SAFETY KLEEN CORP
10-K, 1997-03-27
BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                ----------------
                                    FORM 10-K

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
     ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) FOR THE 1996 FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28,
     1996


[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) FOR THE TRANSITION 
    PERIOD FROM       TO  

                          COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-8513

                              SAFETY-KLEEN(R) CORP.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


               WISCONSIN                                  39-6090019
      (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                 (I.R.S.  EMPLOYER
       INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                 IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                            1000 NORTH RANDALL ROAD,
                              ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60123
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

        REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER INCLUDING AREA CODE: (847) 697-8460

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:

                                                NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON
             TITLE OF EACH CLASS                    WHICH REGISTERED
         ----------------------------          --------------------------
         COMMON STOCK, $.10 PAR VALUE            NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

           SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
                                      NONE
                                (TITLE OF CLASS)

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO __

        Indicate by check mark if  disclosure  of  delinquent  filers
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation  S-K is not  contained  herein  and
will  not be  contained,  to the  best  of the registrant's  knowledge,
in  definitive  proxy  or  information  statements  incorporated  by reference
in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  X

        The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant as of March 1, 1997 was approximately $0.7 billion.

        Shares of Common Stock outstanding at March 1, 1997, were 58,268,687.

                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
        PORTIONS OF THE REGISTRANT'S PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 1997, ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PART
III, AND PORTIONS OF THE REGISTRANT'S ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS FOR THE YEAR
ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996, ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN PARTS I AND II.


                                       1
<PAGE>
                                     PART I

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

GENERAL

        Safety-Kleen is a leader in servicing the recycling and waste needs of
companies in the automotive/retail repair, industrial, imaging and other
business sectors. Over 2,800 Safety-Kleen specialists service customers from a
branch network that extends across North America and Western Europe.

        Focusing primarily on the needs of smaller businesses, Safety-Kleen
performed nearly five million individual services and reclaimed more than 300
million gallons of contaminated fluid through a network of 230 branches
worldwide in 1996. The Company collects and recycles used products at thirteen
recycle centers, two lube oil re-refineries, and three fuel-blending facilities.

        The Company operates in the continental U.S., Canada, the United
Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Puerto Rico, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain
and Germany.  The Company has licensee  operations in Japan and Korea.
Safety-Kleen Corp. was incorporated in July, 1963 under the laws of the State
of  Wisconsin.  As used herein, the terms "Company" or "Safety-Kleen"
refer to Safety-Kleen Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

        The Company groups its operations geographically into North America and
Europe. The Company further segregates its North American services into four
broad categories: Industrial Services, Automotive/Retail Repair Services, Oil
Recovery Services and Other Services. Each of the Company's services is
discussed in greater detail below and in "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" appearing on pages 21-25 of
the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 28, 1996
(the "Annual Report"), which is incorporated herein by reference.


INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

        The Company markets two major services to its Industrial Services
customers: its Parts Cleaner Service and its Fluid Recovery Service. In
Safety-Kleen's Parts Cleaner Service, the Company's service representative
places parts cleaner equipment and solvent with a customer. The service
representative then makes service calls at regular intervals where he cleans and
maintains the equipment, removes the dirty solvent and replaces it with clean
solvent. The dirty solvent is recycled and reused. The Company provides a choice
of several models of parts cleaners to customers for their use as part of the
Parts Cleaner Service and provides service to customers who own their own parts
cleaner equipment. Safety-Kleen also offers a line of water-based cleaning
systems through its Parts Cleaner Service.


                                       2
<PAGE>


        The Company's Fluid Recovery Service consists primarily of the
collection of a wide variety of waste solvents and other liquid and solid
containerized wastes generated by industrial customers in relatively small
quantities, averaging a few 55-gallon drums per pickup. Depending upon the
content, the material collected by the Company in its Fluid Recovery Service is
generally recycled into usable solvent, processed into a waste-derived fuel 
for use in the cement manufacturing industry or disposed of through
incineration. Wastewater that is collected as part of the Company's Fluid
Recovery Service is treated and processed until it can be discharged into
publicly-owned treatment works in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.


AUTOMOTIVE/RETAIL REPAIR SERVICES

        The primary component of the Company's Automotive/Retail Repair Services
is its Parts Cleaner Service. Safety-Kleen furnishes service stations, car and
truck dealers, small engine repair shops, fleet maintenance shops and its other
automotive/retail repair customers with the same high quality Parts Cleaner
Service that it provides to its Industrial Services customers. In 1996, the
Company introduced a new service line within the Automotive/Retail Repair
Services market--Vacuum Services. This service utilizes specialized vacuum
trucks that remove residual oil and sludge from underground oil/water separators
found at many automotive repair and small industrial locations.


OIL RECOVERY SERVICES

        The Company collects used lubricating oils from automobile and truck
dealers, automotive garages, oil change outlets, service stations, industrial
plants and other businesses. The used oil is then transferred to a re-refining
plant where most of the product is converted into high-quality base lubricating
oil. The Company derives revenues both from fees it charges customers to haul
away used oil and from the sale of products it produces by processing the used
oil. The Company's extensive branch network enables it to collect waste oil in
sufficient volume to support oil re-refining operations, which produce
lubricating oil that can be sold at significantly higher prices than industrial
fuels. The Company operates oil re-refining plants in Breslau, Ontario and East
Chicago, Indiana. The plants in Breslau and East Chicago have annual re-refining
capacities of 43 and 92 million gallons of used oil per year, respectively. Used
oil collected in excess of the capacity of the Company's re-refining facilities
is either processed into industrial fuels or sold unprocessed for direct use as
a fuel in certain industrial applications for which such used oil is suitable.


OTHER SERVICES

        PAINT REFINISHING SERVICES. The Company's Paint Refinishing Services are
supplied to new and used car dealers, auto body repair and paint shops and
fiberglass product manufacturers. The Company provides a machine specially
designed to clean paint spray guns. Company representatives place a machine and
solvent with each customer, maintain the machine and regularly remove the
contaminated solvent and replace it with clean solvent. The Company

                                       3
<PAGE>

either recycles the contaminated solvent into clean solvent for reuse or blends
it into fuel used by cement kilns. Waste paint and paint booth filters are also
collected from these customers and blended into fuel for cement kilns. The
Company representatives also provide clean buffing pads and remove dirty pads
during regularly scheduled service calls. The dirty pads are washed, dried,
inspected and returned to the Company's distribution system.

        DRY CLEANER SERVICES. The Company collects and recycles contaminated dry
cleaner wastes consisting primarily of used filter cartridges and sludge
containing perchloroethylene and mineral spirits.

        IMAGING SERVICES. Through this service, the Company provides health
care, printing, photoprocessing and other businesses with on-site and off-site
recycling of photochemical solutions, as well as film, plate and silver recovery
services. Imaging Services recovers the silver contained in the spent
photochemical solutions it collects from customers. These solutions are then
further treated and processed until they can be discharged as wastewater into
publicly-owned treatment works in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. Silver is also recovered from photographic film by an outside
processor.

        ENVIROSYSTEMS SERVICES. Safety-Kleen's Envirosystem Service offers a
collection and recycling service for bulk wastes from larger-quantity generators
that is similar to its Fluid Recovery Service discussed above.


EUROPE

        Safety-Kleen has wholly-owned operations in seven countries in Western
Europe. The Company primarily provides its Automotive/Retail Repair and Paint
Refinishing Services in Europe. The Company also provides selected industrial
services in Germany and the United Kingdom.


PRIMARY RAW MATERIALS

        The primary hydrocarbon material used in the Company's Parts Cleaner
Service is a paraffinic hydro-treated petroleum fraction product that is
purchased from petroleum refiners and suppliers through short-term purchase
orders. It is not possible for the Company to accurately estimate the effect of
possible future petroleum product shortages on the Company's operations or those
of its customers. At the present time, the Company expects to be able to
purchase required quantities of such solvent at acceptable prices. For a
discussion of the effect of petroleum product price changes, refer to
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Effects of Petroleum Price Changes" appearing on page 25 of the
Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.


                                       4
<PAGE>


        The Company purchases a wide variety of other products and raw materials
and has not experienced any major shortages in the past. The Company believes
that sufficient alternative sources are available should it become necessary to
replace its current sources of supply for these products and materials.


COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS

        The Company is the market leader in the United States in its Parts
Cleaner, Paint Refinishing, Dry Cleaner and used oil collection services. In
these services, the Company generally competes with local or smaller regional
companies. In its Fluid Recovery Service, the Company generally competes with
many firms engaged in the transportation, brokerage and/or disposal of hazardous
wastes through recycling, fuels programs or incineration. The price at which
Safety-Kleen sells its re-refined lube oil is largely dictated by a market
dominated by large multinational oil companies. For a more complete discussion
of the market for the Company's lube oil, see "Effects of Petroleum Price
Changes" on page 25 of the Annual Report.

        The principal methods of competition for all of the Company's services
are price, quality, reliability of service rendered and technical proficiency in
handling hazardous wastes properly. Knowledgeable customers are interested in
the reputation and financial strength of the companies they use for management
of their hazardous wastes, because the original generators of hazardous waste
remain liable under federal and state environmental laws for improper disposal
of such wastes, even if they employ companies which have proper permits and
licenses. The Company believes that its technical proficiency, reputation and
financial strength are important considerations to its customers in selecting
and continuing to utilize the Company's services.


PATENTS

        The Company owns various patents covering certain of its cleaning units
and certain related accessories. The Company has an exclusive license to use a
patented cyclonic separator in parts cleaner applications. In the Company's
opinion, however, the continued conduct of its business operations does not
depend upon the existence of these patents.


EMPLOYEES

        At December 28, 1996, the Company had approximately 7,300 employees.



                                       5
<PAGE>


REGULATION

        OVERVIEW. Domestic and foreign governmental regulations applicable to
the Company's business govern, among other things: the handling of a number of
substances collected by the Company which are classified as hazardous or solid
wastes under these regulations; the operation of the facilities at which the
Company stores or processes the substances it collects; and the ultimate
disposal of waste the Company removes from the substances it collects. An
increase in governmental requirements for the treatment of any particular
material generally increases the value of the Company's services to its
customers, but may also increase the Company's costs.

        Various permits are generally required by federal and state
environmental agencies for the Company's branch, accumulation center, solvent
recycling, fuel blending and oil processing facilities. Most of these permits
must be renewed periodically and the governmental authorities involved have the
power, under various circumstances, to revoke, modify or deny issuance or
renewal of these permits. Zoning, land use and siting restrictions also apply to
these facilities. Regulations also govern matters such as the disposal of
residual chemical wastes, operating procedures, stormwater and wastewater
discharges, fire protection, worker and community right-to-know and emergency
response plans. Air and water pollution regulations govern certain operations at
the Company's facilities. Safety standards under the Occupational Safety and
Health Act in the United States and similar foreign laws are also applicable.
Governmental regulations also apply to the operation of vehicles used by the
Company to transport the substances it collects and distributes, including
licensing requirements for the vehicles and the drivers, vehicle safety
requirements, vehicle weight limitations, shipment manifesting and vehicle
placarding requirements. Governmental authorities have the power to enforce
compliance and violators are subject to civil and criminal penalties. Private
individuals may also have the right to sue to enforce compliance with certain of
the governmental requirements.

        Regulations similar to those in the United States apply to the Company's
Canadian operations. In general, environmental requirements are not as strict in
countries in which the Company operates outside North America, but there is a
general trend in Europe and other countries to strengthen environmental
requirements.

        The Company has an internal staff of lawyers, engineers, geologists,
hydrogeologists, chemists and other environmental and safety professionals whose
responsibility is to continuously improve the procedures and practices to be
followed by the Company to comply with various federal, state and local laws and
regulations involving the protection of the environment and worker health and
safety and to monitor compliance.

        HAZARDOUS AND SOLID WASTE REQUIREMENTS. Safety-Kleen's services involve
the collection, transportation, storage, processing, recycling and disposal of
automotive and industrial hazardous and nonhazardous materials. Substantially
all of these materials are regulated in the United States as "solid wastes"
under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 ("RCRA"). In addition
to being regulated as solid wastes, many of these materials are further
regulated as "hazardous wastes." Accordingly, the Company is subject to federal
and state regulations governing hazardous and solid wastes. RCRA established a
national program which classified various substances as "hazardous wastes,"
established requirements for storage,

                                       6
<PAGE>
treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes, and imposed requirements for
facilities used to store, treat or dispose of such wastes.
RCRA was amended in 1984 by the Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments ("HSWA") which expanded the scope of RCRA to include businesses which
generate smaller quantities of waste materials (so-called "small quantity
generators"), expanded the substances classified as hazardous wastes by RCRA and
prohibited direct disposal of those wastes in landfills (thereby, in effect,
requiring that the wastes be recycled, treated, or destroyed).

        The Company's customers are increasingly attempting to avoid being
subject to hazardous waste regulations by replacing hazardous materials used in
their businesses with nonhazardous materials or otherwise reducing the amount of
hazardous waste they generate. Accordingly, the Company is collecting more
substances that are not regulated as hazardous wastes but may be regulated as
solid wastes.

        Hazardous and solid waste regulations impose requirements which must be
met by facilities used to store, treat and dispose of these wastes. Operators of
hazardous waste storage, disposal and treatment facilities, such as
Safety-Kleen, must obtain a RCRA permit from federal or authorized state
governmental authorities to operate those facilities. States may also require a
solid waste permit. The Company has over 100 RCRA-permitted facilities. The
Company does not intend to pursue RCRA permits for its remaining facilities
because it will be limiting activities at these facilities to transfer
operations.

        In September, 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
("EPA") finalized regulations that govern the management of used oils. Although
used oil is not classified as a hazardous waste under federal law, certain
states do regulate used oil as hazardous. The Company builds and operates its
used oil facilities to standards similar to those required for hazardous waste
facilities, and believes that its oil management standards are more protective
of human health and the environment than current federal standards.

        Materials collected by the Company's Fluid Recovery Service are
primarily recycled for reuse or processed into waste-derived fuel to be burned
in kilns used in the production of cement. The majority of such waste-derived
fuel is supplied to cement kilns with which the Company has exclusive supply
contracts with respect to such fuel. Cement kilns are subject to regulations
which govern the burning of hazardous wastes in boilers and industrial furnaces
("BIF regulations"). Facilities covered by the BIF regulations are required to
submit periodic certifications of compliance. Every BIF facility that elects to
continue to burn hazardous waste will also be required to obtain a RCRA
operating permit. All of the kilns with which the Company has exclusive supply
contracts have met their initial compliance certification requirements, and
intend to continue to meet their periodic certification requirements in the
future. These kilns are also in the process of obtaining their RCRA operating
permits. None of the kilns utilized by the Company for disposition of the waste
it collects are owned by the Company. The Company is assisting the kilns with
which it has exclusive contracts in complying with such regulations.


