Document:

Exhibit 10.31

 

 

FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT

 

This FIRST AMENDED
AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into effective as of October 1,
2005, by and between Waste Connections, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and David M. Hall (the
“Employee”).

 

The Company and the
Employee entered into an Employment Agreement as of July 8, 1998 (the “Old Agreement”), and by their execution of this
First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, the Company and the Employee wish to amend and restate the Old Agreement in its
entirety as provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and conditions herein, the Company and the Employee agree as follows:

 

1.       Employment;
Acceptance. The Company hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby accepts employment by the Company on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.       Duties
and Powers. The Employee is hereby employed as Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing and the Employee shall devote Employee’s
attention, energies and abilities in that capacity to the proper oversight and operation of the Company’s business, to the
exclusion of any other occupation. As Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing the Employee shall report to the Chief Executive
Officer, shall be based at the Company’s corporate headquarters in California, and shall be responsible for the Company’s
sales and marketing program and oversight of the Company’s acquisitions program. The Employee shall perform such other duties
as the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company may reasonably assign
to the Employee from time to time. The Employee shall devote such time and attention to his duties as are reasonably necessary
to the proper discharge of his responsibilities hereunder. The Employee agrees to perform all duties consistent with: (a) policies
established from time to time by the Company; and (b) all applicable legal requirements.

 

3.       Term.
The employment of the Employee by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall continue until the third (3rd) anniversary
thereof (the “Term”) or until terminated prior to such date when and as provided in Section 7. Commencing October
1, 2006, and on each October 1st thereafter, this Agreement shall be extended automatically for an additional year,
thus extending the Term to three (3) years from each such date, unless either party shall have given the other notice of termination
hereof as provided herein.

 

4.       Compensation.

 

4.1       Base
Salary. The Company hereby agrees to pay to the Employee an annual base salary of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000)
(“Base Salary”). Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices,
and such Base Salary is subject to withholding and social security, unemployment and other taxes. Increases in Base Salary shall
be considered by the Board.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	  

     

    

 

4.2       Performance
Bonus. For the calendar year commencing January 1, 2005, and for each calendar year thereafter, the Employee shall be
eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (the “Bonus”) based on the Company’s attainment of reasonable
financial objectives to be determined annually by the Board. The maximum annual Bonus will equal fifty percent (50%) of the applicable
year’s beginning Base Salary and will be payable if the Board determines, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that that
year’s financial objectives have been fully met. The Bonus shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s bonus plan,
as approved by the Board.

 

4.3       Grants
of Options and Restricted Stock. Employee shall be entitled to participate in Stock Option, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Unit (“RSU”) and other equity incentive plans presently in effect or in effect from time to time in the future on such
terms and to such level of participation as the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board shall determine to be appropriate,
bearing in mind the Employee’s position and responsibilities.

 

The terms of any Options,
Restricted Stock, RSUs and other equity incentives shall be governed by the relevant plans under which they are issued and described
in detail in applicable agreements between the Company and the Employee.

 

4.4       Other
Benefits. The Company shall provide the Employee with a cellular telephone and will pay or reimburse the Employee’s monthly
service fee and costs of calls attributable to Company business. The Employee shall be entitled to paid annual vacation, which
shall accrue on the same basis as for other employees of the Company of similar rank, but which shall in no event be less than
three (3) weeks for any twelve (12) month period commencing May 15th of each year. The Employee also shall be entitled
to participate, on the same terms as other employees of the Company participate, in any medical, dental or other health plan, pension
plan, profit-sharing plan and life insurance plan that the Company may adopt or maintain, any of which may be changed, terminated
or eliminated by the Company at any time in its exclusive discretion.

 

5.       Confidentiality.
During the Term of his employment, and at all times thereafter, the Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Company, divulge to any third party or use for his own benefit or the benefit of any third party or for any purpose other than
the exclusive benefit of the Company, any confidential or proprietary business or technical information revealed, obtained or developed
in the course of his employment with the Company and which is otherwise the property of the Company or any of its affiliated corporations,
including, but not limited to, trade secrets, customer lists, formulae and processes of manufacture; provided, however, that nothing
herein contained shall restrict the Employee’s ability to make such disclosures during the course of his employment as may
be necessary or appropriate to the effective and efficient discharge of his duties to the Company.

 

6.       Property.
Both during the Term of his employment and thereafter, the Employee shall not remove from the Company’s offices or premises
any Company documents, records, notebooks, files, correspondence, reports, memoranda and similar materials or property of any kind
unless necessary in accordance with the duties and responsibilities of his employment. In the event that any such material or property
is removed, it shall be returned to its proper file or place of safekeeping as promptly as possible. The Employee shall not make,
retain, remove or distribute any copies, or divulge to any third person the nature or contents of any of the foregoing or of any
other oral or written information to which he may have access, except as disclosure shall be necessary in the performance of his
assigned duties. On the termination of his employment with the Company, the Employee shall leave with or return to the Company
all originals and copies of the foregoing then in his possession or subject to his control, whether prepared by the Employee or
by others.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 2

     

    

 

7.       Termination.

 

7.1       For
Cause. The Company, by action of the Board, may terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment for cause on delivery
to the Employee of a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 9.2 below). For purposes of this agreement, the term “Cause”
shall mean:

 

		(a)	a material breach by the Employee of any of the terms of this Agreement that is not immediately
corrected following written notice of default specifying such breach;

 

		(b)	conviction of a felony;

 

		(c)	a breach of any of the provisions of Section 11 below;

 

		(d)	repeated intoxification with alcohol or drugs while on Company premises during its regular business
hours to such a degree that, in the reasonable judgment of the other managers of the Company, the Employee is abusive or incapable
of performing his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement; and

 

		(e)	misappropriation of property belonging to the Company and/or any of its affiliates.

