INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE SERVICES INC
8-K, 1997-08-07
SURETY INSURANCE
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===============================================================================



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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

                                  FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT
    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 23, 1997



                    INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE SERVICES, INC.
           (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                      

          DELAWARE                     0-25890                  22-2769024
(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)             File Number)            Identification No.)



        10055 Sweet Valley Drive              
           Valley View, Ohio                                   44125
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (216) 447-9000


===============================================================================
<PAGE>   2
ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

          Asset Purchase Agreement.  On July 7, 1997, Republic Environmental
Systems (Fort Erie) Ltd. ("RES (Fort Erie)"), Republic Environmental Systems
(Brantford) Ltd. ("RES (Brantford)"), Republic Environmental Systems (Pickering)
Ltd.  ("RES (Pickering)" and, together with RES (Fort Erie) and RES (Brantford),
the "Vendors") Philip Enterprises Inc.  ("Philip Enterprises") and Republic
Environmental Systems, Inc. ("RESI") entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement
(the "Asset Agreement") which provides for the sale of substantially all of the
assets of the liquid and solid hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment,
storage, disposal and transportation business of the Vendors' facilities located
in Fort Erie, Brantford and Pickering, Ontario to Philip Enterprises for a note
in the principal amount of $7,000,000, which is subject to certain adjustments
and guaranteed by Philip Enterprises' parent company, Philip Services Corp., as
set forth in the Guaranty Agreement dated July 23, 1997.

                 Share Purchase Agreement.  On June 13, 1997, Philip
Environmental (Delaware), Inc. ("Philip Environmental"), RESI (the "Vendor"),
and Republic Environmental Recycling, Inc.("RER"), Republic Environmental
Systems (Technical Services Group), Inc. ("RES (Technical Services)"), Republic
Environmental Systems (Pennsylvania), Inc. ("RES (Pennsylvania)"), Republic
Environmental Systems (Transportation Group), Inc. ("RES (Transportation)") and
Chem-Freight, Inc. ("Chem-Freight" and, together with RER, RES (Technical
Services), RES (Pennsylvania) and RES (Transportation), the "Companies")
entered into a Share Purchase Agreement which provides for the sale by the
Vendor of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital of the Companies
to Philip Environmental for $17,000,000 consisting of  $8,000,000 in cash and
two notes in the principal amount of $8,000,000 and $1,000,000, respectively,
which are guaranteed by Philip Enterprises' parent company, Philip Services
Corp., as set forth in the Guaranty Agreement dated July 23, 1997.  In
addition, Philip Environmental has the option to acquire all of the outstanding
capital stock of Republic Environmental Systems (Cleveland), Inc. on or before 
August 17, 1997.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(a)      Financial Statements of Acquired Business.  Not applicable.

(b)      Pro Forma Financial Information.

         As of the date of filing this current report on Form 8-K, it is
         impracticable for the Registrant to provide the pro forma financial
         information required by this item 7(b).  Such financial information
         shall be filed by amendment to this Form 8-K no later than 60 days
         after August 7, 1997.
<PAGE>   3

(c)      Exhibits.

2.1      Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 7, 1997, by and among RES 
         (Fort Erie), RES (Brantford), RES (Pickering), Philip Enterprises 
         and RESI.

2.2      Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1997, by and among
         Philip Environmental (Delaware), Inc., RESI, RER, RES (Technical
         Services), RES (Pennsylvania), RES (Transportation) and Chem-Freight.
<PAGE>   4
                                   SIGNATURES

                 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE SERVICES, INC.
                        
                        
                        
Date: August 7, 1997                      By:       /s/ Gregory J. Skoda        
                                             ----------------------------------
                                               Gregory J. Skoda
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



<PAGE>   5
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS


EXHIBIT
NUMBER
- -------


2.1              Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 7, 1997, by and 
                 among RES (Fort Erie), RES (Brantford), RES (Pickering), Philip
                 Enterprises and RESI.

2.2              Share Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 13, 1997, by and
                 among Philip Environmental (Delaware), Inc., RESI, RER, RES
                 (Technical Services), RES (Pennsylvania), RES (Transportation)
                 and Chem-Freight.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1


         THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED THE 7TH DAY OF JUNE, 1997

B E T W E E N:


                 REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (FORT ERIE) LTD., a corporation
                 incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario,
                 REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (BRANTFORD) LTD., a corporation
                 incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, and
                 REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (PICKERING) LTD., a corporation
                 incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario

                 (hereinafter collectively called the "Vendors")

                 - and -

                 PHILIP ENTERPRISES INC., a corporation amalgamated pursuant to
                 the laws of the Province of Ontario

                 (hereinafter called the "Purchaser")

                 - and -

                 REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation
                 incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware

                 (hereinafter called "RESI")

         WHEREAS the Vendors carry on the business of liquid and solid
hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal and
transportation services from their facilities located in Fort Erie, Brantford
and Pickering, Ontario;

         AND WHEREAS the Purchaser wishes to purchase from the Vendors and the
Vendors wish to sell to the Purchaser, certain property, assets and
undertakings pertaining to the said business upon the terms and conditions
herein contained;

         NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration of these
presents, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto covenant and promise and agree with each other as follows:


<PAGE>   2
                                   ARTICLE 1
                                  DEFINITIONS


1.1      In this Agreement and in any amending or supplemental agreement
hereto, unless the subject matter or context is inconsistent therewith, the
following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below:

         (a)     "AGREEMENT", "THIS AGREEMENT", "HERETO", "HEREIN", "HEREOF",
         "HEREBY", "HEREUNDER" and similar expressions refer to this Agreement
         as amended from time to time;

         (b)     "BENEFIT PLANS", means the employee benefit plans as more
         fully described in Schedule 1.1(b) attached hereto;

         (c)     "BUSINESS" means the business of operating the liquid and
         solid hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal
         and transportation services presently carried on by the Vendors at
         their facilities located in Fort Erie, Brantford and Pickering,
         Ontario;

         (d)     "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a day which is a
         Saturday, a Sunday or a Statutory holiday in the Province of Ontario;

         (e)     "CLOSING" means the completion of the sale and purchase by the
         Purchaser of the Purchased Assets under this Agreement;

         (f)     "CLOSING DATE" means the 7th day of July, 1997 or such earlier
         or later date as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties
         hereto but in any event, no later than the 31st day of July, 1997;

         (g)     "CONTAMINANT" means any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat,
         sound, vibration, radiation, or combination of any of them resulting
         directly or indirectly from human activities that may cause any of the
         following: (i) impairment of the quality of the Natural Environment
         for any use that can be made of it; (ii) injury or damage to property
         or to plant or animal life; (iii) harm or material discomfort to any
         person; (iv) an adverse effect on the health of any person; (v)
         impairment of the safety of any person; (vi) rendering any property or
         plant or animal life unfit for human use; (vii) loss of enjoyment of
         normal use of property; and (viii) interference with the normal
         conduct of business;

         (h)     "CONTRACTS" shall have the meaning attributed hereto in
         Section 2.1(n) hereof;

         (i)     "ENCUMBRANCES" means mortgages, charges, pledges, security
         interests, liens, encumbrances, actions, claims, demands and equities
         of any nature whatsoever or howsoever arising and any rights or
         privileges capable of becoming any of the foregoing;





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
         (j)     "ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY" means any activity, event or
         circumstance in respect of a Contaminant, including, without
         limitation, its storage, use, holding, collection, purchase,
         accumulation, assessment, generation, manufacture, construction,
         processing, treatment, stabilization, disposition, handling or
         transportation, or its Release, escape, leaching, dispersal or
         migration into or movement through the Natural Environment;

         (k)     "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means at any time any and all of the then
         applicable international, federal, state, municipal or local laws,
         statutes, regulations, codes, rules, treaties, orders, judgments,
         decrees and ordinances relating in full or in part to the protection
         of the Natural Environment or Environmental Activity, product
         liability and employee and public health and safety;

         (l)     "EQUIPMENT" means the equipment beneficially owned by the
         Vendors and used in the Business, as more particularly set out in
         Schedule 1.1(l);

         (m)     "EQUIPMENT LEASES" means those leases for equipment used in
         the Business by the Vendors as more particularly set out in Schedule
         1.1(m);

         (n)     "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the  unaudited combined statement
         of assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity for the fiscal period
         ended December 31, 1996 and the accompanying statement of revenue,
         expenses and retained earnings and statement of cashflows for the
         period then ended as reported on by the Vendors and prepared in
         accordance with GAAP and a copy of such statements is attached as
         Schedule 1.1(n);

         (o)     "GAAP" means at any time, generally accepted accounting
         principles in Canada at such time.

         (p)     "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" means: (i) any multinational, federal,
         state, municipal, local or other governmental or public department,
         court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic
         or foreign; (ii) any subdivision, agent, commission, board, or
         authority of any of the foregoing; or (iii) any quasi-governmental or
         private body exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing
         authority under or for the account of any of the foregoing;

         (q)     "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means: (i) any flammable explosives;
         (ii) radioactive materials; (iii) substances included within the
         definitions of "hazardous substances", "hazardous materials", or
         "toxic substances" in the Environmental Laws or any regulations or
         rules promulgated pursuant to the Environmental Laws, all as enacted,
         promulgated and published and as enforced by authorities of competent
         jurisdiction as at the Closing; (iv) asbestos; (v) polychlorinated
         biphenyls, (vi) radon and (vii) gasoline, waste oil and other
         petroleum products;





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         (r)     "INTERIM PERIOD" means the period between the date of
         execution of this Agreement and the Time of Closing.

         (s)     "LAWS" means all statutes, codes, ordinances, decrees, rules,
         regulations, municipal by-laws, judicial or arbitral or administrative
         or ministerial or departmental or regulatory judgments, orders,
         decisions, rulings or awards, policies, voluntary restraints,
         guidelines, or any provisions of the foregoing, including general
         principles of common and civil law and equity, binding on or affecting
         the Person referred to in the context in which such word is used; and
         "LAW" means any one of them;

         (t)     "LEASES" means the lease and subleases of real property to
         which the Vendors are a party, as listed and described in the attached
         Schedule 1.1(t);

         (u)     "LEASED EQUIPMENT" means the equipment used in relation to the
         Business that is leased pursuant to the Equipment Leases;

         (v)     "LICENSE" means any permit, license, certificate, approval or
         authorization required under applicable Environmental Laws;

         (w)     "LOSS" means any loss whatsoever, including expenses, costs,
         damages, penalties, fines, charges, claims, demands, liabilities,
         interest and any and all legal fees and disbursements;

         (x)     "NATURAL ENVIRONMENT" means the air, land, subsoil, surface
         water and ground water, or any combination or part thereof in any
         jurisdiction in which the Vendors carries on business;

         (y)     "NET WORKING CAPITAL" means cash and cash equivalents plus
         Accounts Receivable (net of any allowance for bad debts) plus
         inventory plus pre-paid expenses less accounts payable less accrued
         liabilities;

         (z)     "PERMITS" shall have the meaning attributed hereto in Section
         2.1(j), copies of which are more particularly set out in Schedule
         1.1(z);

         (aa)    "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" means the Encumbrances set out in
         Schedule 1.1(aa);

         (bb)    "PERSON" includes an individual, partnership, corporation,
         trust or unincorporated organization, a Governmental Entity or
         political subdivision thereof, a regulatory body or agency or any
         combination of the foregoing;

         (cc)    "PURCHASE PRICE" shall have the meaning attributed thereto in
         Section 3.1;




                                       4
<PAGE>   5

         (dd)    "PURCHASED ASSETS" means the undertaking and assets of the
         Business, which are to be sold by the Vendors to the Purchaser
         pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof;

         (ee)    "REAL PROPERTY" means all the real property, the registered
         and beneficial ownership of which is held by the Vendors or an
         affiliate and used in relation to the Business, which property is as
         described in Schedule 1.1(ee);
                                                    
         (ff)    "RELEASE" means, without limitation, to deposit, leak, emit,
         add, spray, inject, inoculate, abandon, spill, seep, pour, empty,
         throw, dump, place and exhaust, and when used as a noun has a similar
         meaning;

         (gg)    "TIME OF CLOSING" means 1:00 p.m. (local time) on the Closing 
         Date.

1.2      CURRENCY OF FUNDS:  Unless otherwise indicated all dollar amounts
referred to in this Agreement are in United States funds.

1.3      INTERPRETATION NOT AFFECTED BY HEADINGS OR PARTY DRAFTING:  The
division of this Agreement into articles, sections, paragraphs, subparagraphs
and clauses and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only
and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.  The
terms "this Agreement", "hereof", "herein", "hereunder" and similar expressions
refer to this Agreement and the schedules hereto and not to any particular
article, section, paragraph, subparagraph, clause or other portion hereof and
include any agreement or instrument supplementary or ancillary hereto.  Each
party hereto acknowledges that it and its legal counsel have reviewed and
participated in settling the terms of this Agreement.

1.4      NUMBER AND GENDER:  Words importing the singular include the plural
and vice versa, and words importing gender include all genders.

1.5      CALCULATION OF TIME:  When calculating the period of time within or
following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement,
the date which is the reference date in calculating such period shall be
excluded.  If the last day of such period is not a Business Day, the period in
question shall end on the next Business Day.

1.6      SCHEDULES:  The following are the schedules attached to and
incorporated in this Agreement by reference and deemed to be part hereof:

Schedule 1.1(b)                         Benefit Plans
Schedule 1.1(l)                         Equipment
Schedule 1.1(m)                         Equipment Leases
Schedule 1.1(n)                         Financial Statements
Schedule 1.1(t)                         Leases
Schedule 1.1(z)                         Permits
Schedule 1.1(aa)                        Permitted Encumbrances




                                       5
<PAGE>   6
Schedule 1.1(ee)                        Real Property
Schedule 2.1(e)                         Customer List
Schedule 2.1(m)                         Supply Contracts
Schedule 2.1(n)                         Contracts
Schedule 2.1(o)                         Intellectual Properties
Schedule 2.3                            Assumed Liabilities
Schedule 2.4                            Retained Liabilities
Schedule 3.1                            Purchased Assets
Schedule 3.3(a)                         Note
Schedule 3.3(b)                         Guarantee
Schedule 3.5                            Allocation of Purchase Price
Schedule 4.1(p)                         Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.1(r)                         Litigation
Schedule 4.1(t)                         Employee Matters
Schedule 5.1(a)                         Retained Employees
Schedule 7.2(e)                         Non-Competition Agreement

Schedule 8.8                            Letters of Credit and Bonds


                                   ARTICLE 2
                         AGREEMENT OF PURCHASE AND SALE


2.1      PURCHASED ASSETS:  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Vendors hereby agree to sell, assign, transfer and convey to the Purchaser and
the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Vendors, free and clear of
Encumbrances, all of the property, assets and undertakings owned by the Vendors
(other than the property and assets described in Section 2.2) and used in the
operation of the Business, including, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing:

         (a)   MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE:  all machinery, equipment,
         computer equipment, tools, furniture, furnishings and other
         miscellaneous items used in or relating to the Business including,
         without limitation, all those listed in Schedule 1.1(l) attached
         hereto;

         (b)   LEASED EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES:  all right, title and interest of
         the Vendors in and under leases of equipment and vehicles used in or
         relating to the Business including, without limitation, all leases and
         other agreements listed in Schedule 1.1(m) attached hereto;

         (c)   PREPAID EXPENSES:  all prepaid expenses which are usable and
         consumable in the ordinary course of the Business relating to the
         Equipment, Leased Equipment and spare parts thereto of the Business as
         of the Time of Closing except for all prepaid insurance expenses;





                                       6
<PAGE>   7
         (d)   REAL PROPERTY:  all rights, title and interest of the Vendors in
         and to the Real Property set forth in Schedule 1.1(ee);

         (e)   CUSTOMER LISTS AND INFORMATION:  all customer lists, files, data
         and information relating to customers and prospective customers of the
         Business as of the Time of Closing, which most current customer list
         is attached hereto as Schedule 2.1(e);

         (f)   WARRANTY RIGHTS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS:  the full benefit of 
         all warranties and warranty rights (express and implied) against
         manufacturers or sellers which apply to any of the Purchased Assets
         and all maintenance contracts on machinery, equipment and the other
         Purchased Assets;

         (g)   INVENTORIES:  all raw materials and work-in-progress which are 
         used or held for use by Vendors in the operation of the Business;

         (h)   BUSINESS RECORDS:  all books, records, files and documents 
         relating to the Business, including without limitation, books of 
         account, ledgers, journals, sales and purchase records, lists of 
         suppliers, credit information, cost and pricing information, business 
         reports, plans and projections and all other correspondence, data and
         information, financial or otherwise, in any format and media
         whatsoever, related to the Business;

         (i)   GOODWILL:  the goodwill of the Business, together with the
         exclusive right of the Purchaser to represent itself as carrying on
         the Business in continuation of and in succession to the Vendors

         (j)   LICENSE RIGHTS AND PERMITS:  all licenses, permits and other 
         rights and privileges owned or held by the Vendors in relation to the
         Business including those described in Schedule 1.1(z), other than
         those licenses specifically set out in such schedule as being
         non-transferable;

         (k)   REGULATORY LICENSES:  all licenses, registrations and
         qualifications of the Business required by any governmental or
         regulatory authority, to the extent transferable, including those
         described in Schedule 1.1(z);

         (l)   INSURANCE BENEFITS:  any benefits payable under all insurance
         policies relating to the Business or the other Purchased Assets in
         respect of claims based on occurrences prior to the Time of Closing as
         included in assets and balance sheets contained in the Financial
         Statements;

         (m)   SUPPLY CONTRACTS:  the full benefit of all contracts providing 
         for the supply of goods and services to the Business which are
         referred to in Schedule 2.1(m);

         (n)   CONTRACTS:  all right, title and interest of the Vendors in, to 
         and under, and the full benefit of, the customer contracts, all other
         revenue generating contracts and agreements of or pertaining to the
         Business to which the Vendors are party, as set out in Schedule 2.1(n)
         attached hereto;





                                       7
<PAGE>   8
         (o)   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:  all right, title, interest and benefit of
         Vendors in and to all patents, copyrights, registered and unregistered
         trademarks, tradenames, logos, commercial symbols, industrial designs
         (including applications for all of the foregoing and renewals,
         divisions, extensions and re-issues, where applicable, relating
         thereto), inventions, licenses, trade secrets, patterns, drawings,
         computer software, formulae, technical information, concepts, methods,
         procedures, designs, service-marks and all other intellectual or
         industrial property relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets
         including without limitation the property listed in Schedule 2.1(o)
         ("Intellectual Properties");

         (p)   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:  all accounts receivable, notes receivable,
         rights to receive payments, and other debts due or accruing due to
         Vendors, generated by the Business and relating to work performed
         prior to the Time of Closing and any actions or proceedings which have
         been commenced in connection therewith ("Accounts Receivable"); and

         (q)   OTHER AGREEMENTS:  all of the Vendors' right, title and interest
         to and under all contracts and agreements (written or oral) relating
         directly or indirectly to the Business as required for the operation
         of the Business.

         (all of which property and assets are herein collectively referred to
         as the "Purchased Assets").

2.2      EXCLUDED ASSETS:  There shall be specifically excluded from the 
Purchased Assets the following property and assets of the Vendors pertaining to
the Business:

         (a)   the real property located in Pickering, Ontario, municipally 
         known as 1070 Toy Avenue, Pickering, Ontario (the "Pickering 
         Facility");

         (b)   all machinery, equipment and furniture located at the Pickering 
         Facility;

         (c)   Certificate of Approval #A390414 in respect of the Pickering 
         Facility; and

         (d)   any proceeds received from the surrender, satisfaction or
         replacement of the Financial Assurances pursuant to Section 8.8 of
         this Agreement.

2.3      ASSUMED LIABILITIES:  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Purchaser shall assume the following obligations of the Vendors pertaining to
the Business upon Closing ("Assumed Liabilities"):

         (a)   all remaining obligations under the Equipment Leases, the Leases,
         the Benefit Plans and all Contracts to be assigned to the Purchaser as
         at the Time of Closing, it being agreed that any obligations under
         such leases, contracts and plans





                                       8
<PAGE>   9
         which occurred or arose prior to the Time of Closing are not being
         assumed by the Purchaser and shall remain the liability of the
         Vendors;

         (b)   third party trade payables and operating accruals of the Business
         as at the Time of Closing; and

         (c)   waste disposal accruals,

         all of such Assumed Liabilities being more particularly set forth in 
         Schedule 2.3.

         The Vendors will not be liable for, and the Purchaser will defend, 
indemnify and save harmless the Vendors, its officers, directors, employees,
agents and shareholders from and against all obligations, commitments,
expenses, costs and liabilities of and claims against the Vendors (whether
absolute, accrued or contingent) relating to the Assumed Liabilities outlined
in this Section 2.3.

2.4      RETAINED LIABILITIES AND INDEMNITY:  The Purchaser will not assume and
will not be liable for, and the Vendors will indemnify and save harmless the
Purchaser, its officers, directors, employees, agents and shareholders from and
against, all obligations, commitments, expenses, costs and liabilities of and
claims against the Purchaser (whether absolute, accrued or contingent) relating
to the Business, except for the Assumed Liabilities outlined in Section 2.3
above and any liabilities which are subject to the Purchaser's indemnification
obligation pursuant to Section 8.3(d).  Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, it is agreed that the Purchaser will have no liability for any of
the following obligations and liabilities ("Retained Liabilities"):

         (a)     all liabilities in respect of all indebtedness of the Vendors
         to all persons, except as may be included in the assumed liabilities
         outlined in Section 2.3 above;

         (b)     all product liability claims and liabilities for product
         claims relating to any product or service of the Business produced,
         sold performed or delivered prior to the Closing Date;

         (c)     all liabilities for all taxes, duties, levies, assessments and
         other such charges, including any penalties, interests and fines with
         respect thereto, payable by the Vendors to any federal, provincial,
         local or other governmental agency, authority, board, bureau or
         commission, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, any
         taxes in respect of or measured by the sale, consumption or
         performance by the Vendors of any product or service prior to the
         Closing Date and pursuant to any legislation in respect of all
         remuneration payable to all persons employed in the Business prior to
         the Closing Date.

