WMX TECHNOLOGIES INC
424B2, 1995-06-21
REFUSE SYSTEMS
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<PAGE>
                                                       Registration No. 33-53005
                                                Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 2, 1994)
                                  $100,000,000
                                     [LOGO]
                             WMX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                          5.84% NOTES DUE JULY 3, 1996

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

    Interest  on the  Notes is  payable semi-annually on  January 3  and July 3,
commencing January 3, 1996.
The Notes  are not  redeemable prior  to  maturity. See  "Certain Terms  of  the
Notes."

    The Notes will be represented by a Global Note registered in the name of the
nominee  of The Depository Trust Company, which  will act as the Depositary (the
"Depositary"). Interests in  the Global  Note will  be shown  on, and  transfers
thereof  will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary and
its participants. Except as described herein, Notes in definitive form will  not
be issued. Settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available funds.
The  Notes will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until
maturity, and secondary  market trading  activity for the  Notes will  therefore
settle  in immediately available  funds. All payments  of principal and interest
will be made by the Company  in immediately available funds. See "Certain  Terms
of the Notes--Same-Day Settlement and Payment."

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

THESE  SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE  SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
    ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE  PROSPECTUS.
           ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  PRICE TO             UNDERWRITING            PROCEEDS TO
                                                 PUBLIC (1)              DISCOUNT            COMPANY (1)(2)
<S>                                         <C>                    <C>                    <C>
Per Note..................................          100%                   .15%                  99.85%
Total.....................................      $100,000,000             $150,000              $99,850,000
<FN>
(1)  Plus accrued interest, if any, from July 3, 1995.
(2)  Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $82,150.
</TABLE>

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

    The Notes are offered  by the several Underwriters,  subject to prior  sale,
when, as and if issued to and
accepted  by them, subject to  approval of certain legal  matters by counsel for
the Underwriters. The Underwriters reserve the  right to reject orders in  whole
or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Global Note will be made through
the book-entry facilities of the Depositary on or about July 3, 1995.

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

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.                            DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                                                  SECURITIES CORPORATION
</TABLE>

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

            The date of this Prospectus Supplement is June 19, 1995.
<PAGE>
    IN  CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE  MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES  OFFERED
HEREBY  AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    Net proceeds to  the Company  from the  sale of the  Notes will  be used  to
retire  outstanding indebtedness arising  from the Company's  issuance of medium
term notes bearing an effective interest rate of approximately 5.12% and  having
a  maturity date of  July 1, 1995,  to fund future  acquisitions and for general
corporate purposes. Pending any such  application, the proceeds may be  invested
in short-term securities.

                           CERTAIN TERMS OF THE NOTES

    The  following  description of  the particular  terms  of the  Notes offered
hereby supplements the description of the general terms and provisions set forth
in the Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made.

    The Notes will mature on  July 3, 1996 and  will be limited to  $100,000,000
aggregate  principal amount. Each Note will bear  interest at the rate per annum
stated on  the cover  page hereof  from July  3, 1995  or from  the most  recent
interest  payment date to which interest has been paid, payable on January 3 and
July 3 in each  year (each such  date being referred to  herein as an  "Interest
Payment  Date"), commencing January 3, 1996, to  the person in whose name a Note
is registered at the close  of business on December 15  or June 15, as the  case
may be, preceding such Interest Payment Dates.

    The  Indenture provision described under  "Description of Debt Securities --
Defeasance  of  Certain  Covenants"  in  the  accompanying  Prospectus  will  be
applicable to the Notes. The Indenture provision described under "Description of
Debt  Securities  --  Redemption  at  the  Option  of  the  Holders  in  Certain
Circumstances" in  the accompanying  Prospectus will  not be  applicable to  the
Notes.  The  Indenture  does  not  contain  any  covenants  or  other provisions
applicable to the Notes which might afford beneficial owners of Notes protection
in the event of a highly leveraged  transaction, change in credit rating of  the
Notes or other similar occurrence.

REDEMPTION

    The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.

SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT

    Settlement  for the  Notes will be  made by the  Underwriters in immediately
available funds. All  payments of  principal and interest  will be  made by  the
Company in immediately available funds.

    Secondary  trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearing-house  or next-day funds.  In contrast, the  Notes
will  trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity,
and secondary market trading activity in the Notes will therefore be required by
the Depositary to  settle in immediately  available funds. No  assurance can  be
given  as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on
trading activity in the Notes.

                                      S-2
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING

    Subject to the terms and conditions  set forth in an underwriting  agreement
(the  "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated  and Donaldson,  Lufkin &  Jenrette Securities  Corporation
(the  "Underwriters"), the Company  has agreed to sell  to the Underwriters, and
the Underwriters have  severally agreed  to purchase,  the respective  principal
amounts  of  the  Notes set  forth  after  their names  below.  The Underwriting
Agreement provides  that the  obligations  of the  Underwriters are  subject  to
certain  conditions precedent  and that  the Underwriters  will be  obligated to
purchase all of the Notes if any are purchased.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PRINCIPAL
                                                                     AMOUNT OF
                           UNDERWRITER                                 NOTES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
<S>                                                                 <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
          Incorporated............................................  $ 50,000,000
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation...............    50,000,000
                                                                    ------------
          Total...................................................  $100,000,000
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    ------------
</TABLE>

    The Underwriters have  advised the  Company that they  propose initially  to
offer  the Notes  to the public  at the public  offering price set  forth on the
cover page of this  Prospectus Supplement and to  certain dealers at such  price
less a concession not in excess of .1% of the principal amount of the Notes. The
Underwriters  may allow, and such dealers may  reallow, a discount not in excess
of .05% of the principal amount of the Notes to certain other dealers. After the
initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount  may
be changed.

    The  Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they intend to make a
market in the Notes,  but they are  not obligated to do  so and may  discontinue
such  market making at any time without notice.  No assurance can be given as to
the liquidity of the trading market for the Notes.

    All secondary  trading in  the Notes  will settle  in immediately  available
funds. See "Certain Terms of the Notes -- Same-Day Settlement and Payment."

    The  Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  the  Underwriters  against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

    The Underwriters  have  other  investment  banking  relationships  with  the
Company and its subsidiaries.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

    The  validity of the Notes offered hereby  will be passed on for the Company
by Herbert A. Getz, Esq., Vice  President, General Counsel and Secretary of  the
Company,  and for the  Underwriters by Mayer,  Brown & Platt,  190 South LaSalle
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. As of June 15, 1995, Mr. Getz and his wife  and
children  had an aggregate beneficial ownership of 41,944 shares of common stock
of the Company and  options to purchase  119,900 shares of  common stock of  the
Company.  Mr. Getz disclaims  beneficial ownership of  his wife's and children's
shares.