                                       7
<PAGE>


        On April 19, 1996, the EPA published its proposed Hazardous Waste
Combustor Rule. This proposed rule will set emissions standards for
incinerators, cement kilns and lightweight aggregate kilns that burn hazardous
waste. As proposed, these standards would require cement kilns, which are major
outlets for the Company's waste-derived fuels, to make capital improvements
that would increase the cost of burning such fuels in cement kilns. However,
due to the complexity of the proposed rule, the lengthy adoption process to
which it is subject, and the likelihood that the rule will undergo changes prior
to its adoption, the effect of the final rule is unknown.

        The EPA is also developing regulations which will establish management
standards for cement kiln dust ("CKD"). The Company and the kilns to which it
sends waste-derived fuel have developed programs for analyzing and
characterizing CKD in anticipation of these new management standards; however,
at this time it is not clear what impact these CKD regulations will have on the
Company.

        CLEAN AIR ACT. The Clean Air Act was passed by Congress to control the
emissions of pollutants to the air, and requires permits to be obtained for
certain sources. In 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act to require further
reductions of air pollutants with specific targets for nonattainment areas in
order to meet certain ambient air quality standards. These amendments also
require the EPA to promulgate regulations which: (i) control emissions of 189
toxic air pollutants; (ii) create uniform operating permits for major industrial
facilities similar to RCRA operating permits; (iii) mandate the phase-out of
ozone depleting chemicals; and (iv) provide for enhanced enforcement.

        The Clean Air Act required regulations which resulted in the reduction
of volatile organic compound ("VOC") emissions in order to meet certain ozone
attainment standards under the act. The Company has installed control technology
to meet its obligations under the act. Additional emission reductions at the
Company's recycle centers and branches could be required as the Company
completes its air permitting program. In addition, the United States EPA has
developed Maximum Achievable Control Technology ("MACT") standards under the
Clean Air Act which impose additional restrictions on the emission of certain
toxic air pollutants. These standards will impact certain of the Company's
facilities and the cement kilns to which the Company sends its waste-derived
fuels.

        In order to comply with these regulations, the Company has instituted a
program to augment the air emission control equipment at its affected facilities
and to obtain operating permits, where required. The Company is also working
with the United States EPA and appropriate state and local agencies regarding
the regulation of its parts cleaner and paint spray gun cleaner operations.

        The South Coast Air Quality Management District ("SCAQMD"), the air
district for the greater Los Angeles, California area, has amended its rule
setting the allowable volatile organic compound ("VOC") content of materials
used for remote reservoir repair and maintenance cleaning. The amended rule
will, in effect, ban remote reservoir parts cleaning with solutions containing
VOCs in excess of fifty grams per liter as of January 1, 1999, except in certain
applications. Substantially all of the Company's parts cleaners currently placed
with SCAQMD

                                       8
<PAGE>
customers utilize solvents containing VOCs in excess of fifty grams
per liter. The Company offers aqueous parts cleaning systems which meet the 1999
SCAQMD requirements and is working with its SCAQMD customers to identify which
customers will need to convert their solvent part cleaners to an alternative
cleaning solvent or solution prior to January 1, 1999. In addition, the Company
will continue to actively work with the SCAQMD to identify appropriate
exemptions and develop alternatives to the 1999 VOC limits for materials used
for remote reservoir parts cleaning. The Company expects other Clean Air Act
nonattainment municipalities to consider adopting similar rules.

        CERCLA AND RELATED REQUIREMENTS. The Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("CERCLA") was originally
enacted in December, 1980, and amended in 1986 by the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act ("SARA"). CERCLA creates a fund of monies ("Superfund")
which can be used by the EPA and state governments to clean up hazardous waste
sites pending recovery of those costs from defined categories of "potentially
responsible parties" ("PRPs"). Most EPA cleanup efforts are at sites listed or
proposed for listing on the National Priorities List ("NPL"). Various states
have also enacted statutes which contain provisions substantially similar to
CERCLA.

        Generators and transporters of hazardous substances, as well as past and
present owners and operators of sites where there has been a release of
hazardous substances, are made strictly, jointly and severally liable for the
clean-up costs resulting from releases and threatened releases of
CERCLA-regulated "hazardous substances." Under CERCLA, these responsible parties
can be ordered to perform a clean-up, can be sued for costs associated with
private party or public agency clean-up, or can voluntarily settle with the
government concerning their liability for clean-up costs.

        A large portion of the materials collected by the Company are recycled
or converted into materials, such as industrial fuels, which may be used for
another purpose. The amount of material that the Company deposits at waste sites
is accordingly small in relation to the volume of materials collected by the
Company, and the Company is actively engaged in a waste minimization program to
reduce this small amount even further. The Company also sends some of the
materials it collects to selected third party facilities for further treatment,
processing and/or disposal. The Company audits each of these facilities prior to
shipping any materials to attempt to minimize its potential superfund liability
at these sites.

        Most of the Company's CERCLA responsibilities stem from certain historic
disposal practices in the 1970's. These practices were stopped in the
mid-to-late 1970's with the development of expanded recycling technology.

        Proceedings are currently pending involving several sites with respect
to which the Company has been notified by the EPA or the appropriate state
agency that the Company may be a PRP. The Company is participating in settlement
discussions with the parties and the government at these sites. The Company's
volumetric share of the total waste at a majority of these sites is among the
smallest of the PRPs and the Company has a larger volumetric share at a minority
of these sites. From time to time, the EPA requests information from the Company
to ascertain if it may be a PRP at other sites.

                                       9
<PAGE>

        COSTS OF INCREASING REGULATIONS AND HIGHER FEES AND TAXES. The Company
continues to be subject to legislation and regulations adopted by federal, state
and local authorities which may impose stricter operating and performance
standards and increased taxes, assessments and fees upon emission sources and
the generators, transporters and handlers of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
The Company may not be able to pass on the costs associated with such
legislation and regulations to its customers through price increases.

        CAPITAL AND CERTAIN OTHER EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT. A
portion of the Company's capital expenditures are related to compliance with
environmental laws and regulations. The Company estimates capital spending of
approximately $6 million for the year 1997 and $21 million in the aggregate, for
the years 1998 through 2001 in order to comply with RCRA, the Clean Air Act and
other environmental laws and regulations currently in effect in conjunction with
the Company's existing business.

        In addition to these capital expenditures, the Company may incur costs
in connection with closure activities at certain of its sites. When the Company
discontinues using or, in certain cases, changes the use of a hazardous waste
management unit, formal closure procedures must be followed. These closure
procedures must be approved by federal or state environmental authorities. In
some cases, costs are incurred to complete remedial cleanup work at the site. In
addition, at certain of the Company's other operating sites, remedial cleanup
work is required as part of the RCRA Corrective Action Program or other state
and federal programs. As shown in the Annual Report on the Company's
Consolidated Balance Sheet at page 29 and more fully described in note 10 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 40-41, the Company has accrued
liabilities of $49.2 million as of December 28, 1996 for remedial cleanup work,
superfund site liability, closure activities and certain other environmental
expenses related to its operating and previously closed sites.

        ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS. The Company's goal is to fully comply with all
environmental regulations and other governmental requirements. The Company has
instituted several programs to enhance compliance, including suspending site
operations if appropriate corrective actions are not taken to remedy potential
defects. The Company conducts regular audits of its facilities to assess
compliance with federal and state environmental and safety laws and regulations.
Any potential deficiencies are identified and a corrective action plan is
prepared and implemented to eliminate the potential defect. In 1996 the Company
conducted over 480 such audits. The Company regularly conducts corporate
training courses and seminars focused on environmental control and safety
regulations, in addition to on-going weekly field training for its site
employees.

        While the Company's goal is to fully comply with all environmental
regulations, given the Company's extensive operations, the technical aspects of
the regulations and the varying interpretations of the requirements from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the Company may face government enforcement
proceedings and incur fines and penalties or expenses for remedial work from
time to time. In the majority of situations where proceedings are commenced by
governmental authorities, the matters involved relate to alleged violations of
permits or orders under which the Company operates, or laws and regulations to
which its operations are subject,

                                       10
<PAGE>
and are the result of varying interpretations
of the applicable requirements. Generally, these proceedings result from routine
inspections conducted by federal and state regulatory agencies. In 1991,
throughout its United States facilities, 201 regulatory proceedings were brought
by state or federal authorities against the Company. The number of regulatory
proceedings brought against the Company has declined each year since then: There
were 142 proceedings brought in 1992, 136 in 1993, 130 in 1994, 90 in 1995 and
83 in 1996. Administrative actions are counted in the year notice of the
violation is received by the Company, regardless of when the inspection giving
rise to the action was conducted. Some of the proceedings brought in 1996
resulted from inspections performed in previous years. Of these administrative
actions in 1996, the majority of the alleged deficiencies related to incomplete
or incorrect manifests and other shipping documents and alleged defects in site
operating records, training record keeping and other paperwork. The Company
processed approximately one million manifests and completed several million
individual drum labels in 1996. Throughout its facility network, the Company
maintains over 200 sets of operating records and logs in which millions of
individual entries are made annually. A clerical error on a manifest, drum label
or site paperwork can result in a violation notice.

        From time to time, the Company becomes subject to proceedings in which
governmental authorities may seek fines and/or penalties from the Company which
exceed $100,000 in each case. Two such proceedings were pending against the
Company at December 28, 1996. Two such cases were settled during the first three
quarters of 1996 and were previously disclosed in the Company's quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q. No such cases were settled during the fourth quarter of
1996.

        The Company's practice is to attempt to negotiate resolution of claims
against the Company and its facilities. The Company has to date been able to
resolve cases on generally satisfactory terms. The Company is, however, prepared
to contest claims or remedies which the Company believes to be inappropriate
unless and until satisfactory settlement terms can be agreed upon. The Company
paid in the aggregate approximately $400,000 in 1996 for environmental fines and
penalties.

        POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES. Based on its past experience and
its knowledge of pending cases, the Company believes it is unlikely that the
Company's actual liability on cases now pending (including enforcement actions
of the type described above and CERCLA or state superfund cases) will be
materially adverse to the Company's financial condition. It should be noted,
however, that many environmental laws are written and enforced in a way in which
the potential liability can be large, and it is always possible that the
Company's actual liability in any particular case or claim will prove to be
larger than anticipated and accrued for by the Company. It is also possible that
expenses incurred in any particular reporting period for remediation costs or
for fines, penalties, or judgments could have a material impact on the Company's
results of operations for that period.



                                       11
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL INFORMATION RELATING TO FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND 
INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

        The Company operates primarily in one business segment--providing
businesses with environmentally safe and convenient solutions for managing fluid
waste and other recoverable resources. For a discussion of financial information
relating to foreign and domestic operations and industry segments refer to Note
4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on page 33 of the Annual
Report.


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

        The executive officers of the Company are:

              NAME           AGE                       POSITION
- -------------------------    ---    ----------------------------------
Donald W. Brinckman          66       Chairman of the Board

John G. Johnson Jr.          56       President, Chief Executive Officer and
                                      Director

Hyman K. Bielsky             42       Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
                                      Managing Director, European Operations

Roy D. Bullinger             48       Senior Vice President Business Management
                                      and Marketing

Robert J. Burian             59       Senior Vice President Human Resources

Michael H. Carney            49       Senior Vice President Marketing Services
                                      and Customer Care

Joseph Chalhoub              51       Senior Vice President Operations, Oil
                                      Recovery and Envirosystems

David A. Dattilo             56       Senior Vice President Sales and Service

Scott E. Fore                42       Senior Vice President Environment, Health
                                      and Safety

F. Henry Habicht II          43       Senior Vice President Corporate 
                                      Development and Environment

Robert W. Willmschen Jr.     49       Senior Vice President Finance, Secretary
                                      and Chief Financial Officer

                                       12
<PAGE>
Lawrence G. Davenport        54       Vice President Information Systems and
                                      Chief Information Officer

Clark J. Rose                59       Vice President Manufacturing and Technical
                                      Services

Laurence M. Rudnick          51       Treasurer

Clifford J. Schulz           45       Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

        Mr. Brinckman relinquished his post as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company as of December 31, 1994, a position he held since 1968.  He served as
President of the Company from 1968 to August, 1990, and December, 1991
to May, 1993.  Mr. Brinckman was appointed Chairman of the Company's Board of
Directors in August, 1990.  Mr. Brinckman is also a director of Johnson
Worldwide Associates, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin, Paychex, Inc., Rochester,
New York and Snap-On Incorporated, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr. Brinckman is
Chairman of the Executive Committee and is a member of the Environmental
Committee.

        Mr. Johnson has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since
January 1, 1995. He was elected President and a director of the Company in May
1993. He joined Safety-Kleen in January, 1993 as Assistant to the Chairman/CEO.
Prior to joining Safety-Kleen, Mr. Johnson was employed by ARCO since 1958. He
served as Senior Vice President of ARCO Chemical Company since 1986. In 1987, he
became a director and in 1988 was given the added responsibility of President of
ARCO Chemical Americas, a division of ARCO Chemical Company. He is also a
director of McWhorter Technologies, Carpentersville, Illinois.

        Mr. Bielsky was elected Senior Vice President General Counsel in May,
1993. He has also served as the Company's  Managing  Director of its European
operations since 1996.  Mr. Bielsky served as Assistant General Counsel-
Commercial since January, 1990, and as Associate Counsel since joining the
Company in 1987.

        Mr. Bullinger was named Senior Vice President Business Management and
Marketing in June 1994. He served as Vice President Sales--Central Division
since 1985 and as a Regional Manager since joining the Company in 1975.

        Mr. Burian was appointed Senior Vice President Human Resources in
May, 1993. He served as Senior Vice President Administration since August,1990.
Mr. Burian joined the Company in July, 1986, as Vice President Personnel.

        Mr. Carney was named Senior Vice President Marketing Services and
Customer Care in June 1994. He served as Senior Vice President Marketing since
August, 1990 and Vice President Marketing since May, 1987. He joined the Company
in 1976, serving in various marketing positions until his appointment to Vice
President Marketing.


                                       13
<PAGE>
        Mr. Chalhoub was named Senior Vice President Operations, Oil Recovery
and Envirosystems in July, 1995.  Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice
President, Oil Recovery Division since August, 1990.  In August, 1991,
Mr. Chalhoub was assigned the additional responsibilities of overseeing the
processing and engineering departments.  He was President of the Company's
former subsidiary, Breslube Holding Corp., since May, 1987.

        Mr. Dattilo was named Senior Vice President Sales and Service in
August, 1990.  He served as Vice President Corporate Branch Sales and Service
since January, 1980.

        Mr. Fore was elected Senior Vice President Environment, Health and
Safety in May, 1993. He served as Vice President Environment, Health and Safety
since August, 1987, and was previously Associate General Counsel since joining
the Company in 1985.

