Waste Connections, Inc.. The Group's principal activity is to provide solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in secondary markets primarily in the Western United States. The Group owns and operates 90 collection operations, 23 transfer stations, 19 Subtitle D landfills and 18 recycling facilities. The Group's services are provided under governmental certificates, exclusive franchise agreements, exclusive municipal contracts, residential subscriptions and contracts. As of 31-Dec 2002, the Group served more than one million commercial, industrial and residential customers in 22 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. During 2002, the Group acquired 17 non-hazardous solid waste businesses.