         (d)     all liabilities for salary, bonus, vacation pay and other
         compensation and all liabilities under employee benefit plans of the
         Vendors relating to employment of all persons in the Business prior to
         the Time of Closing;





                                       9
<PAGE>   10
         (e)     all severance payments, costs or expenses associated with the
         termination of any of the corporate personnel of the Business
         presently located at the corporate offices in Burlington, Ontario, as
         more particularly set out in Schedule 2.4 and all severance payments,
         costs, expenses or damages for wrongful dismissal and all related
         costs in respect of the termination by the Vendors of the employment
         of any employee of the Business who does not accept the Purchaser's
         offer of employment and in respect of any employee of the Business who
         is not offered employment by the Purchaser;

         (f)     all liabilities for claims for injury, disability, death or
         workers' compensation arising from or related to employment in the
         Business prior to the Closing Date.

2.5      PAYMENT OF TAXES:  The Purchaser shall be liable for and shall pay all
applicable federal and provincial sales tax, excise taxes and all other taxes
(other than income taxes of the Vendors), duties and other like charges
properly payable upon and in connection with the conveyance and transfer of the
Purchased Assets to the Purchaser.  The Vendors will do and cause to be done
such things as are reasonably requested to enable the Purchaser to comply with
such obligation in an efficient manner.  The parties agree to jointly make,
execute and file with the appropriate taxation authorities the election
required under subsection 167(1) of the Excise Tax Act (Canada) so that there
is no liability for tax under such Act.  The parties further agree to jointly
make, execute and file with the appropriate taxation authorities the election
required under section 22 of the Income Tax Act (Canada).  Such elections shall
be prepared and filed in form and substance approved by the Purchaser.

2.6      SALES TAX CLEARANCE:  The Vendors hereby represents and warrants to
the Purchaser that all sales taxes and related interest and penalties in
respect of the Business or the Purchased Assets have been fully paid.  The
Vendors shall provide, at the Time of Closing, tax clearances from the Province
of Ontario or Revenue Canada to such effect.



                                   ARTICLE 3
                   PURCHASE PRICE, ALLOCATION AND ADJUSTMENTS

3.1      PURCHASE PRICE:  Subject to the adjustments provided for in this
Agreement pursuant to Sections 3.2 and 3.4, the Purchase Price payable by the
Purchaser to the Vendors for the Purchased Assets shall be the sum of Seven
Million Dollars ($7,000,000).  The Purchase Price shall be allocated to the
Purchased Assets in accordance with Schedule 3.1.  The Parties shall jointly
file elections under Section 22 of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and under
Section 167 of the Excise Tax Act in relation to such allocation.

3.2      ADJUSTMENTS:  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary
contained, the Purchase Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the value
of all accrued but unpaid





                                       10
<PAGE>   11
sick leave credits and employee vacation pay to the extent not paid by the
Vendors as at the close of business the day prior to the Closing Date in
respect of those employees of the Business.  In addition, all taxes, local
improvements, rates, utilities, fuel, prepaid expenses (including insurance
premiums), lease payments and fees and similar adjustments shall be apportioned
and adjusted as at the close of business on the day prior to the Closing Date.

3.3      PAYMENT:  Subject to the adjustments set out in Section 3.2 above, the
Purchase Price shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Vendors by delivery of a
note at Closing in the principal amount of Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000)
in substantially the form set out in Schedule 3.3(a) (the "Note"), subject to
the guarantee of Philip Services Corp.  described in Schedule 3.3(b) (the
"Guarantee").

3.4      ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE.

         (a)     The Purchase Price shall be adjusted following the Closing
         Date in the following manner:

                 (i)      If the Net Working Capital of the Vendors as reported
                 on the Vendors' balance sheet as of the Closing Date (the
                 "Closing Date Balance Sheet") is less than $468,000, the
                 Purchase Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the
                 difference between $468,000 and the Net Working Capital of the
                 Vendors as reported on the Closing Date Balance Sheet.

         (b)     The Closing Date Balance Sheet shall be prepared by the
         Vendors in accordance with GAAP and shall be delivered by the Vendors
         to the Purchaser as promptly as practicable and in any event within
         fifteen Business Days after the Closing.

         (c)     The Purchaser shall have the opportunity to examine the work
         papers, schedules and other documents prepared by the Vendors in
         connection with its preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet.
         The Closing Date Balance Sheet shall be final and binding on the
         Parties unless, within fifteen Business Days after delivery to the
         Purchaser, notice is given by the Purchaser of its objection setting
         forth in reasonable detail the basis for such objection.  If the
         Parties are unable to reach agreement within fifteen days after the
         notice of objection has been given, the dispute shall be referred for
         resolution to the offices of Ernst & Young LLP (the "Accountants") as
         promptly as practicable.  The Accountants will make a determination as
         to each of the items in dispute, which determination will be (i) in
         writing, (ii) furnished to each of the Parties hereto as promptly as
         practicable after the items in dispute have been referred to the
         Accountants, (iii) made in accordance with this Agreement, and (iv)
         conclusive and binding upon each of the Parties hereto.  The fees and
         expenses of the Accountants will be shared equally by the Purchaser
         and the Vendors.  Each of the Parties hereto will use reasonable
         efforts to cause the Accountants to render their decision as soon as
         reasonably practicable, including, without limitation, by promptly
         complying with all





                                       11
<PAGE>   12
         reasonable requests by the Accountants for information, books, records
         and similar items.

         (d)     Within three Business Days after the final determination of
         the Closing Date Balance Sheet, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted
         if and as required by Section 3.4(a) and the amount of any such
         decrease in the Purchase Price shall be set-off against the amount due
         pursuant to the Note.

3.5      ALLOCATION:  The Vendors and the Purchaser covenant to agree upon the
allocation of the Purchase Price among the Purchased Assets which allocation
shall be set out in Schedule 3.5 and which allocation is subject to adjustment
as agreed upon by the parties hereto pursuant to any adjustments under Section
3.4.



                                   ARTICLE 4
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

4.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE VENDORS:  To induce the
Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transaction of
purchase and sale herein contemplated, the Vendors hereby represent and warrant
to the Purchaser as follows and hereby acknowledge and confirm that the
Purchaser is relying on such representations and warranties in connection with
the purchase by it of the Purchased Assets:



(i)  as to the Vendors;


         (a)     the Vendors are corporations duly incorporated, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the Province of
         Ontario with full corporate capacity, power and authority (i) to own,
         lease and operate the Purchased Assets, (ii) to carry on the Business
         as heretofore conducted by them, (iii) to execute and deliver this
         Agreement, and all other agreements, documents and instruments to be
         executed and delivered pursuant hereto, (iv) to sell, assign,
         transfer, convey and deliver the Purchased Assets to the Purchaser as
         herein contemplated, and (v) to otherwise observe, perform, satisfy
         and carry out their obligations hereunder.  Except as otherwise
         provided herein, the Vendors are duly authorized, qualified,
         permitted, and licensed under all applicable Laws to carry on the
         Business at the locations and in the manner in which such Business is
         now being conducted;

         (b)     the execution and delivery of this Agreement and all other
         agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by
         the Vendors pursuant hereto or in connection with the completion of
         the transaction contemplated herein will have been duly authorized and
         approved by all necessary action of the board of directors of the
         Vendors on or prior to the Closing Date and by any other necessary
         corporate action on the part of the Vendors to comply with applicable
         law;





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
         (c)     no suit, action or any other legal proceedings of any nature,
         kind or description whatsoever are pending or are threatened against
         the Vendors which would restrain or otherwise prevent, in any manner,
         the Vendors from effectually and legally transferring good and
         marketable title to the Purchased Assets to the Purchaser hereunder,
         nor are any suits, actions or any other legal proceedings relative to
         the Vendors, the effect of which would be to cause a lien to attach to
         such property or assets or to divest title to such property or assets
         from the Vendors hereunder, pending or threatened, and in particular,
         and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Vendors:

                 (i)      have not had any petition or application for a
                 receiving order in bankruptcy filed against them;

                 (ii)     have not filed a proposal under any applicable
                 insolvency, bankruptcy or creditor's rights legislation or
                 otherwise taken any proceedings with respect to a compromise
                 or arrangement with their creditors;

                 (iii)    have not made a voluntary assignment in bankruptcy;

                 (iv)     have not taken any proceedings, nor has any person
                 instituted proceedings, to have the Vendors wound up or to
                 have their charters canceled or their corporate existence
                 terminated;

                 (v)      have not taken any proceedings, nor have any
                 proceedings been filed or taken against them, to have a
                 receiver appointed to all or any part of their property or
                 assets;

         which petition, application, proposal, compromise, arrangement or
         other proceeding is presently pending and no execution has become
         enforceable against the Vendors or become levied upon any of their
         property or assets nor has any encumbrancer taken possession of any of
         the property or assets of the Vendors;

         (d)     no governmental or regulatory authorization, approval, order,
         consent or filing is required on the part of the Vendors in connection
         with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any
         other documents and agreements to be delivered under this Agreement or
         the performance of the Vendors' obligations under this Agreement;

         (e)     the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance GAAP
         applied consistently, are correct and complete in all material
         respects and present fairly all of the assets, liabilities and
         financial position of the Business for the year ended December 31,
         1996;

         (f)     since March 31, 1997:





                                       13
<PAGE>   14
                 (i)      there has not been any material change in the
                 financial condition, operations or prospects of the Business
                 or the Purchased Assets other than changes in the ordinary and
                 usual course of business, none of which has been materially
                 adverse; or

                 (ii)     there has not been any damage, destruction, loss,
                 labour concerns or other event, development or condition of
                 any character (whether or not covered by insurance) materially
                 and adversely affecting the assets, properties or future
                 prospects of the Business.

         (g)     this Agreement and any ancillary documents pursuant hereto
         have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Vendors and
         constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Vendors
         enforceable against them in accordance with the respective terms
         thereof, subject to the qualification that enforceability may be
         limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting the
         enforceability of creditors' rights generally and by general equitable
         principles;

(ii)  as to the Purchased Assets:

         (h)     the Vendors, at the Time of Closing will be the sole
         unconditional owner of, and have good, valid and marketable title to,
         all of the Purchased Assets free and clear of all Encumbrances,
         conditional sale or other title retention agreements, restrictions,
         demands, equities, encumbrances and rights of any Persons or every
         nature, kind and description whatsoever (and, subject to zoning,
         occupancy and similar laws and regulations pertaining to use of the
         Real Properties, easements and restrictions of record, and Permitted
         Encumbrances, has good title to the Real Properties), including
         without limitation, rights of any Person (other than the Purchaser
         hereunder) to acquire any ownership interest in or right to possess or
         occupy any of the Purchased Assets, and the Vendors have the exclusive
         right and full power and authority to sell, assign, transfer, convey
         and deliver good and marketable title to such assets to the Purchaser
         as herein contemplated;

         (i)     all of the Equipment and Leased Equipment used in the
         operation of the Business is in substantially the same state of repair
         as when viewed and examined during the Purchaser's due diligence;

         (j)     the Leases are in good standing with the respective landlords
         and the Vendors are not in breach of any terms each of the Leases nor
         have the Vendors received any notice of breach of any terms of each of
         the Leases;

         (k)     each of the Equipment Leases are in good standing and the
         Vendors are not in breach of any terms of each of the Equipment Leases
         nor have the Vendors received any notice of breach of any terms of
         each of the Equipment Leases;

         (l)     all inventories are in good condition and repair, fit for
         their intended purpose and not obsolete;





                                       14
<PAGE>   15
         (m)     the Contracts and Supply Contracts, true and complete copies
         of which (or, in the case of oral arrangements, brief and accurate
         summaries of which) have been delivered to the Purchaser are in good
         standing and in full force and effect and have not been modified or
         supplemented in any way and constitute the entire agreement between
         the Vendors, on the one hand, and the lessee or other co-contractant
         on the other hand, such that there are no understandings,
         representations, warranties, allowances, concessions or promises
         affecting the Vendors' rights or obligations thereunder except as set
         forth in the said agreements.  There exists no default or event of
         default or event, occurrence, condition or act (including the purchase
         of the Purchased Assets hereunder) which, with the giving of notice,
         lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition, would
         become a material default or an event of default thereunder, except
         for the necessity of obtaining a consent;

         (n)     all Accounts Receivable shall have arisen only from bona fide
         transactions in the ordinary course of the Business, are fully
         collectible when due and are not subject to counterclaim or set off or
         are disputed by the account debtor except to the extent of the normal
         allowance for doubtful accounts computed in a manner consistent with
         the Vendors' prior practices;

         (o)     The Intellectual Properties used in or reasonably required for
         the carrying on of the Business in the manner heretofore carried on
         are set out in Schedule 2.1(o) and are validly owned by, or validly
         licensed to, the Vendors as indicated in Schedule 2.1(o).  Except as
         otherwise expressly stated in Schedule 2.1(o), the Vendors (i) have
         the right to use such Intellectual Properties; (ii) are the owners of
         record of such Intellectual Properties; and (iii) have not conveyed,
         assigned or encumbered any of them in any manner which would permit
         use in the ordinary course by any party other than the Company.  All
         registrations and filings necessary to preserve the rights of the
         Company in the Intellectual Properties have been made and are in good
         standing.  To the knowledge of the Vendors, the conduct of the
         Business does not infringe upon the intellectual properties of any
         other Person.

         (p)     (i)      Compliance.  The Vendors have conducted and are
                 conducting the Business in material compliance with all
                 applicable Environmental Laws.  There are no outstanding
                 complaints, orders, citations, notices or orders of violation
                 or non-compliance issued to the Vendors under any applicable
                 Environmental Laws, and the Vendors do not to the best of
                 their knowledge have reasonable grounds to know of any facts
                 which could give rise to a notice of non-compliance with any
                 applicable Environmental Laws.  To the best of the Vendors'
                 knowledge, a full and complete listing of any and all
                 violations or alleged violations of any applicable
                 Environmental Laws which have occurred within a period of two
                 (2) years prior to Closing is set out in Schedule 4.1(p).

                 (ii)     Licenses.  The Vendors possess all Licenses required
                 for the operation of the Business as presently conducted by
                 them.  All such





                                       15
<PAGE>   16
                 Licenses are valid and in full force and effect without
                 conditions other than such conditions which are generally
                 applicable to such Licenses.  To the best of the Vendors'
                 knowledge, a full and complete listing of any and all
                 violations thereof which have occurred or been noted within a
                 period of two (2) years prior to Closing is set out in
                 Schedule 4.1(p).  To the best of the Vendors' knowledge, no
                 proceeding is pending or threatened to revoke or limit any of
                 such Licenses.  The Licenses were not obtained by a
                 misrepresentation or false statement and all relevant facts
                 were disclosed in obtaining the Licenses.

                 (iii)    Offsite Remedial Action.  Except as set forth in
                 Schedule 4.1(p), there are no locations to which the Vendors
                 have ever transported, or ever caused to be transported, or
                 allowed or authorized any third party to transport on behalf
                 of the Vendors, any Hazardous Substances generated by the
                 Vendors for storage, treatment, processing, recycling, burning
                 or disposal which have been designated for remedial action
                 pursuant to any Environmental Laws.

                 (iv)     On-Site Release of Hazardous Substances or
                 Contaminants.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.1(p), the
                 Vendors have not caused or permitted and do not have any
                 knowledge of, the Release of any Hazardous Substance on any
                 property owned, leased or used by them or of any Release (with
                 respect to which the Vendors would be held liable) from a
                 facility owned or operated by third parties.

                 (v)      Hazardous Substance Spills.  Except as set forth in
                 Schedule 4.1(p), to the best of the Vendors' knowledge, there
                 are no underground storage tanks containing Hazardous
                 Substances situated on the Leased Properties or the Real
                 Properties, no Hazardous Substance from any underground
                 storage tank has been spilled, leaked, discharged or deposited
                 on or in the Leased Properties or Real Properties in an amount
                 which would constitute a reportable spill, leak, discharge or
                 deposit under any applicable Environmental Laws, and there
                 have been no violations or alleged violations of any
                 Environmental Laws related to underground storage tanks owned
                 or operated by the Vendors.

                 (vi)     Documents and Records.  The Vendors have maintained
                 all environmental records and reports substantially in the
                 manner and for the time period required by applicable
                 Environmental Laws.

         (q)     there are no outstanding work orders, non-compliance orders,
         deficiency notices or other such notices relative to the Real
         Properties, the Purchased Assets or the Business which have been
         issued by any regulatory authority, police or fire department,
         sanitation, labour or other governmental authorities or agencies.
         There are no matters under discussion with any such department or
         authority relating to work orders, non-compliance orders, deficiency
         notices or other such





                                       16
<PAGE>   17
         notices.  The Business in not being carried on, and none of the Real
         Properties or the other Purchased Assets are being operated, in a
         manner which is in material contravention of any Law.  No amounts are
         owing by the Vendors in respect of the Real Properties to any
         Governmental Entity or public utility, other than current accounts
         which are not in arrears.  There are no premises leased by the Vendors
         for the operation of the Business pursuant to the terms of any lease,
         whether oral or written;

(iii)  as to the Condition of the Business:

         (r)     except as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(r) attached hereto there
         are no claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including arbitration
         proceedings), or, to the best knowledge of the Vendors, investigations
         (whether or not purportedly on behalf or the Vendors) at law or in
         equity or before or by any federal, provincial, municipal or other
         governmental department, commission, bureau, agency or
         instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which involves the possibility
         of materially and adversely affecting the Purchased Assets or the
         Business; and to the best knowledge of the Vendors there are no
         existing grounds on which any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
         investigation might be commenced with any reasonable likelihood or
         success;

 (s)     during the period between March 31, 1997 to the date of this Agreement;

                 (i)      the Business was operated in the ordinary course
                 thereof, consistent with past practices;

                 (ii)     no obligation or liability (fixed or contingent) was
                 incurred except normal trade or business obligations incurred
                 in the ordinary course of the Business, none of which is
                 materially adverse to the Business.

(iv)  as to Employee matters;

         (t)     Schedule 4.1 (t) annexed hereto sets forth:

                 (i)      the names, current annual salaries, job positions,
                 length of employment and date and amounts of the most recent
                 increases in salaries of all Persons who are employed by the
                 Vendors on a full-time or part-time basis in connection with
                 the Business and including all independent commission agents;

                 (ii)     particulars of any contracts, commitments,
                 arrangements or understandings, written or oral, with any such
                 employees or agents;

                 (iii)    particulars of any agreements with any labour union
                 or employee associations; and

                 (iv)     particulars of all employee insurance, hospital or
                 medical expense program, pension, retirement, profit sharing,
                 stock options or other





                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                 employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements or any
                 executive or key personnel incentives or other special
                 compensation arrangements to which the Vendors are a party or
                 are bound in respect of the employees or agents contemplated
                 in (i) above.

         (u)     save as disclosed in Schedule 4.1(t), the Vendors do not have
         any agreements with any labour union or employee association nor have
         they made commitments to or conducted negotiations with any union or
         employee association with respect to any future agreements, and the
         Vendors are not aware of any current attempts to organize or establish
         any labour union or employee association for the employees of Vendors;

         (v)     the Vendors are not engaged in any material dispute with any
         of the employees identified in Schedule 4.1(t) annexed hereto and
         there is not now pending or threatened any labour dispute or work
         stoppage which affects or may affect the Business or may interfere
         with its continued operations and there are no outstanding breaches of
         any collective agreement or outstanding or potential grievances.

         (w)     the terms and conditions of employment of all such employees
         of the Business conform with the minimum employment and labour
         standards requirements laid down by the Province of Ontario, as
         applicable;

         (x)     all salaries, workers compensation assessments and surcharges,
         unemployment insurance assessments, pension remittances, remittances
         under the Business' profit sharing plan, employer health tax
         remittances, sick day credits, vacation pay including the monetary
         value of lieu days and associated payroll costs thereof, and similar
         charges or amounts with respect to all of the employees owing by the
         Vendors to those of its employees identified in Schedule 4.1(t)
         annexed hereto will have been paid up to the Closing Date or adjusted
         for at the Closing Date;

(v)  as to Insurance:

         (y)     all of the Purchased Assets are insured and will be up to the
         Time of Closing (subject to the amount of any deductibles under such
         policies) against loss or damage by all insurable risks and hazards
         customarily insured against by Persons owning and operating property
         and assets and/or carrying on a business similar to the Purchased
         Assets and the Business.  The Vendors are not in any technical or
         non-material breach or default with respect to any of the provisions
         contained in any such insurance policy which could result in the
         cancellation of any policy of insurance;

(vi)  Miscellaneous:

         (z)      INTENTIONALLY BLANK.





                                       18
<PAGE>   19
         (aa)    at the Time of Closing, all remittances with respect to retail
         sales tax will have been made up to and including the Closing Date;

         (bb)

                 (i)      The Vendors are the registered and beneficial owner
                 of the Real Properties, subject to zoning, occupancy and
                 similar laws and regulations pertaining to use thereof,
                 easements and restrictions of record and the Permitted
                 Encumbrances.

                 (ii)     All of the buildings and fixtures on the Real
                 Properties (i) were to the best knowledge of the Vendors
                 constructed in substantial accordance with all applicable laws
                 and with all authorizations validly issued pursuant thereto;
                 (ii) are in substantially the same condition as when viewed
                 and examined during the Purchaser's due diligence; and (iii)
                 to the best knowledge of the Vendors are adequate and suitable
                 for the purposes for which they are presently being used; and
                 the Vendors have adequate rights of ingress and egress for the
                 operation of the Business in the ordinary course.  None of the
                 Real Properties or the buildings and fixtures thereon, nor the
                 use, operation or maintenance thereof for the purpose of
                 carrying on the Business, violates any restrictive covenant or
                 any provision of any Law or encroaches on any property owned
                 by any other Person, which violation has or would have a
                 material adverse effect on the normal operation of the
                 Business.  No condemnation or expropriation proceeding is
                 pending or, to the best knowledge of the Vendors, threatened
                 which would preclude or materially impair the use of any such
                 property or any part thereof for the purposes for which it is
                 currently used.  Except as may occur in the ordinary course of
                 business, there are no outstanding work orders with respect to
                 any of the Assets from or required by any municipality, police
                 department, fire department, sanitation, health or safety
                 authorities or from any other Person.