                                      S-3
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS

                                 $1,200,000,000
                                     [LOGO]
                             WMX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                               ------------------

    WMX  Technologies, Inc.  (the "Company"),  formerly named  Waste Management,
Inc., intends  from time  to time  to  issue up  to U.S.$1,200,000,000,  or  the
equivalent  thereof  in  other  currencies  or  composite  currencies, aggregate
principal amount of its unsecured  debt securities (the "Debt Securities").  The
Debt  Securities will  be offered for  sale on  terms to be  determined when the
agreement to sell is made or at the time  of sale, as the case may be. For  each
issue  of Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered
(the "Offered Debt Securities") there  is an accompanying Prospectus  Supplement
(the  "Prospectus  Supplement")  that  sets  forth  the  designation, designated
currency, aggregate principal amount, rate or method of calculation of interest,
if any,  and  dates for  payment  thereof, maturity,  authorized  denominations,
initial  price, any redemption or prepayment rights at the option of the Company
or the holder and other special  terms of the Offered Debt Securities,  together
with  the  terms of  the offering  of the  Offered Debt  Securities and  the net
proceeds to the Company from the sale  thereof. In the event of the issuance  of
Debt  Securities at original  issue discount, the  aggregate principal amount of
Debt Securities offered hereby will be a higher amount, provided that the  total
price  at  which  Debt  Securities  are sold  to  the  public  pursuant  to this
Prospectus will  not exceed  U.S.$1,200,000,000, or  the equivalent  thereof  in
other  currencies or composite currencies.  If any agents of  the Company or any
underwriters are involved in the sale of the Offered Debt Securities in  respect
of  which  this Prospectus  is  being delivered,  the  names of  such  agents or
underwriters and any applicable commissions and  discounts are set forth in  the
Prospectus Supplement.

    The  Debt Securities will  be sold directly,  through agents designated from
time to time, or through underwriters or dealers.

    The Company  may  make  application to  list  one  or more  series  of  Debt
Securities on one or more national securities exchanges. Any such application to
list  the  Offered Debt  Securities is  described  in the  Prospectus Supplement
related thereto.

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

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES  AND
   EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR  HAS THE
      SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE   SECURITIES
        COMMISSION  PASSED UPON  THE ACCURACY  OR ADEQUACY  OF THIS
             PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                        CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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

                   The date of this Prospectus is May 2, 1994
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    WMX  Technologies, Inc.  (the "Company"),  formerly named  Waste Management,
Inc., is subject to  the informational requirements  of the Securities  Exchange
Act  of 1934 (the "1934  Act") and in accordance  therewith files reports, proxy
statements and other  information with  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
(the  "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be
inspected and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by  the
Commission  at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth  Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549;
and at the regional offices of the  Commission at Seven World Trade Center,  New
York, New York 10048, and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661.  Copies of  such material  can be obtained  at prescribed  rates from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington,
D.C.  20549. Such reports and other  information concerning the Company can also
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.

    This Prospectus  constitutes  a part  of  two Registration  Statements  (the
"Registration  Statements") filed by  the Company with  the Commission under the
Securities Act  of  1933.  This  Prospectus omits  certain  of  the  information
contained  in the Registration  Statements, and reference is  hereby made to the
Registration Statements  and  to  the  exhibits  relating  thereto  for  further
information  with respect to the Company and the Debt Securities offered hereby.
Any statements contained herein  concerning the provisions  of any document  are
not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is hereby made to the
copy  of such  document filed  as an exhibit  to the  Registration Statements or
otherwise filed with  the Commission. Each  such statement is  qualified in  its
entirety by such reference.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

    The  Company's Annual Report  on Form 10-K  for the year  ended December 31,
1993 and Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 8, 1994, heretofore filed  by
the  Company with the Commission under the  1934 Act, are incorporated herein by
reference.

    All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14  or
15(d)  of  the 1934  Act after  the date  of  this Prospectus  and prior  to the
termination of the offering of the Debt Securities offered hereby (except to the
extent specified therein or in rules or regulations of the Commission) shall  be
deemed  to be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of  this Prospectus to the extent that  a
statement  contained herein  or in any  other subsequently  filed document which
also is  or  is  deemed to  be  incorporated  by reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement. Any  such statement so  modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

    The Company will provide  without charge to  each person to  whom a copy  of
this  Prospectus has  been delivered,  on the  written or  oral request  of such
person, a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which have  been
or  may be incorporated in  this Prospectus by reference  other than exhibits to
such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by  reference
into  the incorporated document. Requests for such copies should be directed to:
WMX Technologies,  Inc.,  3003  Butterfield Road,  Oak  Brook,  Illinois  60521,
Attention: Corporate and Public Affairs Department (telephone: 708/572-8800).

                             WMX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

    WMX  Technologies, Inc.  (the "Company"),  formerly named  Waste Management,
Inc., is  a leading  international provider  of environmental,  engineering  and
construction, industrial and related services.

    Through  Waste Management,  Inc. (formerly  named Waste  Management of North
America, Inc.), a wholly  owned subsidiary of the  Company (referred to  herein,
together  with its subsidiaries and certain affiliated companies providing solid
waste  management  and  related  services,  as  "WMI"),  the  Company   provides
integrated  solid  waste management  services  in North  America  to commercial,
industrial, municipal  and residential  customers,  as well  as to  other  waste
management   companies.  These  services  consist  of  solid  waste  collection,
transfer, resource recovery and  disposal services. As  part of these  services,
the Company is

                                       2
<PAGE>
engaged  in  providing, through  its  Recycle America-Registered  Trademark- and
Recycle Canada-Registered Trademark- programs,  paper, glass, plastic and  metal
recycling   services  to  commercial  and  industrial  operations  and  curbside
recycling services for  such materials  to residences; in  removing methane  gas
from  sanitary landfill  facilities for  use in  electricity generation;  and in
providing medical  and infectious  waste management  services to  hospitals  and
other  health care and related facilities.  In addition, through WMI the Company
provides street sweeping and parking lot cleaning services, portable fencing and
power pole  services and  Port-O-Let-Registered Trademark-  portable  sanitation
services to municipalities and commercial customers.

    Chemical  Waste Management,  Inc., an approximately  79%-owned subsidiary of
the Company (referred to herein, together with its subsidiaries other than  Rust
(as  defined  below),  as  "CWM"),  is a  leading  provider  of  hazardous waste
management  services  in  the  United  States.  Its  chemical  waste  management
services,  including transportation, treatment,  resource recovery and disposal,
are furnished to commercial and industrial customers, as well as to other  waste
management   companies  and   to  governmental  entities.   CWM  also  furnishes
radioactive waste  management  services,  primarily to  electric  utilities  and
governmental entities.

    Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., an approximately 55%-owned subsidiary of the
Company (referred to herein, together with its subsidiaries, as "WTI"), provides
a wide array of environmental products and services in North America and abroad.
WTI's  clean energy group is a leading  developer of facilities and systems for,
and provider of services to,  the trash-to-energy, energy and independent  power
markets.  Through the clean energy group,  WTI develops, arranges financing for,
operates and owns facilities that dispose of trash and other waste materials  in
an  environmentally acceptable manner by recycling it into energy in the form of
electricity and steam. WTI's  clean water group is  principally involved in  the
design,  manufacture  and operation  of facilities  and  systems used  to purify
water, to  treat  municipal  and  industrial wastewater,  to  treat  and  manage
biosolids  resulting from  the treatment of  wastewater by  converting them into
useful fertilizers, and to recycle organic wastes into compost material  useable
for  horticultural and agricultural purposes. The clean water group also designs
and manufactures  various products  and  systems used  in water  and  wastewater
treatment  facilities and industrial facilities,  precision profile wire screens
for use  in groundwater  wells and  other industrial  applications, and  certain
other  industrial  equipment.  WTI's  clean air  group  designs,  fabricates and
installs technologically advanced air pollution emission control and measurement
systems and  equipment,  including  systems which  remove  pollutants  from  the
emission  of WTI's trash-to-energy facilities as  well as power plants and other
industrial facilities.