        Mr. Habicht joined the Company in March, 1993. He served as Senior Vice
President Strategic/Environmental Planning from March, 1993 to July, 1995. In
June, 1994, he assumed responsibility for Safety-Kleen Canada. In July, 1995, he
assumed responsibility for Environment, Health and Safety and Corporate Accounts
and became Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and Environment. Prior
to joining the Company, he served as Deputy Administrator of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency from 1989 to 1992.

        Mr. Willmschen was named Senior Vice President Finance in August, 1990.
He served as Vice President Finance and Secretary since February, 1982.

        Mr. Davenport joined the Company in June, 1995 as Vice President
Information Services and Chief Information Officer.  Prior to joining
Safety-Kleen, Mr. Davenport was employed by JB Hunt Transport, Inc. since 1989
and served as Senior Vice President Information Services for that company
since 1992.

        Mr. Rose was named Vice President Manufacturing and Technical Services
in July, 1995.  He served as Vice President Technical Services since  August,
1989 and Manager of Recycle Center Operations since joining the Company in
June, 1984.

        Mr. Rudnick joined the Company in September, 1979, and was appointed
Treasurer in January, 1980.

        Mr. Schulz was named Controller in December, 1994.  He served as
Controller  North American Operations and Assistant Controller Cost and
Inventory since 1991 and 1987, respectively.


                                       14
<PAGE>
ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

        The Company owns 13 solvent recycling plants in the U.S., Canada, Puerto
Rico, the United Kingdom and Germany. In total, these plants have an annual
recycling capacity of 67 million gallons of parts cleaner solvents and 40
million gallons of halogenated, fluorinated and flammable solvents. The total
storage capacity of these plants is approximately 9.2 million gallons. In
addition, the Company owns 2 fuel blending facilities, located on leased land,
and has an exclusive supply arrangement for its waste-derived fuel with a third
facility. These three facilities have combined storage capacity of approximately
2.2 million gallons.

        The Company owns 2 oil re-refining plants with a combined annual
re-refining capacity of 135 million gallons. These plants are located in
Breslau, Ontario and East Chicago, Indiana.

        The Company leases 5 distribution facilities and owns 3 distribution
facilities in the U.S., United Kingdom and Germany, averaging approximately
45,000 square feet. The Company has 17 accumulation centers across the U.S. Of
these, 14 are owned and 3 are leased. A typical accumulation center is
approximately 8,000 square feet. These centers serve branches by collecting
drums of waste from the Fluid Recovery Service, Dry Cleaner Service, Paint
Refinishing Service and other services. As truck load quantities are collected,
they are transported from the accumulation centers to the recycling plants.

        In North America and Europe, the Company's sales and service
representatives operate out of 230 branch facilities.  Of these, approximately
50% are leased and 50% are owned.  A typical branch is approximately 8,000
square feet.

        The Company owns a 106,000 square foot plant in New Berlin, Wisconsin,
where parts cleaner machines are assembled and buffing pads are manufactured.

        The Company owns a 285,000 square foot corporate headquarters building
located in Elgin, Illinois and a 66,000 square foot Technical Center located in
Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

        The Company operates approximately 2,700 van-type vehicles, 470 straight
tanker-type service vehicles and 950 pieces of over-the-road equipment, most of
which are owned by the Company. The Company also operates approximately 770
leased railroad tanker cars.


ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        Reference is made to "Item 1. Business," subcaption "Regulation," for
information concerning certain environmental matters.


ITEM 4.  SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth interim period of the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996.


                                       15

<PAGE>
                                     PART II


ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        The "Market and Dividend Information" appearing on page 43 of the Annual
Report is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The "Selected Financial Data" appearing on page 26 of the Annual Report
is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" appearing on pages 21-25 of the Annual Report is incorporated
herein by reference.


ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

        The "Report of Independent Public Accountants", Consolidated Financial
Statements and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" appearing on pages
27-41 of the Annual Report are incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
         FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

         None.


                                       16
<PAGE>
                                    PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

        The information set forth under the heading "Executive Officers of the
Registrant" in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and under the
headings "COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT"
and "PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS" in the Company's definitive proxy
statement for the May 9, 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Proxy
Statement") is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        The information set forth under the heading "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION" in
the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The information set forth under the heading "COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF
CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated
herein by reference.


ITEM 13.  CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

        The information set forth under the headings "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION,"
"DIRECTORS' COMMITTEES, MEETINGS AND COMPENSATION" and "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS" in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by
reference.



                                       17
<PAGE>


                                     PART IV

ITEM 14.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

        Item 14(a)1.  List of Financial Statements.

        The following consolidated financial statements of the Company included
        on pages 28-41 of the Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended
        December 28, 1996 are incorporated herein by reference:

               Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 28, 1996 and 
               December 30, 1995.

               Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
               December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.

               Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
               December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995 and December 31, 1994.

               Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years
               ended December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995, and December 31,
               1994.

               Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

        Item 14(a)2.  Financial Statement Schedule.

        The following Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule of Safety-Kleen
        Corp. and Subsidiaries is included in response to Item 14(d):

                                                              PAGE NO.
                                                              --------
               Schedule II Allowance for Doubtful Accounts...... 24

               Schedules other than the schedule listed above are omitted as the
               information is not required or not applicable, or the required
               information is shown in the financial statements or notes
               thereto.


                                       18
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        Item 14(a)3.  List of Exhibits.

 NUMBER                              DESCRIPTION
- ----------  -------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>         <C>
  3.1       Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant.  (4)

  3.2       By-Laws of the Registrant.  (7)

  4.1       Form of Rights Agreement, dated November 9, 1988, between Safety-Kleen
            Corp. and the First National Bank of Chicago.  (1)

  4.2       Indenture Agreement dated August 15, 1989, between Safety-Kleen Corp. and
            the Chase Manhattan Bank, executed in connection with the Company's issuance
            and sale from time to time of up to $200 million aggregate principal amount of
            Debt Securities.  (2)

  4.2.1     Board of Directors' Resolution executed in connection with the
            issuance and sale of $100 million aggregate principal amount
            of 9.25% Senior Notes due September
            15, 1999.  (2)

  4.2.2     Board of Directors' Resolution executed in connection with the future issuance
            and sale of up to $100 million aggregate principal amount of Series A Medium
            Term Notes.  (2)

  4.3       Note Purchase Agreement dated as of January 15, 1995, between Safety-Kleen
            Corp. and certain Purchasers, executed in connection with the Company's
            issuance and sale of its 8.05% Senior Notes due January 30, 1998 in the
            aggregate principal amount of $50 million.  (8)

  10.1      Safety-Kleen Corp. 1985 Stock Option Plan.  (3)*

  10.2      Safety-Kleen Corp. 1988 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors.
            (1)*

  10.3      Form of Safety-Kleen Corp. Severance Agreement.  (3)*

  10.3.1    Current Schedule of Participants to Safety-Kleen Corp. Severance Agreement.(9)*

  10.4      Safety-Kleen Corp. 1993 Stock Option Plan.  (5)*

  10.5      Safety-Kleen Corp. Excess Benefit Plan.  (5)*

  10.6      Safety-Kleen 1996 Management Incentive Plan.(9)*

  10.7      Safety-Kleen 1997 Management Incentive Plan*

                                       19
<PAGE>

  10.8      Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated March 25, 1994, among the
            Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., the Northern Trust Company, the NBD Bank,
            N.A.  and the First National Bank of Chicago.  (8)

  10.9      Letter Agreement dated March 29, 1995 amending the Amended and
            Restated Credit Agreement dated March 25, 1994, among the
            Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., the Northern Trust Company, the
            NBD Bank, N.A. and the First National Bank of Chicago.(9)

  13        Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 28, 1996.

  21        Subsidiaries of the Registrant.  (3)

  23        Consent of Experts.

  27        Financial Data Schedule.  (EDGAR Filing Only)

  99.1      Press Release issued February 10, 1997 regarding 1996 results of operations.

- -----------------------------
</TABLE>


  (1) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 10, 1988.

  (2) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the twelve weeks
      ended September 9, 1989.

  (3) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 29, 1990.

  (4) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 28, 1991.

  (5) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      January 2, 1993.

  (6) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      January 1, 1994.

  (7) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the twelve weeks
      ended September 9, 1995.

  (8) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 31, 1994.

                                       20
<PAGE>

  (9) Previously filed and incorporated herein by reference from
      Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 30, 1995.

     *Indicates each management or compensatory plan or arrangement
      required to be filed as an exhibit to this form pursuant to Item
      14(c) of this report.

      (Copies of these exhibits can be obtained from the Company for its
      reasonable out-of-pocket expense for furnishing such copies.)


        Item 14(b).  Reports on Form 8-K.

     The Company did not file any Reports on Form 8-K during the fiscal year
ended December 28, 1996.  On March 11, 1997, the Company issued a press 
release reporting that it anticipated net earnings for the first quarter,
ending March 27, 1997, will be approximately $0.20 per share.  The press
release was filed on Form 8-K on March 12, 1997.
        



                                       21
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                             SAFETY-KLEEN CORP.

Date:  March 27, 1997        By:  /s/ ROBERT W. WILLMSCHEN JR.
       --------------             -----------------------------
                                  SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE
                                  AND SECRETARY

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant in the capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>

            SIGNATURE                                TITLE                         DATE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                 <C>                                        <C>

      /S/ DONALD W. BRINCKMAN
        Donald W. Brinckman         Chairman of the Board                      March 27, 1997

       /S/ JOHN G. JOHNSON, JR.
        John G. Johnson, Jr.        President, Chief Executive
                                    Officer and Director                       March 27, 1997

    /S/ ROBERT W. WILLMSCHEN, JR.
     Robert W. Willmschen, Jr.      Senior Vice President Finance,
                                    Chief Financial Officer                    March 27, 1997

       /S/ CLIFFORD J. SCHULZ
         Clifford J. Schulz         Controller, Chief Accounting Officer       March 27, 1997

         /S/ RICHARD T. FARMER
         Richard T. Farmer          Director                                   March 27, 1997

         /S/ RUSSELL A. GWILLIM
         Russell A. Gwillim         Director                                   March 27, 1997

          /S/ EDGAR D. JANNOTTA
         Edgar D. Jannotta          Director                                   March 27, 1997

             /S/ KARL G. OTZEN
           Karl G. Otzen            Director                                   March 27, 1997

           /S/ PAUL D. SCHRAGE
          Paul D. Schrage           Director                                   March 27, 1997

         /S/ MARCIA E. WILLIAMS
         Marcia E. Williams         Director                                   March 27, 1997

           /S/ W. GORDON WOOD
           W. Gordon Wood           Director                                   March 27, 1997

</TABLE>
                                       22
<PAGE>


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and
Shareholders of Safety-Kleen Corp.:

        We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated financial statements included in the Safety-Kleen
Corp. annual report to shareholders incorporated by reference into this Form
10-K, and have issued our report thereon dated February 6, 1997. Our audit was
made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic consolidated financial
statements taken as a whole. The Supplemental Schedule II is the responsibility
of the Company's management and is presented for purposes of complying with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and is not part of the basic
consolidated financial statements. This schedule has been subjected to the
auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic consolidated financial
statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all material respects, the
financial data required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.


                                                /S/   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Chicago, Illinois
February 6, 1997

                                       23
<PAGE>


                                                                    SCHEDULE II
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                       SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

                   FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996




                                                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED
                                            DECEMBER 28, 1996     DECEMBER 30, 1995       DECEMBER 31, 1994
                                                              (EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                            <C>                     <C>                     <C>
Balance at beginning of year                   $ 7,969                 $ 8,868                 $ 8,432
Provision charged to operating expenses          4,556                   4,225                   5,067
Write-offs net of recoveries                    (4,109)                 (5,124)                 (4,631)
                                               -------                 -------                 -------
Balance at end of year                         $ 8,416                 $ 7,969                 $ 8,868
                                               =======                 =======                 =======
</TABLE>


                                       24



    MATERIAL TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN. The Company's executive
officers and other key management personnel, as determined by the Compensation
Committee, are eligible for cash bonuses under the Company's Management 
Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan").  Bonuses under the Incentive Plan are 
paid out of a bonus pool that is established by the Compensation Committee 
based on the Company's actual performance compared to one or more Performance 
Measures (as defined below).

    No later than 90 days after the beginning of each fiscal year, the
Compensation Committee will select the persons who will be eligible to
participate in the Incentive Plan. At that time, the Compensation Committee will
also allocate the bonus pool among the participants, which allocation may be
based on one or more Performance Measures and satisfaction of written
performance goals with respect to each selected Performance Measure. The
Incentive Plan performance goals may be based on any one or more of the
following criteria (the "Performance Measures") or a combination thereof: (i)
net earnings; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and/or amortization; (iv) pre-tax operating income; (v) return on
equity; (vi) return on assets; (vii) cash flows; (viii) return on invested
capital; (ix) Economic Value Added; and (x) total shareholder return. These
criteria can be applied on either an absolute or relative (with respect to the
Company's operating plans, the Company's past performance or the performance of
other companies) basis, and on either a consolidated or business unit level. In
addition, to the extent consistent with the goal of providing for deductibility
under Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee may consider other performance
criteria in determining the level of actual payouts from the bonus pool. The
Compensation Committee has the discretion to payout less than the full amount of
the bonus pool.

    The maximum amount of compensation that may be paid under the Incentive Plan
to any participant in any given fiscal year is the lesser of 200% of the
participant's base salary or $900,000. The Compensation Committee may not
increase the amount of any participant's bonus under the Incentive Plan as so
determined, but may reduce, or totally eliminate, such bonus if the Compensation
Committee determines that such a reduction or elimination is appropriate in
order to reflect the participant's performance or other factors.

    All payments pursuant to the Incentive Plan are to be made in cash, unless
the Compensation Committee determines otherwise, and only after the Compensation
Committee certifies that the pre-established performance goals for that
particular year have been satisfied.

    The Incentive Plan shall be in effect for the Company's fiscal year ended
January 3, 1998 and will continue in effect for subsequent years unless and
until terminated by the Compensation Committee in accordance with the provisions
of the plan. The Board may suspend, amend or terminate the Incentive Plan
without shareholder approval at any time, except to the extent Section 162(m)
requires shareholder approval thereof.