 

On such termination for
cause, the Employee shall be entitled only to the Employee’s Base Salary through the date of such termination, and shall
not be entitled to any other compensation, including, without limitation, any severance compensation. Without limitation of the
foregoing, on termination pursuant to this Section 7.1, the Employee shall forfeit: (i) his Bonus under Section 4.2 for the
year in which such termination occurs; and (ii) all outstanding but unvested options and rights relating to capital stock of the
Company, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s restricted stock issued to the Employee that as of the termination date
are still unvested and subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

7.2       Without
Cause. The employment of the Employee may be terminated without Cause at any time by the Company on delivery to the Employee
of a written Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 9.1). On the Date of Termination (as defined in Section 9.2) pursuant
to this Section 7.2, the Company shall, in lieu of any payments under Section 4.1 and 4.2 for the remainder of the Term, pay to
the Employee an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) the Employee’s Base Salary for a period of one (1) year from the date
of termination, and (b) the Employee’s Base Salary for the remainder of the Term. In addition, the Employee shall be entitled
to the pro-rated maximum Bonus available to the Employee under Section 4.2 for the year in which the termination occurs. Such payment
by the Company shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and not as a lump sum payment. In
addition, the Company will pay as incurred the Employee’s expenses, up to Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000), associated
with career counseling and resume development. The Company shall also pay to the Employee an amount equal to the Company’s
portion (but not the Employee’s portion) of the cost of medical insurance at the rate in effect on the Date of Termination
for a period of one (1) year from the Date of Termination. In addition, on termination of the Employee under this Section 7.2,
all of the Employee’s outstanding but unvested options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall immediately
vest and become exercisable, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s restricted stock issued to the Employee shall immediately
vest and become unrestricted and freely transferable. The term of any such options and rights shall be extended to the first (1st)
anniversary of the Employee’s termination. The Employee acknowledges that extending the term of any incentive stock options
pursuant to this Section 7.2 or Sections 7.3, 7.4 or 8.1 below, could cause such option to lose its tax-qualified status if it
is an incentive stock option under the Code and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to compensate the Employee for
any additional taxes he incurs as a result.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 3

     

    

 

7.3       Termination
on Disability. If during the Term the Employee should fail to perform his duties hereunder on account of physical or mental
illness or other incapacity which the Company shall in good faith determine renders the Employee incapable of performing his duties
hereunder, and such illness or other incapacity shall continue for a period of more than six (6) consecutive months (“Disability”),
the Company shall have the right, on written Notice of Termination delivered to the Employee to terminate the Employee’s
employment under this Agreement. During the period that the Employee shall have been incapacitated due to physical or mental illness,
the Employee shall continue to receive the full Base Salary provided for in Section 4.1 hereof at the rate then in effect until
the Date of Termination pursuant to this Section 7.3. On the Date of Termination pursuant to this Section 7.3, the Company shall
pay to the Employee the payments and other benefits applicable to termination without Cause set forth in Section 7.2 hereof, other
than those related to career counseling and resume development. The Company shall also pay, on behalf of the Employee, an amount
equal to the Company’s portion (not the Employee’s portion) of the cost of medical insurance at the rate in effect
on the Date of Termination for a period of one (1) year from the Date of Termination. In addition, on such termination, all of
the Employee’s outstanding but unvested options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall immediately vest
and become exercisable, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s restricted stock issued to the Employee shall immediately
vest and become unrestricted and freely transferable. The term of any such options and rights shall be extended to the first (1st)
anniversary of the Employee’s termination.

 

7.4       Termination
on Death. If the Employee shall die during the Term, the employment of the Employee shall thereupon terminate. On the Date
of Termination pursuant to this Section 7.4, the Company shall pay to the Employee’s estate the payments and other benefits
applicable to termination without Cause set forth in Section 7.2 hereof, other than those related to career counseling and resume
development. In addition, on termination of the Employee under this Section 7.4, all of the Employee’s outstanding but unvested
options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall immediately vest and become exercisable, and all RSUs and shares
of the Company’s restricted stock issued to the Employee shall immediately vest and become unrestricted and freely transferable.
The term of any such options and rights shall be extended to the first anniversary of the Employee’s termination. The provisions
of this Section 7.4 shall not affect the entitlements of the Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, legatees, beneficiaries
or assigns under any employee benefit plan, fund or program of the Company.

 

 

 

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 4

     

    

 

7.5       No
Limitation on Company’s Right to Terminate. Any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, to terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment hereunder
at any time in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, it being the intent and purpose of the foregoing provisions
of this Section 7 only to set forth the consequences of termination with respect to severance or other compensation payable to
the Employee on termination in the circumstances indicated.

 

8.       Termination
by Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment hereunder on written Notice of Termination delivered to the Company
setting forth the effective date of termination. If the Employee terminates his employment hereunder, he shall be entitled to receive,
and the Company agrees to pay on the effective date of termination specified in the Notice of Termination, his current Base Salary
under Section 4.1 hereof on a prorated basis to such date of termination. On termination pursuant to this Section 8.2, the Employee
shall forfeit: (i) his Bonus under Section 4.2 for the year in which such termination occurs; and (ii) all outstanding but unvested
options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s restricted stock issued
to the Employee that as of the termination date are still unvested and subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

9.       Provisions
Applicable to Termination of Employment.

 

9.1       Notice
of Termination. Any purported termination of Employee’s employment by the Company pursuant to Section 7 shall be communicated
by Notice of Termination to the Employee as provided herein, and shall state the specific termination provisions in this Agreement
relied on and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee’s
employment (“Notice of Termination”). If the Employee terminates under Section 8, he shall give the Company
a Notice of Termination.

 

9.2       Date
of Termination. For all purposes, “Date of Termination” shall mean, for Disability, thirty (30) days after
Notice of Termination is given to the Employee (provided the Employee has not returned to duty on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), or, if the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for any other reason or by the Employee, the
date on which a Notice of Termination is given.

 

9.3       Benefits
on Termination. On termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 7 or by the Employee pursuant to Section
8, all profit-sharing, deferred compensation and other retirement benefits payable to the Employee under benefit plans in which
the Employee then participated shall be paid to the Employee in accordance with the provisions of the respective plans.

 

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 5

     

    

 

10.       Change
In Control.

 

10.1       Payments
on Change in Control. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, unless the Employee elects in writing
to waive this provision, a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company shall be deemed a termination of the Employee without
Cause, and the Employee shall be entitled to receive and the Company agrees to pay to the Employee the same amount determined under
Section 7.2 that is payable to the Employee on termination without Cause provided, however, that such amount shall be payable
in a lump sum on the Date of Termination and not in installments as provided in Section 7.2. In addition, on a Change of Control,
all of the Employee’s outstanding but unvested options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall immediately
vest and become exercisable, the term of any such options and rights shall be extended to the first anniversary of the Employee’s
termination, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s restricted stock issued to the Employee shall immediately vest and
become unrestricted and freely transferable. In addition, immediately prior to a Change in Control in which either the Company
is not the surviving entity or the executive officers of the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control do not retain substantially
similar positions after such Change in Control, the Company shall grant to the Employee, for no additional consideration, non-qualified
stock options to purchase thirty thousand (30,000) shares of the Company’s Common Stock under one of the Company’s
Stock Option Plans then in effect. These options shall have a term of ten (10) years from the date of such grant (or the maximum
permitted by the Plan under which they are granted, if less) and shall be exercisable immediately at Fourteen Dollars and Sixty-Seven
Cents ($14.67) per share. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization of the Company, or other change in the
Company’s common stock, an approximate adjustment will be made to the number and exercise price of the options to be issued
under this paragraph.

