lac, Wisconsin 54935;
c. ADS's hauling facility located at 2626 Mondovi Road, Eau
Claire, Wisconsin 54701;
d. ADS's hauling facility located at 559 Progress Drive,
Hartland, Wisconsin 53029.
V. Illinois
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 2230 Ernie Krueger Circle,
Waukegan, Illinois 60087.
VI. Georgia
a. ADS's hauling facility located at 5734 Columbia Road,
Grovetown, GA 30813.
Appendix D: Areas for Which the Notice Provision in Paragraph XI(A) of
the Proposed Final Judgment Applies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Counties/
Geographic market municipalities within Relevant service
geographic market
------------------------------------------------------------------------
East Central, Alabama......... Lee and Macon MSW Disposal.
Counties, AL.
Lee County, Alabama........... Lee County, AL........ SCCW Collection.
Macon County, Alabama......... Macon County, AL...... SCCW Collection.
Mobile, Alabama............... City of Mobile, AL.... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Montgomery County, Alabama.... Montgomery County, AL. SCCW Collection.
Phenix City, Alabama.......... Phenix City, AL....... MSW Disposal.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama........... City of Tuscaloosa, AL SCCW Collection.
Jacksonville, Florida......... Duvall, St. Johns, and SCCW Collection.
Clay Counties, FL.
Ocala, Florida................ Marion and Citrus SCCW Collection
Counties, FL. and MSW
Disposal.
Atlanta, Georgia.............. Cherokee, Forsyth, MSW Disposal.
Gwinnett, Fulton,
Clayton, and Cobb
Counties, GA.
Augusta, Georgia.............. Columbia and Richmond SCCW Collection.
Counties, GA and
Edgefield and Aiken
Counties, SC.
Kane County, Illinois......... Kane County, IL....... MSW Disposal.
Lake County, Illinois......... Lake County, IL....... MSW Disposal.
Northern Cook County, Illinois Area west of MSW Disposal.
Interstate 94 and
north of Interstate
90 in Cook County,
Illinois.
Fort Wayne, Indiana........... Allen, Kosciusko, and MSW Disposal.
Whitley Counties, IN.
[[Page 70026]]
Detroit, Michigan............. Wayne, Macomb and MSW Disposal.
Oakland Counties, MI.
Rochester, Minnesota.......... City of Rochester, MN. SCCW Collection.
St. Cloud, Minnesota.......... City of St. Cloud, MN. SCCW Collection.
State College, Pennsylvania... Centre and Clearfield MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Indiana County, Pennsylvania.. Clarion, Jefferson, MSW Disposal.
and Indiana Counties,
PA.
Fayette County, Pennsylvania.. Fayette and Greene MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Cambria and Somerset MSW Disposal.
Counties, PA.
Bedford County, Pennsylvania.. Bedford County, PA.... MSW Disposal.
Greater Green Bay, Appleton, Brown, Outagamie, and MSW Disposal.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Winnebago Counties,
WI.
Calumet County, Wisconsin..... Calumet County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Clark, Wisconsin.............. Clark and Taylor SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Dane County, Wisconsin........ Dane County, WI....... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin......... Chippewa and Eau SCCW Collection
Claire Counties, WI. and MSW
Disposal.
Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, Dodge, Fond du Lac, SCCW Collection
Wisconsin. Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and MSW
and Washington Disposal.
Counties, WI.
Greater Manitowoc, Wisconsin.. Calumet, Kewaunee, and MSW Disposal.
Manitowoc Counties,
WI.
Green Bay, Wisconsin.......... Brown and Outagamie SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Green County, Wisconsin....... Green County, WI...... SCCW Collection
and MSW
Disposal.
Green Lake, Wisconsin......... Columbia, Green Lake, SCCW Collection.
and Marquette
Counties, WI.
Jackson County, Wisconsin..... Jackson County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Janesville, Wisconsin......... Jefferson, Rock, and MSW Disposal.
Walworth Counties, WI.
Jefferson County, Wisconsin... Jefferson County, WI.. SCCW Collection.
Kenosha County, Wisconsin..... Kenosha County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.... Kewaunee County, WI... SCCW Collection.
Langlade, Wisconsin........... Langlade, Lincoln, SCCW Collection.
Oneida, and Shawano
Counties, WI.
Manitowoc County, Wisconsin... Manitowoc County, WI.. SCCW Collection.
Mar-Oco, Wisconsin............ Marinette and Oconto SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
Marathon, Wisconsin........... Marathon, Portage, and SCCW Collection.
Wood Counties, WI.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.......... Milwaukee, Racine, and SCCW Collection
Waukesha Counties, WI. and MSW
Disposal.
Price County, Wisconsin....... Price County, WI...... SCCW Collection.
Rock County, Wisconsin........ Rock County, WI....... SCCW Collection.
Sauk County, Wisconsin........ Sauk County, WI....... SCCW Collection.
St. Croix, Wisconsin.......... Pierce and St. Croix MSW Disposal.
Counties, WI.
Walworth County, Wisconsin.... Walworth County, WI... SCCW Collection.
Waupaca, Wisconsin............ Waupaca County, WI.... SCCW Collection.
Waushara, Wisconsin........... Waushara and Winnebago SCCW Collection.
Counties, WI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[FR Doc. 2020-24221 Filed 11-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-11-P