         (cc)    except for those liabilities set forth on the Financial
         Statements or otherwise disclosed hereunder, and for those liabilities
         incurred in the ordinary course of business, the Business or Purchased
         Assets are not subject to any liabilities, absolute or contingent, and
         whether or not required in accordance with GAAP to be disclosed on a
         balance sheet.

         (dd)    the Vendors have been and are conducting the Business in
         substantial compliance with all applicable Laws, other than
         Environmental Laws.

         (ee)    no representation or warranty of the Vendors contained in the
         Agreement or contained in any statement, document, certificate or list
         made, delivered or furnished by or on behalf of the Vendors pursuant
         to this Agreement or in connection with the consummation of the
         transaction herein contemplated contains





                                       19
<PAGE>   20
         or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or
         will omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements herein
         and therein not misleading.

4.2      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER:  The Purchaser hereby
represents and warrants to the Vendors as follows and hereby acknowledges and
confirms that the Vendors are relying on such representations and warranties in
connection with the sale of the Purchased Assets:

         (a)     the Purchaser is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
         existing and in good standing under the laws of the Province of
         Ontario with full corporate capacity, power and authority to enter
         into this Agreement and carry out its obligations hereunder;

         (b)     the execution and delivery of the Agreement, and all other
         agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by
         the Purchaser pursuant hereto or in connection with the completion of
         the transaction contemplated herein have been duly authorized and
         approved by all necessary action of the board of directors of the
         Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date and by any other necessary
         corporate action on the part of the Purchaser to comply with
         applicable law;

         (c)     the execution and delivery of the Agreement and all other
         agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by
         the Purchaser pursuant hereto or in connection with the completion of
         the transaction contemplated herein, and the performance of this
         Agreement or any other such agreement by the Purchaser will not:

                 (i)      violate any provision of the Purchaser's Articles of
                 Incorporation or by-laws, or

                 (ii)     result in the breach of violation of any provision of
                 or constitute a default under any indenture, agreement or
                 other instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or by which
                 the Purchaser or any of its properties may be bound, or

                 (iii)    to the best knowledge of the Purchaser violate any
                 law, rules or regulations to which the Purchaser is subject.

4.3      NON-WAIVER:  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.4, no
investigations made by or on behalf of either the Purchaser or the Vendors at
any time shall have the effect of waiving, diminishing the scope of or
otherwise affecting or mitigating any representation or warranty made herein or
pursuant hereto or the right of the party or parties to whom such
representation or warranty is made to rely on such representation and warranty.

4.4      KNOWLEDGE OF PARTIES:  In the event that the Vendors on the one hand,
or the Purchaser on the other hand (the "Knowing Party"), has actual knowledge
at the time of the Closing that a representation or warranty made by the other
Party is false or the other





                                       20
<PAGE>   21
Party has violated a covenant made by it under this Agreement, and the Knowing
Party proceeds to the Closing notwithstanding such knowledge, the Knowing Party
shall be deemed to have waived any rights it may have for indemnification or
damages against the other Party to the extent that any damages result from such
breach of representation or warranty or failure to perform such covenant.



                                   ARTICLE 5
                         OTHER COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

5.1      EMPLOYEES:

         (a)   OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.  Upon Closing, the Purchaser (i) shall offer
         employment to the employees of the Business set forth in Schedule
         5.1(a) located at the facilities in Fort Erie and Brantford by way of
         a letter, at a minimum, on substantially the same terms and conditions
         of employment as each such employee has with the Vendors on the
         Closing Date, and (ii) may, in its sole discretion, offer employment
         to certain sales employees located at the Burlington, Ontario office
         as may be identified and selected by the Purchaser.

         (b)   OTHER BENEFITS.  Until Closing, the Vendors shall be responsible
         for all wages, bonuses, earned vacations, sick leave, severance pay,
         and other remuneration benefits for all of the employees of the
         Business in respect of any period prior to the Closing Date.
         Thereafter, the Purchaser shall be responsible for all such benefits
         of the employees relating to after the Closing Date.

         (c)   SEVERANCE.  Save and except in respect of those employees who
         accept the Purchaser's offers of employment made pursuant to Section
         5.1(a), the Vendors shall be responsible for all notice of
         termination, severance and other obligations to the employees of the
         Business arising out of their termination of employment with the
         Vendors and the Vendors shall indemnify and save the Purchaser
         harmless in respect of all such obligations.

5.2      BULK SALES:  The Vendors and the Purchaser hereby waive compliance
with the provisions of applicable bulk sales legislation.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Vendors shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser from and
against any and all claims which may be made or brought against the Purchaser
or which the Purchaser may suffer or incur as a result of, or arising out of
such non-compliance unless such non-compliance is a result of the Purchaser's
non- satisfaction of assumed liabilities as described herein.

5.3      TAX ELECTIONS:  The Vendors shall execute, in form and content to be
reviewed and accepted by the Purchaser, the tax elections referred to in
Section 2.5.





                                       21
<PAGE>   22
5.4      PICKERING PERMIT:  The Vendors shall diligently pursue  cancellation
of the Certificate of Approval #A390414 of Republic Environmental Systems
(Pickering) Ltd. in respect of its facility located at 1070 Toy Avenue,
Pickering, Ontario, and shall in any case have arranged such surrender and
cancellation within five (5) years following the Closing Date.


                                   ARTICLE 6
                            INTERIM PERIOD COVENANTS

6.1      ACCESS FOR INVESTIGATION:  During the Interim Period, the Vendors
shall permit the Purchaser and its employees, agents, counsel and other
representatives to make such reasonable investigation of the Purchased Assets
and of the Business as the Purchaser deems reasonably necessary or advisable to
familiarize itself with such properties, assets and other matters relating to
the Business and the Purchased Assets and to confirm the matters represented
and warranted in Section 4.1 hereof.  For purposes of such investigation, the
Vendors shall cause the directors, officers and employees of the Vendors to
permit the Purchaser, the Purchaser's solicitors and other representatives of
the Purchaser to have reasonable access, during normal business hours, on
reasonable advance notice and without disruption to the operation of the
Business, to all locations where the Business is carried on or where any of the
Purchased Assets are located and to the books, contracts, commitments and
records of the Vendors pertaining to the Business.

6.2      CONFIDENTIALITY COVENANT:  Subject to disclosure in accordance with
the provisions of Section 8.1 hereof, the Purchaser will treat as confidential
all confidential documents and information concerning the Vendors, the
Purchased Assets and the Business as the Vendors shall have furnished to the
Purchaser or which is acquired by the Purchaser during its investigation
pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, and, if the sale of the Purchased Assets
pursuant hereto shall not be consummated, such confidence shall be maintained
and the Purchaser will not use or disclose to any Person any such document or
information (except to the extent that such information can be shown to be
previously known to the Purchaser, in the public domain, or later acquired by
the Purchaser from other sources without any breach of confidentiality to the
Vendors).  In the event that this Agreement is terminated without consummation
of the transaction of purchase and sale herein contemplated the Purchaser shall
promptly return to the Vendors all documents, work papers and other written
material and any copies thereof supplied to the Purchaser or its
representatives by the Vendors in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement or pursuant to the investigation, if any, conducted by the Purchaser
pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof.

6.3      COVENANTS OF VENDORS:  The Vendors hereby covenant and agree that,
during the Interim Period, the Vendors will:

         (a)   do all things and cause all things to be done to ensure that all
         of the warranties and representations of the Vendors contained in this
         Agreement remain





                                       22
<PAGE>   23
         true and correct throughout the Interim Period, as if such
         representations and warranties were continuously made throughout such
         period;

         (b)   carry on the Business only in the usual course thereof, 
         consistent with past practices, which, without limitation, shall
         include substantial compliance with all applicable laws, regulations
         and administrative orders of all governmental, administrative or
         regulatory bodies or agencies having jurisdiction including all
         Environmental Laws, and use its best efforts to preserve the goodwill
         of the Business;

         (c)   refrain from any acts having the effect of dissuading any of the
         employees, agents, customers, clients, representatives, agents or
         suppliers of the Business to become associated with, or having the
         effect of inducing them to terminate its association with, the
         Purchaser;

         (d)   continue to maintain in full force and effect all policies of
         insurance of the Vendors now in effect relating to the Purchased
         Assets or the Business and give all notices and to present all claims
         under all such policies of insurance in due and timely fashion;

         (e)   not sell, agree to sell or otherwise dispose of or pledge, 
         subject to lien, create security interest in or otherwise encumber any
         of the Purchased Assets except in the ordinary course of business;

         (f)   not increase the wages, salaries or any other forms of
         remuneration, direct or indirect, of any of the employees of the
         Business except in the ordinary course of business;

         (g)   use its best efforts to aid the Purchaser in engaging the 
         Vendors' employees as are identified on Schedule 4.1(t) annexed
         hereto, which the Purchaser wishes to re-hire;

         (h)   promptly advise the Purchaser in writing of any material adverse
         change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Business or of
         the Purchased Assets or of the occurrence or filing of any dispute or
         complaint.

                                   ARTICLE 7
              CLOSING ARRANGEMENTS AND CONDITIONS AND RISK OF LOSS

7.1      PLACE OF CLOSING:  The Closing of the transaction contemplated hereto
shall take place at the Time of Closing, on the Closing Date at the Purchaser's
office in Hamilton, Ontario, or at such other place as may be mutually agreed
upon by the parties hereto or their respective solicitors.

7.2      CONDITIONS OF CLOSING:  Completion of the purchase and sale of the
Purchased Assets contemplated hereto is subject to the following conditions
having been satisfied.





                                       23
<PAGE>   24
The conditions contained in Sections 7.2 (a) to (n), both inclusive, are for
the exclusive benefit of the Purchaser.  The conditions contained in Sections
7.2 (o) to (r), both inclusive, are for the exclusive benefit of the Vendors.
All conditions referred to herein are to be satisfied at the Time of Closing.
The following are the conditions:

         (a)   all of the representations and warranties of the Vendors 
         contained in the Agreement or contained in any certificate or other
         document delivered to the Purchaser pursuant hereto shall be true and
         correct on and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect
         as if those representations and warranties had been made on and as of
         such date, regardless of the date as of which the information in this
         Agreement or in any such certificate or document is given, and there
         shall have been compliance with the covenants and obligations on the
         part of the Vendors contained herein which were to have been complied
         with by the Vendors at or prior to the Time of Closing and the Vendors
         shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate executed by the
         president or chief executive officer of the Vendors to that effect.
         The acceptance of such certificate and the completion of the
         transaction of purchase and sale herein contemplated shall not be a
         waiver of the covenants, representations and warranties contained
         herein or in any certificate or other document given pursuant to this
         Agreement (except to the extent that any such representations or
         warranties have been modified by the information disclosed in the
         certificate so delivered and accepted by the Purchaser), which
         covenants, representations and warranties shall continue in full force
         and effect as provided in Section 8.1 hereof;

         (b)   the Vendors shall deliver to the Purchaser all necessary deeds,
         conveyances, bills of sale, assurances, transfers, assignments,
         consents, releases, discharges and other documents, necessary or
         reasonably required in the opinion of the Purchaser, to transfer
         effectively to the Purchaser good and marketable title to the
         Purchased Assets free and clear of all mortgages, liens, charges,
         security interests, pledges, adverse claims, conditional sale or other
         title retention agreements, restrictions, demands, equities,
         encumbrances and rights of any Person of every nature, kind and
         description whatsoever including, without limiting the generality of
         the foregoing, of the tax clearance certificates referred to in
         Section 2.6 hereof with respect to the remittance of Ontario sales
         taxes;

         (c)   the Vendors shall have delivered to the Purchaser possession of 
         the Purchased Assets including documents relating to the Business
         contemplated in Section 2.1 hereof;

         (d)   the Purchaser shall have obtained or received all licenses,
         permits, consents, approvals and authorizations from all Governmental
         Entities under all applicable Laws, as may be necessary and
         appropriate to enable the Purchaser to carry on the Business in the
         same manner in which such Business in now being carried on by the
         Vendors or as may be required to permit the change of ownership of the
         Purchased Assets herein provided for to be completed, without





                                       24
<PAGE>   25
         affecting or resulting in the cancellation or termination of any
         Permit or of any license or permit held by the Purchaser;

         (e)   the Vendors and RESI shall execute a non-competition agreement
         whereby the Vendors and RESI agree to refrain from engaging in any
         similar business to the Business within Canada for a period of five
         (5) years from the Closing Date, which agreement shall be in
         substantially the form as set forth in Schedule 7.2(e);

         (f)   on the Closing Date, and except as otherwise contemplated
         hereunder, title to the Purchased Assets shall be free and clear of
         all mortgages, liens, charges, security interest, pledges, adverse
         claims, conditional sale or other title retention agreements,
         restrictions, description whatsoever and there shall have been no
         material change to the Purchased Assets;

         (g)   the Vendors shall provide to the Purchaser on the Closing Date 
         the written consent of each lessor or third party under the Equipment
         Leases, Supply Contracts and Contracts to the assignment of same to
         the Purchaser and each of the lessors' and third party's
         acknowledgments that the Vendors are not in breach of any terms of
         each of the Equipment Leases, Contracts and Supply Contracts;

         (h)   INTENTIONALLY BLANK

         (i)   INTENTIONALLY BLANK

         (j)   the Vendors shall have delivered to the Purchaser reasonable and
         satisfactory evidence that the Vendors are at the Closing Date
         residents of Canada within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada);

         (k)   the Vendors shall have performed or complied with all of its
         obligations, covenants and agreements hereunder;

         (l)   the Purchaser shall have satisfied itself

                 (i)   as to the accuracy of the Financial Statements; and

                 (ii)  that no material adverse change in the Business has
                 occurred or is likely to occur.

         (m)   the Purchaser shall have secured the approval of its board,
         authorizing and approving the transaction of purchase and sale herein
         contemplated, and shall have delivered to the Vendors a copy of such
         resolution of the board of directors evidencing the due authorization
         of the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, to consummate the
         transaction of purchase and sale herein contemplated and to otherwise
         perform its obligations hereunder;





                                       25
<PAGE>   26
         (n)   the transaction contemplated in and by the share purchase 
         agreement between Republic Environmental Systems, Inc., as vendor, and
         Philip Environmental (Delaware), Inc., as purchaser, shall have been
         completed;

         (o)   all of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser
         contained in this Agreement or contained in any certificate or other
         document delivered to the Vendors pursuant hereto shall be true and
         correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect
         as if such representations and warranties have been made on and as of
         such date, regardless of the date as of which the information in this
         Agreement or in any such certificate or document is given, and there
         shall have been compliance with the covenants and obligations on the
         part of the Purchaser contained herein which were to have been
         complied with at or prior to Closing and the Purchaser shall have
         delivered to the Vendors a certificate executed by the president or
         chief executive officer of the Purchaser to that effect.  The
         acceptance of such certificate and the completion of the transaction
         of purchase and sale herein contemplated shall not be a waiver of the
         covenants, representations and warranties contained herein or in any
         certificate or document given pursuant to this Agreement (except to
         the extent that any such representations or warranties have been
         modified by the information disclosed in the certificate so delivered
         and accepted by the Vendors), which covenants, representations and
         warranties shall continue in full force and effect as provided in
         Section 8.1 hereof;

         (p)   the Purchaser shall have paid to the Vendors the amount payable 
         at Closing pursuant to Section 8.1;

         (q)   the Purchaser shall have performed on complied with all its
         obligations, covenants and agreements hereunder; and

         (r)   the transaction contemplated in and by the share purchase 
         agreement between Republic Environmental Systems, Inc., as vendor, and
         Philip Environmental (Delaware), Inc., as purchaser, shall have been
         completed.

7.3      RISK OF LOSS:  If, at or prior to the Closing, all or any part of the
Purchased Assets are lost, destroyed or damaged by fire or any other casualty,
event or circumstance or are expropriated or otherwise seized by governmental
or other lawful authority the Vendors shall immediately advise the Purchaser
thereof in writing and the Purchaser shall have the option, exercisable by
notice in writing to be given by the Purchaser to the Vendors within five (5)
business days of the Purchaser receiving the aforesaid notice from the Vendors
to either:

         (a)   reduce the Purchase Price by the fair market value of all or any
         part of the Purchased Assets so lost, destroyed or damaged, or

         (b)   in regard to circumstances in which a material part of the
         Purchased Assets is so lost destroyed or damaged, refuse to complete
         the transaction contemplated





                                       26
<PAGE>   27
         herein by notice to the Vendors and in such event all parties hereto
         shall be released from all obligations hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE 8
                SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNIFICATION

8.1      NATURE AND SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES:  The 
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto
contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of one (1)
year, save and except those representations and warranties made pursuant to
Section 4.1(p)(iii), which shall survive for a period of five (5) years.

8.2      INDEMNIFICATION BY VENDORS AND RESI:  The Vendors and RESI covenant and
agree to indemnify and save harmless the Purchaser and its shareholders and
their officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives from and
against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and disbursements on a solicitor and his own client
basis) suffered or incurred by the Purchaser or any such other Person as a
result of, in consequence of or arising out of, under or by reason of:

         (a)   any representations or warranty of the Vendors contained in this
         Agreement or contained in any document or certificate delivered by the
         Vendors pursuant hereto or in connection with the completion of the
         transaction herein contemplated being untrue, inaccurate or misleading
         in any material respect;

         (b)   a breach by the Vendors in any respect of any of its covenants or
         obligations contained herein or contained in any document or
         instrument delivered by the Vendors pursuant hereto or in connection
         with completion of the transaction contemplated herein; or

         (c)   any claim made against the Purchaser in relation to the Retained
         Liabilities.

The Vendors and RESI have no obligation to indemnify an indemnified party under
Section 8.2 until the Purchaser has suffered (i) losses, claims or damages
related to or arising from a breach of the Vendors' representations and
warranties made pursuant to Section 4.1(p) for which the Vendors are
responsible hereunder in excess of an aggregate of Two Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($250,000) (the "Environmental Indemnification Threshold"), or
(ii) losses, claims or damages for which the Vendors are responsible hereunder,
other than those relating to matters set forth in (i) above in excess of an
aggregate of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000) (the
"General Indemnification Threshold") and then only to the extent that such
losses, claims and damages exceed the respective indemnification threshold.
The Vendors shall not be liable for any losses, claims or damages once the
aggregate amount of all such losses, claims or damages paid, or due to be paid,
by the Vendors shall have reached $7,000,000.





                                       27
<PAGE>   28
The Vendors shall be entitled to reduce the principal amount due under the Note
in satisfaction of any claims in respect of which it is obligated to indemnify
the Purchaser pursuant hereto.

8.3      INDEMNIFICATION BY PURCHASER:  The Purchaser covenants and agrees to
indemnify and save harmless the Vendors and their shareholders and their
directors, offices, employees, agents and representatives (in respect of which
the Vendors hereby act as agent and trustee with respect thereto) from and
against any and all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and disbursements on a solicitor and his own client
basis) suffered or incurred by the Vendors as a result of, in consequence of or
arising our of, under or by reason of:

         (a)   any representation or warranty of the Purchaser contained in this
         Agreement or contained in any document or certificate delivered by the
         Purchaser pursuant hereto or in connection with the completion of the
         transaction herein contemplated being untrue, inaccurate or misleading
         in any material respect;

         (b)   any other breach by the Purchaser in any respect of any of its
         covenants or obligations contained herein or contained in any document
         or instrument delivered by the Purchaser pursuant hereto or in
         connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated
         herein;

         (c)   any liability pertaining to the Business, which occurs or arises
         after the Time of Closing in respect of an event or occurrence in a
         period after the Closing Date, except for the Retained Liabilities,
         and except for any liability resulting from a breach of the Vendors'
         representations and warranties made hereunder or from their failure to
         fulfill their covenants; or

         (d)   any liability pertaining to the Business arising directly or
         indirectly from breaches of Environmental Laws by the Vendors,
         Environmental Activity by the Vendors or the Release of Hazardous
         Substances to the Natural Environment by the Vendors, except to the
         extent such liability (i) results from a breach of any of the
         representations or warranties given by the Vendors hereunder within
         the respective survival period, (ii) results from a failure of the
         Vendors to fulfill any of their covenants hereunder, or (iii) relates
         to the Excluded Assets set forth in Schedule 2.2.

8.4      COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:  If any Accounts Receivable, net 
of any allowance for doubtful accounts, in excess of an aggregate amount of
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) shall not have been collected within one
hundred and eighty days (180) from the Closing Date (the "Uncollected
Receivables"), the Uncollected Receivables shall thereupon be assigned to the
Vendors for collection.  The Vendors shall forthwith make dollar-for-dollar
payment to the Purchaser in respect of all Uncollected Receivables so assigned
and the Purchaser shall thereupon assign to the Vendors all of the Purchaser's
rights and entitlement under the Uncollected Receivables.  All costs associated
with such collection shall be borne by the Vendors.





                                       28
<PAGE>   29
8.5      INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE:

         (a)   Any party seeking indemnification under this Article (the
         "indemnified party") shall forthwith notify the party against whom a
         claim for indemnification is sought hereunder (the "indemnifying
         party") in writing, which notice shall specify, in reasonable detail,
         the nature and estimated amount of the claim.  If a claim by a third
         party is made against an indemnified party, and if the indemnified
         party intends to seek indemnity with respect thereto under this
         Article, the indemnified party shall promptly (and in any case within
         20 days of such claim being made) notify the indemnifying party of
         such claim with reasonable particulars.  The indemnifying party shall
         have 20 days after receipt of such notice to undertake, conduct and
         control, through counsel of its own choosing and at its expense, the
         settlement or defense thereof, and the indemnified party shall
         cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection therewith; except
         that with respect to settlements entered into by the indemnifying
         party (i) the consent of the indemnified party shall be required if
         the settlement provides for equitable relief against the indemnified
         party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
         and (ii) the indemnifying party shall obtain the approval of the
         indemnified party.  If the indemnifying party undertakes, conducts and
         controls the settlement or defense of such claim (i) the indemnifying
         party shall permit the indemnified party to participate in such
         settlement or defense through counsel chosen by the indemnified party,
         provided that the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by
         the indemnified party; and (ii) the indemnifying party shall promptly
         reimburse the indemnified party for the full amount of any Loss
         resulting from any claim and all related expenses (other than the fees
         and expenses of counsel as aforesaid) incurred by the indemnified
         party in respect of any valid claim for indemnification under this
         Agreement.  The indemnified part shall not pay or settle any claims so
         long as the indemnifying party is reasonably contesting any such claim
         in good faith on a timely basis.  Notwithstanding the two immediately
         preceding sentences, the indemnified party shall have the right to pay
         or settle any such claim provided that in such event it shall waive
         any right to indemnity therefor by the indemnifying party.

