News Releases

Waste Connections Reports First Quarter 2007 Results
- Reports revenue of $219.0 million and earnings per share of $0.32
- Revenue and operating income increase 15.1% and 18.6%, respectively
- Reports internal growth of 8.7%
- Reports free cash flow of $24.9 million, or 11.4% of revenue
PRNewswire-FirstCall
FOLSOM, Calif.

Waste Connections, Inc. today announced its results for the first quarter 2007. Revenue totaled $219.0 million, a 15.1% increase over revenue of $190.2 million in the year ago period. Operating income was $46.4 million, an 18.6% increase over operating income of $39.2 million in the first quarter of 2006. As a percentage of revenue, operating income was 21.2%, a 60 basis point increase from 20.6% in the year ago period despite an approximate 45 basis point increase in equity-based compensation costs as a percentage of revenue. Equity-based compensation costs, on a pre-tax basis, were $1.7 million and $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Net income in the quarter was $22.4 million, or $0.32 per share on a diluted basis of 70.6 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income of $15.7 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.22. Net income in the prior year period included a $4.2 million charge ($2.6 million net of taxes, or approximately $0.04 per share) for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with convertible notes that subsequently were redeemed. Shares and per share numbers reflect a three-for- two stock split effective March 13, 2007.

"We are extremely pleased with our results in the quarter and the implications moving forward. Continued strong pricing growth, improved commodity prices and a reduction in net days sales outstanding enabled us to exceed our expectations for the quarter," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect volume growth to increase in the second quarter given improving monthly trends experienced during the first quarter and the full impact of two long-term contracts that commenced earlier in the year."

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to first quarter earnings and second quarter outlook on April 24th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.streetevents.com/ and through a link on the Company's web site at http://www.wasteconnections.com/. A playback of the call will be available at both of these sites.

For non-GAAP measures, see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule.

Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly secondary markets in the Western and Southern U.S. The Company serves more than one million residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of operations in 22 states. The Company also provides intermodal services for the movement of containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections, Inc. was founded in September 1997 and is headquartered in Folsom, California.

For more information, visit the Waste Connections web site at http://www.wasteconnections.com/. Copies of financial literature, including this release, are available on the Waste Connections web site or through contacting us directly at (916) 608-8200.

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking in nature. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Waste Connections' business and operations are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those projected by any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Waste Connections may be unable to compete effectively with larger and better capitalized companies and governmental service providers; (2) increases in the price of fuel may adversely affect Waste Connections' business and reduce its operating margins; (3) increases in labor and disposal and related transportation costs could impact Waste Connections' financial results; (4) increases in insurance costs and the amount that Waste Connections self- insures for various risks could reduce its operating margins and reported earnings; (5) Waste Connections' financial results are based upon estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual results; (6) efforts by labor unions could divert management attention and adversely affect operating results; (7) Waste Connections may lose contracts through competitive bidding, early termination or governmental action; (8) Waste Connections' results are vulnerable to economic conditions and seasonal factors affecting the regions in which it operates; (9) Waste Connections may be subject in the normal course of business to judicial and administrative proceedings that could interrupt its operations, require expensive remediation and create negative publicity; (10) competition for acquisition candidates, consolidation within the waste industry and economic and market conditions may limit Waste Connections' ability to grow through acquisitions; (11) Waste Connections' growth and future financial performance depend significantly on its ability to integrate acquired businesses into its organization and operations; (12) Waste Connections' acquisitions may not be successful, resulting in changes in strategy, operating losses or a loss on sale of the business acquired; (13) because Waste Connections depends on railroads for its intermodal operations, its operating results and financial condition are likely to be adversely affected by any reduction or deterioration in rail service; (14) Waste Connections' intermodal business could be adversely affected by steamship lines diverting business to ports other than those Waste Connections services, or by heightened security measures or actual or threatened terrorist attacks; (15) Waste Connections depends significantly on the services of the members of its senior and district management team, and the departure of any of those persons could cause its operating results to suffer; (16) Waste Connections' decentralized decision-making structure could allow local managers to make decisions that adversely affect Waste Connections' operating results; (17) Waste Connections may incur additional charges related to capitalized expenditures, which would decrease its earnings; (18) the outcome of audits by the Internal Revenue Service may adversely affect Waste Connections; (19) each business that Waste Connections acquires or has acquired may have liabilities that Waste Connections fails or is unable to discover, including environmental liabilities; (20) liabilities for environmental damage may adversely affect Waste Connections' business and earnings; and (21) the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations could adversely impact Waste Connections' financial results. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in Waste Connections' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. There may be additional risks of which Waste Connections is not presently aware or that it currently believes are immaterial which could have an adverse impact on its business. Waste Connections makes no commitment to

revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may change.

                         WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2007
                               (Unaudited)
            (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

                                                   Three months ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                    2006           2007

  Revenues                                        $190,169       $218,951
  Operating expenses:
    Cost of operations                             113,063        128,869
    Selling, general and administrative             19,801         23,910
    Depreciation and amortization                   18,232         19,590
    Loss (gain) on disposal of assets                  (82)           160
  Operating income                                  39,155         46,422

  Interest expense                                  (7,494)        (7,818)
  Minority interests                                (2,711)        (2,840)
  Other income (expense), net                       (3,993)            51
  Income before income taxes                        24,957         35,815

  Income tax provision                              (9,234)       (13,435)
  Net income                                       $15,723        $22,380

  Basic earnings per common share                    $0.23          $0.33

  Diluted earnings per common share                  $0.22          $0.32

  Shares used in the per share calculations:
    Basic                                       68,504,318     68,465,359
    Diluted                                     71,385,714     70,583,096


                         WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
                  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                               (Unaudited)
            (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

                                                December 31,     March 31,
                                                    2006           2007
  ASSETS
  Current assets:
    Cash and equivalents                           $34,949        $21,264
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
     doubtful accounts of $3,489 and $3,492 at
     December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007,
     respectively                                  100,269        104,082
  Deferred income taxes                              9,373          9,494
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets         15,642         17,383
      Total current assets                         160,233        152,223

  Property and equipment, net                      736,428        783,048
  Goodwill                                         750,397        761,454
  Intangible assets, net                            86,098         85,764
  Restricted assets                                 15,917         16,606
  Other assets, net                                 24,818         22,196
                                                $1,773,891     $1,821,291

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                               $53,010        $53,189
    Accrued liabilities                             57,810         64,806
    Deferred revenue                                32,161         36,228
    Current portion of long-term debt and
     notes payable                                   6,884          7,098
      Total current liabilities                    149,865        161,321

  Long-term debt and notes payable                 637,308        636,463
  Other long-term liabilities                       16,712         26,890
  Deferred income taxes                            205,532        204,158
      Total liabilities                          1,009,417      1,028,832

  Commitments and contingencies
  Minority interests                                27,992         28,480

  Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock: $0.01 par value; 7,500,000
   shares authorized; none issued and outstanding       --             --
  Common stock: $0.01 par value; 100,000,000
   shares authorized; 68,266,038 and 68,556,329
   shares issued and outstanding at December 31,
   2006 and March 31, 2007, respectively               455            685
  Additional paid-in capital                       310,229        313,861
  Retained earnings                                422,731        447,782
  Accumulated other comprehensive income             3,067          1,651
    Total stockholders' equity                     736,482        763,979
                                                $1,773,891     $1,821,291


                         WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
             CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 AND 2007
                               (Unaudited)
                          (Dollars in thousands)

                                                   Three months ended
                                                         March 31,
                                                      2006           2007

  Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income                                       $15,723        $22,380
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   net cash provided by operating activities:
    Loss (gain) on disposal of assets                  (82)           160
    Depreciation                                    17,248         18,558
    Amortization of intangibles                        984          1,032
    Deferred income taxes, net of acquisitions       3,679          2,852
    Minority interests                               2,711          2,840
    Amortization of debt issuance costs              4,763            482
    Stock-based compensation                           618          1,663
    Interest income on restricted assets              (141)          (107)
    Closure and post-closure accretion                 149            253
    Excess tax benefit associated with
     equity-based compensation                      (3,353)        (2,260)
    Net change in operating assets and
     liabilities, net of acquisitions               (4,443)        13,061
  Net cash provided by operating activities         37,856         60,914

  Cash flows from investing activities:
    Payments for acquisitions, net of cash
     acquired                                       (3,755)       (35,860)
    Capital expenditures for property and
     equipment                                     (19,966)       (36,147)
    Proceeds from disposal of assets                   171            215
    Increase in restricted assets, net of
     interest income                                  (276)          (581)
    Increase in other assets                          (392)          (517)
  Net cash used in investing activities            (24,218)       (72,890)

  Cash flows from financing activities:
    Proceeds from long-term debt                   229,964         21,000
    Principal payments on notes payable and
     long-term debt                               (173,349)       (23,616)
    Change in book overdraft                        (1,683)            --
    Proceeds from option and warrant exercises      17,361          6,513
    Excess tax benefit associated with
     equity-based compensation                       3,353          2,260
    Distributions to minority interest holders      (2,058)        (2,352)
    Payments for repurchase of common stock        (80,586)        (5,414)
    Debt issuance costs                             (6,307)          (100)
  Net cash used in financing activities            (13,305)        (1,709)

  Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents      333        (13,685)
  Cash and equivalents at beginning of period        7,514         34,949
  Cash and equivalents at end of period             $7,847        $21,264


                          ADDITIONAL STATISTICS
                    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007
                          (Dollars in thousands)

Internal Growth: The following table reflects revenue growth for operations owned for at least 12 months:

                                               Three Months Ended
                                                 March 31, 2007
          Price                                       5.2%
          Volume                                      1.9%
          Intermodal, Recycling and Other             1.6%
          Total                                       8.7%

  Uneliminated Revenue Breakdown:

                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31, 2007
          Collection                              $160,152          64.3%
          Disposal and Transfer                     66,641          26.8%
          Intermodal, Recycling and Other           22,224           8.9%
          Total                                   $249,017         100.0%

          Inter-company elimination                $30,066

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2007: 43 (28 net of deferred revenue)

  Internalization for the three months ended March 31, 2007:  70%


  Other Cash Flow Items for the three months ended March 31, 2007:

    Cash Interest Paid:     $5,156
    Cash Taxes Paid:        $632


  Debt to Capitalization: 45.7%

  Share Information for the three months ended March 31, 2007:

          Basic shares outstanding                  68,465,359
          Dilutive effect of options and warrants    1,833,779
          Dilutive effect of restricted stock          283,958
          Diluted shares outstanding                70,583,096

          Shares repurchased                           187,540


                     NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE
                              (in thousands)

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. Waste Connections defines free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, plus proceeds from disposal of assets and excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation, plus or minus change in book overdraft, less capital expenditures for property and equipment and distributions to minority interest holders. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Management uses free cash flow as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of our operations. Other companies may calculate free cash flow differently.

  Free cash flow reconciliation:

                                                Three Months   Three Months
                                                   Ended          Ended
                                                  March 31,      March 31,

                                                      2006           2007
  Net cash provided by operating activities        $37,856        $60,914
  Change in book overdraft                          (1,683)            --
  Plus: Proceeds from disposal of assets               171            215
  Plus: Excess tax benefit associated with
   equity-based compensation                         3,353          2,260
  Less: Capital expenditures for property and
   equipment                                       (19,966)       (36,147)
  Less: Distributions to minority interest
   holders                                         (2,058)        (2,352)
  Free cash flow                                   $17,673        $24,890

  Free cash flow as % of revenues                      9.3%          11.4%

SOURCE: Waste Connections, Inc.

CONTACT: Worthing Jackman of Waste Connections, Inc., +1-916-608-8266,
or worthingj@wasteconnections.com