<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.6



                                 (FACE OF NOTE)

                  THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
                  INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE
                  NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
                  SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL
                  BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES
                  OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S
                  NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY
                  SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
                  RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 306 OF THE INDENTURE.

                  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
                  REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK
                  CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR
                  REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT AND ANY SUCH
                  CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR
                  IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
                  REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO.
                  OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
                  REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE
                  HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL
                  INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN
                  INTEREST HEREIN.


<PAGE>   2


                             REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

                               ------------------

                              7-1/8% NOTE DUE 2009

                                                             CUSIP NO. 760759AA8

No. 1                                                        $200,000,000



                  Republic Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called
the "Company," which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede &
Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS
($200,000,000) United States dollars on May 15, 2009, at the office or agency of
the Company referred to below, and to pay interest thereon from May 24, 1999, or
from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or
duly provided for, semiannually on May 15 and November 15 in each year,
commencing November 15, 1999 at the rate of 7-1/8% per annum, in United States
dollars, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for. Interest shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

                  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided
for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid
to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the May 1 or
November 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding
such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid, or duly
provided for, and interest on such defaulted interest at the interest rate borne
by the Securities, to the extent lawful, shall forthwith cease to be payable to
the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may either be paid to the Person in
whose name this Security (or any Predecessor Securities) is registered at the
close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted
interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof shall be given to Holders of
Securities not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid
at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of
any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such
notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in this
Indenture.

                  Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on,
this Security, and exchange or transfer of this Security, will be made at the
office or agency of the Company in The City of New York maintained for such
purpose (which initially will be a corporate trust office of the Trustee or its
affiliate located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21W, New York, NY 10286), or at
such other office or agency as may be maintained for




<PAGE>   3

such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the
Company by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear on the Security Register.

                  Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this
Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all
purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

                  Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been duly
executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof or by the
authenticating agent appointed as provided in the Indenture by manual signature
of an authorized signer, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


<PAGE>   4


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to
be duly executed by the manual or facsimile signature of its authorized officer.


                                 REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.



                                 By: /s/ Edward A. Lang, III
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Name:  Edward A. Lang, III
                                    Title: Vice President, Finance and Treasurer





<PAGE>   5


                     TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

                  This is one of the 7 1/8% Notes due 2009 referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee


                                        By: /s/ Remo J. Reale
                                           ------------------------------------
                                              Authorized Signatory

Dated:  May 24, 1999


<PAGE>   6


                             (REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE)

                             REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

                              7 1/8% Note due 2009

                  This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities
of the Company designated as its 7 1/8% Notes due 2009 (herein called the
"Securities"), limited (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture referred
to below) in aggregate principal amount to $200,000,000, issued under and
subject to the terms of an indenture (herein called the "Indenture") dated as of
May 24, 1999, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (herein
called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference
is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights,
duties, obligations and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and
the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are,
and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

         The Securities may be redeemed at any time, at the option of the
Company, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, upon not less
than 30 and not more than 60 days' notice to the Holders thereof as provided in
the Indenture, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the
principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present
values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon
discounted to the Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable Treasury Rate plus 20
basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest to the Redemption Date
(subject to the right of holders of record of such Securities on relevant record
dates to receive interest due on an interest payment date), if any.

                  If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the
Trustee shall select, not more than 60 nor less than 30 days before the
Redemption Date, the Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on a pro rata
basis, by lot or by any other method the Trustee shall deem fair and
appropriate.

                  In the case of any redemption of Securities in accordance with
the Indenture, interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities of record as
of the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Date or Special Record
Date referred to on the face hereof. Securities (or portions thereof) for whose
redemption and payment provision is made in accordance with the Indenture shall
cease to bear interest from and after the Redemption Date.





<PAGE>   7

                  In the event of redemption or repurchase of this Security in
accordance with the Indenture in part only, a new Security or Securities for the
unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon
the cancellation hereof.

                  If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
principal amount of all the Securities may be declared due and payable in the
manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

                  The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time
of (a) the entire Indebtedness on the Securities and (b) certain covenants and
Defaults and Events of Default, in each case upon compliance with certain
conditions set forth therein.

                  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions (including
certain amendments permitted without the consent of any Holders and certain
amendments which required the consent of all of the Holders) as therein
provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders under the Indenture and
the Securities at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of
the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of all series at the time Outstanding that are affected (voting as
one class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities (100% of the
Holders in certain circumstances) of all series at the time Outstanding that are
affected (voting as one class), on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities
of such affected series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain
provisions of the Indenture and the Securities of such series and certain past
Defaults and Events of Default under the Indenture and the Securities and their
consequences. Any such consent or waiver by or on behalf of the Holder of this
Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation
of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

                  No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company
or any other obligor on the Securities (in the event such other obligor is
obligated to make payments in respect of the Securities), which is absolute and
unconditional, to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on,
this Security at the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein
prescribed.

                  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in
the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of
transfer at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a





<PAGE>   8

written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the
Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities, of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the
designated transferee or transferees.

                  The Securities in certificated form are issuable only in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the Securities are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Securities of a differing authorized denomination,
as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

                  Except as indicated in the Indenture, no service charge shall
be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

                  Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee
may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner
hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.

                  THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE TO CONFLICT
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

                  All terms used in this Security which are defined in the
Indenture and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
them in the Indenture.