    Rust International Inc., a subsidiary owned approximately 56% by CWM and 40%
by WTI  (referred  to  herein,  together  with  its  subsidiaries,  as  "Rust"),
furnishes    engineering,   construction,   environmental   and   infrastructure
consulting, hazardous  substance  remediation and  a  variety of  other  on-site
industrial  and related services  primarily to clients in  government and in the
chemical,   petrochemical,   nuclear,   energy,   utility,   pulp   and   paper,
manufacturing, environmental services and other industries.

    The  Company provides  comprehensive waste  management and  related services
internationally,  primarily  through  Waste  Management  International  plc,   a
subsidiary  owned 56% by  the Company, 12% by  Rust and 12%  by WTI (referred to
herein, together with  its subsidiaries, as  "Waste Management  International").
Waste  Management International  provides a  wide range  of solid  and hazardous
waste management services (or has  interests in projects or companies  providing
such  services)  in various  countries in  Europe  and in  Argentina, Australia,
Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan.

    On January  1, 1993,  CWM and  WTI formed  Rust and  acquired 58%  and  42%,
respectively,  of  Rust's  outstanding shares.  Rust  was created  to  serve the
engineering,  construction,   environmental   and   infrastructure   consulting,
hazardous  substance  remediation and  on-site  industrial and  related services
markets, which  the  managements of  CWM,  WTI  and The  Brand  Companies,  Inc.
(referred  to herein  as "Brand") believed  could be served  more effectively by
organizing the Company's  several business  units serving those  markets into  a
single  integrated  company.  WTI  contributed  primarily  its  engineering  and
construction and environmental and infrastructure consulting services businesses
and its  recently formed  international engineering  unit based  in London.  CWM
contributed primarily its hazardous substance remediation services business, its
approximately 56% ownership interest in Brand, and its 12% ownership interest in
Waste Management

                                       3
<PAGE>
International.  On May 7, 1993, Brand was  merged into a subsidiary of Rust, and
shares of Brand (other  than those owned  by Rust or exchanged  for cash in  the
merger) were converted into shares of Rust. As a result of such merger, Brand is
now a wholly owned subsidiary of Rust.

    The  Company  also  owns  an  approximately  28%  interest  in ServiceMaster
Consumer Services L.P., a provider of lawn care, pest control and other consumer
services. The remaining ownership interest  is held indirectly by  ServiceMaster
Limited Partnership.

    Through  the end of  1992, the Company categorized  its operations into four
industry segments  -- solid  waste management  and related  services;  hazardous
waste  management  and related  services;  energy, environmental  and industrial
projects and systems;  and international waste  management and related  services
(consisting  of  comprehensive waste  management  and related  services provided
outside the United States,  Canada and Mexico). Beginning  in 1993, the  Company
categorized the operations of Rust, which was formed from businesses contributed
by  CWM  and WTI,  as  a fifth  industry  segment --  engineering, construction,
industrial and  related  services  --  and  modified  the  name  of  its  energy
environmental  and industrial projects and  systems segment to "trash-to-energy,
water treatment, air quality and related services."

    The following table shows the respective revenues of these segments for  the
Company's last three years, presented as if the above-described Rust transaction
had occurred prior to the periods presented:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      (000'S OMITTED)
                                                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                          ----------------------------------------
                                                                              1991          1992          1993
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>           <C>
Solid Waste Management and Related Services.............................  $  3,961,111  $  4,309,614  $  4,702,166
Hazardous Waste Management and Related Services.........................       720,048       755,088       661,860
Engineering, Construction, Industrial and Related Services..............     1,236,979     1,441,050     1,534,465
Trash-to-Energy, Water Treatment, Air Quality and Related Services......       746,042       928,313     1,142,219
International Waste Management and Related Services.....................     1,075,070     1,445,734     1,411,211
Eliminations of Intercompany Revenue....................................      (188,336)     (218,772)     (316,344)
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
Consolidated Revenue....................................................  $  7,550,914  $  8,661,027  $  9,135,577
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                          ------------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>

    For information relating to expenses and identifiable assets attributable to
the  Company's  different  industry  segments,  see  Note  10  to  the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated  in this prospectus by  reference
to  the Company's  annual report on  Form 10-K  for the year  ended December 31,
1993. For  interim  periods,  the revenue  and  net  income of  certain  of  the
Company's  businesses may  fluctuate for  a number  of reasons,  including there
being for some businesses less activity during the winter months.

    Regulatory or  technological developments  relating to  the environment  may
require  companies engaged  in environmental services  businesses, including the
Company, to  modify, supplement  or replace  equipment and  facilities at  costs
which may be substantial. Because certain of the businesses in which the Company
is  engaged are intrinsically  connected with the  protection of the environment
and the  potential  discharge of  materials  into the  environment,  a  material
portion  of  the  Company's  capital expenditures  is,  directly  or indirectly,
related to such items.  See "Management's Discussion  and Analysis of  Financial
Condition  and  Results  of  Operations"  incorporated  in  this  prospectus  by
reference to  the  Company's annual  report  on Form  10-K  for the  year  ended
December  31, 1993 for  a review of  property and equipment  expenditures by the
Company for 1991, 1992 and 1993. The Company does not expect such  expenditures,
which  are incurred  in the  ordinary course of  business, to  have a materially
adverse  impact  on  its  and   its  subsidiaries'  combined  earnings  or   its
subsidiaries'  competitive  position  in  the  foreseeable  future  because  the
Company's businesses  are  based upon  compliance  with environmental  laws  and
regulations and its services are priced accordingly.

    Although  the Company strives  to conduct its  operations in compliance with
applicable laws  and regulations,  the  Company believes  that in  the  existing
climate  of  heightened legal,  political  and citizen  awareness  and concerns,
companies in the environmental services industry, including the Company, will be
faced, in  the normal  course  of operating  their  businesses, with  fines  and
penalties  and the need to expend funds for remedial work and related activities
with   respect    to    waste   treatment,    disposal    and    trash-to-energy

                                       4
<PAGE>
facilities. Where the Company concludes that it is probable that a liability has
been incurred, a provision is made in the Company's financial statements for the
Company's  best estimate  of the liability,  based on  management's judgment and
experience, information  available  from  regulatory agencies  and  the  number,
financial  resources and relative degree  of responsibility of other potentially
responsible parties who are  jointly and severally liable  for remediation of  a
particular  site, as well as the typical allocation of costs among such parties.
If a range  of possible outcomes  is estimated  and no amount  within the  range
appears  to be a better  estimate than any other,  then the Company provides for
the minimum  amount within  the  range, in  accordance with  generally  accepted
accounting principles. Such estimates are subsequently revised, as necessary, as
additional  information becomes available. While the Company does not anticipate
that the amount of any such revisions will have a material adverse effect on the
Company's operations or  financial condition, the  measurement of  environmental
liabilities   is  inherently   difficult  and   the  possibility   remains  that
technological,  regulatory   or  enforcement   developments,  the   results   of
environmental  studies, or other factors could materially alter this expectation
at any time. Such matters could have  a material adverse impact on earnings  for
one or more fiscal quarters or years.