 

After a Change in Control,
if any previously outstanding option or right (the “Terminated Option”) relating to the Company’s capital
stock does not remain outstanding, the successor to the Company or its then Parent (as defined below) shall either:

 

		(a)	Issue an option, warrant or right, as appropriate (the “Successor Option”),
to purchase common stock of such successor or Parent in an amount such that on exercise of the Successor Option the Employee would
receive the same number of shares of the successor’s/Parent’s common stock as the Employee would have received had
the Employee exercised the Terminated Option immediately prior to the transaction resulting in the Change in Control and received
shares of such successor/Parent in such transaction. The aggregate exercise price for all of the shares covered by such Successor
Option shall equal the aggregate exercise price of the Terminated Option; or

 

		(b)	Pay the Employee a bonus within ten (10) days after the consummation of the Change in Control in
an amount agreed to by the Employee and the Company. Such amount shall be at least equivalent on an after-tax basis to the net
after-tax gain that the Employee would have realized if the Employee had been issued a Successor Option under clause 10.1(a) above
and had immediately exercised such Successor Option and sold the underlying stock, taking into account the different tax rates
that apply to such bonus and to such gain, and such amount shall also reflect other differences to the Employee between receiving
a bonus under this clause 10.1(b) and receiving a Successor Option under clause 10.1(a) above.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 6

     

    

 

10.2       Definitions.
For the purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) there shall be consummated (aa)
any reorganization, liquidation or consolidation of the Company, or any merger or other business combination of the Company with
any other corporation, other than any such merger or other combination that would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) at least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities
of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction, and (bb) any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or
(ii) if any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)), shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities (except that
for purposes of this Section 10.2, “person” shall not include any person (or any person that controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with such person) who as of the date of this Agreement owns ten percent (10%) or more of the total
voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company, or a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or a corporation that is owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same percentage as their ownership of the Company); or (iii) if during any period of two (2) consecutive
years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board shall cease for any reason to constitute at
least one-half (1⁄2) of the membership thereof unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s
shareholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least one-half of the directors then still in office who were directors
at the beginning of the period.

 

The term “Parent”
means a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other entity that is the ultimate “beneficial owner”
(as defined above) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities.

 

11.       Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation.

 

11.1       In
consideration of the provisions hereof, for the Restricted Period (as defined below), the Employee will not, except as specifically
provided below, anywhere in any county in the State of California or anywhere in any other state in which the Company is engaged
in business as of such termination date (the “Restricted Territory”), directly or indirectly, acting individually
or as the owner, shareholder, partner or management employee of any entity: (i) engage in the operation of a solid waste collection,
transporting or disposal business, transfer facility, recycling facility, materials recovery facility or solid waste landfill;
or (ii) enter the employ as a manager of, or render any personal services to or for the benefit of, or assist in or facilitate
the solicitation of customers for, or receive remuneration in the form of management salary, commissions or otherwise from, any
business engaged in such activities in such counties; or (iii) receive or purchase a financial interest in, make a loan to, or
make a gift in support of, any such business in any capacity, including without limitation, as a sole proprietor, partner, shareholder,
officer, director, principal agent or trustee; provided, however, that the Employee may own, directly or indirectly, solely as
an investment, securities of any business traded on any national securities exchange or quoted on any NASDAQ market, provided the
Employee is not a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such business and further provided that the Employee
does not, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, own two percent (2%) or more of any class of securities of such business. The
term “Restricted Period” shall mean the earlier of: (i) the maximum period allowed under applicable law; and
(ii) (aa) in the case of a Change of Control, until the first anniversary of the effective date of the Change of Control, (bb)
in the case of a termination by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 7.2 and provided the Company has made the payments
required under Section 7.2, as the case may be, until the first (1st) anniversary of the Date of Termination, or (cc)
in the case of Termination for Cause by the Company pursuant to Section 7.1 or by the Employee pursuant to Section 8.2, until the
first (1st) anniversary of the Date of Termination.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 7

     

    

 

11.2       After
termination of this Agreement by the Company or the Employee pursuant to Section 7 or 8 or termination of this Agreement upon a
Change in Control pursuant to Section 10, the Employee shall not: (i) solicit any residential or commercial customer of the Company
to whom the Company provides service pursuant to a franchise agreement with a public entity in the Restricted Territory; or (ii)
solicit any residential or commercial customer of the Company to enter into a solid waste collection account relationship with
a competitor of the Company in the Restricted Territory; or (iii) solicit any such public entity to enter into a franchise agreement
with any such competitor, or (iv) solicit any officer, employee or contractor of the Company to enter into an employment or contractor
agreement with a competitor of the Company or otherwise interfere in any such relationship; or (v) solicit on behalf of a competitor
of the Company any prospective customer of the Company in the Restricted Territory that the Employee called on or was involved
in soliciting on behalf of the Company during the Term, in each case until the first (1st) anniversary of the date of
such termination or the effective date of such change of control (whichever is later), unless otherwise permitted to do so by Section 11.1.

 

11.3       If
the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 11 is invalid or unenforceable,
the parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the
scope, duration or area of the term or provision, to delete specified words or phrases or to replace any invalid or unenforceable
term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of
the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of
the time within which the judgment may be appealed.

 

12.       Indemnification.
As an officer and agent of the Company, the Employee shall be fully indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law in connection with his employment hereunder.

 

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 8

     

    

 

13.       Survival
of Provisions. The obligations of the Company under Section 12 of this Agreement, and of the Employee under Section 11 of this
Agreement, shall survive both the termination of the Employee’s employment and this Agreement.

 

14.       No
Duty to Mitigate; No Offset. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment contemplated
by this Agreement, nor shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Employee may receive from any other sources or
offset against any other payments made to him or required to be made to him pursuant to this Agreement.