                                   EXHIBIT 13




                           FINANCIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                  MANAGEMENT'S
                                 DISCUSSION AND
                              ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                                  CONDITION AND
                                   RESULTS OF
                                   OPERATIONS
                                       21

                               SELECTED FINANCIAL
                                      DATA
                                       26

                                    REPORT OF
                               INDEPENDENT PUBLIC
                                   ACCOUNTANTS
                                       27

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                                  STATEMENTS OF
                                   OPERATIONS
                                       28

                              CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
                                     SHEETS
                                       29

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                                  STATEMENTS OF
                              SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                       30

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                               STATEMENTS OF CASH
                                      FLOWS
                                       31

                                    NOTES TO
                                  CONSOLIDATED
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                       32








                                       20
<PAGE>

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

SUMMARY OF 1994, 1995 AND 1996 FINANCIAL RESULTS

        In 1996 and 1995, the Company's net earnings increased 15% and 6%,
respectively, from the prior year. The following table sets forth for the
periods indicated (i) percentages which certain items reflected in the financial
data bear to consolidated revenue of the Company and (ii) the percentage
increase (decrease) of such items as compared to the prior period.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             Relationship to       Period to Period
                                              Consolidated             Increase
                                                 Revenue              (Decrease)   
                                              Fiscal Year          Fiscal Years

                                      1996       1995      1994     1995-96  1994-95
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>      <C> 
Revenue                                100%       100%      100%       7.4%     8.6%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Costs and Expenses:
    Operating costs and expenses       72.8       73.1       73.3      6.9      8.4
    Selling and administrative
           expenses                    14.3       14.2       14.2      7.6      8.8
    Restructuring charges (credits)      --       (1.8)        --       --       --
    Special charge for environmental
      remediation costs                  --        1.4         --       --       --
    Interest income                    (0.2)      (0.1)      (0.1)    43.5     37.0
    Interest expense                    2.1        2.4        1.9     (4.9)    33.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                       89.0       89.2       89.3      7.1      8.5
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings before income taxes           11.0       10.8       10.7      9.9      9.0
Income taxes                            4.4        4.6        4.4      3.5     12.8
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings                            6.6%       6.2%       6.3%    14.6%     6.4%
=================================================================
</TABLE>

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

        Capital spending in 1996, 1995 and 1994 for additions of equipment at
customers and property, excluding business acquisitions, totaled $62 million,
$78 million and $88 million, respectively. These capital expenditures were
financed by cash from operations. Long-term debt decreased by $7 million in 1996
while remaining unchanged during 1995, and decreasing $5 million in 1994.

        The Company expects its capital expenditures for equipment at customers
and property additions for the full year 1997 will be approximately $70 million.
The Company expects to be able to finance these expenditures entirely through
internally generated funds. As more fully described in Note 6 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company and its subsidiaries have lines
of credit aggregating approximately $362 million. As of December 28, 1996, total
borrowings under these lines were $121 million.

        A portion of the Company's capital expenditures are related to
compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The Company estimates
capital spending of approximately $6 million in 1997 and $21 million in the
years 1998 through 2001 in order to comply with current environmental laws and
regulations in connection with the Company's existing business.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

REVENUES

        Total revenue derived from the Company's North American services and
European operations for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended
December 28, 1996 are presented below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Percentage of
                                                               Increase (Decrease)
(EXPRESSED IN MILLIONS)                                           Fiscal Years
                                          1996    1995    1994     1995-96   1995-94 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North America
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>         <C>    <C>
  Industrial Services                   $271.8   $241.6   $222.1      13%    9%
  Automotive/Retail Repair Services      245.0    239.7    237.8       2%    1%
  Oil Recovery Services                  150.8    129.0    117.8      17%   10%
Other Service Areas                      149.2    149.8    128.2      --    17%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total North America                      816.8    760.1    705.9       7%    8%
Europe                                   106.3     99.2     85.4       7%   16%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated                            $923.1   $859.3   $791.3       7%    9%
====================================================================================
</TABLE>

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

        FLUID RECOVERY SERVICE Revenue from the Company's North American
Industrial Services includes Fluid Recovery Service revenue of $143.0 million in
1996, $122.8 million in 1995 and $109.1 million in 1994. The 17% revenue
increase experienced in 1996 reflects volume increases of approximately 15% and
price increases of approximately 2%. This volume improvement is due, in part, to
new product and service offerings. Approximately 11 percentage points of the 13%
increase in Fluid Recovery Service revenue in 1995 can be attributed to higher
volume. The remaining increase was due to higher prices.

        INDUSTRIAL PARTS CLEANER SERVICE The North American Industrial Parts
Cleaner Service accounts for the remaining North American Industrial Services
revenue of $128.8 million in 1996, $118.8 million in 1995 and $113.0 million in
1994. The 8% revenue increase 

                                       21
<PAGE>

experienced in 1996 included volume increases of approximately 3% and price
increases of approximately 5%. Higher revenues in 1995 reflected a 1% increase
in volume and price increases of approximately 4%.

        The Company's Parts Cleaner Service has three volume components: the
number of parts cleaner machines in service ("machines in service"); the
frequency with which the machines are serviced ("service interval"); and the
size or type of machines in service ("machine mix"). With respect to the first
two components, revenue is favorably impacted by increases in the number of
machines in service and the frequency with which those machines are serviced.
With respect to machine mix, Safety-Kleen offers many different types of parts
cleaning machines ranging from small units that are relatively inexpensive to
larger, more complex units with significantly higher service charges.


NORTH AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE/RETAIL REPAIR SERVICES

        Higher revenue from the Automotive Parts Cleaner Service contributed
$1.4 million to the 1996 North American Automotive/Retail Repair Services
revenue increase. The remaining revenue increase came from the addition of new
services, including the Company's Vacuum Services business. Price increases in
the Company's Automotive Parts Cleaner Service, which averaged 5% in 1996, were
partially offset by a 4% volume decline.

        The 1995 revenue increase included price increases of approximately 4%.
These price increases were partially offset by lower volume.


NORTH AMERICAN OIL RECOVERY SERVICES

        The $21.8 million increase in revenue experienced in 1996 included
approximately $10 million of revenue derived from acquisitions. Approximately
40% of the remaining revenue increase is attributable to more favorable
collection pricing; 60% resulted from higher volume.

        An increase of 8% in the price of base lube oil and a 20% increase in
the average revenue per gallon of used oil, oily water and antifreeze collected
from the automotive market were the major factors contributing to the 1995
revenue increase.


NORTH AMERICAN OTHER SERVICE AREAS

        Revenue from Other Service Areas in 1996 was unchanged compared with
1995. Increases in Imaging Services revenue generated by the branch network were
offset by a decline in revenue caused by the elimination of low-margin Imaging
Services broker business.

        The revenue increase of $21.6 million in 1995 was mainly attributable to
an increase of $19.5 million from the Company's Imaging Services business.

EUROPE

        A weakening of European currencies against the U.S. dollar decreased
revenue by approximately $1.8 million in 1996. Exclusive of exchange rate
effects, revenues in Europe increased approximately 9%, as all major European
operations (except the Envirosystems operations in Germany) showed revenue
growth in local currency due mainly to higher volume.

        Foreign exchange rates accounted for approximately 50% of the increase
in revenue in 1995 over 1994, while the remaining increase experienced in 1995
reflected higher volumes and prices throughout most of the European operations.


OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

        The following table arrays the gross profit margins of the Company's
North American services and European operations for each of the three fiscal
years in the period ended December 28, 1996.

                                           1996   1995  1994
- ------------------------------------------------------------
North America
   Industrial Services                      31%    30%   33%
   Automotive/Retail Repair Services        36%    37%   35%
   Oil Recovery Services                    13%    15%   11%
   Other Service Areas                      21%    17%   19%
Total North America                         27%    27%   27%
Europe                                      25%    25%   24%
Consolidated                                27%    27%   27%
============================================================

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

        The North American Industrial Services gross margin for 1996 improved
slightly from 1995 due mainly to lower recycling costs and improved pricing in
the Fluid Recovery Service caused by the reduction of price discounts.

        The gross margin decline in 1995 resulted from higher recycling and
plant costs. During 1995, the Company renegotiated its long-term exclusive
supply arrangements with two cement plants and entered

                                       22
<PAGE>

into arrangements to manage the waste-derived fuels program at two additional
plants. The Company's cost per gallon for disposal of waste-derived fuel under
the new agreements was higher than its historical cost per gallon. In addition,
three of these plants were unable to burn normal volumes of waste-derived fuel
during the third interim period of 1995 due to unscheduled fuel burning
outages, resulting in higher costs for alternate disposal.


NORTH AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE/RETAIL REPAIR SERVICES

        The North American Automotive/Retail Repair Service gross margin in 1996
declined slightly from 1995 due to the impact of the new Vacuum Services
business in the U.S. which was operating at approximately break-even at the
gross profit level in 1996.

        The 1995 gross margin improvement reflects improved pricing, a shift in
mix towards more cyclonic parts cleaners with higher profit margins and lower
worker's compensation costs.


NORTH AMERICAN OIL RECOVERY SERVICES

        While total gross profits of the Oil Recovery Services remained
relatively unchanged from 1995, the gross profit margin declined by 2 percentage
points in 1996. The decrease in margins is attributable principally to a 2%
decline in the average selling price of base lube oil, increased cost of natural
gas used at the Company's lube oil re-refineries, and lower margins earned on
the $10 million of acquired collection business.

        Improved pricing on base lube oil sold and higher automotive collection
charges for oil wastes account for most of the improvement in 1995 gross margin.


NORTH AMERICAN OTHER SERVICE AREAS

        The improved margin in Other Services resulted principally from the
elimination of low-margin broker business in the Imaging Services business
during 1996 and lower waste-derived fuel processing costs and other waste
disposal costs.

        Higher losses realized in the new Imaging Services business caused the
North American Other Services gross profit margin to decrease in 1995. The gross
margins on the North American Other Services, excluding Imaging Services,
increased by 2% due mainly to improved pricing in selected markets and higher
volumes in the Puerto Rico Envirosystems business.


EUROPE

        The European gross margin in 1996 was unchanged compared with 1995.
Lower gross profits earned in the Company's German Envirosystems operation due
to lower sales, were offset by improved margins in the other major operations in
Europe.

        The increase in Europe's 1995 gross profit margin was due mainly to
improved pricing and volumes.


SELLING AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

        The 8% and 9% increases in selling and administrative expenses the
Company experienced in 1996 and 1995, respectively, resulted primarily from
additional employees and related employee expenses, increases in compensation
and related benefits and business acquisitions.


RESTRUCTURING AND SPECIAL CHARGES

        The Company adopted a restructuring plan in 1993 based on conversion of
its Parts Cleaner Service to new technology and other strategic actions to
better focus the Company on its core environmental services, reduce its cost
structure and improve the value of its services to its customers. In conjunction
with the adoption of the plan, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of
$179 million ($106 million after-tax or $1.84 per share). In 1993, the Company
also recorded a $50 million charge ($30 million after-tax or $0.52 per share)
representing a change in estimate for environmental remediation costs. In 1995,
the Company recorded a $15.2 million (pre-tax) credit to income to reduce the
amount of restructuring reserves established in 1993 to their expected required
levels. In 1995, the Company also recorded a $12 million (pre-tax) charge to
income to increase the reserves for environmental remediation at its facilities
in North America. In 1996, the Company substantially completed all of its
restructuring activities and reclassified the remaining accruals (totaling $12
million) to "other accrued expenses" and "other liabilities" on the Company's
balance sheet. The Company spent approximately $4 million, $7 million and $20
million of cash (net of tax benefits received) on restructuring during 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively. In 1994, the Company also received a $10.8 million
refund of estimated tax payments made in 1993.


                                     23

<PAGE>

INTEREST EXPENSE

        Slightly lower interest rates offset partially by a slightly higher
average debt balance resulted in a $1.0 million decrease in interest expense in
1996. Higher interest rates account for the $5.0 million increase in interest
expense in 1995. Interest expense excludes $2.1, $2.1 and $2.4 million of
interest capitalized during 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

        The impact of the interest rate swaps executed in the United States and
Germany in 1992 and 1993 are more fully explained in Note 6 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements resulted in interest expense savings of $0.1, $0.6, and
$1.8 million in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.


INCOME TAXES

        The effective income tax rate was 40% in 1996, 42% in 1995 and 41% in
1994. The effective tax rate in 1996 declined due to tax effects of the
restructuring credits and remediation charges recorded in 1995. The effective
income tax rate in 1995 before the restructuring credits and additional
remediation charges was 40% which is consistent with 1996. The higher rate
experienced in 1994 compared to 1995 and 1996 was due primarily to higher
non-deductible expenses.


ACCOUNTING CHANGES

        The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 121 on Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to Be Disposed Of in fiscal year 1996. The Company also adopted SFAS
No.123 on Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation as described more fully in
Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The adoption of SFAS No. 121
and No. 123 did not have a material impact on the financial position or results
of operations of the Company.


OTHER TRENDS, EVENTS AND UNCERTAINTIES

        The Company has committed significant human and capital resources to
fully comply with all environmental laws, regulations and other governmental
requirements. While the Company's goal is to achieve 100% compliance, given its
extensive operations, the technical aspects of the regulations, and the varying
interpretations of the requirements from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the
Company may face government enforcement proceedings and incur fines and
penalties or expenses for remedial work from time to time. While the Company
does not anticipate any such fines, penalties or expenses will have a material
adverse impact on its financial condition, many environmental laws are written
and enforced in a way in which the potential liability can be large, and it is
always possible that the Company's actual liability in any particular case will
prove to be larger than anticipated and accrued for by the Company. It is also
possible that expenses incurred in any particular reporting period for
remediation costs or for fines, penalties or judgments, could have a material
impact on the Company's results of operations for that period. The Company paid
approximately $0.4 million in 1996, for environmental fines, penalties and
forfeitures, compared to $1 million and $4 million in 1995 and 1994,
respectively.

        The Company continues to be subject to legislation and regulations
adopted by federal, state and local authorities which may impose stricter
operating and performance standards and increased taxes, assessments and fees.
The Company may not be able to pass on the costs associated with such
legislation and regulations to its customers through price increases.

        On April 19, 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA")
published its proposed Hazardous Waste Combustor Rule. This proposed rule will
set emissions standards for incinerators, cement kilns and lightweight aggregate
kilns that burn hazardous waste. As proposed, these standards would require
cement kilns, who are major outlets for the Company's waste-derived fuels, to
make capital improvements which would increase the cost of burning such fuels in
cement kilns. However, due to the complexity of the proposed rule, the lengthy
adoption process to which it is subject, and the likelihood that the rule will
undergo changes prior to its adoption, the effect of the final rule is unknown.

        The South Coast Air Quality Management District ("SCAQMD"), the air
district for the greater Los Angeles, California area, has amended its rule
setting the allowable volatile organic compound ("VOC") content of materials
used for remote reservoir repair and maintenance cleaning. 

                                       24
<PAGE>

The amended rule will, in effect, ban remote reservoir parts cleaning
with solutions containing VOCs in excess of fifty grams per liter as of
January 1, 1999, except in certain applications. Substantially all of the 
Company's parts cleaners currently placed with SCAQMD customers utilize 
solvents containing VOCs in excess of fifty grams per liter. 
The Company offers aqueous parts cleaning systems which meet the 1999
SCAQMD requirements and is working with its SCAQMD customers to identify which
customers will need to convert their solvent parts cleaners to an alternative
cleaning solvent or solution prior to January 1, 1999. In addition, the Company
will continue to actively work with the SCAQMD to identify appropriate
exemptions and develop alternatives to the 1999 VOC limits for materials used
for remote reservoir parts cleaning. The Company expects other Clean Air Act
nonattainment municipalities to consider adopting similar rules.