    While  in  general  the  Company's  environmental  services  businesses have
benefited   substantially   from   increased   governmental   regulation,    the
environmental  services  industry itself  has  become subject  to  extensive and
evolving regulation by federal, state, local and foreign authorities. Due to the
complexity of regulation of the industry and to public pressure,  implementation
of  existing and future laws, regulations  or initiatives by different levels of
government may be  inconsistent and difficult  to foresee. The  Company makes  a
continuing  effort to  anticipate regulatory,  political and  legal developments
that might affect its operations  but is not always able  to do so. The  Company
cannot  predict the extent  to which any  legislation or regulation  that may be
enacted or enforced in the future may affect its operations.

    The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1968 and subsequently  succeeded
to  certain businesses owned by its  organizers and others. The Company's common
stock is listed on the  New York Stock Exchange  under the trading symbol  "WMX"
and  is also listed on the Frankfurt  Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange,
the Chicago Stock Exchange  and the Swiss Stock  Exchanges in Basle, Zurich  and
Geneva.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    Except  as otherwise set forth in  the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Offered Debt Securities,  net proceeds to  be received by  the Company from  the
sale  of the Debt Securities will be  used to retire outstanding indebtedness of
the Company arising  from the Company's  issuance of commercial  paper or  other
debt,  to  fund future  acquisitions by  the Company  and for  general corporate
purposes. Pending any such application, the proceeds may be invested temporarily
in short-term securities.

                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

    The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture dated as of June  1,
1993,  between the Company and The Fuji  Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee (the
"Indenture"). A copy of the Indenture  has been incorporated by reference as  an
exhibit  to  the Registration  Statements.  The following  summaries  of certain
provisions of  the  Debt Securities  and  the Indenture  do  not purport  to  be
complete  and are subject to,  and are qualified in  their entirety by reference
to, all the provisions  of the Indenture, including  the definitions therein  of
certain  terms. Wherever particular provisions or defined terms of the Indenture
(or of any Form of Debt Security which is adopted pursuant to the Indenture) are
referred to,  such  provisions  or  defined terms  are  incorporated  herein  by
reference.

GENERAL

    The  Indenture does  not limit  the amount of  Debt Securities  which can be
issued thereunder and provides that Debt Securities may be issued thereunder  in
one  or more series up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized
from time to time by the Company. Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement
for the following  terms of the  Offered Debt Securities:  (i) the  designation,
aggregate  principal  amount and  authorized denominations  of the  Offered Debt
Securities; (ii) the percentage of their principal amount at which such  Offered
Debt  Securities  will be  issued;  (iii) the  date  on which  the  Offered Debt

                                       5
<PAGE>
Securities will  mature; (iv)  the rate  per  annum at  which the  Offered  Debt
Securities will bear interest, if any; (v) the times at which such interest will
be  payable; and (vi) any redemption terms and other special terms. Reference is
also made to the Prospectus Supplement  relating to the Offered Debt  Securities
for information with respect to any additional covenants that may be included in
the terms of such securities.

    The  Debt Securities  will be issued  only in fully  registered form without
coupons, which  form may  be a  Global  Debt Security  as described  below.  See
"Book-Entry,  Delivery and Form."  The Company will not  charge a service charge
for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities but may  require
payment  of a sum  sufficient to cover  any tax or  other governmental charge in
connection therewith. (Section 2.6.)

    The Debt Securities will  be direct obligations of  the Company and will  be
unsecured.  The Indenture does  not restrict the  amount of additional unsecured
debt which the Company may incur.

    Some of the Debt  Securities may be issued  at a substantial discount  below
their stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special
considerations  applicable  to  any  such  discounted  Debt  Securities  will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.

BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

    If the accompanying  Prospectus Supplement  so indicates,  the Offered  Debt
Securities  will be issued  in the form  of one or  more fully registered Global
Debt Securities. The Global Debt Security  will be deposited with, or on  behalf
of,  The Depository  Trust Company,  New York,  New York  (the "Depositary") and
registered in the  name of  the Depositary's nominee.  The Depository  currently
limits   the  maximum  denomination  of  any  single  Global  Debt  Security  to
$150,000,000. Therefore for  purposes hereof, "Global  Debt Security" refers  to
the Global Debt Security or Global Debt Securities representing the entire issue
of Offered Debt Securities.

    Except  as set forth below, the Global  Debt Security may be transferred, in
whole and  not in  part, only  to  another nominee  of the  Depositary or  to  a
successor of the Depositary or its nominee.

    The  Depositary has  advised the Company  and any underwriters  named in the
accompanying Prospectus Supplement  as follows:  It is  a limited-purpose  trust
company which was created to hold securities for its participating organizations
(the   "Participants")  and  to  facilitate  the  clearance  and  settlement  of
transactions  in  such  securities   between  Participants  through   electronic
book-entry  changes  in  accounts  of  its  Participants.  Participants  include
securities brokers  and  dealers  (including  the  underwriters),  banks,  trust
companies,  clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the
Depositary's book-entry  system is  also  available to  others, such  as  banks,
brokers,  dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with  a  Participant,  either  directly  or  indirectly  ("indirect
participants"). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities
held by the Depositary only through Participants or indirect participants.

    The  Depositary has also advised that  pursuant to procedures established by
it (i) upon the issuance by the  Company of the Debt Securities, the  Depositary
will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the underwriters with the
principal  amount of the Debt Securities purchased by the underwriters, and (ii)
ownership of interests in  the Global Debt  Security will be  shown on, and  the
transfer  of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by
the Depositary (with respect to  Participants' interests), the Participants  and
the  indirect participants. The laws of some states require that certain persons
take physical  delivery  in  definitive  form  of  securities  which  they  own.
Consequently,  the ability to transfer interests  in the Global Debt Security is
limited to such extent.

    So long as a nominee of the Depositary is the registered owner of the Global
Debt Security, such nominee will be considered  the sole owner or holder of  the
Debt  Securities for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as provided below,
owners of interests in  the Global Debt  Security will not  be entitled to  have
Debt  Securities registered in their  names, will not receive  or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of Debt Securities in definitive form and will not  be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.

                                       6
<PAGE>
    Neither  the Company, the  Trustee, the Paying Agent  nor the Registrar will
have any responsibility or liability for  any aspect of the records relating  to
or  payments made on  account of interests  in the Global  Debt Security, or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such interests.

    Principal and interest payments  on the Global  Debt Security registered  in
the  name of the  Depositary's nominee will  be made by  the Company through the
Paying Agent to the Depositary's nominee  as the registered owner of the  Global
Debt  Security. Under the  terms of the  Indenture, the Company  and the Trustee
will treat the persons in whose names the Debt Securities are registered as  the
owners  of  such  Debt  Securities  for the  purpose  of  receiving  payments of
principal and  interest on  such  Debt Securities  and  for all  other  purposes
whatsoever. Therefore, neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Paying Agent has
any  direct responsibility or liability for the payment of principal or interest
on the Debt Securities to owners of  interests in the Global Debt Security.  The
Depositary has advised the Company and the Trustee that its present practice is,
upon  receipt of any payment of principal  or interest to credit immediately the
accounts of  the Participants  with payment  in amounts  proportionate to  their
respective holdings in principal amount of interests in the Global Debt Security
as shown on the records of the Depositary. Payments by Participants and indirect
participants  to owners of interest in the Global Debt Security will be governed
by standing  instructions and  customary  practices, as  is  now the  case  with
securities  held for the accounts  of customers in bearer  form or registered in
"street name" and will  be the responsibility of  such Participants or  indirect
participants.