 

15.       Assignment;
Binding Agreement. The Company may assign this Agreement to any parent, subsidiary, affiliate or successor of the Company.
This Agreement is not assignable by the Employee and is binding on him and his executors and other legal representatives. This
Agreement shall bind the Company and its successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of the Employee and his heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, legatees or devisees. The Company shall assign this Agreement to any entity that acquires
its assets or business.

 

16.       Notice.
Any written notice under this Agreement shall be personally delivered to the other party or sent by a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, to such party at the address
set forth in the records of the Company or to such other address as either party may from time to time specify by written notice.

 

17.       Entire
Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the Employee’s employment
and supersedes all oral or written prior discussions, agreements and understandings of every nature between them. This Agreement
may not be changed except by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and the Employee.

 

18.       Waiver.
The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or as be construed to be a waiver of any other provision
or subsequent breach of this Agreement.

 

19.       Governing
Law and Jurisdictional Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of California. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction and venue of any court, federal
or state, situated within Sacramento County, California, for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of,
or relating to or in connection with, this Agreement.

 

20.       Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is, for any reason, held invalid in any respect, such invalidity
shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Agreement, and such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent
necessary to make it enforceable.

 

21.       Enforcement.
It is agreed that it is impossible to measure fully, in money, the damage which will accrue to the Company in the event of a breach
or threatened breach of Sections 5, 6, or 11 of this Agreement, and, in any action or proceeding to enforce the provisions of Sections
5, 6 or 11 hereof, the Employee waives the claim or defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law and will not assert
the claim or defense that such a remedy at law exists. The Company is entitled to injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of
such sections as well as any and all other remedies available to it at law or in equity without the posting of any bond. The Employee
agrees that if the Employee breaches any provision of Section 11, the Company may recover as partial damages all profits realized
by the Employee at any time prior to such recovery on the exercise of any warrant, option or right to purchase the Company’s
Common Stock and the subsequent sale of such stock, and may also cancel all outstanding such warrants, options and rights.

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 9

     

    

 

22.       Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more facsimile or original counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and
both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Signatures appear on the following
page]

 

 

 

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page 10

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
this Employment Agreement has been duly executed by or on behalf of the parties hereto as of the date first above written.

 

	 	 	Waste Connections, Inc.
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	/s/ David M. Hall	 	By:	/s/ Ronald J. Mittelstaedt	 
	David M. Hall	 	 	Ronald J. Mittelstaedt,
	 	 	 	Chief Executive Officer
	
        Address:

        

	
         
	 

 

 

 

 

    
	 	First Amended and Restated Employment Agreement: D. Hall	Page S-1Exhibit 10.32

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into effective as of March 1, 2012 (the “Effective
Date”), by and between Waste Connections, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Matthew
Black (the “Employee”).

 

The Company desires
to engage the services and employment of the Employee for the period provided in this Agreement, and the Employee is willing to
accept employment by the Company for such period, on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and conditions herein, the Company and the Employee agree as follows:

 

1.       Employment;
Acceptance. The Company hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby accepts employment by the Company on the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

2.       Duties
and Powers. The Employee is hereby employed as Vice President and Chief Tax Officer, and, during the Term, the Employee shall
devote Employee’s attention, energies and abilities in that capacity to the proper oversight and operation of the Company’s
business, to the exclusion of any other occupation.  As Vice President and Chief Tax Officer, the Employee shall report to
the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the “CFO”), shall be based at the Company’s
corporate headquarters in Texas, and shall be responsible for oversight of the Company’s corporate tax matters and compliance. 
The Employee shall perform such other duties as the CFO, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or the Board of Directors (the
“Board”) of the Company may reasonably assign to the Employee from time to time.  The Employee shall devote
such time and attention to Employee’s duties as are reasonably necessary to the proper discharge of Employee’s responsibilities
hereunder.  The Employee agrees to perform all duties consistent with:  (a) policies established from time to time
by the Company; and (b) all applicable legal requirements.

 

3.       Term.
The employment of the Employee by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until
the third anniversary thereof (the “Term”) or until terminated prior to such date when and as provided in Sections
7 and 8. On each anniversary of the Effective Date, this Agreement shall be extended automatically for an additional
year, thus extending the Term to three (3) years from each such date, unless either party shall have given the other notice of
termination hereof as provided herein.

 

4.       Compensation.

 

4.1       Base
Salary. Commencing on the Effective Date, during the Term, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Employee an annual base
salary of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000). When used herein, “Base Salary” shall refer to the
base salary described in the preceding sentence that is in effect at that time, and as may be increased from time to time. Such
Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices, and such Base Salary is subject to
withholding and social security, unemployment and other taxes. Increases in Base Salary shall be considered by the Board and/or
the Chief Executive Officer.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	  

     

    

 

4.2       Performance
Bonus. For the calendar year commencing January 1, 2012, and for each calendar year thereafter, the Employee shall be
eligible to receive an annual cash bonus (the “Bonus”) based on the Company’s attainment of reasonable
financial objectives to be determined annually by the Board, as well as Employee’s achievement of agreed upon goals annually.
The annual Bonus target will equal Forty Percent (40%) of the applicable year’s beginning Base Salary and will be payable
if the Board determines, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that that year’s financial objectives have been fully met.
The Bonus shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s bonus plan, as approved by the Board, and, in any event, within
two and a half (2 1⁄2) months after the end of the fiscal year to which the bonus relates.

 

4.3       Equity
Grants. Employee shall be entitled to participate in stock option (“Option”), restricted stock (“Restricted
Stock”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other equity incentive programs presently in effect or
in effect from time to time in the future on such terms and to such level of participation as the Board or the Compensation Committee
of the Board shall determine to be appropriate, bearing in mind the Employee’s position and responsibilities.

 

Except as otherwise provided
herein, the terms of any Options, Restricted Stock, RSUs and other equity incentives shall be governed by the relevant plans under
which they are granted and described in detail in applicable agreements between the Company and the Employee.

 

4.4       Other
Benefits. The Employee shall be entitled to paid annual vacation time, which shall accrue on the same basis as for other employees
of the Company of similar rank and in accordance with the Company’s generally established policies, but which shall in no
event be less than four (4) weeks for any twelve (12) month period. The Employee also shall be entitled to participate, on the
same terms as other employees of the Company participate, in any medical, dental or other health plan, pension plan, profit-sharing
plan and life insurance plan that the Company may adopt or maintain, any of which may be changed, terminated or eliminated by the
Company at any time in its exclusive discretion.

