They can be private or owned by' local authorities themselves, but even when collection is done by municipal companies they' are required to have a contract with the local authority for the specified job. Bigger settlements sometimes contract more than one company, such as in Tirana where six companies are currently appointed. These companies usually operate all the w'aste management activities in the given settlement from collection to disposal. Separate companies operate (new') sanitary' landfills, but are not involved in the collection.