        In recent years, companies have generally endeavored to minimize the
amount of waste they generate and reduce costs. These waste minimization and
cost savings efforts have adversely affected demand for Safety-Kleen's services,
although the Company believes that the small quantity generators of wastes it
specializes in serving are not as greatly impacted by waste minimization efforts
as large generators. Certain Safety-Kleen service offerings are designed to help
customers reduce waste.


EFFECTS OF PETROLEUM PRICE CHANGES

        Through its Oil Recovery operations, the Company re-refines and markets
petroleum based products at prices that have generally been positively
correlated to crude oil prices over the long-term. However, during the second
half of 1996, sales prices for the Company's base lube oil have declined, even
though crude oil prices increased by approximately 20% from mid-year to
year-end. The Company believes this lube oil selling price decline reflects the
market's reaction to construction of a new large lube oil refinery in the U.S.
and the expansion of a Canadian lube oil refinery which are expected to increase
the North American lube oil industry's capacity by approximately 10%. The
Company expects this added capacity will continue to negatively impact its base
lube oil selling prices unless and until some of the older, less-efficient
refineries in North America cease their lube oil operations.

        The Company's various service operations (such as its Parts Cleaner
Service) also consume petroleum-based products, the cost of which are positively
correlated to crude oil prices over the long-term.

        Generally, the Company's earnings are positively affected by higher
crude oil prices. The speed at which the Company is able to raise prices for its
services and products is restricted somewhat by committed price contracts.


PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT DISCLOSURE

        This report contains various forward-looking statements, including
financial, operating and other projections. There are many factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, such as: adoption of new
environmental laws and regulations and changes in the way such laws and
regulations are interpreted and enforced; general business conditions, such as
the level of competition, changes in demand for the Company's services and the
strength of the economy in general; and prices for petroleum based products.
These and other factors are discussed in this report, the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K and other documents the Company has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                       25

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

FISCAL YEAR                      1996          1995         1994         1993          1992(3)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>              <C>       
Revenue                     $  923,126   $  859,251   $  791,267   $  795,508       $  794,542
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss)             61,109       53,303       50,094     (101,346)(1)       45,637(2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings (loss) per share         1.05         0.92         0.87        (1.76)(1)         0.79(2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash dividends per share          0.36         0.36         0.36         0.36             0.34
==============================================================================================

BALANCE SHEET DATA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current assets              $  230,133   $  206,208   $  197,221   $  202,887       $  188,717
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current liabilities            157,793      162,676      165,455      149,415          140,988
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Working capital                 72,340       43,532       31,766       53,472           47,729
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                 1,044,823    1,009,050      973,444      950,664        1,006,446
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt                 276,954      283,715      284,125      288,633          300,724
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shareholders' equity           480,290      433,435      396,336      362,664          492,095
==============================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1) Includes restructuring and special charges, net of tax benefit, 
    of $136 million ($229 million pre-tax) or $2.36 per share.

(2) Includes $300,000 ($.01 per share) increase in net earnings from
    cumulative effect of prior years effect of adopting Statement of
    Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No.106 on accounting for post-
    retirement benefits and SFAS No.109 on accounting for income taxes.

(3) Fiscal year 1992 was a fifty-three week year. All other years 
    presented were fifty-two weeks.


                                       26
<PAGE>


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF SAFETY-KLEEN CORP.:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Safety-Kleen Corp. (a Wisconsin corporation) and Subsidiaries as of December 28,
1996 and December 30, 1995, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal
years in the period ended December 28, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Safety-Kleen Corp.
and Subsidiaries as of December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995, and the results
of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in
the period ended December 28, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.


                                                       ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 6, 1997

                                       27
<PAGE>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996, DECEMBER 30, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994

FISCAL YEAR                                    1996         1995         1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

REVENUE                                   $ 923,126    $ 859,251    $ 791,267
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
    Operating costs and expenses            671,971      628,469      579,509
    Selling and administrative expenses     131,665      122,319      112,434
    Restructuring credit                         --      (15,217)          --
    Special charge for environmental
      remediation costs                          --       11,956           --
    Interest income                          (1,398)        (974)        (711)
    Interest expense                         19,240       20,230       15,209
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            821,478      766,783      706,441
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES                101,648       92,468       84,826
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCOME TAXES                                 40,539       39,165       34,732
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET EARNINGS                              $  61,109    $  53,303    $  50,094
=============================================================================
EARNINGS PER COMMON AND COMMON
  EQUIVALENT SHARE                        $    1.05    $    0.92    $    0.87
=============================================================================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


                                       28
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                                 BALANCE SHEETS

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

ASSETS                                                 Dec. 28, 1996  Dec. 30, 1995
===================================================================================
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)

CURRENT ASSETS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>        
    Cash and cash equivalents                          $    10,648    $    22,238
    Trade accounts receivable,
      less allowances of $8,416 and
      $7,969, respectively                                 132,436        110,120
    Inventories                                             49,971         36,020
    Deferred tax assets                                     11,973         17,984
    Prepaid expenses and other                              25,105         19,846
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           230,133        206,208
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUIPMENT AT CUSTOMERS AND COMPONENTS, AT COST, LESS
    accumulated depreciation of $45,811 and
    $44,072, respectively                                  124,491        117,383
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPERTY, AT COST
    Land                                                    49,340         49,469
    Buildings and improvements                             238,296        242,886
    Leasehold improvements                                  34,168         31,745
    Machinery and equipment                                421,134        391,519
    Autos and trucks                                       129,319        129,026
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           872,257        844,645
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Less accumulated depreciation and amortization         349,921        315,092
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           522,336        529,553
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, AT COST
    Goodwill                                                92,112         95,233
    Other                                                  122,203        100,077
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           214,315        195,310
    Less accumulated amortization                           77,106         68,008
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           137,209        127,302
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER ASSETS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Deferred tax assets                                     24,135         24,957
    Other                                                    6,519          3,647
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            30,654         28,604
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $ 1,044,823    $ 1,009,050
=================================================================================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
=================================================================================
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
CURRENT LIABILITIES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Trade accounts payable                             $    69,684    $    62,795
    Accrued salaries, wages and employee benefits           25,510         29,197
    Other accrued expenses                                  29,237         37,847
    Insurance reserves                                      13,621         13,101
    Accrued environmental liabilities                        8,941         11,561
    Income taxes payable                                    10,800          8,175
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           157,793        162,676
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONG-TERM DEBT, LESS CURRENT PORTION                       276,954        283,715
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES                                    49,849         43,111
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCRUED ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES                           40,260         42,713
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER LIABILITIES                                           39,677         43,400
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (NOTE 10)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Preferred stock ($.10 par value; authorized
      1,000,000 shares; none issued)                            --             --
    Common stock ($.10 par value; authorized
      300,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
      58,246,939 shares and 57,868,541 shares,
      respectively)                                          5,825          5,787
    Additional paid-in capital                             192,755        186,365
    Retained earnings                                      296,225        256,052
    Minimum pension liability adjustment                      --           (1,226)
    Cumulative translation adjustments                     (14,515)       (13,543)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           480,290        433,435
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       $ 1,044,823    $ 1,009,050
=================================================================================
</TABLE>

THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                                       29
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                       STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996, DECEMBER 30, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994

                                 TOTAL        COMMON     ADDITIONAL               MINIMUM       CUMULATIVE
                              SHAREHOLDERS'  STOCK $.10   PAID-IN    RETAINED     PENSION       TRANSLATION
                                 EQUITY      PAR VALUE    CAPITAL    EARNINGS   LIABILITY ADJ.  ADJUSTMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                            <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>       
Balance at January 1, 1994     $ 362,664    $   5,768   $ 183,612   $ 194,261    $     --      $ (20,977)

Net earnings                      50,094           --          --      50,094          --             --

Cash dividends                   (20,786)          --          --     (20,786)         --             --
Stock options exercised
and related tax benefits           1,184            7       1,177          --          --             --

Change in cumulative
translation adjustments            3,180           --          --          --          --          3,180
===========================================================================================================
Balance at December 31, 1994     396,336        5,775     184,789     223,569          --        (17,797)

Net earnings                      53,303           --          --      53,303          --            --

Cash dividends                   (20,820)          --          --     (20,820)         --            --

Stock options exercised
and related tax benefits           1,588           12       1,576          --          --            --

Minimum pension
liability adjustment              (1,226)          --          --          --       (1,226)          --

Change in cumulative
translation adjustments            4,254           --          --          --           --         4,254
===========================================================================================================
Balance at December 30, 1995     433,435        5,787     186,365     256,052       (1,226)      (13,543)

Net earnings                      61,109           --          --      61,109           --           --

Cash dividends                   (20,936)          --          --     (20,936)          --           --

Stock issued for
business acquired                  4,847           27       4,820          --           --           --

Stock options exercised
and related tax benefits           1,581           11       1,570          --           --           --

Minimum pension
liability adjustment               1,226           --          --          --        1,226           --

Change in cumulative
translation adjustments             (972)          --          --          --           --          (972)
===========================================================================================================
Balance at December 28, 1996   $ 480,290    $   5,825   $ 192,755   $ 296,225    $      --     $ (14,515)
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

    

                                       30
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                  CONSOLIDATED
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1996, DECEMBER 30, 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994

FISCAL YEAR                                                            1996         1995         1994 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                 <C>          <C>          <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net earnings                                                    $  61,109    $  53,303    $  50,094
=======================================================================================================
    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided
      by operating activities
        Depreciation of equipment at customers and property            60,830       61,681       63,112
        Amortization of intangible and other assets                    16,911       16,120       14,618
        Provisions for doubtful accounts receivable                     4,556        4,225        5,067
        Change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities, net      15,297       26,504       22,247
        Other                                                           9,461        2,584       (2,440)

    (Increase) decrease in assets, net of effects from
      business acquisitions:
        Trade accounts receivable                                     (25,251)      (8,433)      (9,072)
        Inventories                                                   (13,499)      (1,088)       2,472
        Prepaid expenses and other                                     (5,152)      (2,001)      (2,412)

     Increase (decrease) in liabilities, net of effects from
       business acquisitions:
        Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses                     1,990          703       18,644
          Restructure liability                                       (10,000)     (36,475)     (25,179)
          Environmental liabilities                                    (5,073)       4,459      (16,820)
          Other liabilities                                             4,766        3,360        5,575

=======================================================================================================
     Total adjustments                                                 54,836       71,639       75,812
=======================================================================================================
Net cash provided by operating activities                             115,945      124,942      125,906
=======================================================================================================
Cash flows used in investing activities:
    Equipment at customers additions                                  (23,854)     (34,874)     (42,623)
    Property additions                                                (37,670)     (43,235)     (45,349)
    Payment for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired           (26,651)     (12,682)      (1,845)
    Other assets additions, net                                       (13,158)     (12,671)      (7,446)
=======================================================================================================
Net cash used in investing activities                                (101,333)    (103,462)     (97,263)
=======================================================================================================
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities:
    Net borrowings (payments) under line-of-credit agreements          (6,760)     (51,565)      (5,404)
    Proceeds from issuances of senior notes                                 0       50,000           --
    Proceeds from stock option exercises                                1,576        1,930        1,184
    Cash dividends paid                                               (20,936)     (20,820)     (20,786)
=======================================================================================================
Net cash from (used in) financing activities                          (26,120)     (20,455)     (25,006)
=======================================================================================================
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                   (82)         198            3
=======================================================================================================
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                      (11,590)       1,223        3,640

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                         22,238       21,015       17,375
=======================================================================================================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                            $  10,648    $  22,238    $  21,015
=======================================================================================================
Supplemental Information:
     Cash paid during the year for:
       Interest (net of amount capitalized)                         $  19,607    $  18,997    $  14,241
       Income taxes (net of refunds received)                          27,547       11,231       10,222
=======================================================================================================
      Consideration given up and liabilities assumed in
               business acquisitions                                $  30,858    $  17,268    $   2,261
=======================================================================================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.


                                       31
<PAGE>

                                    NOTES TO
                       CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

1. NATURE OF BUSINESS

        The Company is a leading provider of services to generators of spent
solvents and other contaminated waste streams as well as the leading provider of
parts cleaner services and one of the world's largest collectors and re-refiners
of used lube oil. The Company serves hundreds of thousands of customers in
North America and Europe, through a network of 230 branch facilities.


2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

        The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the
Company and its subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany
balances and transactions. The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday
closest to December 31.


EQUIPMENT AT CUSTOMERS AND RELATED DEPRECIATION

        Equipment at customers is capitalized at manufactured or purchased cost.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over a period of 3 to 13
years, commencing when the units are placed in service.


PROPERTY AND RELATED DEPRECIATION

        Land, buildings and improvements, leasehold improvements, machinery and
equipment, and autos and trucks are capitalized at cost. Items of an ordinary
repair or maintenance nature are charged directly to operating expense.
Improvement costs are capitalized and charged to operations over the shorter of
the improvement life or the related asset life. Depreciation is computed
principally using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as
follows: Buildings and improvements 5 to 40 years; machinery and equipment 2 to
20 years; autos and trucks 4 to 10 years; and leasehold improvements over the
shorter of 5 to 10 years, or remaining term of the lease.


INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND RELATED AMORTIZATION

        Goodwill consists primarily of the cost of acquired businesses in excess
of market value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over forty years. Subsequent to its acquisition, the Company
continually evaluates whether later events and circumstances have occurred that
indicate the remaining estimated useful life of goodwill may warrant revision or
that the remaining balance of goodwill may not be recoverable. When factors
indicate that goodwill should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company
uses an estimate of the related business segment's undiscounted operating income
over the remaining life of the goodwill in measuring whether the goodwill is
recoverable.

        Other intangible assets consist primarily of costs to obtain customers,
regulatory operating permits and computer software. Amortization of other
intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the expected
life of the intangible asset, which principally ranges from 2 years to 10 years.


ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION COSTS AND LIABILITIES

        The Company has recorded estimates for remediation costs relating to all
operating and previously-closed sites prior to conducting detailed individual
site investigations to ascertain the existence and extent of contamination. The
Company reviews the adequacy of its liability for environmental remediation on a
periodic basis and records adjustments to the costs and liabilities accordingly.
In 1995, the Company recorded a $12 million pre-tax charge to refine its
estimates of environmental liabilities.


EARNINGS PER SHARE

        Earnings per share amounts are based on the average shares of common
stock outstanding during each year and common stock equivalents of dilutive
stock options and warrants.


STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

        Short-term investments with original maturities of 90 days or less are
considered to be cash equivalents for purposes of the Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows and Consolidated Balance Sheets. Cash flows associated with items
intended as hedges of identifiable transactions are classified in the same
categories as the cash flows of the items being hedged.