 

5.       Confidentiality.
During the Term of Employee’s employment, and at all times thereafter, the Employee shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Company, divulge to any third party or use for Employee’s own benefit or the benefit of any third party or
for any purpose other than the exclusive benefit of the Company, any confidential or proprietary business or technical information
revealed, obtained or developed in the course of Employee’s employment with the Company and which is otherwise the property
of the Company or any of its affiliated corporations, including, but not limited to, trade secrets, customer lists, formulae and
processes of manufacture; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall restrict the Employee’s ability
to make such disclosures during the course of Employee’s employment as may be necessary or appropriate to the effective and
efficient discharge of Employee’s duties to the Company.

 

6.       Property.
Both during the Term of Employee’s employment and thereafter, the Employee shall not remove from the Company’s offices
or premises any Company documents, records, notebooks, files, correspondence, reports, memoranda and similar materials or property
of any kind unless necessary in accordance with the duties and responsibilities of Employee’s employment. In the event that
any such material or property is removed, it shall be returned to its proper file or place of safekeeping as promptly as possible.
The Employee shall not make, retain, remove or distribute any copies, or divulge to any third person the nature or contents of
any of the foregoing or of any other oral or written information to which Employee may have access, except as disclosure shall
be necessary in the performance of Employee’s assigned duties. On the termination of Employee’s employment with the
Company, the Employee shall leave with or return to the Company all originals and copies of the foregoing then in Employee’s
possession or subject to Employee’s control, whether prepared by the Employee or by others.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 2

     

    

 

7.       Termination.

 

7.1       For
Cause. The Company, by action of the Board, may terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment for Cause (as
defined below) on delivery to the Employee of a Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 9.1 below). On such termination
for Cause, the Employee shall be entitled only to the Employee’s Base Salary through the date of such termination, and shall
not be entitled to any other compensation, including, without limitation, any severance compensation. Without limitation of the
foregoing, on termination pursuant to this Section 7.1, the Employee shall forfeit: (a) Employee’s Bonus under Section 4.2
for the year in which such termination occurs; and (b) all outstanding but unvested Options and rights relating to capital stock
of the Company and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s Restricted Stock issued to the Employee that as of the termination
date are still unvested and subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

7.2       Without
Cause. The employment of the Employee may be terminated without Cause at any time by the Company on delivery to the Employee
of a written Notice of Termination (as defined in Section 9.1). In the event of such a termination without Cause pursuant
to this Section 7.2 that constitutes Employee’s Separation From Service (as defined in Section 9.3), then,
subject to the Employee’s execution and non-revocation of a general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates
within sixty (60) days, or such shorter period of time specified by the Company, following the Date of Termination (as defined
in Section 9.2), the Company shall, in lieu of any payments under Section 4.1 and 4.2 for the remainder
of the Term, pay to the Employee an amount equal to the lesser of: (a) the Employee’s Base Salary for a period of one (1)
year from the Date of Termination, and (b) the Employee’s Base Salary for the remainder of the Term (“Severance”).
The Severance shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices and is subject to all withholding requirements
under applicable law, with the first such payment to be paid on the sixtieth (60th) day following the Date of Termination
inclusive of any installments that would have been paid had such continuation payments commenced on the Date of Termination. In
addition, the Employee shall be entitled to the pro-rated target Bonus available to the Employee under Section 4.2 for the
year in which the termination occurs, taking into account the bonus categories and weighting under the Company’s bonus plan
and the Company’s and Employee’s achievement thereunder as of the Date of Termination. Further, the Company will pay
as incurred the Employee’s expenses, up to Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000), associated with career counseling and resume
development. The Company shall also pay to the Employee an amount equal to the Company’s portion (but not the Employee’s
portion) of the cost of medical, dental and vision plan insurance for Employee, Employee’s spouse and Employee’s children
at the rate in effect on the Date of Termination for a period of one (1) year from the Date of Termination (the “Health
Insurance Benefit”). Notwithstanding the previous sentence, with regard to such continuation coverage, if the Company
determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing benefit without potentially violating applicable law or
potentially incurring penalties, excise taxes and fees pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)
and the Department of Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health
Service Act), the Health Insurance Benefit shall terminate and the Employee shall not be eligible to receive any further benefits
related to the Health Insurance Benefit other than as otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, on termination of the
Employee under this Section 7.2, all of the Employee’s outstanding but unvested Options and rights relating to capital
stock of the Company shall immediately vest and become exercisable, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s Restricted Stock
issued to the Employee shall immediately vest and become unrestricted and freely transferable. The exercisability of any such Options
and rights shall be extended to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of such Options and rights or (ii) the first (1st)
anniversary of the Date of Termination. The Employee acknowledges that extending the exercisability of any incentive stock options
pursuant to this Section 7.2 or Sections 7.3 or 7.4 below, could cause such option to lose its tax-qualified
status if it is an incentive stock option under the Code and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to compensate the
Employee for any additional taxes he incurs as a result.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 3

     

    

 

7.3       Termination
on Disability. If during the Term the Employee should fail to perform Employee’s duties hereunder on account of Disability,
the Company shall have the right, on written Notice of Termination delivered to the Employee, to terminate the Employee’s
employment under this Agreement. During the period that the Employee shall have been incapacitated due to physical or mental illness,
the Employee shall continue to receive the full Base Salary provided for in Section 4.1 hereof at the rate then in effect
until the Date of Termination pursuant to this Section 7.3. In the event of Employee’s termination for Disability
pursuant to this Section 7.3 that constitutes Employee’s Separation from Service, then on the Date of Termination,
the Company shall, in lieu of any payments under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 for the remainder of the Term, pay to the Employee
the payments and other benefits applicable to termination without Cause set forth in Section 7.2 hereof, other than those
related to career counseling and resume development. The Company shall also pay the Health Insurance Benefit. Notwithstanding the
previous sentence, with regard to such continuation coverage, if the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide
the foregoing benefit without potentially violating applicable law or potentially incurring penalties, excise taxes and fees pursuant
to the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the
Public Health Service Act), the Health Insurance Benefit shall terminate and the Employee shall not be eligible to receive any
further benefits related to the Health Insurance Benefit other than as otherwise required by applicable law. In addition, on such
termination, all of the Employee’s outstanding but unvested Options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall
immediately vest and become exercisable, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s Restricted Stock issued to the Employee
shall immediately vest and become unrestricted and freely transferable. The exercisability of any such Options and rights shall
be extended to the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of such Options or rights or (b) the first (1st) anniversary
of the Employee’s termination.