         (b)   With respect to third party claims, if the indemnifying party 
         does not notify the indemnified party within 20 days after the receipt
         of the indemnified party's notice of a claim of indemnity hereunder
         that it elects to undertake the defense thereof, the indemnified party
         shall have the right, but not the obligation, to contest, settle or
         compromise the claim in the exercise of its reasonable judgment at the
         expense of the indemnifying party.

         (c)   In the event of any claim by a third party against an indemnified
         party, the defense of which is being undertaken and controlled by the
         indemnifying party, the indemnified part will use all reasonable
         efforts to make available to the indemnifying party those employees
         whose assistance, testimony or presence is necessary to assist the
         indemnifying party in evaluating and in defending any such claims.





                                       29
<PAGE>   30
         (d)   With respect to third party claims, the indemnified party shall
         make available to the indemnifying party or its representatives on a
         timely basis all documents, invoices and financial ledgers, records
         and other materials in the possession of the indemnified party, at the
         expense of the indemnifying party, reasonably required by the
         indemnifying party for its use in defending any claim and shall
         otherwise cooperate on a timely basis with the indemnifying part in
         the defense of such claim.

         (e)   With respect to the Environmental Indemnification Threshold and
         the Indemnification Threshold, the Purchaser shall provide to the
         Vendors an accounting at three (3) month intervals, commencing with
         the first three (3) month period after the Closing Date, summarizing
         the costs which the Purchaser claims are being assessed to the
         respective threshold amounts.  Upon request of the Vendors, the
         Purchaser shall submit to the Vendors all documentation supporting
         such costs, including consultant and contractor invoices.

         (f)   With respect to any liability for income, corporate, sales, 
         excise, or other tax or other liability which has resulted in an
         encumbrance against the property of the indemnified party, the
         indemnifying party's right to so contest shall only apply after such
         payment of such re-assessment or the provision of such security as is
         necessary to remove such encumbrance on the property of the
         indemnified party.

8.6      REMEDIATION REQUIREMENTS:  The Purchaser agrees that any remediation
performed by the Purchaser or the Vendors shall be consistent with the
industrial use of the Real Property and shall make maximum benefit, to the
extent commercially reasonable to do so, of institutional controls, engineering
controls and natural remediation pursuant to Environmental Laws in order to
minimize investigation and remediation costs to the extent feasible.

8.7      VENDORS' RIGHT TO ASSERT CLAIMS: Nothing in this Agreement shall 
prevent the Vendors from asserting any claim which they may have against any
person, corporation, partnership or other entity (other than the Purchaser or
any of its affiliated companies) related to matters which are the subject of
the Vendors' indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 8.2; provided,
however, that in no case shall the Vendors' obligation to indemnify the
Purchaser hereunder be conditional upon the assertion or ultimate success or
any such claim.  The Purchaser agrees to assign to the Vendors any claim in
respect of such indemnified matters which the Purchaser may have against any
Person, other than claims against any Persons the assertion of which, in the
reasonable judgment of the Purchaser, would interfere with the on-going
business relations of the Purchaser with such Persons.  The Purchaser agrees
that any amounts recovered by the Vendors regarding any claims asserted by them
in accordance with the terms hereof shall be retained solely by the Vendors.

8.8      LETTERS OF CREDIT AND BONDS: The Purchaser shall, as soon as is 
reasonably practicable, and in any case within 90 days after the Closing date,
replace the outstanding letters of credit, bonds, financial assurances,
guarantees and security interests ("Financial





                                       30
<PAGE>   31
Assurances") set forth in Schedule 8.8 which the Vendors have in place in
relation to the Business and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Vendors from
any liabilities arising therefrom.  Any proceeds from the surrender,
satisfaction or replacement of any of the above shall remain the asset of the
Vendors or RESI, as the case may be.

                                   ARTICLE 9
                          GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS

9.1      NOTICE:

(1)      Any notice, designation, communication, request, demand or other
document, required or permitted to be given or sent or delivered hereunder to
any party hereto shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given or sent or
delivered if it is:

         (a)     delivered personally to an officer or director of such party;

         (b)     sent to the party entitled to receive it by registered mail,
         postage prepaid, mailed in Canada or the United States, or

         (c)     sent by telecopy machine.

(2)      Notices shall be sent to the following addresses or telecopy numbers:

                 (a)      in the case of the Vendors:


                          c/o Republic Environmental Systems, Inc.
                          101 West Avenue
                          3rd Floor
                          Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046


                          Fax No.:         (215) 517-4844


                 (b)      in the case of the Purchaser:

                          Philip Enterprises Inc.
                          100 King Street West
                          P. O. Box 2440 LCD 1
                          Hamilton, Ontario   L8N 4J6

                          Attention:       General Counsel
                          Fax No.:         (905) 521-9160





                                       31
<PAGE>   32
                 (c)      in the case of RESI:

                          Republic Environmental Systems, Inc.
                          101 West Avenue
                          3rd Floor
                          Jenkintown, Pennsylvania  19046

                          Fax No.:         (215) 517-4844


         or to such other address or telecopier number as the party entitled to
         or receiving such notice, designation, communication, request, demand
         or other document shall, by a notice given in accordance with this
         section, have communicated to the party giving or sending or
         delivering such notice, designation, communication, request, demand or
         other document.

         Any notice, designation, communication, request, demand or other
         document given or sent or delivered as aforesaid shall

         (c)     if delivered as aforesaid, be deemed to have been given, sent,
         delivered and received on the date of delivery;

         (d)     if sent by mail as aforesaid, be deemed to have been given,
         sent, delivered and received (but not actually received) on the tenth
         Business Day following the date of mailing, unless at any time between
         the date of mailing and the fourth Business day thereafter there is a
         discontinuance or interruption of regular postal service, whether due
         to strike or lockout or work slowdown affecting postal service at the
         point of dispatch or delivery or any intermediate point, in which case
         the same shall be deemed to have been given, sent, delivered and
         received in the ordinary course of the mails, allowing for such
         discontinuance of interruption of regular postal service, and,

         (e)     if sent by telecopy machine, be deemed to have been given,
         sent, delivered and received on the date the sender receives the
         telecopy answer back confirming receipt by the recipient.

9.2      TIME OF ESSENCE:  Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement and
of every part hereof and no extension or variation of this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver of this provision.

9.3      FURTHER ASSURANCES:  The parties hereto shall, with reasonable
diligence do all such things and provide all such reasonable assurances as may
be required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and each party
shall provide such further documents or instruments required by any other party
as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effect the purpose of this
Agreement and to carry out its provisions, whether before or after the
consummation of the transaction contemplated herein.





                                       32
<PAGE>   33
9.4      EXPENSES:  Each of the parties hereto shall bear its own respective
expenses (including, but not limited to, all compensation and expenses of
counsel, financial advisors, consultants, actuaries, auditors, brokerage
finder's fees or other fees or commissions) incurred in connection with the
negotiations, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the consummation of
the transaction contemplated hereto and any post-closing matters.  The Vendors
shall indemnify and save harmless the Purchaser from any such fees or
commissions payable by the Business.

9.5      GOVERNING LAW:  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario, which shall be deemed to
be the proper law hereof.  The Courts of the Province of Ontario shall have
jurisdiction to entertain and determine all dispute and claims, both at law and
in equity, arising our of or in any way connected with the construction, breach
or alleged, threatened or anticipated breach of this Agreement, and shall have
jurisdiction to hear and determine all questions as to the validity, existence
or enforceability thereof.

9.6      ENTIRE AGREEMENT:  This Agreement shall constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written, of the parties hereto,
and there are no representations, warranties or agreements between the parties
hereto except as set forth in contemplated herein or in any document or
instrument delivered pursuant hereto.  This Agreement shall not be amended
except by a memorandum in writing signed by all of the parties hereto and any
amendment hereof shall be null and void and shall not be binding upon any party
which has not given its consent as aforesaid.

9.7      ASSIGNMENT:  Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations
hereunder shall be assignable by any party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other parties hereto, except that the Purchaser shall, without
any prior consent required, be entitled to assign this Agreement to a related
or affiliated company to be incorporated in the Province of Ontario, provided,
however, that in no case shall such assignment relieve the Purchaser from its
obligations hereunder.  This Agreement shall enure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, legal representative, successors and permitted assigns.

9.8      PUBLICITY:  Neither the Vendors nor the Purchaser shall issue any
press release or make any other public statement or announcement relating to or
connected with or arising out of this Agreement or the matters contained
herein, without consulting in advance with the other party on the form, timing,
contents, manner of presentation and publication thereof.  If disclosure is
required by law or by any stock exchange, the disclosing party shall consult in
advance with the other party hereto and attempt in good faith to reflect such
other party's concerns in the required disclosure.

9.9      COUNTERPARTS:  This Agreement may be executed by the parties in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be
deemed to be an





                                       33
<PAGE>   34
original and such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same
instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such counterpart.

9.10     STORAGE AND ACCESS TO RECORDS:  The Purchaser agrees to provide the
Vendors (as well as the Vendors' accountants, auditors or other
representatives) reasonable use of the Purchaser's (and Vendors' former)
employees to gain access to the books and records forming part of the Purchased
Assets and otherwise provide reasonable access to such books and records during
normal business hours at the premises of the Business, to the extent necessary
to complete any financial statements required for this Agreement or otherwise
required by the Vendors, to collect any accounts receivable re-assigned by the
Purchaser to the Vendors, to prosecute or defend claims or lawsuits, to prepare
tax returns and to comply with audits by taxing authorities.  The Purchaser
will not dispose of any such books and records that were compiled by the
Vendors without prior written notice to the Vendors and providing the Vendors
with a reasonable opportunity to re-possess such books and records.

9.11     INTERIM PERIOD.  The Vendors and RESI hereby agree that during the
Interim Period, they shall not enter into any discussions or negotiations with
any third party in respect of the sale of the Business or the Purchased Assets,
or substantially all of the assets or shares of the Vendors.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]





                                       34
<PAGE>   35

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have hereunto set their
respective hands and seals as of the date first written above.

REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL                 REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL 
 SYSTEMS (FORT ERIE) LTD.               SYSTEMS (BRANTFORD) LTD.


PER:                                   PER:
    ----------------------------           ----------------------------


REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL                 PHILIP ENTERPRISES INC.  
 SYSTEMS (PICKERING) LTD.


PER:                                   PER:
    ----------------------------           ----------------------------

REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL
 SYSTEMS, INC.


PER:
    ----------------------------




                                       35
<PAGE>   36
                                                               SCHEDULE 3.3(b)


                               GUARANTY AGREEMENT


         This Guaranty Agreement ("Guaranty") is made on July 23, 1997, by
PHILIP SERVICES CORP., an Ontario corporation (the "Guarantor") (which term
shall be deemed to include its distributees, successors and assigns).

                                    RECITALS

         A.      PHILIP ENTERPRISES, INC. ("Purchaser"), REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL
SYSTEMS, INC. and REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (BRANTFORD) LTD. ("Vendor")
are parties to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated June 13, 1997 (the
"Agreement").

         B.      Pursuant to the Agreement, Purchaser has substantial
obligations to Vendor and is delivering to Vendor a promissory note (the
"Note").

         C.      Execution and delivery of this Guaranty is required pursuant
to Section 3.3 of the Agreement.

         D.      Guarantor is executing and delivering this Guaranty in
consideration of and as inducement for Vendor closing the transactions under
the Agreement.

         E.      Guarantor is the parent company of Purchaser and will derive a
substantial and direct benefit from the consummation of the transactions under
the Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, Guarantor agrees as follows:

         1.      GUARANTY.   Guarantor, intending to be legally bound,
hereby guarantees, absolutely and unconditionally, to Vendor the full and
prompt payment of and any and all amounts (including, without limitation,
Vendor's legal expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements)
payable by Purchaser under the Agreement and the Note, and hereby further
guarantees the full and timely performance and observance of all of the
covenants, terms, indemnities, conditions and agreements therein provided to be
performed and observed by Purchaser; and Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees
to and with Vendor that if default shall at any time be made by Purchaser in
the payment of any amounts due under the Agreement or the Note, or if Purchaser
should default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
covenants, agreements, indemnities and conditions contained in the Agreement or
the Note, Guarantor shall and will forthwith pay amounts and will faithfully
perform, observe and fulfill all of such terms, covenants, indemnities,
agreements and conditions and will forthwith pay to Vendor all damages that





<PAGE>   37
may arise in consequence of any default by Purchaser under the Agreement or the
Note, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys' fees, and
disbursements incurred by Vendor or caused by any such default or the
enforcement of this Guaranty.

         2.      EFFECTIVENESS.   This Guaranty is an absolute and
unconditional guaranty of payment (and not of collection) and of performance.
The liability of Guarantor is co-extensive with that of Purchaser.  Guarantor
hereby expressly agrees that the validity of this Guaranty and the obligations
of Guarantor hereunder shall in no way be terminated, affected, diminished or
impaired by reason of:  (a) the assertion or the failure to assert by Vendor
against Purchaser of any of the rights or remedies reserved to Vendor pursuant
to the terms, covenants and conditions of the Agreement or the Note, or (b) by
non-liability of Purchaser under the Agreement or the Note by reason of
Purchaser's insolvency or discharge in bankruptcy.

         3.      CONTINUING GUARANTY.   This Guaranty is a continuing
guaranty, and the liability of Guarantor hereunder shall in no way be affected,
modified or diminished by reason of:  (a) any assignment of the Agreement or
the Note, or (b) any extension of time that may be granted by Vendor to
Purchaser, or (c) any consent, indulgence or other action, inaction or omission
under or in respect of the Agreement or the Note, or (d) any bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, arrangement, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, receivership, trusteeship or similar proceeding affecting
Purchaser, whether or not notice thereof is given to Guarantor.

         4.      BANKRUPTCY, ETC.    Should Vendor be obligated by any
bankruptcy or other law to repay to Purchaser or to Guarantor or to any
trustee, receiver or other representative of either of them, any amounts
previously paid, this Guaranty shall be reinstated in the amount of any such
repayment.  Vendor shall not be required to litigate or otherwise dispute its
obligations to make such repayments if Vendor, in good faith, believes that
such obligation exists.

         5.      NO WAIVER.   No delay on the part of Vendor in exercising
any right, power or privilege under this Guaranty or failure to exercise the
same shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise affect any such right, power or
privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege.  No waiver or modification of any provision of this Guaranty nor any
release or termination of this Guaranty shall be effective unless in writing,
signed by Vendor; nor shall any such waiver be applicable except in the
specific instance for which given.

         6.      EXERCISE OF RIGHTS.   All of Vendor's rights and remedies
under the Agreement, the Note and under this Guaranty, now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, are intended to be
distinct, separate and cumulative, and





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   38
no exercise or partial exercise of any such right or remedy therein or herein
mentioned is intended to be in exclusion of or a waiver of any of the others.

         7.      PAYMENTS.    Guarantor agrees that whenever at any time or
from time to time Guarantor shall make any payment to Vendor or perform or
fulfill any term, covenant or condition hereunder or under the Agreement or the
Note on account of the liability of Guarantor hereunder, Guarantor will notify
Vendor in writing that such payment or performance, as the case may be, is for
such purpose.  No such payment or performance by Guarantor pursuant to any
provision hereof shall entitle Guarantor, by subrogation or otherwise, to the
rights of Vendor to any payment by Purchaser or out of the property of
Purchaser, except after payment of all sums or fulfillment of all covenants,
terms, conditions or agreements to be paid or performed by Purchaser.

         8.      ESTOPPEL.   Guarantor agrees that Guarantor will  at any
time and from time to time, within ten business days following written request
by Vendor, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Vendor a statement certifying
that this Guaranty is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there has
been any modification, that the same is in full force and effect as modified
and stating such modification).  Guarantor agrees that such certificate may be
relied on by anyone holding or proposing to acquire any interest in Vendor.

         9.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.   AS A FURTHER INDUCEMENT TO VENDOR TO
CLOSE UNDER THE AGREEMENT AND IN CONSIDERATION THEREOF, GUARANTOR COVENANTS AND
AGREES THAT IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT ON, UNDER OR BY VIRTUE OF THIS
GUARANTY, GUARANTOR SHALL AND DOES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY.

         10.     GOVERNING LAW.   Without regard to principles of conflicts of
laws, the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         11.     LEGAL CAPACITY.  Guarantor warrants and represents to Vendor
that Guarantor has the legal right and capacity to execute this Guaranty.  In
the event that this Guaranty shall be held ineffective or unenforceable by any
court of competent jurisdiction, then Guarantor shall be deemed to be Purchaser
under the Agreement and the Note with the same force and effect as if Guarantor
were expressly named as Purchaser therein.

         12.     NUMBER; GENDER.  All terms and words in this Guaranty,
regardless of the number or gender in which they are used, shall be deemed to
include any other number or any other gender as the context may require.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   39
         13.     DEFAULT.         If Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable
under this Guaranty when due, interest on such amount shall accrue from the
date such amount was due until paid at the prime rate per annum (or substitute
similar rate) quoted by Citibank, N.A., plus 4% on the basis of a 360-day year
for the actual number of days elapsed.

         14.     JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS.          Guarantor
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any Pennsylvania State or Federal
court sitting in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty.  Guarantor hereby
agrees that Vendor shall have the option in its sole discretion to lay the
venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in the courts of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or the United States of America for the District of
Pennsylvania.  Guarantor irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by
law any objection which Guarantor may now or hereafter have to the laying of
the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court and any
claim that any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum.  Guarantor agrees that a final judgment in
any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive
and binding upon Guarantor.  Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints Purchaser as
authorized agent to accept, on behalf of Guarantor, service of any and all
process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature
referred to above.  Process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of
the nature referred to above by any method permitted by law or by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to Purchaser.
Guarantor agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective
service of process upon Guarantor in any such suit, action or proceeding and
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law be taken and held to be a valid
personal service upon and personal delivery to Guarantor.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Guaranty as
of the date first above written.


ATTEST:                                    PHILIP SERVICES CORP.

By                                         By                              
  -----------------------                    ------------------------
  Name:                                      Name:
  Title:                                     Title:





                                      -4-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.2

           SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT made the 13th day of June, 1997.


AMONG:


              PHILIP ENVIRONMENTAL (DELAWARE), INC., a corporation incorporated
              under the laws of the State of  Delaware

              ("PURCHASER")

                                     - and -

              REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation incorporated
              under the laws of the State of Delaware

              ("VENDOR")

                                     - and -

       REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING (NEW JERSEY), INC., a corporation
       incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, REPUBLIC
       ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (TECHNICAL SERVICES GROUP), INC., a corporation
       incorporated under the laws of the State of  New Jersey, REPUBLIC
       ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (PENNSYLVANIA), INC., a corporation incorporated
       under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, REPUBLIC
       ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS (TRANSPORTATION GROUP), INC., a corporation
       incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and
       CHEM-FREIGHT, INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the
       State of Ohio

              (collectively, the "COMPANIES")


WHEREAS:

A.     The Vendor is the registered and beneficial owner of all of the issued
       and outstanding shares in the capital of the Companies; and

B.     The Vendor has agreed to sell to the Purchaser and the Purchaser, in
       reliance upon the representations and warranties of the Vendor contained
       herein, has agreed to purchase from the Vendor all of the issued and
       outstanding shares in the capital of the Companies, in accordance with
       the terms of this Agreement.
<PAGE>   2
       NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements contained in this Agreement and other valuable consideration (the
receipt and adequacy of this consideration by each of the Parties is hereby
acknowledged), the Parties agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE 1
                                 INTERPRETATION

1.1    DEFINED TERMS.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:

       (a)    "ADVERSE EFFECT" means one or more of: (i) impairment of the
       quality of the Natural Environment for any use that can be made of it;
       (ii) injury or damage to property or to plant or animal life; (iii) harm
       or material discomfort to any person; (iv) an adverse effect on the
       health of any person; (v) impairment of the safety of any person; (vi)
       rendering any property or plant or animal life unfit for human use;
       (vii) loss of enjoyment of normal use of property; and (viii)
       interference with the normal conduct of business;

       (b)    "ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE" means all accounts receivable, notes
       receivable and other debts due or accruing due to the Companies net of
       any allowance for doubtful accounts, as of the Closing Date in
       connection with the Business;

       (c)    "AGREEMENT" means this share purchase agreement and all schedules
       and instruments in amendment or confirmation of it; "HEREOF", "HERETO"
       and "HEREUNDER" and similar expressions mean and refer to this Agreement
       and not to any particular Article, Section, Subsection or other
       subdivision; "ARTICLE", "SECTION", "SUBSECTION" or other subdivision of
       this Agreement followed by a number means and refers to the specified
       Article, Section, Subsection or other subdivision of this Agreement;

       (d)    "ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS" means all agreements, certificates and
       other instruments delivered or given pursuant to this Agreement
       including the First Note and the Second Note, as hereinafter defined;
       and "ANCILLARY AGREEMENT" means any one of such agreements, certificates
       or other instruments;

       (e)    "ARTICLES" means the articles of incorporation of the Companies,
       as in force on the date hereof;

       (f)    "ASSETS" means all of the property, rights and assets owned,
       leased or used by the Companies in the Business, including, without
       limitation: (i)  the right, title, interest and benefit of the Companies
       in and to the Owned Properties, the Leased Properties, the Owned
       Equipment and the Inventories; (ii) the right, title, interest and
       benefit of the Companies in the Easements; (iii) the right, title,
       interest and benefit of the Companies in, to and under the equipment
       leases relating to the Leased Equipment and the Contracts, including all
       customer





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
       contracts and customer lists; (iv) the goodwill of the Business; (v) all
       shares or rights of any nature whatsoever in the capital of any other
       company, partnership or joint venture owned by the Companies, if any;
       (vi) the right, title, interest and benefit of the Companies in the
       Authorizations; and (vii) the right, title, interest and benefit of the
       Companies in and to all registered and unregistered trade marks, trade
       and brand names, service marks, copyrights, designs, inventions, patents
       and patent applications (including any patents issuing on such
       applications), licenses, sublicenses, technology and other industrial
       property of or pertaining to the Business or owned or used by the
       Companies in the Business;