    If  the  Depositary  is at  any  time  unwilling or  unable  to  continue as
depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within  90
days,  the Company will issue Debt Securities in definitive form in exchange for
the Global Debt Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine not
to have the Debt Securities represented by  a Global Debt Security and, in  such
event,  will issue Debt Securities in definitive form in exchange for the Global
Debt Security. In either instance,  an owner of an  interest in the Global  Debt
Security  will be entitled to have Debt  Securities equal in principal amount to
such interest registered in its name  and will be entitled to physical  delivery
of  such  Debt  Securities in  definitive  form.  Debt Securities  so  issued in
definitive form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

REDEMPTION AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

    The Indenture provides,  if such provision  is made applicable  to the  Debt
Securities  of any series, that  if, during the period  beginning on the date of
first public announcement by the Company or any other Person (including, without
limitation, directors or officers of the  Company) of an intention to effect  or
the  occurrence of (whichever is  the first to occur)  a Restructuring Event and
ending 90 days  thereafter (or  such longer  period as  the rating  of the  Debt
Securities  of such  series shall be  under publicly  announced consideration by
Moody's or Standard & Poor's), both Moody's and Standard & Poor's shall have (A)
lowered their rating of  the Debt Securities of  such series from an  Investment
Grade  rating to a rating below Investment Grade, or (B) withdrawn an Investment
Grade rating from  and ceased  to rate  the Debt  Securities of  such series  (a
"Rating Event") (it being understood that, if the Debt Securities of such series
are  already rated below Investment Grade by Moody's or Standard & Poor's at the
beginning of such  period, a subsequent  lowering or withdrawal  of such  rating
shall not be deemed to be a Rating Event), the Company shall give notice of such
Rating Event not more than 15 days after the occurrence of such Rating Event, to
the trustee and to each Holder, together with the information referred to in the
penultimate  sentence of this  paragraph (the "Put  Option Notice"). Each Holder
shall have the  option (the "Put  Option") exercisable during  the period of  30
days  commencing  on the  date  such Put  Option  Notice is  given  (the "Option
Period") to have all his Debt Securities of such series (or any portion  thereof
designated  by such Holder and having an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 or
a whole multiple thereof) redeemed on the date falling 15 days after the end  of
the  Option Period, or if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding
Business Day  (the "Payment  Date"),  at their  principal amount  together  with
interest  accrued to the Payment Date. To exercise the Put Option, a Holder must
deliver to the Company  or the Put Agent,  if any, on or  before the end of  the
Option  Period, (i) written notice of such Holder's exercise of such Put Option,
which notice shall set forth expressly the  name and address of such Holder  and
the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of such series with respect to
which such Put Option is exercised and (ii) the Debt Security or Debt Securities
of such series

                                       7
<PAGE>
as  to  which such  Holder  is exercising  such  Put Option,  duly  endorsed, or
accompanied by a  written instrument  of transfer  in form  satisfactory to  the
Company  and the Put Agent, if any, duly executed by such Holder or his attorney
duly authorized in  writing. Once a  Holder has exercised  his Put Option,  such
exercise  may not be withdrawn without the prior written consent of the Company.
The Company shall include in the Put Option Notice a statement of facts  showing
that  a  Rating  Event  has  occurred (including  details  of  the  first public
announcement, or  (as the  case may  be) the  occurrence, of  the  Restructuring
Event) and a statement to the effect that each Holder has the benefit of the Put
Option  referred to above and shall also specify the dates of the Option Period,
the Payment Date, the fact that interest  will cease to accrue on and after  the
Payment  Date, the Put  Agent, if any, and  the manner in  which Holders will be
able to exercise the Put Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company need
not give the Put Option  Notice, and Holders shall not  have a Put Option,  with
respect  to a  Rating Event if  either Moody's  or Standard &  Poor's shall have
publicly announced that  such Rating Event  was solely the  result of events  or
circumstances wholly unrelated to a Restructuring Event. (Article 10.)

    For  the  purposes of  this provision,  the following  terms shall  have the
following meanings:

        (i) "Restructuring Event"  means any  of the following:  (1) any  Person
    becoming  the Beneficial  Owner of Voting  Stock of the  Company having more
    than 30 percent of the  voting power of all  of the then outstanding  Voting
    Stock  of  the Company;  (2) individuals  who  are not  Continuing Directors
    constituting a majority of  the Board of Directors  of the Company; (3)  the
    Company  consolidating with or  merging into any other  Person, or any other
    Person consolidating  with  or  merging  into the  Company,  pursuant  to  a
    transaction  in which capital  stock of the  Company then outstanding (other
    than capital stock held by the Company  or capital stock held by any  Person
    which  is a party to such consolidation  or merger) is changed or exchanged;
    (4) the Company,  in one transaction  or a series  of related  transactions,
    conveying,   transferring  or  leasing,  directly   or  indirectly,  all  or
    substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
    a whole (other than to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company); or (5) the
    Company or  any  of its  Subsidiaries  paying  or effecting  a  dividend  or
    distribution  (including by way of  recapitalization or reclassification) in
    respect of its capital stock (other than solely to the Company or any of its
    wholly owned subsidiaries  and other than  solely for capital  stock of  the
    Company),  or  purchasing,  redeeming,  retiring,  exchanging  or  otherwise
    acquiring for value  any of its  capital stock (other  than solely from  the
    Company  or any of its  wholly owned subsidiaries and  other than solely for
    capital stock of  the Company), if  the cash  and Fair Market  Value of  the
    securities  and assets  paid or  distributed (except  to the  Company or any
    Subsidiary) in connection therewith (determined on the record date for  such
    dividend   or  distribution  or  the   effective  date  for  such  purchase,
    redemption, retirement, exchange  or other acquisition),  together with  the
    cash  and Fair Market Value of the securities and assets paid or distributed
    in connection  with  all  other such  dividends,  distributions,  purchases,
    redemptions,  retirements,  exchanges and  acquisitions effected  (except as
    received by  the  Company or  any  Subsidiary) within  the  12-month  period
    preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective
    date   for  such   purchase,  redemption,  retirement,   exchange  or  other
    acquisition (any such Fair Market  Value being determined on the  respective
    record   or  effective  dates  for   such  other  dividends,  distributions,
    purchases, redemptions, retirements, exchanges and acquisitions), exceeds 30
    percent of  the aggregate  Fair Market  Value of  all capital  stock of  the
    Company  outstanding on the record date for such dividend or distribution or
    the effective date  for such purchase,  redemption, retirement, exchange  or
    other acquisition (determined on such record or effective date);

        (ii)  "Moody's" means  Moody's Investors  Service, Inc.  and "Standard &
    Poor's" means Standard & Poor's Corporation or, in either case, any of their
    respective  successors  carrying  on  substantially  the  same  business  of
    providing   ratings  for  securities  as   carried  on  by  the  predecessor
    corporation;

        (iii) "Investment  Grade"  means a  rating  of  at least  Baa3  (or  the
    equivalent  thereof), in the case of a rating by Moody's, and a rating of at
    least BBB-(or the equivalent thereof), in the case of a rating by Standard &
    Poor's.

