HispanicBusiness

Landfill assets represent the costs of landfill available space, including original acquisition cost, incurred landfill construction and development costs, including gas collection systems installed during the operating life of the site, and capitalized landfill closure and post-closure costs. The cost of landfill assets, together with projected landfill construction and development costs for permitted capacity, is amortized on a per-unit basis as landfill space is consumed. Management annually updates landfill capacity estimates, based on survey information provided by independent engineers, and projected landfill construction and development costs. The impact on annual amortization expense of changes in estimated capacity and construction costs is accounted for prospectively.

d) Permits and other intangible assets

Permits and other intangible assets are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization and impairment, and consist of certain production processes, trademarks, permits and agreements which are amortized over the period of the contractual benefit of 8 to 20 years on a straight line basis. Certain permits are deemed to have indefinite lives and therefore are not amortized. There are nominal fees to renew these permits provided that Newalta remains in good standing with regulatory authorities.

e) Leases

Lessee

All of the Corporation's leases are classified as operating leases and the leased assets are not recognized in the Corporation's consolidated balance sheets. Payments made under operating leases are recognized in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease unless another systematic basis is representative of the time pattern of the user's benefit, including any rent-free periods. Lease incentives are recognized as an integral part of the total lease expense, over the term of the lease.

Leases where the Corporation assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership would be classified as finance leases and the corresponding asset would be classified as property, plant and equipment and the liability as obligations under finance lease.

Leases may include additional payments for real estate taxes, maintenance and insurance. These amounts are expensed in the period to which they relate.

Lessor

Assets subject to operating leases are recognized and classified according to the nature of the asset. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and expensed over the lease term on the same basis as the lease income. The depreciation policy for leased assets is consistent with the depreciation policy for similar owned assets.

f) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets of acquired businesses.

g) Impairments

Impairments are recorded when the recoverable amount of assets are less than their carrying amounts. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less cost to sell or its value in use. Impairment losses, other than those relating to goodwill, are evaluated for potential reversals when events or changes in circumstances warrant such consideration.

The carrying values of all assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Additionally, the carrying values of identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives and goodwill are tested annually for impairment.