USE OF ESTIMATES

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


RECLASSIFICATIONS

        Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with
current year presentation.

                                       32
<PAGE>

3. ACQUISITIONS

        All acquisitions made during the three fiscal years ended December 28,
1996 were accounted for using the purchase method and, accordingly, their
operating results have been included in the Company's Consolidated Statements of
Operations only since the respective dates of acquisition. The acquisitions were
not material either individually or in the aggregate.


4. SEGMENT INFORMATION

        The Company and its subsidiaries operate in the United States, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of
Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Spain. A summary of certain data
with respect to these operations for the fiscal years ended December 28, 1996,
December 30, 1995, and December 31, 1994 is presented below:

(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)       1996         1995         1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE
United States and
  Puerto Rico              $  754,271   $  698,792   $  648,555
Canada                         62,529       61,286       57,332
Europe                        106,326       99,173       85,380
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated               $  923,126   $  859,251   $  791,267
===============================================================
TOTAL ASSETS
United States and
  Puerto Rico              $  788,521   $  766,276   $  742,140
Canada                         75,750       68,482       68,550
Europe                        180,552      174,292      162,754
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated               $1,044,823   $1,009,050   $  973,444
===============================================================
NET EARNINGS
United States and
  Puerto Rico              $   56,092   $   44,446   $   47,766
Canada                          1,614        3,751        1,552
Europe                          3,403        5,106          776
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated               $   61,109   $   53,303   $   50,094
===============================================================


        The 1995 net earnings, by segment, excluding the $15.2 million pre-tax
credit to income for the write down of restructuring reserves previously
established in 1993 and the $12 million pre-tax charge for the refinement of the
Company's environmental remediation reserves at its facilities in North America,
were as follows:

              EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS
        --------------------------------
        USA & Puerto Rico      $  49,383
        Canada                     1,856
        Europe                     2,064
        --------------------------------
        Consolidated           $  53,303
        ================================

        The Company operates primarily in one business segment--providing
businesses with environmentally safe and convenient solutions for managing fluid
waste and other recoverable resources.


5. INVENTORIES

        The Company's inventories consist primarily of solvent, oil and
supplies. LIFO inventories at December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995 were $4.8
million and $5.3 million, respectively. Under the FIFO method of accounting
(which approximates current or replacement cost) inventories would have been
$0.3 million higher at December 28, 1996 and unchanged at December 30, 1995.


6. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

        Long-term debt at December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995 consisted of
the following:


(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)                       DEC. 28, 1996     DEC. 30, 1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.25% Senior Notes due in 1999                   $ 100,000           $ 100,000
8.05% Senior Notes due in 1998                      50,000              50,000

Unsecured notes payable to banks
  under financing agreements:
    Revolving lines of credit                       67,990              89,771
    Uncommitted lines of credit                     52,897              37,580
Other                                                6,067               6,364
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 $ 276,954           $ 283,715
Less-current portion                                    --                  -- 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total long-term debt                             $ 276,954           $ 283,715
===============================================================================

The long-term debt as of December 28, 1996 is due as follows:

                                  EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS
                             ------------------------------
                             1998                 $ 103,841
                             1999                 $ 100,108
                             2000                 $  72,585
                             2001                 $      60
                             2002 and thereafter  $     360
                             ==============================

        The $100 million of 9.25% Senior Notes ("the Notes") due September 1999
specify that, upon the occurrence of a credit agency rating decline below
investment grade, either in conjunction with a change in control or as a result
of other events as defined in the Notes, each holder of the Notes has the option
to require the Company to purchase all or any part of such holder's Notes at a
price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest.

        In May, 1992, the Company executed interest rate swap agreements that
effectively convert $100 million of its fixed-rate borrowings into variable rate
obligations. These swap agreements expire in September 1999. In April 1993, the
Company executed an interest rate swap agreement that converted these $100
million variable rate obligations to a fixed rate. 

                                       33
<PAGE>

This agreement expired in September 1996. The effect of these swaps 
reduced the interest rate on the Notes from 9.25% to 7.08% through 
September 1996. At that time, the interest reverted back to a variable rate.
The variable rate is based on the U.S. Dollar London Interbank Offered Rate
(LIBOR) determined at 6-month intervals. At December 28, 1996, the effective 
variable rate of interest on these borrowings was 7.8%.

        In May 1992, at the same time the Company entered into the $100 million
interest rate swap agreement, the Company entered an interest rate cap
agreement, which protects the Company from rising interest rates. The cap has a
notional amount of $100 million, and expires on September 12, 1999. The cap
effectively limits the Company's interest rate exposure to 13.92% if LIBOR
exceeds 12%. The premium paid on the cap is being amortized to interest expense
over the term of the cap. The Company has a U.S. revolving credit agreement
totaling $160 million which expires in March 2000. The agreement provides for
interest rates to be determined at the time of the borrowing based on a choice
of formulas as specified in the agreement. The Company currently benefits from a
competitive bid option under the agreement which ensures that favorable market
rates of interest are secured. A facility fee based on the Company's credit
ratings is paid on the total amount of the line of credit. At December 28, 1996,
$20 million of borrowings were outstanding at an average interest rate of 5.6%.

        At December 28, 1996, the Company had uncommitted lines of credit
totaling $145 million. Borrowings under these lines were $53 million at an
average interest rate of 5.5%.

        The Company has the ability to convert other bank borrowings to its
revolving credit facilities. Since the committed facilities extend beyond 1997
and the Company intends to renew these obligations, $127 million of the loans
payable to banks have been classified as long-term debt.

        The Company's German subsidiary has a revolving credit agreement
totaling 76 million Deutschmarks (U.S. $49 million) that extends credit until
December, 1997. The interest rate determined at the time of each borrowing is
6-month LIBOR plus 0.5%. A commitment fee of 0.125% per annum is paid quarterly
on the unused portion of the facility. At December 28, 1996, 75 million
Deutschmarks ($48 million U.S.) of borrowings were outstanding under these
facilities at an average interest rate of 3.8% (prior to the effect of interest
rate swap described as follows).

        In May 1992, the Company's German subsidiary executed an interest rate
swap agreement which expires in May 1997. The interest rate on DM 70 million
(U.S. $45 million) was swapped from rates based on 6-month DM LIBOR to rates
based on 6-month U.S. Dollar LIBOR. At December 28, 1996, the effective interest
rate was 7.9%.

        At December 28, 1996, the Company's other subsidiary operations have
miscellaneous line of credit agreements totaling $8 million (U.S.). At December
28, 1996, there were no borrowings under these lines of credit.

        All of the Company's interest rate swap agreements have been entered
into with major financial institutions which are expected to fully perform under
the terms of the agreements. The Company monitors the credit ratings of these
counterparties and considers the risk of default to be remote.

        The fair value of the three interest rate swap agreements and the
interest cap agreement noted above was approximately $2.1 million and $6.4
million greater than the Company's carrying value at December 28, 1996 and
December 30, 1995, respectively. This fair value is determined by obtaining
quotes from brokers who regularly deal in these types of financial instruments.
These interest rate swaps have resulted in a net savings of $0.1, $0.6, and $1.8
million in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.

        In January 1995, the Company entered into a note purchase agreement with
two insurance companies, under which the Company borrowed $50 million at a fixed
interest rate of 8.05% for 3 years expiring in January 1998. Proceeds from the
note were used to repay existing bank borrowings.

     The Company's credit agreements include provisions, among others, relative
to maintenance of minimum shareholders' equity and interest coverage ratios. 
At December 28, 1996, the Company's required minimum shareholders' equity 
was $438 million and the Company was in compliance with its loan provisions.


7. CAPITAL STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

        The Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares
of preferred stock, par value $.10 per share, at such time or times, in such
series, and with such designations and features thereof as it may determine,
including rate of dividend, redemption provisions and prices, conversion
conditions and prices and voting rights. No shares of preferred stock have been
issued.

                                       34
<PAGE>


STOCK OPTION AND EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLANS:

        The Company has the following stock option and employee stock purchase
plans:

1.  The 1985 and 1993 Stock Option Plans (The "Option Plans")
2.  The 1988 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors 
    (The "Directors' Plan")
3.  The Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP")

        The Company accounts for these plans under Accounting Principles Board
(APB) Opinion No. 25, under which no compensation has been recognized. Had
compensation costs for these plans been determined based on the fair value at
the date of grant consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company's 1996 and 1995 net
income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro-forma
amounts:

                                                 1996       1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Income:           As Reported             $ 61,109    $ 53,303
(IN THOUSANDS)        Pro Forma               $ 59,398    $ 52,235
Earnings Per Share:   As Reported             $   1.05    $   0.92
                      Pro Forma               $   1.02    $   0.90
==================================================================

        The fair value of each option granted under the Option Plans is
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with
the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in 1996 and 1995:

- ---------------------------------------------------
        Expected Lives             6 Years
        Dividend Yield             1.56%
        Expected Volatility        30.6%
        Risk Free Interest Rate    6.54%
===================================================

        The weighted average fair value of the shares granted under the Option
Plans in 1996 and 1995 would be $5.09 and $6.24, respectively. No grants were
made in 1996 and 1995 under the Directors' Plan. The cost per ESPP share granted
in 1996 and 1995 would be $3.30 and $3.49, respectively, based on a 10% discount
on share price and a Black-Scholes value of a 13-month option with a 2.23%
dividend yield rate.

        Because the SFAS No. 123 method of fair-value accounting has not been
applied to options granted prior to January 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma
compensation cost may not be representative of that to be expected in future
years.

        At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in May, 1996, the
shareholders approved an increase in the number of shares available for grant
under the Option Plans by 2,500,000 shares to a total of 8,437,500 shares. Under
the Option Plans, shares of the Company's common stock may be granted to
officers and other key employees at a price of 100% of the quoted market price
at date of grant. Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock
Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) may be
granted in conjunction with Non-Qualified Stock Options whereby the grantee may
surrender exercisable Non-Qualified Options and receive a cash payment equal to
the difference between the option price and the market value of the common stock
on the exercise date. The exercise of Incentive Options, Non-Qualified Options
and SARs are subject to conditions as determined at the time of grant by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. All options granted since May
1990 have been for a 10-year life with 25% vesting per year beginning one year
from the date of the grant. In November 1994, the Board extended the expiration
date on all stock options granted from February 1987 through May 1990 to
November 30, 2004.

        Under the Directors' Plan, options to purchase up to 300,000 shares of
the Company's common stock may be granted to outside Directors at a price of
100% of the quoted market price at the date of grant. Under the terms of the
Directors' Plan, each outside Director was granted an option to purchase 15,000
shares at the time the plan was adopted. Any new outside Director elected or
appointed after the date the plan was adopted would also be granted an option to
purchase 15,000 shares of the Company's common stock upon taking office. The
Directors' Plan also provides that a second option to purchase 15,000 shares be
granted to each outside Director on the fifth anniversary of the initial grant
of options if such Director is still serving on the Board at that time. Options
are exercisable 25% annually, on a cumulative basis, starting one year from date
of grant and terminating ten years after the grant date.

        Under the ESPP, a total of 1,500,000 shares of the Company's common
stock may be purchased by employees of the Company and designated subsidiaries,
through payroll deductions, at 90% of the lower of the quoted closing market
price on the date of grant or the quoted closing market price on June 30 in the
year following the date of grant. Under the plan, all full-time employees
(except officers of the Corporation) of the Company and designated subsidiaries
on the grant date who were continuously employed since January 1 of the year in
which the grant date occurs (subject to certain restrictions on percentage of
ownership outlined in the ESPP) are eligible to participate. The Company had an
employee stock purchase plan ("Old ESPP") which was in effect from 1990 through
1994. Under terms of the Old ESPP, no further grants to purchase shares could be
made after December 31, 1994. Therefore, 1,064,571 available option shares not
granted as of December 31, 1994 expired. An additional 66,188 shares granted in
1994 that were canceled in 1995 have expired.

                                       35
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans for the
three fiscal years ended December 28, 1996 is presented below:
  
                                                                                             Available
                                                                    Weighted                    for
                                                   Price            Avg. Ex.                  Future
                                   Shares          Range             Price     Exercisable    Grants
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>        <C>                   <C>          <C>          <C>      
Outstanding Options @ 1/1/94      2,728,415  $ 13.50 - $ 32.25     $   21.97    1,447,846    4,012,117
1994 Activity:
        Expired                                                                             (1,064,571)
        Granted                     853,408    13.50 -   15.88         14.97
        Exercised                   (71,207)   16.65 -   16.65         16.65
        Canceled                   (271,341)   13.50 -   32.00         18.42

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding Options @ 12/31/94    3,239,275    13.50 -   32.25         20.54    1,829,500    2,365,479
1995 Activity:
        Expired                                                                                (66,188)
        Authorized                                                                           1,500,000
        Granted                   1,228,846    15.41 -   16.88         16.15
        Exercised                  (133,992)   13.50 -   15.63         14.40
        Canceled                   (233,762)   13.50 -   32.25         19.05

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding Options @ 12/30/95    4,100,367    13.50 -   32.25         19.43    2,142,623    2,804,207
1996 Activity:
        Expired
        Authorized                                                                           2,500,000
        Granted                     977,759    14.25 -   17.50         15.13
        Exercised                  (102,536)   13.50 -   16.25         15.37
        Canceled                   (115,789)   13.50 -   32.25         16.99

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding Options @ 12/28/96    4,859,801  $ 13.50 - $ 32.25     $   18.74    2,718,193    4,442,237
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


STOCK WARRANTS

        The Company, on January 27, 1995 issued 200,000 stock warrants in
conjunction with an acquisition. These warrants give the owner of stock warrants
the right to purchase up to 200,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a
price of $17.79 per share and expire on January 27, 2000.