    If such provision is made applicable  to the Debt Securities of any  series,
the  Board of Directors will have no authority under the Indenture to waive such
provision.

                                       8
<PAGE>
    The Company has agreed  that for so  long as any of  the Debt Securities  of
such  series are outstanding and the Put Option has not arisen, it shall provide
such information, pay such  customary rating service  fees and related  expenses
and  take all other  reasonable action as  shall be necessary  or appropriate to
enable each of Moody's  and Standard &  Poor's to provide a  rating of the  Debt
Securities  of such series. There can be no assurance that the Company will have
available funds for redemption of Debt Securities on the Payment Date.

    The Company will comply with Section 14(e) under the 1934 Act to the  extent
applicable,  and any other tender offer rules  under the 1934 Act which may then
be applicable, in  connection with  any obligation  of the  Company to  purchase
Offered Debt Securities at the option of the holders thereof as described above.
Any  such obligation applicable to a series of Debt Securities will be described
in the Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements relating thereto.

MERGERS AND SALES OF ASSETS BY THE COMPANY

    The Company may  consolidate with or  merge into any  other corporation,  or
transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation,
provided that (i) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company  is merged or the  corporation to which all  or substantially all of the
Company's assets are transferred or leased shall expressly assume the payment of
the principal of the Debt Securities and the performance of the other  covenants
of the Company under the Debt Securities and the Indenture, and (ii) no Event of
Default,  or event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an
Event of Default, shall exist immediately after such transaction. (Section 5.1.)

LIMITATION ON SECURITY INTERESTS

    The Company covenants in the Indenture that it will not, nor will it  permit
any  Restricted  Subsidiary to,  create, incur,  assume or  suffer to  exist any
Indebtedness if such  Indebtedness is secured  by a Security  Interest upon  any
property  or assets of the Company or  a Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at
the date of the Indenture  or thereafter acquired, without effectively  securing
the  Debt Securities equally  and ratably with (or  prior to) such Indebtedness.
The foregoing restriction  does not apply  to (i) any  Security Interest on  any
property  acquired,  constructed,  developed  or improved  which  is  created or
assumed within 120  days after  such acquisition,  construction, development  or
improvement, or the commencement of operation or use of such property, to secure
or  provide for  the payment  of the  purchase price  or cost  thereof; (ii) any
Security Interest  existing on  property at  the  time it  is acquired,  or  any
conditional  sales agreement or other title  retention agreement with respect to
property acquired,  by the  Company  or a  Restricted Subsidiary,  any  Security
Interest existing on any property or shares of stock of a corporation or firm at
the time it is merged into or consolidated with, or sells, leases or disposes of
its  property as  an entirety  to, the  Company or  a Restricted  Subsidiary, or
becomes a  Restricted  Subsidiary, or  any  Security Interest  existing  on  the
property,  assets or capital stock of any successor to the Company; provided, in
each case, that such Security Interest shall not apply to any property or assets
theretofore  owned  by  the  Company  or  a  Restricted  Subsidiary;  (iii)  any
mechanics',  materialmen's,  carriers' or  other  similar liens  arising  in the
ordinary course of business in respect of  obligations which are not yet due  or
which  are being contested in good faith;  (iv) any Security Interest arising by
reason of  deposits  with,  or the  giving  of  any form  of  security  to,  any
governmental agency or similar body, which is required by law or regulation as a
condition  to the transaction of any business  or the exercise of any privilege,
franchise or  license;  (v) any  Security  Interest for  taxes,  assessments  or
governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent, or already delinquent but the
validity  of which is being contested in  good faith; (vi) any Security Interest
arising in  connection with  legal proceedings  being contested  in good  faith,
including  any judgment lien so  long as execution thereon  is stayed; (vii) any
landlord's lien  on fixtures  located on  premises leased  by the  Company or  a
Restricted  Subsidiary in the  ordinary course of  business; (viii) any Security
Interest securing an obligation issued by the United States or any state or  any
political   subdivision  thereof  in  connection  with  financing  the  cost  of
construction or acquisition of property;  (ix) any Security Interest arising  by
reason of deposits necessary to qualify the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
to  conduct  business, maintain  self-insurance, or  obtain  the benefit  of, or
comply with, any law; (x) any Security Interest that secures any Indebtedness of
a Restricted Subsidiary owing to  the Company or another Restricted  Subsidiary;
and (xi) extensions, renewals or refundings of the foregoing. (Section 4.4.)

                                       9
<PAGE>
    The  foregoing  restriction  does  not apply  to  the  creation, incurrence,
assumption or  sufferance  by  the  Company  or  any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of
Indebtedness  secured by a Security Interest  that would otherwise be subject to
such restriction  up to  an  aggregate amount  which,  together with  all  other
Indebtedness  secured by Security Interests  (not including secured Indebtedness
permitted under the foregoing exceptions)  and the Attributable Debt  (generally
defined  as discounted net  rental payments) associated  with Sale and Leaseback
Transactions existing at such time  (other than Sale and Leaseback  Transactions
the proceeds of which have been or will be applied as set forth in clause (c) or
(d)   of  the  next  succeeding  caption   "Limitation  on  Sale  and  Leaseback
Transactions", other than Sale and Leaseback Transactions in which the  property
involved  would  have been  permitted  to be  secured  under clause  (i)  of the
immediately preceding paragraph and other  than Sale and Leaseback  Transactions
between  the Company and a Subsidiary), does  not exceed 20% of the consolidated
net worth of the Company and its  Subsidiaries as shown on the latest  available
published  consolidated  balance  sheet  of the  Company  and  its Subsidiaries.
(Section 4.4.)

    The Indenture defines "Restricted Subsidiary" as any Subsidiary (other  than
any Subsidiary of which the Company owns less than all of the outstanding voting
stock)  principally engaged  in, or whose  principal assets  consist of property
used by the Company  or any Restricted Subsidiary  in, the storage,  collection,
transfer,  interim processing of  disposal of waste within  the United States or
Canada, or which the Company designates as a Restricted Subsidiary.

LIMITATION ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS

    The Company covenants in  the Indenture that neither  it nor any  Restricted
Subsidiary  will  enter  into any  arrangement  (other than  with  a Subsidiary)
providing for the  leasing to the  Company or any  Restricted Subsidiary of  any
property  (except for  temporary leases for  a term, including  renewals, of not
more than  three  years  and except  for  leases  between the  Company  and  any
Restricted  Subsidiary or between any Restricted Subsidiaries) which has been or
is to be sold by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to the lessor  unless
(a)  the  Company  or such  Restricted  Subsidiary  would be  entitled  to incur
Indebtedness secured by a Security Interest on the property to be leased without
securing the Debt Securities under clause  (i) of the first paragraph under  the
preceding  caption "Limitation on Security Interests", (b) the Attributable Debt
associated therewith would  be an  amount permitted under  the second  paragraph
under the preceding caption, (c) the Company applies an amount equal to the fair
value  (as  determined  by the  Board  of  Directors) of  such  property  to the
retirement of  Debt  Securities on  certain  funded debt  of  the Company  or  a
Restricted  Subsidiary, or (d) the Company enters into a bona fide commitment to
expend for the acquisition  or capital improvement of  an Important Property  an
amount at least equal to the fair value of such property. (Section 4.5.)