 

7.4       Termination
on Death. If the Employee shall die during the Term, the employment of the Employee shall thereupon terminate. On the Date
of Termination pursuant to this Section 7.4, the Company shall pay, in lieu of any payments under Sections 4.1 and
4.2 for the remainder of the Term, to the Employee’s estate the payments and other benefits applicable to termination
without Cause set forth in Section 7.2 hereof, other than those related to career counseling, resume development and the
Health Insurance Benefit. In addition, on termination of the Employee under this Section 7.4, all of the Employee’s
outstanding but unvested Options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company shall immediately vest and become exercisable,
and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s Restricted Stock issued to the Employee shall immediately vest and become unrestricted
and freely transferable. The exercisability of any such Options and rights shall be extended to the earlier of (a) the expiration
of the term of such Options or rights or (b) the first (1st) anniversary of the Employee’s termination. The provisions
of this Section 7.4 shall not affect the entitlements of the Employee’s heirs, executors, administrators, legatees,
beneficiaries or assigns under any employee benefit plan, fund or program of the Company.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 4

     

    

 

7.5       No
Limitation on Company’s Right to Terminate. Any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Company shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, to terminate this Agreement and the Employee’s employment hereunder
at any time in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, it being the intent and purpose of the foregoing
provisions of this Section 7 only to set forth the consequences of termination with respect to severance or other compensation
payable to the Employee on termination in the circumstances indicated.

 

8.       Termination
by Employee. The Employee may terminate his employment hereunder on written Notice of Termination delivered to the Company
setting forth the effective Date of Termination. If the Employee terminates his employment hereunder, he shall be entitled to receive,
and the Company agrees to pay on the effective Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, his current Base Salary
under Section 4.1 hereof on a prorated basis to such Date of Termination. On termination pursuant to this Section 8,
the Employee shall forfeit: (a) his Bonus under Section 4.2 for the year in which such termination occurs; and (b) all outstanding
but unvested Options and rights relating to capital stock of the Company, and all RSUs and shares of the Company’s Restricted
Stock issued to the Employee that as of the termination date are still unvested and subject to restrictions on transfer.

 

9.       Provisions
Applicable to Termination of Employment.

 

9.1       Notice
of Termination. Any purported termination of Employee’s employment by the Company pursuant to Section 7 shall
be communicated by Notice of Termination to the Employee as provided herein, and shall state the specific termination provisions
in this Agreement relied on and set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination
of the Employee’s employment (“Notice of Termination”). If the Employee terminates under Section 8,
he shall give the Company a Notice of Termination.

 

9.2       Date
of Termination. For all purposes, “Date of Termination” shall mean, for Disability, thirty (30) days after
Notice of Termination is given to the Employee (provided the Employee has not returned to duty on a full-time basis during such
30-day period), or, if the Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for any other reason or by the Employee, the
date specified in the Notice of Termination, which shall in no event be more than thirty (30) days after the Notice of Termination
is given.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 5

     

    

 

9.3       Separation
from Service. To the extent that any payments or benefits constitutes non-exempt “nonqualified deferred compensation”
for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, “Separation from Service” shall mean Employee’s “separation
from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance promulgated
thereunder.

 

9.4       Cause.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean:

 

(a)       a
material breach by the Employee of any of the terms of this Agreement that is not immediately corrected following written notice
of default specifying such breach;

 

(b)       conviction
of a felony;

 

(c)       a
breach of any of the provisions of Section 11 below;

 

(d)       repeated
intoxification with alcohol or drugs while on Company premises during its regular business hours to such a degree that, in the
reasonable judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or General Counsel of the Company, the Employee is abusive or incapable of performing
his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement; and

 

(e)       misappropriation
of property belonging to the Company and/or any of its affiliates.

 

9.5       Disability.
For the purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the Employee’s failure to perform his duties
hereunder on account of physical or mental illness or other incapacity which the Board shall in good faith determine renders the
Employee incapable of performing his duties hereunder, and such illness or other incapacity shall continue for a period of more
than six (6) consecutive months.

 

9.6       Benefits
on Termination. On termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 7 or the Employee pursuant to Section
8, all profit-sharing, deferred compensation and other retirement benefits payable to the Employee under benefit plans in which
the Employee then participated shall be paid to the Employee in accordance with the provisions of the respective plans.

 

9.7       Section
409A.

 

(a)       To
the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted and applied consistent and in accordance with or exempt from Section
409A of the Code (together with Department of Treasury regulations and other official guidance issued thereunder, “Section
409A”)). Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation
or benefits payable under this Agreement may not either be exempt from or compliant with Section 409A, the Company may, with the
Employee’s prior written consent, adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including
amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary
or appropriate to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended
tax treatment of such compensation and benefits, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; provided, however,
that this Section 9.7(a) does not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or
procedure or take any such other action. To the extent permitted under Section 409A, any separate payment or benefit under this
Agreement or otherwise shall not be deemed “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A to the extent
provided in the exceptions in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), Section 1.409A-1(b)(9) or any other applicable exception
or provision of Section 409A.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 6

     

    

 

(b)       Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary in the Agreement, to the extent that any payment or benefits constitute non-exempt “nonqualified
deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A, if the Employee is deemed by the Company at the time of the Employee’s
Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), to the extent delayed
commencement of any portion of the benefits to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid
a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), such portion of the Employee’s benefits shall not be provided to
the Employee prior to the earlier of (A) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of Employee’s
“separation from service” with the Company (as such term is defined in the Treasury Regulations issued under Section
409A) or (B) the date of the Employee’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all
payments deferred pursuant to this Section 9.7 shall be paid in a lump sum to the Employee, and any remaining payments due
under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

 

(c)       To
the extent that any reimbursements payable pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the provisions of Section 409A, any such reimbursements
payable to Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid to Employee no later than December 31 of the year following the year
in which the expense was incurred, the amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement
in any subsequent year, and Employee’s right to reimbursement under this Agreement will not be subject to liquidation or
exchange for another benefit.