        The following table summarizes information about the Company's stock
options and warrants outstanding at December 28, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        OPTION/WARRANTS                  OPTIONS/WARRANTS EXERCISABLE
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------
  WEIGHTED-
   AVERAGE                                               WEIGHTED-                      WEIGHTED-
  REMAINING           NUMBER             RANGE OF         AVERAGE         NUMBER         AVERAGE
CONTRACTUAL LIFE   OUTSTANDING       EXERCISE PRICES   EXERCISE PRICE  EXERCISABLE    EXERCISE PRICE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>          <C>                    <C>            <C>             <C>     
     1                278,370      $ 15.07  -  $ 19.46    $ 17.54        172,930         $  19.04
     1                  3,700        26.75  -    32.00      30.58          3,700            30.58
     2                 70,895        13.50  -    19.33      18.36         69,094            18.48
     2                 59,875        24.00  -    32.00      27.99         55,188            28.33
     3                223,250        13.50  -    19.33      17.73        220,288            17.78
     3                 37,362        24.00  -    32.00      27.82         34,158            28.18
     4                  2,350        13.50  -    15.63      14.95          1,363            14.74
     4                255,025        24.00  -    32.25      31.96        254,762            31.97
     5                 27,201        13.50  -    19.42      16.19         13,688            16.63
     5                235,025        24.00  -    32.25      27.05        234,725            27.06
     6                436,188        21.75  -    24.00      23.93        327,141            23.93
     7                635,875        13.50  -    17.38      14.98        369,694            14.79
     8              1,944,635        16.25  -    23.92      17.50      1,161,462            18.33
     9                846,250        14.25  -    15.12      15.12              -                -
     10                 3,800        17.50  -    17.50      17.50              -                -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTAL           5,059,801     $  13.50  -  $ 32.25    $ 18.74     2,918,193          $  20.72
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

                                       36

<PAGE>

SHAREHOLDERS' RIGHTS PLAN

        Pursuant to a plan adopted by the Company in December 1988, each share
of the Company's common stock carries the right to buy one share of the
Company's common stock at a price of $73.33 per share. The rights will expire on
November 21, 1998, unless earlier redeemed by the Company. The rights will
become exercisable if a person becomes an "acquiring person" by acquiring 20% of
the Company's common stock or announces a tender offer that would result in such
person owning 20% or more of the Company's common stock. If someone becomes an
acquiring person (except pursuant to certain cash tender offers for all shares),
the holder of each right (other than rights owned by the acquiring person) will
be entitled to purchase common stock of the Company having a market value of
twice the exercise price of the right. In addition, if the Company is acquired
in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the Company's
common stock is exchanged for cash or securities, or 50% or more of its
consolidated assets or earning power are sold, each holder (other than the
acquiring person) will have the right to purchase common stock of the acquiring
company having a market value of twice the exercise price. The rights may be
redeemed by the Company, at a price of 0.67 cent per right, at any time prior to
anyone becoming an acquiring person.


8. PENSION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

        The Company has four noncontributory pension plans covering
substantially all full time employees in the United States. Domestic pension
plans consist of three qualified plans and one unfunded non-qualified plan. The
qualified plans are funded in compliance with ERISA requirements as employees
become eligible to participate, generally, after completing one year of service.

        The Company's consolidated pension costs for fiscal years 1996, 1995 and
1994 were $6.0 million, $4.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

        The following table sets forth the domestic plans' combined funded
status at December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              December 28, 1996                             December 30, 1995

                                  Assets exceed              Accumulated             Assets exceed        Accumulated  
                                 Accumulated                Benefits exceed           Accumulated        Benefits exceed
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)           Benefits                   Assets                   Benefits              Assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>                      <C>                        <C>                 <C>    
Actuarial present value
  of benefit obligation:
    Vested benefits               $  44,213                $  2,395                   $  32,439            $  7,314
    Nonvested benefits                4,427                     141                       7,014               2,170
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated benefit obligation       48,640                   2,536                      39,453               9,484
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effect of projected
  compensation levels                16,169                     584                      14,063                 420
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected benefit obligation         64,809                   3,120                      53,516               9,904
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan assets at fair value            64,204                       -                      43,869               5,644
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected benefit obligation
  (greater) than plan assets           (605)                 (3,120)                     (9,647)             (4,260)

Unrecognized net loss (gain)          1,476                    (629)                      7,338               1,541

Unrecognized net assets to be
  amortized over 16-20 years           (568)                    494                        (349)                267

Unrecognized prior service cost         355                     114                         238                 280

Adjustment required to recognize
  minimum liability                       -                       -                           -              (2,019)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfunded prepaid (accrued)
  pension cost recognized in the 
  Consolidated Balance Sheets     $    658                 $ (3,141)                  $ (2,420)            $ (4,191)
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


        In accordance with SFAS No. 87 on Employers' Accounting for Pensions,
the Company records an additional minimum pension liability for each defined
benefit plan which has an accumulated benefit obligation that exceeds the plan
assets at fair value. There was no additional minimum pension liability recorded
at December 28, 1996 and there was an additional minimum liability of $1,226,000
recorded as a reduction to shareholders' equity at December 30, 1995, net of
applicable deferred income taxes.

        The Plans' assets consist of cash, cash equivalents, equity funds,
pooled funds of real estate and common stock of the Company.

        Net periodic pension cost for the Company's domestic plans in 1996, 1995
and 1994 includes the following components:


(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)                      1996          1995         1994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service cost-benefits earned
  during the year                         $  4,521      $  3,451     $  4,235
Interest on projected
  benefit obligation                         4,981         4,274        3,909
Return on plan assets                       (9,422)      (10,405)        (334)
Net amortization and deferral                4,593         6,493       (3,318)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net periodic pension cost                 $  4,673      $  3,813     $  4,492
==============================================================================

        Actuarial assumptions used to determine the projected benefit obligation
and the expected net periodic pension costs were:

                                              1996       1995       1994
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Projected Benefit
  Obligation Assumptions:

    Discount Rates                            7.8%       7.3%       8.5%

    Rates of increase in
      compensation levels                     4.5%       4.0%       5.0%

Net Periodic Pension
  Cost Assumption:

  Expected long-term rate
  of return on assets                        10.0%      10.0%      10.0%
========================================================================

        The Company also has pension plans covering employees of its Canadian
and British subsidiaries. Those plans are funded by purchase of insurance
contracts and units in a managed fund invested in stocks, fixed income
securities and real estate. Vested benefits are fully funded. The Company's
foreign subsidiaries are not required to report under ERISA and do not otherwise
determine the actuarial value of accumulated plan benefits as disclosed above
for the Company's domestic pension plans. These plans do not have a material
effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

        The Safety-Kleen Corp. Savings and Investment Plan allows eligible
employees to make contributions, up to a certain limit, to the Plan on a
tax-deferred basis under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
The Company may, at its discretion, make matching contributions out of its
profits for the year. The Company's expense for contributions was $3.2 million
in 1996, $1.9 million in 1995 and $1.5 million in 1994. The Company offers a
post-retirement medical insurance plan to its domestic employees retiring prior
to the normal retirement age of 65. Retirees are eligible to continue this
medical coverage until age 65. The plan is currently unfunded and retirees
electing this coverage are required to pay a premium for the insurance.

        The following table reconciles the funded status of the plan to the
accrued post-retirement benefit cost recognized in the Consolidated Balance
Sheets at December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995:


(IN THOUSANDS)                            DEC. 28, 1996       DEC. 30, 1995
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated post-retirement
  benefit obligation (APBO)

  Retirees, beneficiaries
    and dependents                         $  1,310               $  1,055

  Active employees                            5,074                  5,575
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              6,384                  6,630
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan assets at fair value                         -                      -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
APBO greater than
  plan assets                                (6,384)                (6,630)

Unrecognized net
  loss (gain)                                (2,502)                (1,453)

Accrued post-retirement
  benefit cost                            $  (8,886)              $ (8,083)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
APBO discount rate
  assumption                                  7.75%                  7.25%
============================================================================



        Net periodic post-retirement benefit costs recognized for 1996, 1995,
and 1994 are as follows:

(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)                   1996       1995       1994
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Service costs - benefits
  earned during the year                $   683     $  511    $   786

Interest costs on APBO                      478        436        498

Other                                       (57)       (87)       (44)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net periodic post-retirement
  benefit cost                          $ 1,104     $  860    $ 1,240
========================================================================

                                       38
<PAGE>
        The health care cost trend was assumed to be 9% for 1995, 7% for 1996,
decreasing to 5% for 1997, then to an ultimate trend of 4.5% in 1998.

        If the health care cost trend rate increases one percent for all future
years, the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation as of December 28,
1996 would have increased 17%. The effect of this change on the aggregate of the
service and interest cost for 1996 would be an increase of 23%.


9. INCOME TAXES

        The components of earnings before income taxes consisted of the
following for each of the last three fiscal years.

(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)        1996       1995       1994
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Domestic                   $  93,986   $ 74,492   $ 81,275
Foreign                        7,662     17,976      3,551
- ----------------------------------------------------------
                           $ 101,648   $ 92,468   $ 84,826

        Under SFAS No. 109 on Accounting for Income Taxes, deferred tax assets
and liabilities are calculated based on the difference between the financial
statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax
rates. The provisions (benefits) for income taxes include the following:


(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)       1996        1995        1994
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Current

  Federal                  $ 19,979    $ 16,505    $ 12,352

  State                       5,956       5,087       5,692

  Commonwealth
    of Puerto Rico              159        (376)       (883)

  Foreign                       704         662       1,365

Deferred
  Federal                     6,863       7,247       6,590
  Foreign                     4,105       2,087         928

Prepaid
  Federal                     5,077       1,949      10,090
  Foreign                    (2,304)      6,004      (1,402)
- ------------------------------------------------------------
Total Provision            $ 40,539    $ 39,165    $ 34,732
============================================================

        The following table reconciles the statutory U.S. Federal income tax
rate to the Company's consolidated effective tax rate:

                                            1996     1995   1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Statutory U.S. federal tax rate            35.0%    35.0%  35.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) resulting from:

  Provision for state
    income tax
    (net of federal benefit)                2.1      3.6    4.4

  Difference in foreign
    statutory rates                         1.6      2.2   (0.3)
  Other                                     1.2      1.6    1.8
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Effective tax rate                         39.9%    42.4%  40.9%
=================================================================

        Temporary differences and carry forwards which give rise to deferred tax
assets and liabilities are as follows:

                                   DEC. 28       DEC. 30        DEC.31
(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS)              1996          1995          1994
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets - Current
  Restructuring reserves          $  1,758      $  4,278      $  7,773
  Environmental reserves             2,395         2,625         1,628
  Insurance reserves                 4,415         5,908         6,399
  Bad debt reserve                   1,800         1,800         1,659
  Other                              1,605         3,373           797
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total deferred tax
  assets - Current                $ 11,973      $ 17,984      $ 18,256
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets -
non-current

  Restructuring charges
    not currently deductible      $ 11,440      $  17,494      $ 24,842
  Net operating loss (NOL)
    carry forwards of
    subsidiaries                    20,616         20,149        18,679
  Insurance reserves                 7,798          4,822         3,605
  Environmental reserves            16,325         14,382        19,382
  Other                              5,458          3,273         1,484
  Valuation allowance               (3,340)        (3,676)       (3,217)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total deferred tax assets -
non current                       $ 58,297       $ 56,444      $ 64,775
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred Tax Asset          $ 70,270       $ 74,428      $ 83,031
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Tax Liabilities
  Restructuring and
    special charges                     --        13,820        12,726
  Depreciation                    $(76,115)     $(80,250)     $(68,828)
  Tax lease agreements              (6,852)       (7,253)       (7,539)
  Other                             (1,044)         (915)       (3,840)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Deferred
  Tax Liabilities                 $(84,011)      $(74,598)    $(67,481)
========================================================================

        As of December 28, 1996, the Company had undistributed earnings of
foreign consolidated subsidiaries of approximately $23.8 million. Since it is
the Company's intention to reinvest the earnings into the foreign subsidiaries
ongoing operations, the Company does not provide for deferred taxes on possible
future remittances of future earnings. If the reinvested earnings were to be
remitted, U. S. income taxes, under current law, would not be material.

                                       39
<PAGE>

        As of December 28, 1996, the tax assets derived from Net Operating Loss
carry forwards (NOLs) consist of NOL tax assets with expiration dates as
follows:

                     IN THOUSANDS
             --------------------------
             1997              $    774
             1998              $    643
             1999              $  1,577
             2000              $    428
             2001              $    458
             No Expiration     $ 16,736
             ==========================

        The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of approximately $3.3
million for unrealized NOL tax assets that may expire before the Company is able
to utilize such NOLs.

        The valuation allowance account balance of $3.3 million represents
approximately 86% of the NOL tax assets that are due to expire as compared to a
valuation allowance percentage of approximately 79% of the NOLs due to expire at
the end of 1995. The valuation account activity is summarized in the table
below.


(Expressed in thousands)                1996
- --------------------------------------------
Balance - beginning of year          $ 3,676
Adjust valuation balances               (220)
Cumulative translation adjustment       (116)
Balance - end of year                $ 3,340
============================================


10. SPECIAL CHARGE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COST, OTHER ACCRUED EXPENSES AND 
    LIABILITIES, COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

        The Company operates a large number of hazardous waste facilities for
the collection and processing of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes and is
subject to extensive and expansive regulation by federal, state and local
authorities.

        In the ordinary course of conducting its business activities, the
Company becomes involved in judicial and administrative proceedings in which
governmental authorities seek remedial actions and/or fines and penalties. The
Company also has been notified by the EPA that it may be a responsible party at
several National Priority List ("NPL") sites. Generally, these proceedings by
federal and state regulatory agencies have been resolved by negotiation and
settlement. The Company does not anticipate that the amount of fines and
penalties will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition. It
should be noted, however, that many environmental laws are written and enforced
in a way in which the potential liability can be large, and it is possible that
the Company's actual liability in any particular case or claim will prove to be
larger than anticipated and accrued for by the Company. It is also possible that
expenses incurred in any particular reporting period for remediation costs or
for fines, penalties or judgments could have a material impact on the Company's
results of operations for that period.

        Under various federal, state and local regulations, the Company can be
required to conduct an environmental investigation of any of its permitted
operating or closed facilities to determine the possible existence and extent of
environmental contamination. In the event that contamination is found, the
Company may be required to perform a remedial cleanup of the site. The Company
is currently engaged in investigation and cleanup work at many of its sites.

        In 1993 the Company recorded a $50 million pre-tax special charge ($30
million after-tax or $.52 per share) for a change in estimate for remediation
costs relating to all operating and previously-closed sites prior to conducting
detailed individual site investigations to ascertain the existence and extent of
contamination. This change results in earlier recognition of environmental
remediation costs and liabilities as compared with the Company's previous
practice which was to accrue the estimated cost of remedial cleanup work at the
time the need for such work was specifically identified based on site
investigation. In 1995, the Company recorded a $12 million pre-tax charge to
increase its reserves for environmental remediation based on a refinement of the
estimate for such liabilities.

        Federal environmental regulations require that the Company demonstrate
financial responsibility for sudden and non-sudden releases, as well as closure
and post-closure liabilities. One manner by which to make this demonstration is
through Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL) insurance coverage. The Company
has EIL insurance coverage which it believes complies with the Federal
regulatory requirements. However, the Company must reimburse the insurance
carrier for all losses and expenses incurred by it under the policy. The
Company's income could be adversely affected in the future if it is unable to
obtain risk-transfer EIL insurance coverage and uninsured losses were to be
incurred. 

                                       40
<PAGE>

     The Company leases many of its branches, vehicles and other equipment.
These leases are accounted for as operating leases. Related rental expenses were
$31.5 million in 1996, $24.8 million in 1995 and $21.2 million in 1994.