LIMITATION ON FUNDED DEBT OF RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES

    The  Company  covenants  in  the  Indenture  that  it  will  not  permit any
Restricted Subsidiary (a) to create, assume  or suffer to exist any funded  debt
other  than (i) funded debt secured by a Security Interest which is permitted to
such Restricted Subsidiary under the  limitations set forth under the  preceding
caption "Limitation on Security Interests," (ii) funded debt owed to the Company
or  any Subsidiary, (iii) funded debt of  a corporation or other entity existing
at the time it  becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary or is merged  with or into  the
Company  or  a Restricted  Subsidiary or  other  entity, (iv)  funded debt  of a
corporation or other entity assumed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in
the acquisition of all or a portion of the business of such corporation or other
entity, (v) funded debt existing as of the date of the Indenture, or (vi) funded
debt created  in  connection  with,  or  with a  view  to,  compliance  by  such
Restricted  Subsidiary  with the  requirements of,  any  program adopted  by any
federal, state or local governmental authority and applicable to such Restricted
Subsidiary and providing financial or tax benefits to such Restricted Subsidiary
which are not available directly to the Company on substantially the same  terms
as  such  Restricted Subsidiary;  or (b)  to  guarantee, directly  or indirectly
through any arrangement which  is substantially the  equivalent of a  guarantee,
any  funded  debt except  for  (i) guarantees  existing as  of  the date  of the
Indenture, (ii) guarantees which, as of the date of the Indenture, a  Restricted
Subsidiary  is obligated to give, (iii) guarantees  issued to the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary or (iv) guarantees of funded debt which is permitted to  a
Restricted Subsidiary under the preceding clause (a).

                                       10
<PAGE>
    Notwithstanding  the foregoing, any Restricted Subsidiary may create, assume
or guarantee  funded debt  in addition  to that  permitted under  the  preceding
paragraph,  and renew, extend or replace such  funded debt, PROVIDED that at the
time of such creation, assumption, guarantee, renewal, extension or replacement,
and after  giving effect  thereto, funded  debt of  Restricted Subsidiaries  not
otherwise  permitted pursuant to provisions described in the preceding paragraph
does not  exceed 10%  of  the consolidated  net worth  of  the Company  and  its
Subsidiaries  as shown  on the  latest available  published consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries. (Section 4.6.)

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE AND WAIVER

    The Indenture provides that, if an Event of Default specified therein occurs
and is continuing  with respect  to any series  of Debt  Securities, either  the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities then outstanding of the series may declare the principal of such
series  (or  such portion  of  the principal  as may  be  specified as  due upon
acceleration at that time in  the terms of that  series), to be immediately  due
and payable. (Section 6.2.)

    Events  of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities are defined
as: (i) default in  the payment of  interest on such  Debt Securities which  has
continued  for a period of 30 days, (ii)  default in the payment of principal on
such Debt Securities  when such becomes  due and payable,  (iii) failure by  the
Company  to comply with  any of its  other agreements in  the Debt Securities of
such series or in the Indenture upon the specified notice to the Company of such
default by the  Trustee or  by the  Holders of not  less than  25% in  aggregate
principal  amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of the series, and the
Company's failure to  cure such  Default within 60  days after  receipt of  such
notice, or (iv) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. (Section 6.1.)

    The  Trustees shall mail to the Holders  of each series of Debt Securities a
notice of  any continuing  Default known  to the  Trustee with  respect to  such
series  within 90 days  of the occurrence  of such Default,  but the Trustee may
withhold from such Holders such notice as to any Default other than a Default in
any payment on any Debt  Security if the Trustee  determines in good faith  that
the  withholding of such  notice is in  the interests of  such Holders. (Section
7.5.)

    No Holder  of  any Debt  Security  of any  series  will have  any  right  to
institute  any  proceeding  with respect  to  the  Indenture or  for  any remedy
thereunder, unless (i) such  Holder shall have previously  given to the  Trustee
written  notice of a  continuing Event of  Default with respect  to that series,
(ii) the  Holders  of  at  least  25%  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the
outstanding Debt Securities of the series shall have made written request to the
Trustee to institute such proceeding as Trustee, (iii) such Holders have offered
to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee, (iv) the Trustee shall not
have  complied with the request within 60  days after receipt of the request and
offer of indemnity, and (v) the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal  amount of the outstanding Debt  Securities
of  the series  a direction  inconsistent with such  request within  such 60 day
period. A Holder of any series may not use the Indenture to prejudice the rights
of another Holder  of that series  or to  obtain a preference  or priority  over
another  Holder of that series. (Section 6.6.)  The Holder of any Debt Security,
however, has an absolute right to receive payment of the principal of such  Debt
Security,  and any interest thereon, on or  after the due date expressed in such
Debt Security and  to institute suit  for the enforcement  of any such  payment.
(Section  6.7.) The Holders of  a majority in aggregate  principal amount of the
outstanding Debt  Securities  of any  series  may,  with proper  notice  to  the
Trustee,  waive an existing Default  other than a Default  in any payment of the
principal of, or any  interest on, such Debt  Security of that series.  (Section
6.4.)

    The  Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement
as to  any default  by the  Company in  the performance  and observance  of  its
obligations under the Indenture. (Section 4.3.)

MODIFICATION

    The  Company and the Trustee may amend  the Indenture or the Debt Securities
of any series with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority  in
aggregate  principal amount  of the outstanding  Debt Securities  of each series
affected by the amendment.  However, without the consent  of the Holder of  each
Debt Security affected thereby, no amendment may, among other things: (i) reduce
the amount of Debt

                                       11
<PAGE>
Securities  whose Holders must consent to an  amendment; (ii) reduce the rate or
change the time for payment of interest on any such Debt Security; (iii)  reduce
the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any such Debt Security; or (iv)
make  any such Debt Security payable in money other than that stated in the Debt
Security. (Section 9.2.)

DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE

    The Indenture provides  that the Company  and the Trustee  may, without  the
consent  of the  Holders, execute a  supplemental indenture to  provide that the
Company will be discharged from any and  all obligations in respect of the  Debt
Securities  of  any  series  (except for  certain  obligations  to  register the
transfer or exchange of  Debt Securities, to replace  stolen, lost or  mutilated
Debt  Securities, to maintain a paying agency  and to hold moneys for payment in
trust) upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money or U.S.  Government
Obligations  or both,  which through  the payment  of interest  and principal in
respect thereof in accordance with their  terms will provide money in an  amount
sufficient  to pay  the principal  of, and  any interest  on, and  any mandatory
sinking fund or analogous  payments in respect of,  the Debt Securities of  that
series  on the  date such amounts  are due  and payable, in  accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and such  Debt Securities. Such a supplemental  indenture
may  only  be executed  if  the Company  has received  from,  or there  has been
published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the  effect
that  such a discharge  will not be deemed,  or result in,  a taxable event with
respect to the Holders. The provisions of such a supplemental indenture will not
be applicable to any series of Debt Securities then listed on the New York Stock
Exchange if the provision  would cause that  series to be  delisted as a  result
thereof. (Section 9.1.)