       (g)    "AUTHORIZATION" means any authorization, order, permit, approval,
       grant, license, consent, right, franchise, privilege, certificate,
       judgment, writ, injunction, award, determination, direction, decree, or
       by-law, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity other than a
       License;

       (h)    "BENEFIT PLANS" means all employee benefit plans, policies and
       practices relating to the employees of the Companies, including profit
       sharing, deferred compensation, phantom stock option, stock option,
       employee stock purchase, bonus, retirement, health or insurance plans
       (oral or written) which are disclosed on Schedule 1.1(h);

       (i)    "BOOKS AND RECORDS" means all technical, business and financial
       records, financial books and records of account, books, data, reports,
       files, lists, drawings, plans, logs, briefs, customer and supplier
       lists, deeds, certificates, contracts, surveys, title opinions or any
       other documentation and information in any form whatsoever (including
       written, printed, electronic or computer printout form) relating to the
       Business;

       (j)    "BUILDINGS AND FIXTURES" means all plant, buildings, structures,
       erections, improvements, appurtenances and fixtures (including fixed
       machinery and fixed equipment) situate on the Leased Property;

       (k)    "BUSINESS" means the business presently and heretofore carried on
       by the Companies in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio and
       elsewhere and consisting of a the provision of liquid and solid
       hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, storage, disposal and
       transport services;

       (l)    "BUSINESS DAY" means any day of the year, other than a Saturday,
       Sunday or any day on which banks are required or authorized by Law to
       close in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

       (m)    "CLAIM" means any claim of any nature whatsoever, including any
       demand, liability, obligation, debt, cause of action, suit, proceeding,
       judgment, award, assessment, and reassessment;

       (n)    "CLOSING" means the completion of the transaction of purchase and
       sale contemplated in this Agreement;





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
       (o)    "CLOSING DATE" means the 7th day of July, 1997, or such earlier
       or later date as the parties may agree in writing but in any event, no
       later than the 31st day of July, 1997;

       (p)    "CLOSING TIME" means 10:00 a.m. local time or such other time on
       the Closing Date as the completion of the transaction of purchase and
       sale contemplated herein may occur;

       (q)    "CONSENTS" has the meaning ascribed in Section 7.1(c);

       (r)    "CONTAMINANT" means any solid, liquid, gas, odour, heat, sound,
       vibration, radiation, or combination of any of them resulting directly
       or indirectly from human activities that may cause an Adverse Effect;

       (s)    "CONTRACTS" means all written contracts (but specifically
       excluding contracts cancelable upon thirty (30) days notice without
       penalty or payment or providing for the payment of money of less than
       Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00)) to which any of the Companies
       is a party including all contracts, leases of personal property,
       licenses, undertakings, engagements or commitments of any nature, to
       which any of the Companies is entitled in connection with the Business
       (the "Contracts"), including: (i) unfilled purchase orders received by
       the Companies; (ii) forward commitments by the Companies for supplies or
       materials entered into in the ordinary course of the Business; (iii) all
       restrictive agreements and negative covenant agreements which the
       Companies may have with its employees, past or present; and (iv) the
       Contracts listed in Schedule 1.1(s);

       (t)    "CORPORATE RECORDS" means the corporate records of the Companies,
       including: (i) all articles, by-laws, any unanimous shareholders
       agreement and any amendments thereto; (ii) all minutes of meetings and
       resolutions of shareholders, directors and any committee thereof; (iii)
       the share certificate books, register of shareholders, register of
       transfers and register of directors; and (iv) all accounting records
       excepting, however, accounting records in the possession of the Vendor
       which also reflect the results of operations or financial condition of
       entities other than the Companies;

       (u)    "EASEMENTS" means any rights or interests that the Companies has
       in the lands or properties which the Companies uses to carry on the
       Business;

       (v)    "ENCUMBRANCES" means negative covenants, liens, charges,
       mortgages, pledges, security interests, claims, defects of title,
       restrictions and any other rights of third parties relating to any
       property, including rights of set-off and voting trusts, and other
       encumbrances of any kind;

       (w)    "ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITY" means any past, present or future
       activity, event or circumstance in respect of a Contaminant, including,
       without limitation, its storage, use,





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
       holding, collection, purchase, accumulation, assessment, generation,
       manufacture, construction, processing, treatment, stabilization,
       disposition, handling or transportation, or its Release, escape,
       leaching, dispersal or migration into or movement through the Natural
       Environment;

       (x)    "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means at any time any and all of the then
       applicable international, federal, provincial, state, municipal or local
       laws, statutes, regulations, codes, rules, treaties, orders, judgments,
       decrees, ordinances, official directives and all authorizations relating
       to the Natural Environment or any Environmental Activity;

       (y)    "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the unaudited combined statement of
       assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity for the fiscal period ended
       December 31, 1996 and the accompanying statement of revenue, expenses
       and retained earnings and statement of cashflows for the period then
       ended as reported on by the Companies and prepared in accordance with
       GAAP;

       (z)    "FISCAL YEAR" means the twelve calendar month fiscal period of
       the Companies commencing on the 1st day of January of each year and
       ending on the 31st day of December of the same year as such Fiscal Year
       may from time to time be changed in accordance with applicable law;

       (aa)   "GAAP" means at any time, generally accepted accounting
       principles in the United States at such time;

       (ab)   "GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" means: (i) any multinational, federal,
       state, municipal, local or other governmental or public department,
       court, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or
       foreign; (ii) any subdivision, agent, commission, board, or authority of
       any of the foregoing; or (iii) any quasi-governmental or private body
       exercising any regulatory, expropriation or taxing authority under or
       for the account of any of the foregoing;

       (ac)   "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means: (i) any flammable explosives; (ii)
       radioactive materials; (iii) substances included within the definitions
       of "hazardous substances", "hazardous materials", or "toxic substances"
       in the Environmental Laws or any regulations or rules promulgated
       pursuant to the Environmental Laws, all as enacted, promulgated and
       published and as enforced by authorities of competent jurisdiction as at
       the Closing; (iv) asbestos; (v) polychlorinated biphenyls, (vi) radon
       and (vii) gasoline, waste oil and other petroleum products;





                                       5
<PAGE>   6
       (ad)   INTENTIONALLY BLANK

       (ae)   "INTERIM PERIOD" means the period between the close of business
       on the date hereof and the Closing Time on the Closing Date;

       (af)   "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES" means all right, title, interest and
       benefit of the Companies in and to any registered and unregistered word
       marks, trade and brand names, service marks, copyrights, copyright
       applications, designs, inventions, patents, patent applications, patent
       rights (including any patents issuing on such applications or rights),
       licenses, sub-licenses, franchises, formulas, processes, know-how,
       technology, computer rights and other intellectual or industrial
       property of the Companies or pertaining to the Business, including the
       property listed in Schedule 1.1(af);

       (ag)   "INVENTORIES" means all inventories of, parts, accessories and
       miscellaneous items of the Companies whether or not related to the Owned
       Equipment or the Leased Equipment and used by the Companies  in the
       Business;

       (ah)   "LAWS" means all statutes, codes, ordinances, decrees, rules,
       regulations, municipal by-laws, judicial or arbitral or administrative
       or ministerial or departmental or regulatory judgments, orders,
       decisions, rulings or awards, policies, voluntary restraints,
       guidelines, or any provisions of the foregoing, including general
       principles of common and civil law and equity, binding on or affecting
       the Person referred to in the context in which such word is used;  and
       "LAW" means any one of them;

       (ai)   "LEASED PROPERTIES" means the real property forming the subject
       matter of the Leases;

       (aj)   "LEASED EQUIPMENT" means all personal property leased by the
       Companies as listed in Schedule 1.1(aj);

       (ak)   "LEASES" means the leases and subleases of real property to which
       the Companies are a party, as listed and described in Schedule 1.1(ak);

       (al)   "LICENSE" means any permit, license, certificate, approval or
       authorization required under applicable Environmental Laws;

       (am)   "LOSS" means any loss whatsoever, including expenses, costs,
       damages, penalties, fines, charges, claims, demands, liabilities,
       interest and any and all legal fees and disbursements;

       (an)   "NATURAL ENVIRONMENT" means the air, land, subsoil, surface water
       and ground water, or any combination or part thereof in any jurisdiction
       in which the Companies carries on business;

       (ao)   INTENTIONALLY BLANK





                                       6
<PAGE>   7
       (ap)   "NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT" means the non-competition agreement
       substantially in the same form as Schedule 1.1(ap) between the Vendor
       and the Purchaser;

       (aq)   "OWNED EQUIPMENT" means all equipment owned by the Companies and
       used in connection with the Business;

       (ar)   "OWNED PROPERTIES" means all real property the registered and
       beneficial ownership of which is held by the Companies, a complete list
       and a summary description of which is provided in Schedule 1.1(ar);

       (as)   "PARTIES" means the Vendor, the Purchaser and the Companies and
       any other person who may become a party to this Agreement; and "PARTY"
       means any one of them;

       (at)   "PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES" means the Encumbrances disclosed in
       Schedule 1.1(at);

       (au)   "PERSON" means an individual, partnership, corporation, trust,
       unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity or
       Governmental Entity, and pronouns have a similarly extended meaning;

       (av)   "PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning ascribed in Section 2.2;

       (aw)   "PURCHASED SHARES" has the meaning ascribed in Section 2.1;

       (ax)   "RELEASE" means, without limitation, to deposit, leak, emit, add,
       spray, inject, inoculate, abandon, spill, seep, pour, empty, throw,
       dump, place and exhaust, and when used as a noun has a similar meaning;
       and

       (ay)   "SPECIAL INDEMNIFIED MATTERS" means the matters set forth in
       Schedule 1.1(ay) which are the subject of the special environmental
       indemnification pursuant to Section 9.4; and

       (az)   "UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES" has the meaning ascribed in Section
       3.20.

1.2    GENDER AND NUMBER.  Any reference in this Agreement to gender shall
include all genders, and words importing the singular number only shall include
the plural and vice versa.

1.3    HEADINGS, ETC.  The provision of a table of contents, the division of
this Agreement into Articles, Sections, Subsections and other subdivisions and
the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not
affect or be utilized in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.





                                       7
<PAGE>   8
1.4    CURRENCY.  All references in this Agreement or in any Ancillary
Agreement to dollars or cents, including the Purchase Price, are expressed in
United States currency, unless otherwise specifically stated.

1.5    SEVERABILITY.  Any Article, Section, Subsection or other subdivision of
this Agreement or any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement which is, or becomes, illegal, invalid or unenforceable shall be
severed from this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and be ineffective to
the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability and shall not
affect or impair the remaining provisions hereof or thereof.

1.6    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement together with the Ancillary Agreements
and the confidentiality agreement dated November 11, 1996 constitute the entire
agreement between the Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions,
whether oral or written, of the Parties including without limitation the Letter
Agreement dated February 14, 1997, and all subsequent extension letters, if
any, relating thereto among the Purchaser, the Vendor and the Companies.  There
are no representations, warranties, conditions or other agreements, express or
implied, statutory or otherwise, between the Parties in connection with the
subject matter of this Agreement, except as specifically set forth herein and
in the Ancillary Agreements.

1.7    AMENDMENTS.  This Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement may only be
amended, modified or supplemented by a written agreement signed by all of the
Parties to such agreement.

1.8    WAIVER.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of any other
provision (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a waiver
or continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided in writing duly
executed by the Party to be bound thereby.

1.9    GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements shall be
governed by and interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the laws of the United States applicable
therein which apply to contracts made and to be performed entirely in
Pennsylvania.

1.10   INCLUSION.  Where the word "including" or "includes" is used in this
Agreement it means "including (or includes) without limitation".

1.11   ACCOUNTING TERMS.  All accounting terms not specifically defined in this
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with GAAP.

1.12   INCORPORATION OF SCHEDULES.  All of the schedules attached hereto are
hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed a part of this Agreement.





                                       8
<PAGE>   9
                                   ARTICLE 2
                      PURCHASED SHARES AND PURCHASE PRICE

2.1    PURCHASE AND SALE.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Vendor agrees to sell, assign, transfer and deliver to the Purchaser free and
clear of all mortgages, liens, charges, security interest, adverse claims,
pledges, encumbrances, restrictions and claims of every kind and the Purchaser
agrees to purchase from the Vendor at the Closing Time on the Closing Date,
100% of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of the Companies (the
"PURCHASED SHARES").

2.2    PURCHASE PRICE.  Subject to the adjustments referred to in Section 2.3,
the aggregate purchase price (the "PURCHASE PRICE") payable by the Purchaser to
the Vendor for the Purchased Shares shall be Seventeen  Million Dollars
($17,000,000), to be satisfied by (i) payment on Closing to the Vendor of a
cash amount of Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000), (ii) delivery to the Vendor
on Closing of a note in the principal amount of Eight Million Dollars
($8,000,000) (hereinafter the "First Note") in substantially the form set out
in Schedule 2.2(ii); and (iii) delivery to the Vendor on Closing of a note in
the principal amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (hereinafter the
"Second Note") in substantially the form set out in Schedule 2.2(iii).

2.3    EXCLUDED LIABILITIES.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Purchaser shall not assume or in any way be liable or responsible for any of
the following liabilities of the Companies, which liabilities shall remain the
sole and exclusive responsibility of the Vendor:

       (a)    severance costs or expenses associated with the termination of
       any of the corporate personnel of the Companies presently located at the
       corporate offices in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, as more particularly set
       out in Schedule 2.3(a) who are not engaged by the Purchaser as at
       Closing; and

       (b)    the Special Indemnified Matters.


                                   ARTICLE 3
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE VENDOR.  The Vendor represents and
warrants  as follows to the Purchaser and acknowledges and confirms that the
Purchaser is relying upon such representations and warranties in connection
with the purchase by the Purchaser of the Purchased Shares:

CORPORATE MATTERS RELATING TO THE VENDOR AND THE COMPANIES

3.2    DUE INCORPORATION AND EXISTENCE OF THE COMPANIES.  Each of the Companies
is a corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its incorporation, in good standing and qualified to do business in such
jurisdiction.





                                       9
<PAGE>   10
3.3    CORPORATE POWER.  Each of the Companies has the corporate power to own
its property and to carry on the Business as now being conducted by it.  The
Companies are duly qualified, licensed or registered to carry on business in
all jurisdictions in which the nature of the Assets or the Business makes such
qualification necessary and where failure to be so qualified would have an
adverse effect on the affairs, assets, liabilities, business or prospects,
operations or conditions of the Companies or the Business, financial or
otherwise, or where the Companies own or lease any material properties or
assets or conducts any material business.

3.4    AUTHORIZED CAPITAL.  The authorized capital of the Companies is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Authorized            Issued
                                                  ----------            ------
<S>                                        <C>                           <C>
Republic Environmental Recycling, Inc.     200 common shares,             100
                                           no par value                 
                                                                        
Republic Environmental Systems (Technical  1,000 common shares,           100
Services Group), Inc.                      no par value                 
                                                                        
Republic Environmental Systems             10,000 common shares,         1,000
(Pennsylvania), Inc.                       $1.00 par value              
                                                                        
Republic Environmental Systems             10,000 common shares,         1,000
(Transportation Group), Inc.               no par value                 
                                                                        
Chem-Freight, Inc.                         750 common shares,             750
                                           no par value                 
</TABLE>


All of the issued shares in the capital of the Companies are outstanding as
fully paid and non-assessable shares.

3.5    OPTIONS, ETC.  No Person has any option, warrant, right, call,
commitment, conversion right, right of exchange or other agreement or any right
or privilege (whether by law, preemptive or contractual) capable of becoming an
option, warrant, right, call, commitment, conversion right, right of exchange
or other agreement (i) for the purchase from the Vendor of any shares of the
Companies; or (ii) for the purchase, subscription, allotment or issuance of any
of the unissued shares in the capital of the Companies or of any securities of
the Companies or any right capable of becoming any of the foregoing.

3.6    TITLE TO PURCHASED SHARES.  The Vendor is the registered and beneficial
owner of all of the Purchased Shares with good title thereto, free and clear of
all Encumbrances.  The Vendor has the right, power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to sell such Purchased Shares





                                       10
<PAGE>   11
owned by it.  The delivery of the Purchased Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to
the provisions hereof will transfer to the Purchaser valid title thereto, free
and clear of all Encumbrances.

3.7    CHANGE OF CONTROL.  The change of control in the shareholdings of the
Companies in favor of the Purchaser will not in any respect invalidate or
vitiate any permit, license or other Authorization currently held by the
Companies.

3.8    DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.  Since December 31, 1996, the Companies
have not, directly or indirectly, declared or paid any dividends or declared or
made any other distribution on any of its shares of any class and has not,
directly or indirectly, redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of its
shares of any class or agreed to do so.

3.9    CORPORATE RECORDS.  The Corporate Records of the Companies are complete
and accurate in all material respects and all corporate proceedings and actions
reflected therein have been conducted or taken in material compliance with all
applicable Laws and with the articles and by-laws of the Companies, and without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) the minute books contain complete
and accurate minutes of all meetings of the directors and shareholders of the
Companies held since the incorporation of such Company, and all such meetings
were duly called and held; (ii) the minute books contain all written
resolutions passed by the directors and shareholders of the Companies and all
such resolutions were duly passed; (iii) the share certificate books, register
of shareholders and register of transfers of the Companies are complete and
accurate, and all such transfers have been duly completed and approved and any
required tax payable in connection with the transfer of any securities of the
Companies has been duly paid; and (iv) the registers of directors and officers
are complete and accurate and all former and present directors and officers of
the Companies were duly elected or appointed as the case may be.

3.10   VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT.

       (a)    The Vendor has all the necessary capacity and power to enter into
       and perform its obligations under this Agreement and any Ancillary
       Agreements to which it is a party.

       (b)    Each of the Companies has all necessary corporate power to enter
       into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and any Ancillary
       Agreements to which it is a party.  The execution, and delivery and
       performance by each of the Companies of this Agreement and any Ancillary
       Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation of the
       transactions contemplated thereby:

              (i)    have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
              action on the part of each of the Companies; and

              (ii)   would not, as a result of the execution and delivery and
              performance by each of the Companies of this Agreement, with the
              giving of notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any other
              event or condition result in a violation or a breach of, or a
              default under or give rise to a right of termination, amendment
              or cancellation or the





                                       11
<PAGE>   12
              acceleration of any obligation under (1) any contracts or
              instruments to which any of the Companies  is a party or by which
              any of the Companies is bound; (2) any of the Companies' Articles
              or by-laws; or (3)  any Laws applicable to them.

       (c)    This Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements to which it is a
       party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Vendor and
       the Companies, enforceable against them or it in accordance with their
       respective terms.

3.11   RESTRICTIVE DOCUMENTS.  The Companies are not subject to, or a party to,
any charter or by-law restriction, any Law, any Claim, any contract or
instrument, any Encumbrance or any other restriction of any kind or character
which would prevent the consummation of this Agreement or compliance by the
Companies with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or the continued
operation of the Business by the Companies after the date hereof or the Closing
Date on substantially the same basis as heretofore operated or which would
restrict the ability of the Purchaser to acquire any of the Purchased Shares or
would impair the Companies' ability to conduct the Business in any area.

GENERAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS

3.12   CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN ORDINARY COURSE.  Except as disclosed in Schedule
3.12, since December 31, 1996, the Business has been carried on in the ordinary
course and none of the Companies has:

       (a)   incurred any liability or obligation of any nature (whether 
       accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), which individually
       exceeded Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000);

       (b)   sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of any of the Assets except
       for the sale of Inventories in the ordinary course of the Business which
       individually or in the aggregate exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars
       ($100,000);

       (c)   made any capital expenditure or commitment therefor which
       individually or in the aggregate exceeds Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand
       Dollars ($250,000);

       (d)   increased its indebtedness for borrowed money, except current
       borrowings from banks in the ordinary course of the Business, or made
       any loan to any Person;

       (e)   written off as uncollectible any notes or Accounts Receivable, 
       except write-offs in the ordinary course of the Business, none of which
       individually or in the aggregate is material to any of the Companies;

       (f)   cancelled or waived any material claims or rights;

       (g)   made any change in any method of accounting or auditing practice;





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
       (h)   amended the articles or by-laws of any of the Companies, except as
       agreed with the Purchaser; or

       (i)   agreed, whether or not in writing, to do any of the foregoing.

3.13   NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE.  Since December 31, 1996, there has been no
change in the affairs, assets, liabilities, business, operations or conditions
of the Companies or the Business, financial or otherwise, whether arising as a
result of any revocation of any license or right to do business, fire,
explosion, accident, casualty, labor trouble, flood, drought, riot, storm,
condemnation, act of God or otherwise, which has materially adversely affected
the Companies or the Business.

3.14   COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.  To the best of the Vendor's knowledge, the
Companies are conducting their Business in substantial compliance with all
applicable Laws other than Environmental Laws.

3.15   ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

       (a)    COMPLIANCE.  The Companies are conducting their Business in
       material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.  Except as
       disclosed in Schedule 3.15, the Companies have not engaged in the
       generation, manufacture, refinement, treatment, transportation, storage,
       handling, incineration, disposal, transferring, production or processing
       of Hazardous Substances, except in material compliance with all
       Environmental Laws and there are no outstanding complaints, orders,
       citations, notices or orders of violation or non-compliance issued to
       the Companies under any applicable Environmental Laws, nor does the
       Vendor, to the best of its knowledge, know or have reasonable grounds to
       know of any facts which could give rise to a notice of non-compliance
       with any applicable Environmental Laws.  To the best of the Vendor's
       knowledge, a full and complete listing of any and all violations or
       alleged violations of any applicable Environmental Laws which have
       occurred within a period of two (2) years prior to Closing is set out in
       Schedule 3.15.