 

(d)       For
purposes of Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Employee’s
right to receive the installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments
and, accordingly, each such installment payment shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

 

10.       Change
In Control.

 

10.1       Payments
on Termination within Two Years Following Change in Control. Subject to Section 9.7(b), if a Change in Control (as defined
below) occurs during the Term and the Employee’s employment with the Company is terminated without Cause within two years
after the effective date of the Change in Control, then, in lieu of payments under Sections 4.1 and 4.2 for the remainder
of the Term and under Sections 7.2, 7.3 or 7.4, the Employee shall be entitled to receive and the Company
agrees to pay to the Employee Severance, as determined under Section 7.2; provided, however, that such
amount shall be payable in a lump sum on or within 60 days following the Date of Termination, subject to all withholding requirements
under applicable law. In addition, the Employee shall be entitled to the pro-rated target Bonus available to the Employee under
Section 4.2 for the year in which the termination occurs, taking into account the bonus categories and weighting under the
Company’s bonus plan and the Company’s and Employee’s achievement thereunder as of the Date of Termination. The
Company shall also pay the Health Insurance Benefit. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, with regard to such continuation coverage,
if the Company determines in its sole discretion that it cannot provide the foregoing benefit without potentially violating applicable
law or potentially incurring penalties, excise taxes and fees pursuant to the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations promulgated
thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Health Insurance Benefit shall terminate
and the Employee shall not be eligible to receive any further benefits related to the Health Insurance Benefit other than as otherwise
required by applicable law.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 7

     

    

 

10.2       Definitions.
For the purposes of this Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if: (a) there shall be consummated (i)
any reorganization, liquidation or consolidation of the Company, or any merger or other business combination of the Company with
any other corporation, other than any such merger or other combination that would result in the voting securities of the Company
outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) at least Fifty Percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting securities
of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction, and (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one (1) transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company;
or (b) if any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”)), shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of Fifty Percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities (except that
for purposes of this Section 10.2, “person” shall not include any person (or any person that controls, is controlled
by or is under common control with such person) who as of the date of this Agreement owns Ten Percent (10%) or more of the total
voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company, or a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under any employee benefit plan of the Company, or a corporation that is owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same percentage as their ownership of the Company); or (c) during any twelve (12) month period, individuals
who, at the beginning of such period, constituted the entire Board, together with any new director(s) whose election by the Board
or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of a least one-half (1⁄2) of the directors
then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the twelve (12) month period or whose election or nomination
for election was previously so approved, shall cease for any reason to constitute at least one-half (1⁄2) of the membership
of the Board.

 

The term “Parent”
means a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other entity that is the ultimate “beneficial owner”
(as defined above) of Fifty Percent (50%) or more of the Company’s outstanding voting securities.

 

No payments or benefits
deemed non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A shall be payable upon a Change in Control pursuant to this Agreement
unless such Change in Control constitutes a “change in control event” with respect to the Company within the meaning
of Section 409A.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 8

     

    

 

11.       Non-Competition
and Non-Solicitation.

 

11.1       The
Employee acknowledges that in the Employee’s position of Vice President and Chief Tax Officer, the Employee occupies a position
of trust and confidence. The Employee understands that the following restrictions may limit the Employee’s ability to earn
a livelihood in a business which, directly or indirectly, compete with the Company. However, the Employee agrees that the Employee
will receive sufficient consideration and other benefits as an Employee of the Company to clearly justify such restrictions which,
in any event, given the Employee’s skills and ability will not prevent the Employee from earning a living. The Employee acknowledges
that all restrictions contained in this Section 11 are reasonable and valid as to time, geographical area, and scope of
activity to be restrained for the adequate protection of the legitimate business interests and goodwill of the Corporation and
are no broader than is necessary to protect such interests and goodwill. In consideration of the provisions hereof, for the Restricted
Period (as defined below), the Employee will not, except as specifically provided below, anywhere in any county of any state within
the geographic boundaries of the Company’s operations, which, for the purposes of any event occurring prior to the Date of
Termination, shall mean the Company’s operations as existing as of the date of such event and, for the purpose of any event
occurring on or after the Date of Termination, shall mean the Company’s operations as existing on the Date of Termination
(the “Restricted Territory”), directly or indirectly, acting individually or as the owner, shareholder, partner
or management employee of any entity: (a) engage in the operation of a solid waste collection, transporting or disposal business,
transfer facility, recycling facility, materials recovery facility or solid waste landfill; or (b) enter the employ as a manager
of, or render any personal services to or for the benefit of, or assist in or facilitate the solicitation of customers for, or
receive remuneration in the form of management salary, commissions or otherwise from, any business engaged in such activities in
such counties; or (c) receive or purchase a financial interest in, make a loan to, or make a gift in support of, any such business
in any capacity, including without limitation, as a sole proprietor, partner, shareholder, officer, director, principal agent or
trustee; provided, however, that the Employee may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities
of any business traded on any national securities exchange or quoted on any NASDAQ market, provided the Employee is not
a controlling person of, or a member of a group which controls, such business and further provided that the Employee does
not, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly, own Two Percent (2%) or more of any class of securities of such business. The term
“Restricted Period” shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the first anniversary
of the Date of Termination.

 

11.2       After
termination of this Agreement by the Company or the Employee pursuant to Section 7 or 8 or termination of this Agreement
upon a Change in Control pursuant to Section 10, the Employee shall not: (a) solicit any residential or commercial customer
of the Company to whom the Company provides service pursuant to a franchise agreement with a public entity in the Restricted Territory;
or (b) solicit any residential or commercial customer of the Company to enter into a solid waste collection account relationship
with a competitor of the Company in the Restricted Territory; or (c) solicit any such public entity to enter into a franchise agreement
with any such competitor, or (d) solicit any officer, employee or contractor of the Company to enter into an employment or contractor
agreement with a competitor of the Company or otherwise interfere in any such relationship; or (e) solicit on behalf of a competitor
of the Company any prospective customer of the Company in the Restricted Territory that the Employee called on or was involved
in soliciting on behalf of the Company during the Term, in each case until the first anniversary of the Date of Termination.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 9

     

    

 

11.3       If
the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 11 is invalid
or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power
to reduce the scope, duration or area of the term or provision, to delete specified words or phrases or to replace any invalid
or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing
the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the
expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed.

 

12.       Indemnification.
As an officer and agent of the Company, the Employee shall be fully indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law in connection with his employment hereunder.