DEFEASANCE OF CERTAIN COVENANTS

    The  terms of the Debt Securities may provide the Company with the option to
omit to comply with  the covenants described under  the headings "Limitation  on
Security  Interests",  "Limitation  on  Sale  and  Leaseback  Transactions"  and
"Limitation on Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries" above. If such terms make
such option available  with respect to  the Debt Securities  of any series,  the
Company,  in order to exercise such option, will be required to deposit with the
Trustee, in trust, money or U.S.  Government Obligations or both, which  through
the  payment of  interest and  principal in  respect thereof  in accordance with
their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal  of,
and  any interest on,  and any mandatory  sinking fund or  analogous payments in
respect of, the Debt Securities of that series on the date such amounts are  due
and  payable,  in accordance  with  the terms  of  the Indenture  and  such Debt
Securities. The Company must also deliver  to the Trustee an opinion of  counsel
to  the effect that the  deposit and related covenant  defeasance will not cause
the Holders  of such  Debt Securities  to  recognize income,  gain or  loss  for
federal income tax purposes. (Section 4.7.)

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

    The  Fuji Bank  and Trust  Company is the  Trustee under  the Indenture. The
Company has issued  various series of  debt securities under  the Indenture,  as
well  as another indenture pursuant to which the Trustee is trustee. The Company
maintains deposit  accounts and  conducts other  banking transactions  with  the
Trustee in the ordinary course of business.

    Under  the Indenture, the Trustee is  required to transmit annual reports to
all Holders regarding its  eligibility and qualifications  as Trustee under  the
Indenture and certain related matters. (Section 7.6.)

    Subject  to  certain  exceptions, the  Holders  of a  majority  in aggregate
principal amount of  outstanding Debt Securities  of any series  may direct  the
Trustee  in  its exercise  of  the trust  and powers  conferred  upon it  by the
Indenture (Section 6.5.), and may remove  the Trustee with the giving of  proper
notice. (Section 7.8.)

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    The  Company may sell the Debt Securities  in any of three ways: (i) through
underwriters or dealers, (ii) directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a
single purchaser or (iii) through agents. The Prospectus Supplement with respect
to the Offered  Debt Securities  sets forth  the terms  of the  offering of  the
Offered  Debt Securities, including  the name or names  of any underwriters, the
purchase price of the Offered Debt

                                       12
<PAGE>
Securities and the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any delayed  delivery
arrangements,   any   underwriting  discounts   and  other   items  constituting
underwriters' compensation, any initial public offering price and any  discounts
or  concessions  allowed or  reallowed or  paid to  dealers. Any  initial public
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid  to
dealers may be changed from time to time.

    If  underwriters are used in the sale,  the Debt Securities will be acquired
by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions, including  negotiated transactions, at a fixed  public
offering  price or at  varying prices determined  at the time  of sale. The Debt
Securities may be offered to  the public either through underwriting  syndicates
represented  by one  or more  managing underwriters or  directly by  one or more
firms acting as underwriters. The underwriter or underwriters with respect to  a
particular  underwritten offering  of Offered Debt  Securities are  named in the
Prospectus  Supplement  relating  to  such  offering  and,  if  an  underwriting
syndicate is used, the managing underwriter or underwriters are set forth on the
cover  of  such  Prospectus  Supplement.  Unless  otherwise  set  forth  in  the
Prospectus Supplement,  the  obligations of  the  underwriters to  purchase  the
Offered  Debt Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the
underwriters will be obligated  to purchase all the  Offered Debt Securities  if
any are purchased.

    The  Debt Securities may be  sold directly by the  Company or through agents
designated by the Company from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer  or
sale  of the  Offered Debt  Securities in  respect of  which this  Prospectus is
delivered is named, and any commissions payable by the Company to such agent are
set forth,  in  the Prospectus  Supplement  relating thereto.  Unless  otherwise
indicated  in the  Prospectus Supplement,  any such  agent is  acting on  a best
efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

    If so indicated  in the  Prospectus Supplement, the  Company will  authorize
agents,  underwriters  or  dealers  to  solicit  offers  from  certain  types of
institutions to purchase Offered Debt Securities from the Company at the  public
offering  price  set  forth in  the  Prospectus Supplement  pursuant  to delayed
delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the
future.

    Agents and underwriters may be  entitled under agreements entered into  with
the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities,
including  liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Agents and underwriters
may be customers of,  engage in transactions with,  or perform services for  the
Company in the ordinary course of business.

                                 LEGAL OPINIONS

    Certain  legal matters in connection with  this offering will be passed upon
for the Company by Herbert A. Getz, General Counsel of the Company, and for  any
underwriters  or  agents by  Mayer,  Brown &  Platt,  190 South  LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60603. Mayer,  Brown & Platt acts  as counsel for the  Company
from time to time on other matters.

                                    EXPERTS

    The   audited  consolidated  financial  statements   and  schedules  of  WMX
Technologies, Inc.  and  subsidiaries for  the  year ended  December  31,  1993,
incorporated  by  reference  in this  Prospectus,  have been  audited  by Arthur
Andersen & Co., independent  public accountants, as  indicated in their  reports
with  respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon
the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting in giving  said
reports.  Reference  is made  to the  report of  Arthur Andersen  & Co.  on such
financial statements, which  includes an explanatory  paragraph with respect  to
the  Company's  change  in  its  methods  of  accounting  for  income  taxes and
postretirement benefits  other  than pensions,  effective  January 1,  1992,  as
discussed in notes 1 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

                                       13
<PAGE>
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    NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR  TO  MAKE  ANY  REPRESENTATIONS OTHER  THAN  THOSE  CONTAINED  OR
INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT OR  THE PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE  PROSPECTUS
AND,  IF GIVEN OR MADE,  SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY  THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER  THE
DELIVERY  OF THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT  AND THE  PROSPECTUS NOR  ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE  IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE  COMPANY SINCE THE DATE  HEREOF.
THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT  AND THE  PROSPECTUS DO  NOT CONSTITUTE  AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE IN  WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS  NOT
AUTHORIZED  OR IN  WHICH THE  PERSON MAKING  SUCH OFFER  OR SOLICITATION  IS NOT
QUALIFIED TO DO SO  OR TO ANYONE TO  WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE SUCH OFFER  OR
SOLICITATION.

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          PAGE
                                          ----
<S>                                       <C>
Use of Proceeds.........................   S-2
Certain Terms of the Notes..............   S-2
Underwriting............................   S-3
Legal Opinions..........................   S-3

                  PROSPECTUS

Available Information...................     2
Documents Incorporated by Reference.....     2
WMX Technologies, Inc...................     2
Use of Proceeds.........................     5
Description of Debt Securities..........     5
Plan of Distribution....................    12
Legal Opinions..........................    13
Experts.................................    13
</TABLE>

                                  $100,000,000

                                     [LOGO]
                             WMX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

                                  5.84% NOTES
                                DUE JULY 3, 1996

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

                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

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

                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
                          DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                             SECURITIES CORPORATION

                                 JUNE 19, 1995

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