       (b)    LICENSES.  The Companies possess all Licenses required for the
       operation of the Business as presently conducted by it.  All such
       Licenses are valid and in full force and effect without conditions other
       than such conditions which are generally applicable to such Licenses.
       To the best of the Vendor's knowledge, a full and complete listing of
       any and all violations thereof which have occurred or been noted within
       a period of two (2) years prior to Closing is set out in Schedule 3.15.
       To the best knowledge of the Vendor, no proceeding is pending or
       threatened to revoke or limit any of such Licenses.  The Licenses were
       not obtained by a misrepresentation or false statement and all relevant
       material facts were disclosed in obtaining the Licenses.





                                       13
<PAGE>   14
       (c)    OFF-SITE REMEDIAL ACTION.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15,
       there are no locations to which the Companies have ever transported, or
       ever caused to be transported, or allowed or authorized any third party
       to transport on behalf of the Companies, any Hazardous Substances
       generated by the Companies for storage, treatment, processing,
       recycling, burning or disposal which have been designated for remedial
       action pursuant to any Environmental Laws.

       (d)    ON-SITE RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR CONTAMINANTS.  Except
       as set forth in Schedule 3.15, the Companies have not caused or
       permitted and does not have any knowledge of, the Release of any
       Hazardous Substance on any property owned, leased or used by them or of
       any Release (with respect to which the Companies would be held liable)
       from a facility owned or operated by third parties.

       (e)    HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SPILLS.  Except as provided in Schedule 3.15,
       to the best of the Vendor's knowledge there are no underground storage
       tanks containing Hazardous Substances situated on the Owned Properties
       or the Leased Properties of the Companies, no Hazardous Substance from
       any underground storage tank has been spilled, leaked, discharged or
       deposited on or in the Owned Properties or the Leased Properties of the
       Companies in an amount which would constitute a reportable spill, leak,
       discharge or deposit under any applicable Environmental Laws, and there
       have been no violations or alleged violations of any Environmental Laws
       related to underground storage tanks owned or operated by the Companies.

       (f)    DOCUMENTS AND RECORDS.  The Companies have maintained all
       material environmental records and reports substantially in the manner
       and for the time period required by applicable Environmental Laws.

       3.16   AUTHORIZATIONS.  The Companies possesses all Authorizations,
other than Licenses, which are necessary for them to conduct the Business as
presently conducted and are in compliance with all Laws applicable thereto.
The Companies are not in default, nor have they received any notice of any
claim of default, with respect to any such Authorizations.  All such
Authorizations are renewable by their terms or in the ordinary course of
business without the need for the Companies to comply with any special
qualification or procedures or to pay any amounts other than routine filing
fees.  No such Authorizations will be adversely affected by the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby.

MATTERS RELATING TO THE ASSETS

3.17   TITLE TO THE ASSETS.  The Companies have good title, free and clear of
any and all Encumbrances, to all of the Owned Equipment and, subject to zoning,
occupancy and similar laws and regulations pertaining to use of the Owned
Properties, easements and restrictions of record, and the Permitted
Encumbrances, has good title to the Owned Properties.  The Assets include all
rights and property reasonably necessary to the conduct of the Business by the
Companies.





                                       14
<PAGE>   15
3.18   EQUIPMENT.  The list of equipment attached hereto as Schedule 3.18
contains an accurate and complete list and description in all material respects
of the vehicles, equipment and machinery owned or leased by the Companies in
the Business.  The Owned Equipment and the Leased Equipment is in substantially
the same state of repair as when viewed and examined during the Purchaser's due
diligence, subject to reasonable wear and tear thereafter.

3.19   NO OPTIONS, ETC.  No Person has any written or oral agreement, option,
understanding or commitment, or any right or privilege capable of becoming such
for the purchase from the Companies of any of the Assets, other than in the
ordinary course of the Business.

3.20   ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.  Except for uncollectible receivables which in the
aggregate shall not exceed Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) (the
"Uncollectible Receivables"), all accounts receivable and interest and other
receivables of the Companies shown on its Financial Statements are good and
collectible, none of the foregoing receivables are subject to counterclaim or
set-off or are disputed by the account debtor.  The accounts receivable,
interest and other receivables at Closing and as shown on the Companies'
Financial Statements, except for the Uncollectible Receivables, shall be
collected in full within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the Closing Date.
The amount of the Uncollectible Receivables shall be increased by the amount of
any receivables recovered after the Closing Date (net of collection expenses
incurred in relation thereto) which were previously written-off by the
Companies and are not reflected in the Financial Statements.

3.21   PROPERTY.

       (a)    The Company is the registered and beneficial owner of the Owned
       Properties and the Company is not under any agreement or option to own
       any other real property or any interest therein or under any agreement
       to lease any real property other than pursuant to the Leases.

       (b)    To the best knowledge of the Vendor, all of the Building and
       Fixtures on the Owned Properties and the Leased Properties (i) were
       constructed in substantial accordance with all applicable Laws and with
       all Authorizations validly issued pursuant thereto: (ii) are in
       substantially the same state of maintenance and repair as when viewed
       and examined during the Purchaser's due diligence, subject to reasonable
       wear and tear thereafter; and (iii) are adequate and suitable for the
       purposes for which they are presently used; and with respect to each
       (and to the Leased Properties), the Companies have adequate rights of
       ingress and egress for the operation of the Business in the ordinary
       course.  None of the Owned Properties or the Buildings and Fixtures
       thereon, nor the use, operation or maintenance thereof for the purpose
       of carrying on the Business, violates any restrictive covenant or any
       provision of any Law or encroaches on any property owned by any other
       Person, which violation has or would have a material adverse effect on
       the normal operation of the Business.  No condemnation or expropriation
       proceeding is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Vendor,
       threatened which would preclude or materially impair the use of any such
       property or any part thereof for the purposes for which it is currently
       used.  Except as may occur in the ordinary course of business, there are
       no outstanding work orders with respect to any of the Assets from or
       required by any municipality, police department, fire department,
       sanitation, health or safety authorities or from any other Person.





                                       15
<PAGE>   16
3.22   EASEMENTS.  All of the Easements obtained by the Companies were obtained
in accordance with all applicable Laws in all material respects and are in full
force and effect as of the date hereof.  The Companies are, and were at all
times, in compliance with all material terms, conditions and covenants provided
for in the Easements.  Except for the Easements, the Companies do not require,
in order to carry on the Business, any other authorization or permission from
any land owner or lessee of any land involved in the carrying on of the
Business by the Companies.

3.23   LEASES.  The Companies are not a party to, or under any agreement or
option to become a party to, any lease with respect to real property used or to
be used in the Business other than the Leases.  Each Lease is in good standing,
creates a good and valid leasehold estate in the Leased Properties thereby
demised and, in all material respects, is in full force and effect without
amendment thereto.  With respect to each Lease (i) all rents and additional
rents due to the date hereof have been paid; (ii) neither the lessee nor, to
the best knowledge, the lessor, is in material default thereunder; (iii) no
waiver, indulgence or postponement of the lessee's obligations thereunder has
been granted by the lessor; (iv) there exists no material event of default or
event, occurrence, condition or act (including the purchase of the Purchased
Shares hereunder) which, with the giving of notice, the lapse of time or the
happening of any other event or condition, would become a default under such
Lease; (v) the Companies have not violated any of the terms or conditions under
any such Lease in any material respect; and (vi) to the best knowledge of the
Vendor, all of the covenants to be performed by any other party under any such
Lease have been fully performed.  Each of the Leased Properties is in a state
of good maintenance and repair, normal wear and tear excepted, and is adequate
and suitable for the purposes for which it is presently used.  True, correct
and complete copies of the Leases have been provided or made available to the
Purchaser.  Schedule 1.1(ak) contains a true, correct and complete list of all
of the Leases.

3.24   LIABILITIES.  Except for those liabilities set forth on the Financial
Statements, the Companies are not subject to any liabilities, absolute or
contingent, and whether or not required in accordance with GAAP to be disclosed
on a balance sheet.

3.25   MATERIAL CONTRACTS.  Except as disclosed on the Financial Statements or
in Schedule 3.25, and except for contracts of employment and contracts entered
into in the ordinary course of business which require expenditures of not
greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) individually or One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) in the aggregate, or which are cancelable upon
thirty (30) days prior notice without penalty or payment, the Companies are not
a party to or bound by:

       (a)    any bonus, deferred compensation, pension, profit sharing, stock
       option, phantom stock plan, employee stock purchase, health, insurance,
       retirement or other employee benefit plan, any collective bargaining
       agreements or any agreement (oral or written) providing for compensation
       to be paid to any employee consequent upon the sale of any substantial
       portion of outstanding shares in the capital of the Companies;

       (b)    any agreement or commitment relating to the borrowing of money;





                                       16
<PAGE>   17
       (c)    any agreement or commitment relating to capital expenditures;

       (d)    any loan or advance to, or investment in, any other Person or any
       agreement or commitment relating to the making of any such loan, advance
       or investment;

       (e)    any bonds, debentures, mortgages, notes or other similar
       indebtedness or liabilities whatsoever or any agreement to create or
       issue any bonds, debentures, mortgages, notes or other similar
       indebtedness;

       (f)    any guarantee or other contingent liability in respect of any
       indebtedness or obligation of any other Person (other than the
       endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary
       course of business);

       (g)    any management, consulting or any other similar agreement or
       commitment;

       (h)    any agreement or commitment limiting the freedom of the Companies
       or the owner of the Assets or the Business to engage in any line of
       business or to compete with any other Person;

       (i)    any licensing or other agreement or commitment relating to
       intellectual property used by the Companies in the conduct of the
       Business;

       (j)    any agreement or arrangement with any Person with whom the
       Companies (or its present or former directors, officers and employees)
       or the Vendor does not deal at arm's length;

       (k)    any agreement or commitment not entered into in the ordinary
       course of the Business;

       (l)    any oral or verbal agreement or commitment which has not been
       memorialized in or otherwise reduced to written form, irrespective of
       the amount of expenditures required thereunder; and

       (m)    any agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding with any
       Person whether written or oral, that is not in the Books and Records of
       the Companies,

except the Companies' debt and except for the Contracts, the insurance policies
and the Benefit Plans described in Schedules 3.31, 1.1(s),  3.35 and 1.1(h).

3.26   NO BREACH OF CONTRACTS.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.26, each of
the Contracts is in full force and effect, unamended, and there exists no
default or event of default or event, occurrence, condition or act (including
the purchase of the Purchased Shares hereunder) which, with the giving of
notice, the lapse of time or the happening of any other event or condition,
would become a material default or an event of default thereunder, except for
the necessity of obtaining the Consents.  The Companies have not violated or
breached, in any material respect, any of the terms or conditions of any





                                       17
<PAGE>   18
Contract, and to the best of the knowledge of the Vendor, all the covenants to
be performed by any other party thereto have been performed in all material
respects.  True, correct and complete copies of all written Contracts have been
delivered or made available to the Purchaser.

3.27   SUBSIDIARIES.  None of the Companies has any subsidiaries or agreements
of any nature to acquire any subsidiary or to acquire or lease any other
business operations.

3.28   CONDITION OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES.  All tangible personal property
forming part of the Assets which are used regularly in the Business, including
furniture, machinery and equipment and motor vehicles, whether owned or leased,
are in substantially the same state of repair and maintenance as when viewed
and examined during the Purchaser's due diligence, subject to reasonable wear
and tear thereafter.

3.29   INVENTORIES.  All Inventories of the Companies reflected in the
Financial Statements or acquired after the date thereof and not subsequently
disposed of in the ordinary course of the Business are in good condition and
not obsolete.

FINANCIAL MATTERS

3.30   BOOKS AND RECORDS.  All Books and Records of the Companies have been
fully, properly and accurately kept and completed, and there are no material
inaccuracies or discrepancies of any kind contained or reflected therein. The
Companies' records, systems, controls, data or information are not recorded,
stored, maintained, operated or otherwise wholly or partly dependent upon or
held by any means (including any electronic, mechanical or photographic
process, whether computerized or not) which (including all means of access
thereto and therefrom) are not under the exclusive ownership and direct control
of the Companies or the Vendor.

3.31   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The financial position as at, and the results of
the operations for the year ended December 31, 1996 of the Companies are fairly
set forth in the Companies' Financial Statements attached hereto as Schedule
3.31.  As of the date of such statements, the Companies had no liabilities,
contingent or otherwise, which were not disclosed by the said statements and
which were required to be disclosed by GAAP or otherwise.  The said statements
are correct and complete in all respects.  The Companies' Financial Statements
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with
past practices.

3.32   DEBT. The total long and short term debt and notes payable and capital
lease obligations of the Companies as of the Closing Date shall be no greater
than Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($365,000).

3.33   CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  No capital expenditures exceeding, in the
aggregate Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) have been made or
authorized by the Companies since December 31, 1996, except with the express
written consent of the Purchaser.





                                       18
<PAGE>   19
PARTICULAR MATTERS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS

3.34   EMPLOYEES.

       (a)    To the best knowledge of Vendor, the Companies are in substantial
       compliance in all respects with all Laws respecting employment and
       employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, pay equity and
       wages and hours and have not and are not engaged in any unfair labor
       practice.

       (b)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.34, no unfair labour practice,
       complaint or grievance against the Companies is pending or, to the best
       of the knowledge of the Vendor, threatened before any labour relations
       board or similar Governmental Entity with respect to the Business.

       (c)    There is no labour strike, dispute, slowdown or stoppage actually
       pending or involving or, to the best of the knowledge of the Vendor,
       threatened against the Companies with respect to the Business.

       (d)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.34, no union represents the
       Companies' employees in connection with the Business.

       (e)    No grievance which would have an adverse effect upon any of the
       Companies or the conduct of the Business has been filed, or to the
       knowledge of Vendor threatened; no arbitration proceeding arising out of
       or under any collective bargaining agreement is pending, and no Claim
       therefor has been asserted.

       (f)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.34, no collective bargaining
       agreement is currently being negotiated by the Companies with respect to
       any employees of the Companies and there are no collective bargaining
       agreements in force with respect to its employees.

       (g)    The Vendor has made available to Purchaser a complete list of all
       employees of the Companies, their salaries and wage rates, bonus
       arrangements, benefits, positions and length of service.

       (h)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.34, no employee of any of the
       Companies has any agreement as to length of notice required to terminate
       his or her employment, other than such as results by law from the
       employment of an employee without agreement as to such notice or as to
       length of employment.

       (i)    To the extent requested, true, correct and complete copies of
       each of the Benefit Plans have been delivered to the Purchaser and any
       oral plan is accurately described in Schedule 1.1(h).  The Companies
       have made all required contributions and premiums under each Benefit
       Plan for all periods through and including the fiscal year ended
       December 31, 1996, and for the period thereafter adequate accruals
       therefore have been provided.  There is no requirement to





                                       19
<PAGE>   20
       provide post-retirement pension or profit sharing benefits or medical or
       health benefits to employees of the Companies other than those disclosed
       under Schedule 1.1(h).  The respective fund or funds established under
       the Benefit Plans are funded in accordance with applicable Laws, and no
       past service funding liabilities exist thereunder. All multi-employer
       pension plans to which the Companies have made contributions on behalf
       of any of its employees have no unfunded vested liabilities.

       (j)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.34, no pension plans relating
       to the employees of the Companies presently exist, nor have any such
       plans existed in the past.

       (k)    No payments have been made or authorized by the Companies since
       the Financial Statements dated December 31, 1996 to their officers,
       directors, former directors, shareholders or employees or to any Person
       not dealing at arm's length with any of the foregoing, except in the
       ordinary course of the Business and at the regular rates payable to them
       of salary, pension, bonuses, rents or other remuneration of any nature.

3.35   INSURANCE.  The Companies' current policies of insurance coverage are in
full force and effect and are accurately described (together with any pending
Claims thereunder) in Schedule 3.35, which policies shall remain in effect to
the day following the Closing Date. The Companies are not in default with
respect to any of the provisions contained in any such insurance policy and
have not failed to give any notice or present any Claim under any such
insurance policy in due and timely fashion, the failure of which would have a
adverse effect on the Companies.  The Companies are not in any technical or
non-material breach or default with respect to any of the provisions contained
in any such insurance policy which could result in the cancellation of any
policy of insurance.  True, correct and complete copies of all current
insurance policies and prior insurance policies of the Companies for the last
two (2) years have been delivered or made available to the Purchaser.

3.36   LITIGATION.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.36, there is no action,
suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, by any Person, nor any arbitration,
administrative or other proceeding by or before (or to the best knowledge of
each of the officers of the Companies and the Vendor) any investigation by any
Governmental Entity pending, or, to the best of the knowledge of the Vendor,
threatened against or affecting the Companies or any of their properties or
rights or any of the Assets, and neither the Companies nor the Vendor knows of
any valid basis for any such action, suit, proceeding, arbitration or
investigation.  The Companies are not subject to any judgment, order or decree
entered in any lawsuit or proceeding.  Schedule 3.36 herewith provides a
summary of the nature and the outcome of any and all material actions, suit,
proceeding, arbitration, investigation, claim or complaint formulated against
or received by the Companies within the last two (2) years from the date
hereof.

3.37   TAXES.  The Companies have filed or caused to be filed, within the times
and within the manner prescribed by Law, all federal, state, local and foreign
tax returns and tax reports which are required to be filed by or with respect
to the Companies.  The information contained in such returns and reports is
correct and complete in all material respects and such returns and reports
reflect accurately in all material respects all liability for taxes of the
Companies for the periods covered thereby.  All federal, state, local and
foreign income, profits, franchise, sales, use, occupancy, excise and other
taxes and





                                       20
<PAGE>   21
assessments (including interest and penalties) that are payable by or due from
the Companies have been fully paid or fully disclosed in the Books and Records
and the Financial Statements.  The federal income tax liability of the
Companies has been assessed for all fiscal years to and including its fiscal
year ended on the date of the Financial Statements.  Except as disclosed in
Schedule 3.37, no examination of any tax return of the Companies is currently
in progress, there are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the
statutory period providing for an extension of time with respect to the
assessment or re-assessment of tax or the filing of any tax return by, or any
payment of any tax by the Companies, and there are no Claims now threatened or
pending against the Companies in respect of taxes or any matters under
discussion with any Governmental Entity relating to taxes.

3.38   BANK ACCOUNTS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY.  Schedule 3.38 is a correct and
complete list showing (i) the name of each bank in which the Companies have an
account or safe deposit box and the names of all persons authorized to draw
thereon or to have access thereto; and (ii) the names of any persons holding
powers of attorney from the Companies and a summary statement of the terms
thereof.

3.39   FULL DISCLOSURE.  None of this Agreement or any certificate or statement
in writing which has been supplied by or on behalf of the Vendor or the
Companies or by any of the directors, officers or employees of in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue statement of a
material fact, or intentionally omits any statement of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not
materially misleading.


                                   ARTICLE 4
                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

4.1    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER.  The Purchaser
represents and warrants as follows to the Vendor and acknowledges and confirms
that the Vendor is relying on such representations and warranties in connection
with the sale by the Vendor of the Purchased Shares:

4.2    DUE INCORPORATION AND EXISTENCE OF THE PURCHASER.  The Purchaser is a
corporation incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

4.3    VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT.

       (a)    The Purchaser has all necessary corporate power to enter into and
       to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

       (b)    The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of this
       Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby
       have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
       of the Purchaser.

       (c)    This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
       obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with
       the terms hereof.





                                       21
<PAGE>   22
4.4    AUTHORITY.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein violates, conflicts with
or results in, or will violate, conflict with or result in a breach by the
Purchaser of, the terms, conditions or provisions, as applicable, of the
Purchaser's articles or by-laws or of any deed of trust, debt instrument or
loan agreement, or any other agreement affecting its assets or operations
generally or its undertaking, to which it is a party or by which it is bound.

4.5    CORPORATE ACTION.  All necessary action on the part of the Purchaser has
been taken to authorize and approve the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder.  The Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by, and constitutes valid and binding
obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms provided that enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
liquidations, reorganization, reconstruction and other similar laws generally
affecting the enforceability of creditors' rights and that equitable remedies
such as specific performance and injunction are in the discretion of the court
from which they are sought.





                                       22
<PAGE>   23
                                   ARTICLE 5
                             COVENANT OF THE VENDOR

5.1    NON-COMPETITION COVENANT.  As more particularly described in the Non-
Competition Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions of the
environmental alliance agreement referred to in Section 7.1(g), the Vendor
hereby agrees, for a period of five (5) years following the date hereof, not,
on their own behalf or on behalf of or in connection with any Person, directly
or indirectly, in any capacity whatsoever including as an employer, employee,
mandatary, principal, agent, joint venturer, partner, shareholder or other
equity holder, independent contractor, licensor, licensee, franchiser,
franchisee, distributor, consultant, supplier, trustee or by and through any
corporation, company, cooperative, partnership, trust, entity with juridical
personality, unincorporated association or otherwise carry on, be engaged in,
have any financial or other interest in or be otherwise commercially involved
in any endeavor, activity or business anywhere in the United States of America
which is in competition with the Business.  The foregoing shall not be deemed
to limit or prohibit Vendor's ownership of not more than five percent (5%) of
the capital stock of a company which is publicly traded which may also be in
competition with the Business.


                                   ARTICLE 6
                      PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

6.1    CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PRIOR TO CLOSING.  During the Interim Period, the
Vendor will cause the Companies to and the Companies will conduct the Business
in the ordinary course thereof, subject to the provisions below.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing the Vendor will cause the Companies to
and the Companies shall use reasonable efforts to:

       (a)    maintain adequate levels of Inventories to carry on the Business
       in the ordinary course;

       (b)    maintain and service the physical Assets used in the conduct of
       the Business in the same manner as has been its consistent past practice
       and ensure that all of the insurance policies of the Companies shall
       continue in full force and effect and be in good standing up to the
       Closing;

       (c)    keep available the services of the present employees and agents
       of the Business and maintain the relations and goodwill with the
       suppliers, customers, distributors and any others having business
       relations with the Companies;

       (d)    consistent with past practice, preserve the possession and
       control of its properties and Assets and preserve the confidentiality of
       any confidential or proprietary information of the Business; and





                                       23
<PAGE>   24
       (e)    conduct the Business in such a manner that on Closing Date the
       representations and warranties of the Companies or the Vendor contained
       in this Agreement are true, correct and complete as if such
       representations and warranties were made on and as of such date.