 

13.       Limitation
on Payments. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to
be received by the Employee, whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement (all such
payments and benefits being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”), would be subject (in whole or
part), to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then, after taking into
account any reduction in the Total Payments provided by reason of Section 280G of the Code in such other plan, arrangement or agreement,
the Total Payments shall be reduced as set forth herein, to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Total Payments is subject
to the Excise Tax but only if (a) the net amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the amount of all
federal, state and local income and employment taxes payable with respect to the foregoing calculated at the maximum marginal income
tax rate for each year in which the foregoing shall be paid to the Employee (based on the rate in effect for such year as set forth
in the Code as in effect at the time of the first payment of the foregoing) on such reduced Total Payments and after taking into
account the phase out of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such reduced Total Payments) is greater than
or equal to (b) the net amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after subtracting the amount of all federal,
state and local income and employment taxes payable with respect to the foregoing calculated at the maximum marginal income tax
rate for each year in which the foregoing shall be paid to the Employee (based on the rate in effect for such year as set forth
in the Code as in effect at the time of the first payment of the foregoing) on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax
to which the Employee would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments and after taking into account the phase out
of itemized deductions and personal exemptions attributable to such unreduced Total Payments). The Total Payments shall be reduced
by the Company in its reasonable discretion in the following order: (i) reduction of any cash severance payments otherwise payable
to the Employee that are exempt from Section 409A, (ii) reduction of any other cash payments or benefits otherwise payable to the
Employee that are exempt from Section 409A, but excluding any payment attributable to the acceleration of vesting or payment with
respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section 409A, (iii) reduction of any other payments or benefits otherwise payable
to the Employee on a pro-rata basis or such other manner that complies with Section 409A, but excluding any payment attributable
to the acceleration of vesting and payment with respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section 409A, and (iv) reduction
of any payments attributable to the acceleration of vesting or payment with respect to any equity award that is exempt from Section
409A. For purposes of determining whether and the extent to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (A) no
portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Employee shall have waived at such time and in such manner
as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code shall be taken into account, (B)
no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of independent counsel, consultants or advisors
of nationally recognized standing (“Independent Advisors”) selected by the Company, does not constitute a “parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code)
and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Independent
Advisors, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the
Code, in excess of the Base Amount (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such reasonable compensation, and
(C) the value of any non cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be determined by
the Independent Advisors in accordance with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 10

     

    

 

14.       Survival
of Provisions. The obligations of the Company under Section 12 of this Agreement, and of the Employee under Sections
5, 6 and 11 of this Agreement, shall survive both the termination of the Employee’s employment and this
Agreement.

 

15.       No
Duty to Mitigate; No Offset. The Employee shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment contemplated
by this Agreement, nor shall any such payment be reduced by any earnings that the Employee may receive from any other sources or
offset against any other payments made to him or required to be made to him pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however,
in the event that the Employee becomes entitled to or receives any severance, separation, notice or termination payments on account
of his or her employment or termination of employment with the Company, including, for example, any payments required to be paid
to the Employee under any Federal, State or local law or pursuant to any agreement (except unemployment benefits payable in accordance
with State or Federal law and payment for any unused but accrued vacation), his or her severance benefits and payments payable
under this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount of any such payments paid or payable. Notice and payments in lieu of notice
of termination of employment pursuant to the requirements of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and/or any similar
federal, state or local law (collectively referred to as “WARN laws”) are subject to this Section. If the Employee
is entitled to receive any payments or benefits from the Company pursuant to WARN laws, then the severance benefits and payments
payable under this Agreement shall be reduced by any and all such payments made or such benefits provided by the Company to such
employee. If any Employee is entitled to receive notice of termination from the Company pursuant to WARN laws, then the Severance
payable under this Agreement shall be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of salary paid and health benefits provided during
the notice period provided to the employee by the Company.

 

16.       Assignment;
Binding Agreement. The Company may assign this Agreement to any parent, subsidiary, affiliate or successor of the Company.
This Agreement is not assignable by the Employee and is binding on him and his executors and other legal representatives. This
Agreement shall bind the Company and its successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of the Employee and his heirs, executors,
administrators, personal representatives, legatees or devisees. The Company shall assign this Agreement to any entity that acquires
its assets or business.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 11

     

    

 

17.       Notice.
Any written notice under this Agreement shall be personally delivered to the other party or sent by a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, to such party at the address
set forth in the records of the Company or to such other address as either party may from time to time specify by written notice.

 

18.       Entire
Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties relating to the Employee’s employment
and supersedes all oral or written prior discussions, agreements and understandings of every nature between them, except for that
certain Indemnification Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Employee, which shall
remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be changed except by an agreement in writing signed by the Company and
the Employee.

 

19.       Waiver.
The waiver of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other provision
or subsequent breach of this Agreement.

 

20.       Governing
Law and Jurisdictional Agreement. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of the State of Texas. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction and venue of any court, federal or
state, situated within Harris County, Texas, for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of, or relating
to or in connection with, this Agreement.

 

21.       Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is, for any reason, held invalid in any respect, such invalidity
shall not affect the validity of any other provision of this Agreement, and such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent
necessary to make it enforceable.

 

22.       Enforcement.
It is agreed that it is impossible to measure fully, in money, the damage which will accrue to the Company in the event of a breach
or threatened breach of Sections 5, 6, or 11 of this Agreement, and, in any action or proceeding to enforce
the provisions of Sections 5, 6 or 11 hereof, the Employee waives the claim or defense that the Company has
an adequate remedy at law and will not assert the claim or defense that such a remedy at law exists. The Company is entitled to
injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of such Sections as well as any and all other remedies available to it at law or in
equity without the posting of any bond. The Employee agrees that if the Employee breaches any provision of Section 11, the
Company may recover as partial damages all profits realized by the Employee at any time prior to such recovery on the exercise,
grant or issuance of any Option, Restricted Stock, RSU or other equity incentive and the subsequent sale of any shares of the Company’s
Common Stock obtained through such exercise, grant or issuance, and may also cancel all outstanding such Options, Restricted Stock,
RSUs or other equity incentives.

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 12

     

    

 

23.       Withholding.
All compensation payable to the Employee is subject to all withholding requirements under applicable law.

 

 

24.       Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more facsimile or original counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and
both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

25.       Due
Authorization. The execution of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action.

 

[Signatures appear on the following
page.]

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page 13

     

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
this Employment Agreement has been duly executed by or on behalf of the parties hereto as of the date first above written.

 

	EMPLOYEE	WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
	/s/ Matthew Black

 Matthew Black	
        By:

         

         

         

         

         
	/s/ Ronald J. Mittelstaedt 

Ronald J. Mittelstaedt,

Chief Executive Officer
	
        Address:

         

        

        

        

         
	 	 

 

 

    
	 	Employment Agreement:  M. Black	Page S-1

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00267-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00267-of-00352.parquet"}]]