        Aggregate minimum future rentals are payable as follows:

                         EXPRESSED IN
          PERIODS         MILLIONS
         -----------------------------
            1997           $  27.8
            1998              22.5
            1999              16.5
            2000               8.7
            2001               5.8
        Future Years          19.6
            Total          $ 100.9

11. RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

        In 1993, the Company adopted a restructuring plan based on conversion of
its core parts cleaner service to new technology and other strategic actions. In
conjunction with the adoption of this plan, the Company recorded a special
charge of $179 million ($106 million after tax or $1.84 per share). The pre-tax
restructuring charge included $93 million of asset write downs and $86 million
of other restructuring charges. In 1995, the Company recorded a pre-tax credit
to income of $15.2 million to adjust the restructuring reserves to their
expected required levels. In 1996, the Company substantially completed all of
its restructuring activities and reclassified the remaining restructure
liabilities (which are primarily associated with the European operations) to
other accrued expenses in current liabilities and other liabilities in
non-current liabilities. At December 28, 1996 and December 30, 1995, other
accrued expenses include $3.6 million and $10.4 million, respectively, and other
liabilities include $7.9 million and $12.1 million, respectively.


12. ACCOUNTING CHANGES

        The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No.121 on Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived
Assets to Be Disposed Of in fiscal year 1996. The adoption of SFAS No.121 did
not have an impact on the financial position or results of operations of the
Company.


13. INTERIM RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(EXPRESSED IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

                           REVENUE             GROSS PROFIT
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Period          1996       1995       1996       1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------
First (12 weeks)    $201,723   $194,559   $ 55,900   $ 52,142
Second (12 Weeks)    211,355    203,192     56,567     54,206
Third (12 Weeks)     213,098    197,529     57,824     52,290
Fourth (16 Weeks)    296,950    263,971     80,864     72,144
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Total               $923,126   $859,251    $251,155  $230,782
==============================================================


                                                        EARNINGS        
                         NET EARNINGS                  PER SHARE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim Period         1996        1995               1996       1995
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
First (12 weeks)    $13,077    $ 12,071            $  0.23     $ 0.21
Second (12 Weeks)    13,604      12,131               0.23       0.21
Third (12 Weeks)     14,004      11,126               0.24       0.19
Fourth (16 Weeks)    20,424      17,975               0.35       0.31
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Total               $61,109    $ 53,303            $  1.05     $ 0.92
=====================================================================

                                       41
<PAGE>

                             DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                               DONALD W. BRINCKMAN
                                    Founder,
                              Chairman of the Board
                               Safety-Kleen Corp.

                               JOHN G. JOHNSON JR.
                               President and Chief
                                Executive Officer
                               Safety-Kleen Corp.

                                RICHARD T. FARMER
                                    Chairman
                               Cintas Corporation
                              (uniform manufacturer
                               and supply company)

                               RUSSELL A. GWILLIM
                                Chairman Emeritus
                               Safety-Kleen Corp.

                                EDGAR D. JANNOTTA
                                Senior Principal
                                  William Blair
                                & Company, L.L.C.
                            (investment banking firm)

                                  KARL G. OTZEN
                                    President
                                Gerhard & Company
                              (product development
                                consulting firm)

                                 PAUL D. SCHRAGE
                              Senior Executive Vice
                                    President
                             McDonald's Corporation
                              (restaurant operator)

                                 MARCIA WILLIAMS
                                    President
                             Williams & Vanino, Inc.
                             (environmental/manage-
                              ment consulting firm)

                                 W. GORDON WOOD
                             Retired Vice President
                               Safety-Kleen Corp.

                               CORPORATE OFFICERS
DONALD W. BRINCKMAN Founder, Chairman of the Board, Director
JOHN G. JOHNSON JR. President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
HYMAN K. BIELSKY Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Managing Director, 
European Operations   
ROY D. BULLINGER Senior Vice President Business Management and Marketing
ROBERT J. BURIAN Senior Vice President Human Resources  
MICHAEL H. CARNEY Senior Vice President Marketing Services and Customer Care
JOSEPH CHALHOUB Senior Vice President Operations, Oil Recovery and Envirosystems
DAVID A. DATTILO Senior Vice President Sales and Service  
SCOTT E. FORE Senior Vice President Environment, Health and Safety
F. HENRY HABICHT II Senior Vice President Corporate Development and Environment
ROBERT W. WILLMSCHEN JR. Senior Vice President Finance, Chief Financial 
Officer and Secretary     
LAWRENCE G. DAVENPORT Vice President Information Services and 
Chief Information Officer  
CLARK J. ROSE Vice President Manufacturing and Technical Services    
LAURENCE M. RUDNICK Treasurer   
CLIFFORD J. SCHULZ Controller


BOARD COMMITTEES

AUDIT:  Otzen, Schrage, Wood   
COMPENSATION:  Farmer, Gwillim, Jannotta   
ENVIRONMENTAL:  Brinckman, Schrage, Williams
EXECUTIVE:  Brinckman, Gwillim, Jannotta, Otzen (alternate)      
BOARD AFFAIRS AND NOMINATING:  Farmer, Otzen, Schrage


                                       42
<PAGE>

                             SHAREHOLDER REFERENCE

CORPORATE OFFICE

Safety-Kleen Corp.
1000 North Randall Road
Elgin, IL 60123

Telephone:  (847) 697-8460


Arthur Andersen LLP, 33 W. Monroe Street,
Chicago, IL 60603


The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Safety-Kleen Corp. will be held at 10:00
a.m., Friday, May 9, 1997, at the Northern Illinois University Hoffman Estates
Education Center, 5555 Trillium Blvd., Hoffman Estates, IL 60192. Directions to
the meeting are located in the 1997 proxy statement.


A copy of Safety-Kleen's Annual Report, 1996 Form 10-K, and quarterly reports to
shareholders are available upon request to:

Financial Relations
Safety-Kleen Corp.
1000 N. Randall Rd., Elgin, IL 60123.

Visit our web site at
WWW.SAFETY-KLEEN.COM

or E-mail requests to
[email protected]


Safety-Kleen offers a dividend reinvestment plan for shareholders of record.
Further information may be obtained from the Company's Registrar and Transfer
Agent.


First Chicago Trust Company of New York
Post Office Box 2598, Jersey City, NJ 07303

Telephone:  (800)446-2617


Safety-Kleen stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SK.

The approximate number of record holders of the Company's common stock at
December 28, 1996 was 8,042. The following table shows the range of common stock
prices for the calendar quarters indicated. The quotations represent the high
and low prices on the New York Stock Exchange as reported by THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             1996                               1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUARTER             HIGH              LOW               HIGH             LOW
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First              $15.75            $13.50            $17.88           $14.50
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Second             17.00             14.25             18.00            15.13
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Third              18.13             15.63             17.13            13.50
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth             17.25             14.75             15.63            14.00
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Safety-Kleen paid a quarterly cash dividend of $.09 per share in 1996 and 1995,
and has paid a cash dividend for 71 consecutive quarters since March 1979. The
Company expects to continue this policy, although there is no assurance as to
future dividends, as they are dependent upon future earnings, capital
requirements, the financial condition of the Company and other factors.



                                   EXHIBIT 23


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



To the Board of Directors and
Management of Safety-Kleen Corp.:



As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our reports included in or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, into
the Company's previously filed Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File No.
2-97490, File No. 2-67421, File No. 33-34892, File No. 33-51396, File No.
2-97196, File No. 33-56371, File No. 333-05813 and File No. 333-05817) and on
Form S-3 (File No. 22-806, File No. 33-18043, File No. 33-15010, File No.
33-27174, File No. 33-30519, File No. 33-35008, File No. 33-44715 and File
No. 333-03933).

                                        /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Chicago, Illinois
March 27, 1997


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>                      THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL 
                              INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
                              CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS,
                              BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-START>                  DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-28-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                 1
<CASH>                          10,648
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   140,852
<ALLOWANCES>                    8,416
<INVENTORY>                     49,971
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                230,133
<PP&E>                          872,257
<DEPRECIATION>                  349,921
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  1,044,823
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           157,793
<BONDS>                         276,954
           0
                     0
<COMMON>                        5,825
<OTHER-SE>                      474,465
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    1,044,823
<SALES>                         0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                923,126
<CGS>                           0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   671,971
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                131,665
<LOSS-PROVISION>                4,556
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              19,240
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 101,648
<INCOME-TAX>                    40,539
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             61,109
<DISCONTINUED>                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0
<CHANGES>                       0
<NET-INCOME>                    61,109
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                   0
        


</TABLE>

                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

[SAFETY-KLEEN LOGO]

                                                       SAFETY-KLEEN CORP.
                                                       1000 N. Randall Road
                                                       Elgin, IL 60123

                                                       (847) 697-8460
                                                       For further information:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     CONTACT:    MAUREEN FISK
                                                      847/468-2452


                     SAFETY-KLEEN REPORTS RECORD REVENUE AND
                      15% INCREASE IN NET EARNINGS FOR 1996


ELGIN, ILLINOIS, FEBRUARY 10, 1997 -- Safety-Kleen Corp. today announced record
fourth quarter and full year results for the period ended December 28, 1996.

Revenue for the year increased 7% to $923 million, compared with $859 million in
1995. Net earnings grew 15% to $61.1 million, compared with $53.3 million one
year ago. On a per share basis, earnings were $1.05, up 14% from $.92 one year
ago.

For the sixteen weeks ended December 28, 1996, revenue increased 12% to $297
million compared with $264 million in the similar quarter in 1995. Net income
was $20.4 million, up $2.4 million or 14% over the fourth quarter one year ago.

Safety-Kleen President and Chief Executive Officer, John G. Johnson, Jr.,
underlined the Company's solid performance in 1996. "We are extremely pleased
with our achievements in both revenue and earnings growth. As expected, the
Company's Industrial Services and Oil Recovery Services represent the largest
share of the revenue increase during the year. The new Vacuum Service business
for the Automotive/Retail Repair market contributed $5 million to consolidated
revenue. Additionally, our European operations posted a $7 million or 7%
increase in revenue over the previous year. The increase in net income reflects
both revenue growth and our focus on greater efficiencies in our recycle
operations together with other cost improvements."

Johnson further commented on the fourth quarter performance, "Compared with the
same quarter of 1995, revenue from our North American Industrial Parts Cleaner
Service grew 12%, our Industrial Fluid Recovery Service increased 22%, Imaging
Services was up 30%, and the Oil Recovery Service gained 18%. Our Oil Recovery
Service ("ORS") revenue reflects the acquisition made in early 1996 of certain
assets of Industrial Service Corp," Johnson noted.

Johnson further added, "Net earnings of our Oil Recovery Service were impacted
in 1996 due largely to lower lube oil selling prices witnessed in the fourth
quarter. Our average base oil selling price in the final quarter of
                                     - MORE -
Printed on recycled paper.
<PAGE>

SAFETY-KLEEN CORP. - 2ND PAGE
1996 decreased by approximately 7.5% from the fourth quarter of 1995. The
declining price of lube oil reflects excess industry capacity from two new
plants which are projected to add approximately a 10% increase to the total
capacity in North America."

"Looking ahead to 1997, the Company expects continued growth in its Industrial
Services and, with the addition of the new Vacuum Service, anticipates a
stronger year in the Automotive/Retail Repair Service as well. Although the
depressed base oil pricing will affect the Oil Recovery Services performance
until some of the older, less-efficient plants shut down, we remain focused on
generating double digit consolidated revenue and earnings growth in 1997,"
concluded Johnson.

Safety-Kleen is an environmental and industrial service company dedicated to
helping businesses recycle and process their waste streams. Safety-Kleen's stock
is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SK". For further
information, visit "SK" on the internet at www.safety-kleen.com. To request
specific information, contact [email protected].

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act Disclosure

This press release contains various forward-looking statements, including
revenue and operating projections. There are many factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially, such as: adoption of new environmental laws
and regulations and changes in the ways such laws and regulations are
interpreted and enforced; general business conditions, such as the level of
competition, changes in demand for the Company's services and the strength of
the economy in general; and prices for petroleum based products.
                                     - END -

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<PAGE>

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
                      (thousands, except per share amounts)


                                       ------------------------ -------------------------
                                               SIXTEEN                 FIFTY-TWO
                                             WEEKS ENDED              WEEKS ENDED
                                       --------------------------------------------------
                                        Dec. 28,    Dec. 30,      Dec. 28,    Dec. 30,
                                          1996        1995          1996        1995
                                       --------------------------------------------------
Revenue
  North America

     Industrial Services
<S>                                        <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>
       Parts Cleaner                       $41,527     $37,045      $128,801    $118,854
       Fluid Recovery                       46,451      38,186       143,038     122,762
                                       --------------------------------------------------
       Total Industrial                     87,978      75,231       271,839     241,616

     Automotive/Retail                      79,662      73,314       244,969     239,668
Repair Services
     Oil Recovery Services                  48,350      40,805       150,838     129,039
     Other                                  46,561      43,756       149,156     149,755
                                       --------------------------------------------------
     Total North America                   262,551     233,106       816,802     760,078

  Europe                                    34,399      30,865       106,324      99,173
                                       --------------------------------------------------

Consolidated Revenue                       296,950     263,971       923,126     859,251

Operating costs and expenses               216,086     191,827       671,971     628,469
Selling and administrative expenses         41,382      36,339       131,665     122,319

Restructuring Credit                        -         (15,217)       -          (15,217)
Charge for Remediation Costs                -           11,956       -            11,956
                                       --------------------------------------------------

Operating income                            39,482      39,066       119,490     111,724
Interest income                                758         318         1,398         974
Interest expense                           (6,142)     (6,172)      (19,240)    (20,230)
                                       --------------------------------------------------

Earnings before income taxes                34,098      33,212       101,648      92,468

Income taxes                                13,674      15,237        40,539      39,165
                                       --------------------------------------------------

Net earnings                               $20,424     $17,975       $61,109     $53,303
                                       ======================== =========================

Earnings per common and
common
  equivalent share                           $0.35       $0.31         $1.05       $0.92
                                       ======================== =========================

Average number of common and
common
  equivalent shares                         58,364      57,882        58,152      57,857
outstanding
                                       ======================== =========================

Cash dividends per common                    $0.09       $0.09         $0.36       $0.36
share
                                       ========================= =========================
</TABLE>

- ------------------------------
1.  The 16 weeks ended December 30, 1995 included a pre-tax charge of $12
    million to increase the Company's reserves for
    environmental remediation costs at its facilities.  In addition, the
    results for the fourth interim period of 1995 included a
    $15.2 million pre-tax credit to income to reduce the amount of
    restructuring reserves, previously established in 1993, to the
    expected required levels.  These two items combined
    after-tax had no effect on net earnings.

2.  The Company's interim reporting periods are twelve weeks each for the first
    three reporting periods of the year and sixteen weeks for the fourth
    reporting period.



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