6.2    ACCESS FOR INVESTIGATION OF ASSETS, ETC.

       (a)    The Companies and the Vendor (i) shall permit the Purchaser and
       its employees, agents, counsel, accountants or other representatives,
       between the date hereof and the Closing Time, without undue interference
       to the ordinary conduct of the Business, to have reasonable access
       during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice (1) to the
       premises of the Companies, (2) to the Companies, all the Assets and to
       the Business, including without limitation, accounting records,
       corporate records and tax records and returns whether retained by the
       Vendor, the Companies or otherwise, and (3) to the senior personnel of
       the Business; and (ii) shall furnish to the Purchaser or its employees,
       agents counsel, accountants, or other representatives such financial and
       operating data and other information with respect to the Assets and the
       Business as the Purchaser shall from time to time reasonably request.

       (b)    Subject to the provisions of Section 6.7 or unless otherwise
       noted herein, no investigations made by or on behalf of the Purchaser,
       whether under this Section 6.2 or any other provision of this Agreement
       shall have the effect of waiving, diminishing the scope of or otherwise
       affecting any representation or warranty made in this Agreement.

6.3    ACTIONS TO SATISFY CLOSING CONDITIONS.  Each of the Parties hereby
agrees to take all such actions as are reasonable so as to ensure compliance
with all of the conditions set forth in Article 6.

6.4    TRANSFER OF THE PURCHASED SHARES.  The Vendor shall take all necessary
and reasonable steps and proceedings to permit good title to the Purchased
Shares to be duly and validly transferred and assigned to the Purchaser at the
Closing Time, free of all Encumbrances.

6.5    FILINGS AND AUTHORIZATIONS.  The Vendor, the Purchaser and the Companies
as promptly as practicable after the execution hereof, (i) will make, or cause
to be made, all such filings and submissions under all Laws applicable to it,
as may be required for it to consummate the purchase and sale of the Purchased
Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; (ii) will use all
reasonable efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all Authorizations,
approvals, consents and waivers from all Persons and Governmental Entities
necessary or advisable to be obtained by it in order to consummate such
transfer; and (iii) will use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all other actions necessary, proper or advisable in order for it to
fulfill its obligations hereunder.  The Vendor and the Purchaser will
coordinate and cooperate with one another in exchanging such information and
supplying such assistance as may be reasonably requested by each in connection
with the foregoing.

6.6    NOTICE OF UNTRUE REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY.  The Companies and/or the
Vendor shall promptly notify the Purchaser upon any representation or warranty
of the Companies or the Vendor contained in this Agreement becoming untrue or
incorrect in any material respect during the Interim Period, and for the
purposes of this Section each such representation and warranty shall be deemed
to





                                       24
<PAGE>   25
be given at and as of all times during the Interim Period. The Purchaser shall
promptly notify the Vendor upon any representation or warranty of the Purchaser
contained in this Agreement becoming untrue or incorrect in any material
respect during the Interim Period, and for the purposes of this Section each
such representation and warranty shall be deemed to be given at and as of all
times during the Interim Period.

6.7    KNOWLEDGE OF PARTIES.  In the event that the Vendor on the one hand, or
the Purchaser on the other hand (the "Knowing Party"), has actual knowledge at
the time of the Closing that a representation or warranty made by the other
Party is false or the other Party has violated a covenant made by it under this
Agreement, and the Knowing Party proceeds to the Closing notwithstanding such
knowledge, the Knowing Party shall be deemed to have waived any rights it may
have for indemnification or damages against the other Party to the extent that
any damages result from such breach of representation or warranty or failure to
perform such covenant.

6.8    EXCLUSIVE DEALING.  During the Interim Period and save and except in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11.2, the Vendor shall take no action
directly or indirectly, to encourage, initiate or engage in discussions or
negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person, other than the
Purchaser and the attorneys, accountants and advisors of Vendor and the
Companies concerning any purchase of any shares in the capital of the
Companies, the Assets, a controlling interest in the Companies or any merger,
sale of substantial assets or similar transaction involving the Companies or
the Business.

6.9    LETTERS OF CREDIT AND BONDS.  The Purchaser shall, at or before the
Closing Time, take such action as is necessary in order to replace the letters
of credit and bonds set forth in Schedule 6.9 which the Vendor has in place in
relation to the Business with suitable replacement financial assurances
arranged by the Purchaser and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Vendor from
any liabilities arising therefrom.

                                   ARTICLE 7
                             CONDITIONS OF CLOSING

7.1    CONDITIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PURCHASER.  The purchase and sale of
the Purchased Shares is subject to the following conditions to be fulfilled or
performed at or prior to the Closing Time, which conditions are for the
exclusive benefit of the Purchaser and may be waived in whole or in part by the
Purchaser in its sole discretion:

       (a)    TRUTH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE VENDOR.  The
       representations and warranties of the Companies and the Vendor contained
       in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date with
       the same force and effect as if such representations and warranties had
       been made on and as of such date and the Companies and the Vendor shall
       also have executed and delivered a certificate to that effect. Except as
       otherwise specifically agreed to in writing by and between the parties,
       the receipt of such evidence and the Closing shall not be a waiver of
       the representations and warranties of the Vendor which are contained in
       this





                                       25
<PAGE>   26
       Agreement, except to the extent that any such representations or
       warranties have been modified by the information disclosed in the
       certificate so delivered and accepted by the Purchaser.  Upon the
       delivery of such certificates, the representations and warranties of the
       Vendor in Article 3, except for changes which are not material and which
       may have occurred in the ordinary course of business, shall be deemed to
       have been made on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and
       effect as if made on and as of such date.

       (b)    PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS BY THE VENDOR.  The Companies and the
       Vendor shall have fulfilled or complied in all respects with all
       covenants herein contained to be performed or caused to be performed by
       them at or prior to the Closing Time, and the Companies and the Vendor
       shall each have delivered a certificate to that effect.  Except as
       otherwise specifically agreed to in writing by and between the Parties,
       receipt of such certificates and the Closing shall not be a waiver of
       the covenants of the Companies and the Vendor which are contained in
       this Agreement, except to the extent that any such covenants have been
       modified by the information disclosed in the certificate so delivered
       and accepted by the Purchaser.

       (c)    CONSENTS.  All consents and authorizations material to the
       Business which are necessary in order to permit the Closing of the sale
       of the Purchased Shares on the terms and conditions set out in this
       Agreement (the "Consents") shall have been obtained on terms acceptable
       to the Purchaser acting reasonably.

       (d)    APPROVALS.  The board of directors of the Purchaser and Philip
       shall have approved of the transaction contemplated herein.  All
       regulatory approvals or consents required pursuant to the Licenses or
       otherwise and all waiting periods applicable under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
       Act or any other laws applicable to the transactions herein contemplated
       shall have been obtained or shall have expired, as the case may be.

       (e)    DELIVERIES.  The Vendor shall have delivered or caused to be
       delivered to the Purchaser the following in form and substance
       reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser:

              (i)    share certificates representing the Purchased Shares duly
              endorsed in blank for transfer to the Purchaser, or accompanied
              by irrevocable security transfer powers of attorney duly executed
              in blank, in either case by the holders of record thereof;

              (ii)   copies certified by the Secretaries of the Companies of
              (i) all resolutions of the shareholders, the board of directors
              or any duly authorized committee thereof, of the Companies,
              approving the entering into of this Agreement and the completion
              of all transactions contemplated hereunder; and (ii) all other
              instruments evidencing necessary corporate action of the
              Companies and of Authorizations, if any, with respect to such
              matters;

              (iii)  the certificates referred to in Sections 7.1(a) and (b);

              (iv)   an opinion of counsel to the Vendor in substantially the
              form as set forth in Schedule 7.1(e)(iv);





                                       26
<PAGE>   27
              (v)    the Non-Competition Agreement duly executed by the Vendor
              and the Purchaser in substantially the form as set forth in
              Schedule 1.1(ap);

              (vi)   all the originals of the Books and Records and the
              Corporate Records of the Companies, except for such copies of
              Books and Records as are required to be maintained by the Vendor
              for legitimate reporting or other business purposes;

              (vii)  evidence that all necessary steps and proceedings have
              been taken to permit all of the Purchased Shares to be fully
              transferred to the Purchaser or its nominee(s);

              (viii) a duly executed resignation effective as at the Closing
              Time of each director and officer of the Companies as the
              Purchaser may specify;

              (ix)   a release in favor of the Companies by the Vendor and such
              officers and directors of the Companies as may be required by the
              Purchaser in substantially the form as set forth in Schedule
              7.1(e)(ix);

              (x)    a duly executed resignation of the present auditors of
              each of the Companies effective as at the Closing Time;

              (xi)   evidence that at the Closing Time there are no arrears of
              or liabilities for taxes (including taxes on income), rates,
              assessments or other charges adversely affecting the Assets not
              shown as accruals or allowances on the Financial Statements,
              except taxes, rates, assessments or other charges accruing in the
              ordinary course of business since the date of the Financial
              Statements; and

              (xii)  all necessary assurances, transfers, assignments and
              consents, including all necessary Consents, and any other
              instruments necessary or reasonably required to effectively carry
              out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements and
              to transfer the Purchased Shares to the Purchaser, free and clear
              of all Encumbrances.

       (f)    ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE AGREEMENT. Philip Services Corp.
       ("Philip") and International Alliance Services Inc. shall have entered
       into an environmental alliance agreement for a term of not less than
       three (3) years providing for the provision of remediation waste
       services, technical consulting services, insurance product development
       and joint marketing and sales activities.

       (g)    OPTION AGREEMENT.  The Purchaser and the Vendor shall have
       entered into an option agreement, in substantially the form as is set
       forth in Schedule 7.1(g), outlining the terms pursuant to which Philip
       shall be entitled to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of
       Republic Environmental Systems (Cleveland), Inc.

       (h)    ISRA COMPLIANCE.  The Vendor shall file the General Information
       Notice and obtain approval from the State of New Jersey Department of
       Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") in order to proceed to Closing.  The
       Purchaser shall post such financial assurances as may be required by
       NJDEP, if any, in order to effect the Closing and to complete ISRA
       compliance





                                       27
<PAGE>   28
       after the Closing Date.  In the event any investigation or remediation
       work is required pursuant to ISRA, the cost of such work shall be
       allocated between the Parties pursuant to Article 9 of this Agreement.

       (i)    CLOSING OF CANADIAN TRANSACTION.  The transaction contemplated in
       and by the asset purchase agreement between Republic Environmental
       Systems (Fort Erie) Ltd., Republic Environmental Systems (Brantford)
       Ltd. and Republic Environmental Systems (Pickering) Ltd., as vendors,
       and Philip Enterprises Inc., as purchaser, shall have been completed.

              If any condition, obligation or covenant of the Companies or the
Vendor to be performed at or prior to the Closing Time shall not have been
fulfilled or performed by such time, the Purchaser may terminate this Agreement
by fifteen (15) days prior notice in writing to the Vendor.  If Vendor fails to
cure such condition, obligation or covenant within such fifteen (15) days, the
Purchaser shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement, and the Parties shall
thereafter be released from all obligations hereunder.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Purchaser shall be entitled to waive compliance with any of such
conditions, obligations or covenants in whole or in part if it sees fit to do
so without prejudice to any of its rights of termination in the event of
non-performance of any other condition, obligation, or covenant in whole or in
part.

       If Closing fails to occur on or prior to the Closing Date, the Vendor or
the Purchaser shall be entitled, in its sole discretion, to terminate this
Agreement, and thereafter the Parties shall have no further obligations
hereunder.  If Closing fails to occur for any reason, all documents,
information and other materials of the Companies or the Vendor which are in the
possession of the Purchaser or its agents shall be immediately returned to the
Companies.  In such event, the Purchaser agrees to keep all information and
knowledge about the Companies and the Vendor strictly confidential, other than
any such information or knowledge about the Companies which may be required to
be disclosed by law or which may become publicly available without fault of the
Purchaser.

7.2    CONDITIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VENDOR.  The purchase and sale of the
Purchased Shares is subject to the following conditions to be fulfilled or
performed at or prior to the Closing Time, which conditions are for the
exclusive benefit of the Vendor and may be waived by the Vendor in its sole
discretion:

       (a)    TRUTH OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER.  The
       representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this
       Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date with the same
       force and effect as if such representations and warranties had been made
       on and as of such date, and the Purchaser shall also have executed and
       delivered a certificate of a senior officer to that effect.  The receipt
       of such evidence and the Closing shall not be a waiver of the
       representations and warranties of the Purchaser which are contained in
       this Agreement, except to the extent that any such representation or
       warranties have been modified by the information disclosed in the
       certificate so delivered and accepted by the Vendor.  Upon the delivery
       of such certificates, the representations and warranties of the
       Purchaser in Article 4, except for changes which are not material, shall
       be deemed to have been made on and as of the Closing Date with the same
       force and effect as if made on and as of such date.





                                       28
<PAGE>   29
       (b)    PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS BY THE PURCHASER.  The Purchaser shall
       have fulfilled or complied with all covenants herein contained to be
       performed or caused to be performed by it at or prior to the Closing
       Time, and the Purchaser shall have executed and delivered a certificate
       of a senior officer to that effect.  Except as otherwise specifically
       agreed to in writing by and between the Parties, receipt of such
       certificates  and the Closing shall not be a waiver of the covenants of
       the Purchaser which are contained in this Agreement, except to the
       extent that any such covenants have been modified by the information
       disclosed in the certificate so delivered and accepted by the Vendor.

       (c)    DELIVERIES.  Purchaser shall have delivered or caused to be
       delivered to the Vendor the following in form and substance reasonably
       satisfactory to the Vendor:

              (i)    copies certified by the appropriate officers of Purchaser
              evidencing the authority of the individual signing the Agreement
              on behalf of Purchaser to bind each respectively;

              (ii)   an opinion of counsel to the Purchaser in substantially
              the form as set forth in Schedule 7.2(c)(ii);

              (iii)  all necessary assurances, transfers, assignments and
              consents, including all necessary Consents, and any other
              instruments necessary or reasonably required to effectively carry
              out the intent of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreements;

              (iv)   a certified cheque/wire transfer in the amount of
              $8,000,000;

              (v)    the First and Second Notes; and

              (vi)   the Guaranty Agreement entered into between Philip and the
              Vendor in substantially the form as set forth in Schedule
              7.2(c)(vi).

       (d)    CONSENTS.  All consents and authorizations material to the
       Business which are necessary in order to permit the Closing of the sale
       of the Purchased Shares on the terms and conditions set out in this
       Agreement (the "Consents") shall have been obtained on terms acceptable
       to the Vendor acting reasonably.

       (e)    APPROVALS.  All regulatory approvals or consents required
       pursuant to the Licenses or otherwise and all waiting periods applicable
       under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act or any other laws applicable to the
       transactions herein contemplated shall have been obtained or shall have
       expired, as the case may be.

       (f)    ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCE AGREEMENT. Philip and International
       Alliance Services Inc. shall have entered into an environmental alliance
       agreement for a term of not less than three (3) years providing for the
       provision of remediation waste services, technical consulting services,
       insurance product development and joint marketing and sales activities.





                                       29
<PAGE>   30
       (g)    OPTION AGREEMENT.  The Purchaser and the Vendor shall have
       entered into an option agreement, in substantially the form as is set
       forth in Schedule 7.1(g), outlining the terms pursuant to which Philip
       shall be entitled to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of
       Republic Environmental Systems (Cleveland), Inc.

       (h)    ISRA COMPLIANCE.  The Vendor shall file the General Information
       Notice and obtain approval from the State of New Jersey Department of
       Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") in order to proceed to Closing.  The
       Purchaser shall post such financial assurances as may be required by
       NJDEP, if any, in order to effect the Closing and to complete ISRA
       compliance after the Closing Date.  In the event any investigation or
       remediation work is required pursuant to ISRA, the cost of such work
       shall be allocated between the Parties pursuant to Article 9 of this
       Agreement.

       (i)    CLOSING OF CANADIAN TRANSACTION.  The transaction contemplated in
       and by the asset purchase agreement between Republic Environmental
       Systems (Fort Erie) Ltd., Republic Environmental Systems (Brantford)
       Ltd. and Republic Environmental Systems (Pickering) Ltd., as vendors,
       and Philip Enterprises Inc., as purchaser, shall have been completed.

       If any condition, obligation or covenant of the Purchaser to be
performed at or prior to the Closing Time shall not have been fulfilled or
performed by such time, the Vendor may terminate this Agreement by fifteen (15)
days prior notice in writing to the Purchaser.  If the Purchaser fails to cure
such condition obligation or covenant within fifteen (15) days, the Vendor
shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement, and the Parties shall thereafter
be released from all obligations hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Vendor shall be entitled to waive compliance with any of such conditions,
obligations or covenants in whole or in part if it sees fit to do so without
prejudice to any of its rights of termination in the event of non-performance
of any other condition, obligation or covenant in whole or in part.

7.3    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.  The purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares is
subject to the condition to be fulfilled at or prior to the Closing Time, which
condition is a true condition precedent, namely that no action or proceeding
shall be pending or threatened by any Person in any jurisdiction, to enjoin,
restrict or prohibit any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the right
of the Companies to conduct the Business after the Closing Time on
substantially the same basis as heretofore operated.

                                   ARTICLE 8
                                    CLOSING

8.1    DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF CLOSING.  The completion of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall take place at the offices of the
Purchaser, 100 King Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4J6 on the Closing Date
at the Closing Time, or at such other place, on such other date, and at such
other time as may be agreed upon in writing between the Vendor and the
Purchaser.

8.2    CLOSING PROCEDURES.  Subject to satisfaction or waiver by the relevant
Party of the conditions of Closing set forth herein, at the Closing Time the
Vendor shall deliver actual possession of the Purchased Shares and upon such
delivery the Purchaser shall pay or satisfy the Purchase Price in





                                       30
<PAGE>   31
accordance with Section 2.2.  The transfer of possession of the Purchased
Shares shall be deemed to take effect as at the Closing Time on the Closing
Date.

8.3    RISK OF LOSS.  If, prior to the date of Closing, all or substantially
all of the Assets are destroyed or damaged by fire or any other casualty or
shall be seized by any Governmental Entity or other lawful authority, the
Purchaser shall have the option, exercisable by notice in writing given within
ten (10) Business Days of the Purchaser receiving notice in writing from the
Vendor of such destruction, damage, expropriation or seizure:

       (a)    to reduce the Purchase Price by an amount equal to the cost of
       repair, or, if destroyed or damaged beyond repair, by an amount equal to
       the book value of the assets forming part of the Assets so damaged or
       destroyed and to complete the purchase provided that any insurance
       proceeds payable in respect of such loss shall be paid to the Vendor;

       (b)    to complete the purchase without reduction of the Purchase Price,
       in which event all proceeds of any insurance or compensation for
       expropriation or seizure shall be payable to the Companies and any right
       and claim of the Vendor to any such amounts not paid by the Closing Date
       shall be assigned to the Companies; or

       (c)    to terminate this Agreement and not complete the purchase, in
       which case all obligations of the Vendor and the Purchaser shall
       terminate forthwith upon the Purchaser giving notice as required herein.


                                   ARTICLE 9
             SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNITIES

9.1    SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

       (a)    The representations and warranties of the Vendor contained in
       this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of one (1) year,
       save and except those representations made pursuant to Section 3.15(c)
       and Section 3.37, which shall survive for a period of five (5) years,
       and, notwithstanding such or any investigation made by or on behalf of
       the Purchaser, shall continue in full force and effect for such survival
       period for the benefit of the Purchaser.  Any claim for indemnification
       shall be made in writing and shall specifically detail the basis for and
       nature of any alleged breach.

       (b)    All representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in
       this Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of one (1) year,
       and, notwithstanding such Closing or any investigation made by or on
       behalf of the Vendor, shall continue in full force and effect for such
       survival period for the benefit of the Vendor.  Any claim for
       indemnification shall be made in writing and shall specifically detail
       the basis for and nature of any alleged breach.





                                       31
<PAGE>   32
9.2    INDEMNIFICATION IN FAVOR OF THE PURCHASER.  The Vendor shall, subject to
the "Environmental Indemnification Threshold" and the "General Indemnification
Threshold" defined hereunder, indemnify and save the Purchaser and its
shareholders and their directors, officers, employees, agents and
representatives (in respect of whom the Purchaser hereby acts as agent and
trustee with respect thereto) harmless of and from any Claim or Loss suffered
by, imposed upon or asserted against the Purchaser as a result of, in respect
of, connected with or arising out of, under or pursuant to:

              (a)    any failure of the Companies or the Vendor, as the case
       may be, to perform or fulfill any covenant of it under this Agreement;

              (b)    any breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty
       given by the Companies or the Vendor contained in this Agreement; and

              (c)    any remedial activity necessary in order to comply with
       any complaint, order, citation, notice or order of violation or non-
       compliance issued to the Companies under any applicable Environmental
       Laws relating to:

                     (i)    concentrations of beryllium, cadmium, chromium,
                     lead or benzo(a)pyrene in the soil or groundwater at the
                     Owned Property located at 2869 Sandstone Drive, Hatfield,
                     Pennsylvania which are in excess of any clean-up criteria
                     under any Environmental Laws; or

                     (ii)   concentrations of benzene, bis(2-
                     ethylhexyl)phthalate, methylene chloride, arsenic,
                     beryllium, cadmium or lead in the soil or groundwater at
                     the Owned Property located on Cenco Boulevard, Clayton,
                     New Jersey which are in excess of any clean-up criteria
                     under any Environmental Laws.

              Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the
       indemnification by the Vendor in favor of the Purchaser in respect of
       those matters set forth in Section 9.2(c) shall survive the Closing for
       a period of three (3) years thereafter.

       The Vendor shall have no obligation to indemnify an indemnified party
under Section 9.2 until the Purchaser has suffered (i) Claims relating to or
arising from a breach of the Vendor's representations and warranties made
pursuant to Section 3.15 for which the Vendor is responsible hereunder in
excess of an aggregate of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the
"Environmental Indemnification Threshold"), (ii) Claims relating to or arising
from the indemnification given by the Vendor in favor of the Purchaser pursuant
to Section 9.2(c) above for which the Vendor is responsible in excess of One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) (the "Limited Indemnification Threshold")
or (iii) Claims for which the Vendor is responsible hereunder other than those
relating to the matters set forth in (i) or (ii) above in excess of an
aggregate of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) (the "General
Indemnification Threshold"), and then only to the extent such Claims exceed the
respective indemnification threshold.  The Vendor shall not be liable for any
Claims once the aggregate amount of all such Claims paid, or due to be paid, by
the Vendors shall have reached





                                       32
<PAGE>   33
Seventeen Million Dollars ($17,000,000).  The Vendor shall be entitled to
reduce the principal amount due under the First Note (and, if thereafter
necessary, under the Second Note) in satisfaction of any Claims in respect of
which it is obligated to indemnify the Purchaser pursuant hereto.

9.3    INDEMNIFICATION IN FAVOR OF THE VENDOR.  The Purchaser shall indemnify
and save the Vendor and its shareholders and their directors, officers,
employees, agents and representatives (in respect of whom the Vendor hereby
acts as agent and trustee with respect thereto) harmless of and from any Claim
or Loss suffered by, imposed upon or asserted against the Vendor as a result
of, in respect of, connected with or arising out of, under or pursuant to:

       (a)    any failure by the Purchaser to perform and fulfill any covenant
       of the Purchaser under this Agreement;

       (b)    any breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty given
       by the Purchaser contained in this Agreement; and

       (c)    any Claims relating to any events or occurrences arising
       subsequent to the Closing Date, provided such Claims do not result from
       a failure of the Vendor to fulfill its covenants hereunder or from a
       breach of representation or warranty of the Vendor given hereunder.

       (d)    any Claims arising directly or indirectly from breaches of
       Environmental Laws by the Companies, Environmental Activity of the
       Companies or the Release of Hazardous Substances to the Natural
       Environment by the Companies, except to the extent such Claims (i)
       result from a breach of any of the representations or warranties given
       by the Vendor hereunder within the respective survival period, (ii)
       result from a failure of the Vendor to fulfill any of its covenants
       hereunder, (iii) relate to matters in respect of which the Vendor has
       indemnified the Purchaser pursuant to Section 9.2(c), or (iv) are
       Special Indemnified Matters.

9.4    SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNIFICATION.  The Vendor shall, irrespective
of and without reference to the survival and monetary limitations set forth in
Section 9.1 or 9.2, indemnify the Purchaser and its shareholders and their
directors and officers, employees, agents and representatives (in respect of
whom the Purchaser hereby acts as agent and trustee with respect thereto)
against, and hold them harmless from, any and all expenses, claims, demands,
losses, costs, deficiencies, actions, suits, proceedings, judgments,
liabilities and damages (including related counsel fees and expenses) of any
nature whatsoever ("Special Indemnified Losses") incurred or suffered by the
Purchaser in connection with or as a result of  the Special Indemnified
Matters, it being understood by the Parties that the term "Special Indemnified
Losses" as used in this Section 9.4 shall have the same meaning as the term
"Losses" as set forth in sections 6.2 and 7.1 of the Agreement of Merger dated
March 5, 1992, between, among others, Republic Waste Industries, Inc. and Stout
Environmental, Inc.

9.5    INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS.

       (a)    Any Party seeking indemnification under this Article (the
       "indemnified party") shall forthwith and in any case within sixty (60)
       days of all facts giving rise to the right of indemnification becoming
       known to the indemnified party or, in the case of third party claim,





                                       33
<PAGE>   34
       by the earlier of twenty (20) days after notice of such claim is
       received or ten (10) days prior to the date that a responsive pleading
       or court appearance is required, notify the Party against whom a claim
       for indemnification is sought hereunder (the "indemnifying party") in
       writing, which notice shall specify, in reasonable detail, the nature
       and estimated amount of the claim.  If a claim by a third party is made
       against an indemnified party, and if the indemnified party intends to
       seek indemnity with respect thereto under this Article, the indemnified
       party shall promptly (and in any case within 30 days of such claim being
       made) notify the indemnifying party of such with reasonable particulars.
       The indemnifying party shall have 30 days after receipt of such notice
       to undertake, conduct and control, through counsel of its own choosing
       and at its expense, the settlement or defense thereof, and the
       indemnified party shall cooperate with it in connection therewith;
       except that with respect to settlements entered into by the indemnifying
       party (i) the consent of the indemnified party shall be required if the
       settlement provides for equitable relief against the indemnified party,
       which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; and (ii)
       the indemnifying party shall obtain the release of the indemnified
       party.  If the indemnifying party undertakes, conducts and controls the
       settlement or defense of such claim (i) the indemnifying party shall
       permit the indemnified party to participate in such settlement or
       defense through counsel chosen by the indemnified party, provided that
       the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be borne by the indemnified
       party; and (ii) the indemnifying party shall promptly reimburse the
       indemnified party for the full amount of any loss resulting from any
       claim and all related expenses (other than the fees and expenses of
       counsel as aforesaid) incurred by the indemnified party.  The
       indemnified party shall not pay or settle any claim so long as the
       indemnifying party is reasonably contesting any such claim in good faith
       on a timely basis.  Notwithstanding the two immediately preceding
       sentences, the indemnified party shall have the right to pay or settle
       any such claim, provided that in such event it shall waive any right to
       indemnity therefor by the indemnifying party.

       (b)    With respect to third party claims, if the indemnifying party
       does not notify the indemnified party by the earlier of twenty (20) days
       after notice of such claim is received or ten (10) days prior to the
       date that a  days after the receipt of the indemnified party's notice of
       a claim of indemnity hereunder that it elects to undertake the defense
       thereof, the indemnified party shall have the right, but not the
       obligation, to contest, settle or compromise the claim in the exercise
       of its reasonable judgment at the expense of the indemnifying party.

       (c)    In the event of any claim by a third party against an indemnified
       party, the defense of which is being undertaken and controlled by the
       indemnifying party, the indemnified party will use all reasonable
       efforts to make available to the indemnifying party those employees
       whose assistance, testimony or presence is necessary to assist the
       indemnifying party in evaluating and in defending any such claims;
       provided that the indemnifying party shall be responsible for the
       expense associated with any employees made available by the indemnified
       party to the indemnifying party hereunder, which expense shall be equal
       to an amount to be mutually agreed upon per person per hour or per day
       for each day or portion thereof that such employees are assisting the
       indemnifying party and which expenses shall not exceed the actual cost
       to the indemnified party associated with such employees.





                                       34
<PAGE>   35
       (d)    With respect to third party claims, the indemnified party shall
       make available to the indemnifying party or its representatives on a
       timely basis all documents, invoices and financial ledgers, records and
       other materials in the possession of the indemnified party, at the
       expense of the indemnifying party, reasonably required by the
       indemnifying party for its use in defending any claim and shall
       otherwise cooperate on a timely basis with the indemnifying party in the
       defense of such claim.

       (e)    With respect to the General Indemnification Threshold, the
       Environmental Indemnification Threshold and the Limited Indemnification
       Threshold, the Purchaser shall provide to the Vendor an accounting at
       three (3) month intervals, commencing with the first three (3) month
       period after the Closing Date, summarizing the costs which the Purchaser
       claims are being assessed to the respective threshold amounts.  Upon
       request of the Vendor, the Purchaser shall submit to the Vendor all
       documentation supporting such costs, including consultant and contractor
       invoices.

       (f)    With respect to any re-assessment for income, corporate, sales,
       excise, or other tax or other liability enforceable by Encumbrance
       against the property of the indemnified party, the indemnifying party's
       right to so contest shall only apply after such payment of such
       re-assessment or the provision of such security as is necessary to avoid
       the imminent filing or recording of an Encumbrance being placed on the
       property of the indemnified party.

9.6    REMEDIATION REQUIREMENTS.  The Purchaser agrees that any remediation
performed by the Purchaser or the Vendor shall be consistent with the
industrial use of the Owned Properties and shall make maximum benefit, to the
extent commercially reasonable to do so, of institutional controls, engineering
controls and natural remediation pursuant to Environmental Laws in order to
minimize investigation and remediation costs to the extent feasible.

9.7    VENDOR'S RIGHT TO ASSERT CLAIMS.  Nothing in this Agreement shall
prevent the Vendor from asserting any Claim which it or the Companies may have
against any person, corporation, partnership or other entity (other than the
Purchaser or any of its affiliated companies) related to matters which are the
subject of the Vendor's indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 9.2;
provided, however, that in no case shall the Vendor's obligation to indemnify
the Purchaser hereunder be conditional upon the assertion or ultimate success
of any such Claim.  The Purchaser and the Companies, as the case may be, agree
to assign to the Vendor any Claim in respect of such indemnified matters which
the Purchaser or the Companies may have against any Person, other than Claims
against any Persons the assertion of which, in the reasonable judgment of the
Purchaser, would interfere with the on-going business relations of the
Purchaser or the Companies, as the case may be, with such Persons.  The
Purchaser and the Companies, as the case may be, agree that any amounts
recovered by the Vendor regarding any Claims asserted by it in accordance with
the terms hereof shall be retained solely by the Vendor.





                                       35
<PAGE>   36
                                   ARTICLE 10
                             POST-CLOSING COVENANTS

10.1   FURTHER ASSURANCES.  From time to time subsequent to the Closing Date,
each Party shall at the request of any other Party execute and deliver such
additional conveyances, transfers and other assurances and take such further
action as may be reasonably required effectively to carry out the intent of
this Agreement and to transfer the Purchased Shares.

10.2   OTHER LETTERS OF CREDIT AND BONDS.  The Purchaser shall, as soon as is
reasonably practicable, and in any case within 90 days after the Closing Date,
replace all outstanding letters of credit, bonds, financial assurances,
guarantees and security interests, other than those set forth in Schedule 6.9,
which the Vendor has in place in relation to the Business and shall indemnify
and hold harmless the Vendor from any liabilities arising therefrom.

10.3   SECTION 338(h)(10) ELECTION.

       (a)    No later than December 31, 1997, the Purchaser may deliver to the
       Vendor a proposed schedule as required by section 338(h)(10) of the
       United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Treasury Regulations
       promulgated thereunder (the "Section 338 Election") setting forth the
       allocation of the Purchase Price (the "Allocation Schedule"). The
       Allocation Schedule shall be final and binding on the Parties unless,
       within thirty (30) days after delivery to the Vendor, the Vendor shall
       give notice to the Purchaser of the Vendor's good faith objection to the
       Allocation Schedule.

       (b)    Should the Purchaser and the Vendor be unable to reach agreement
       within fifteen (15) days following receipt of the notice of objection,
       the dispute shall be referred for resolution to Coopers & Lybrand,
       L.L.P. (the "Accountants") as promptly as practicable. The Accountants
       shall make a determination regarding each of the items in dispute and
       shall promptly deliver a written report to the Purchaser and the Vendor.
       The Accountants' determination shall be final and binding on the
       Parties.  The fees and expenses of the Accountants shall be borne
       equally by the Purchaser and the Vendor.


                                   ARTICLE 11
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

11.1   NOTICES.  Any notice, direction or other instrument required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and given by delivering or
sending it by certified mail, return receipt requested addressed:





                                       36
<PAGE>   37
              (a)    to the Purchaser at:

                     Philip Environmental (Delaware), Inc.
                     100 King Street West, P.O. Box 2440, LCD 1
                     Hamilton, Ontario
                     L8N 4J6

                     Attention:  General Counsel

                     Telephone:  (905) 521-1600
                     Telecopier:  (905) 521-9160

              (b)    to the Vendor at:

                     1787 Sentry Parkway West
                     Suite 400
                     Blue Bell, Pennsylvania  19422

                     Telephone:  (215) 283-4900
                     Telecopier:  (215) 283-4809

              (c)    to the Companies at:

                     c/o 1787 Sentry Parkway West
                     Suite 400
                     Blue Bell, Pennsylvania  19422

                     Telephone:  (215) 283-4900
                     Telecopier:  (215) 283-4809

       Any such notice, direction or other instrument given as aforesaid shall
be deemed to have been effectively given on the next Business Day following the
date of such delivery.  Any Party may change its address for service from time
to time by notice given in accordance with the foregoing and any subsequent
notice shall be sent to the party at its changed address.

11.2   PUBLICITY.  Save as required by Law or by any stock exchange, none of
the Parties shall issue any press release or make any other public statement or
announcement relating to or connected with or arising out of this Agreement or
the matters contained herein, without obtaining the prior written approval of
the other Parties to the contents and the manner of presentation and
publication thereof.  If disclosure is required by Law or by any stock
exchange, the disclosing Party shall consult in advance with the other Parties
and attempt in good faith to reflect such other Parties' concerns in the
required disclosure.

11.3   TIME OF THE ESSENCE.  Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.





                                       37
<PAGE>   38
11.4   BROKER'S FEES.  It is understood and agreed that any fees, commissions,
expenses or other remuneration of any broker, agent or other intermediary shall
be the responsibility of the Party who engaged such broker, agent or other
intermediary.  Each Party agrees to indemnify and save harmless the others from
and against any Claims whatsoever for any fees, commission, expenses  or other
remuneration payable or alleged to be payable to any broker, agent or other
intermediary.

11.5   THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  Each Party hereto intends that this
Agreement shall not benefit or create any right or cause of action in or on
behalf of any Person, other than the Parties hereto, and no Person, other than
the Parties hereto, shall be entitled to rely on the provisions hereof in any
action, suit, proceeding, hearing or other forum.

11.6   EXPENSES.  All costs and expenses (including the fees and disbursements
of legal counsel, investment advisers and auditors) incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
Party incurring such expenses.

11.7   INUREMENT.   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the Parties, their successors and any permitted assigns.

11.8   COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken
together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

11.9   JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY.  In the event that there is no Closing
under any circumstance in which the Vendor is not excused from its obligations
hereunder, each of the Companies shall be jointly and severally liable with the
Vendor, as a principal and not as a surety, with respect to all of the
representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements made by the
Vendor hereunder.

11.10  ASSIGNMENT.  Except as provided in this Section, none of the rights or
obligations hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by any Party without
the prior written consent of the other Parties.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Purchaser shall be entitled, prior to the Closing Date, to assign the
benefits of this Agreement to any affiliated company, subject to the following
two conditions:

       (a)    the Purchaser's assignee shall become jointly and severally
       liable with the Purchaser with respect to all of the representations,
       warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements of the Purchaser; and

       (b)    such assignee shall execute an agreement confirming such
       assignment and the assumption by the assignee of all obligations of the
       Purchaser under this Agreement.

11.11  NON-MERGER.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,
the covenants, representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall not merge on and shall survive the
Closing and, notwithstanding such Closing, or any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Party, shall continue in full force and effect.  The Closing





                                       38
<PAGE>   39
shall not prejudice any right of one Party against any other Party in respect
of anything done or omitted hereunder or in respect of any right to damages or
other remedies.

                            [SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]





                                       39
<PAGE>   40
       IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed by the Parties as of
the date first above written.



                                           PHILIP ENVIRONMENTAL (DELAWARE), INC.


                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer


                                           REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.

                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer


                                           REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL
                                           RECYCLING, INC.

                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer


                                           REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
                                           (TECHNICAL SERVICES GROUP), INC.


                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer


                                           REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
                                           (PENNSYLVANIA), INC.



                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer





                                       40
<PAGE>   41
                                           REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
                                           (TRANSPORTATION GROUP), INC.


                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer


                                           CHEM-FREIGHT, INC.


                                           Per:                          c/s
                                                  Authorized Signing Officer





                                       41
<PAGE>   42
                                                                SCHEDULE 7.1(g)

                              OPTION AGREEMENT


         This Option Agreement is dated July 23rd, 1997, and is

Between              RESI ACQUISITION (DELAWARE) CORPORATION, a                
                     corporation incorporated under the laws of the State      
                     of Delaware ("Purchaser")                                 

And                  REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation       
                     incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware      
                     ("Vendor").                                               

                                  RECITALS

         A.      Purchase and Vendor are parties to a Share Purchase Agreement
dated June 13,1997 (the "Purchase Agreement").

         B.        Section 7.1(g) of the Purchase Agreement requires that
Purchaser and Vendor execute and deliver this Agreement.

         C.      Vendor is the owner of 2,000 shares of the common capital
stock (the "Stock") of Republic Environmental Systems (Cleveland), Inc.
("Cleveland"), which is all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
Cleveland.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and
valuable consideration, Purchaser and Vendor agree as follows:

         1.      OPTION.  Vendor hereby grants to Purchaser the right
("Option") to purchase the Stock for consideration of US$1,00.

         2.      TERM.  The Option shall expire on the later of August 17, 1997
or the "Closing Date" as defined in the Purchase Agreement, unless sooner
exercised by Purchaser; provided, however, that the Option and all other rights
of Purchaser under this Agreement shall immediately expire without notice if
there is any breach by Purchaser in the performance of any of its obligations
under the Purchase Agreement or either promissory notes delivered pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement or if there is any breach by Philip Enterprises, Inc. in
the performance of any of its obligations under the Asset Purchase Agreement to
which it and Vendor are parties dated July 7, 1997 or the promissory note
delivered pursuant to that agreement.

         3.      EXERCISE, CLOSING.

                 (a)      The Option may be exercised at any time during its
term by written notice to Vendor.

<PAGE>   43
                 (b)      Notice of exercise of the Option must actually be
received by Vendor on or prior to the expiration date specified in paragraph 2
and is to be delivered to Vendor at 101 West Avenue, Third Floor, P.O. Box 461,
Jenkintown, PA, 19046, USA.

                 (c)      Within 10 days after giving of notice of the exercise
of the Option, Purchaser and Vendor shall jointly submit any documentation
required by the State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for approval of
the transfer of the Stock from Vendor to Purchaser.  Each party shall bear its
own expenses with respect to such submissions, and if there is any appeal from
any denial of the approval the costs of such appeal shall be borne by the party
prosecuting the appeal.

                 (d)      The closing on the exercise of the Option and the
transfer of the Stock shall occur five business days after the State of Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency approves the transfer of the Stock from Vendor
to Purchaser (the "Closing Date").  If such approval is formally denied
(without right of further appeal) or otherwise is not obtained within 190 days
after the date the Option is exercised and such failure does not result from
Vendor's failure to take such reasonable action in furtherance of such approval
as may be requested by Purchaser, then this Agreement shall terminate and
neither party shall have any rights against the other.

                 4.       INTERIM PERIOD.  During the time from the date hereof
until the Closing Date:

                 (a)      Vendor shall continue to own the Stock
and shall not grant any other options or rights to acquire all or any of the
Stock;

                 (b)      Vendor shall cause Cleveland not to issue any capital
stock or securities convertible into capital stock, grant any options to
purchase its capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock, or
issue any warrants entitling the holder to purchase or otherwise acquire any of
its capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock; and

                 (c)      Vendor shall cause Cleveland to conduct its business
in the usual and ordinary course consistent with past practices and shall not
allow Cleveland to sell any of its assets in one or any series of transactions.

         5.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

                 (a)      Vendor shall, in the event Purchaser exercises the
Option, make such representations and warranties regarding title to the stock
and tax issues as are customary for similar transactions.  No other
representations and warranties shall be made, except with respect to
environmental matters, which shall be in substantially the same form as in the
Purchase Agreement.

                 (b)      The definitive purchase agreement shall provide, 
inter alia

                                      2
<PAGE>   44
                          (i)     That Vendor, shall be responsible for all
                                  on-site environmental clean-up liabilities in
                                  excess of $2,000,000, provided that no
                                  remediation shall be done without Vendors'
                                  prior written consent, not to be unreasonably
                                  withhold.

                          (ii)    That them will be a basket for off-site 
                                  environmental liabilities of $150,000.

                          (iii)   From the date of this Option Agreement,
                                  Purchaser will provide consulting and
                                  technical assistance with respect to
                                  operations of the Cleveland facility for no
                                  consideration and profits and losses from the
                                  facility will be for Purchaser's account from
                                  the date of this Option Agreement provided it
                                  exercises the Option and the transaction
                                  closes.

                          (iv)    Vendor will transfer to Purchaser the Digital
                                  mainframe computers used by Vendor which run
                                  the waste management and financial
                                  proprietary software and subject software,
                                  subject to the continued right of Vendor to
                                  use said software in perpetuity and without
                                  consideration.  The transfer of the computers
                                  and software is absolutely "as is", without
                                  any representations and warranties.

                 (c)      Purchaser represents that acquisition of the Stock
pursuant to the Option will be for investment purposes only and not with a view
to the distribution or sale of the Stock in any manner which is contrary to the
laws, regulations or rules enforced or promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

         6.      BINDING EFFECT.  This Agreement is binding on and inures to
the benefit of Purchaser and Vendor and their respective successors and
assigns.

         7.      ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement supersedes all prior
agreements and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties regarding the
subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended or modified
only by a writing signed by both parties.

         8.      HEADINGS.  The paragraph headings in this Agreement are for
convenient reference and do not affect the provisions of this Agreement.

         9.      GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement is governed by the laws of the
State of Pennsylvania.

         10.     COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall
constitute the same document.

         11.     TIME OF THE ESSENCE.  Time is of the essence with respect to
all times set forth in this Agreement.


                                      3
<PAGE>   45
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Purchaser and Vendor have caused this Agreement to
be executed and delivered on the date first above written.

                                        RESI ACQUISITION
                                        (DELAWARE) CORPORATION


                                        By:
                                           --------------------------------
                                        Name: 
                                        Title:

                                        REPUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL
                                        SYSTEMS, INC.


                                        By:
                                           --------------------------------
                                        Name: 
                                        Title:

                                      4
<PAGE>   46
                                                            SCHEDULE 7.2(c)(iv)

                               GUARANTY AGREEMENT


         This Guaranty Agreement ("Guaranty") is made on July 23, 1997, by
PHILIP SERVICES CORP., an Ontario corporation (the "Guarantor") (which term
shall be deemed to include its distributees, successors and assigns).

                                    RECITALS

         A.      RESI Acquisition (Delaware) Corporation ("Purchaser"),
Republic Environmental Systems, Inc. ("Vendor"), and certain subsidiaries of
Vendor are parties to a Share Purchase Agreement dated June 13, 1997 (the
"Agreement").

         B.      Pursuant to the Agreement, Purchaser has substantial
obligations to Vendor and is delivering to Vendor two promissory notes, called
the First Note and the Second Note in the Agreement (the "Notes").

         C.      Execution and delivery of this Guaranty is required pursuant
to Section 7.2(c)(vi) of the Agreement.

         D.      Guarantor is executing and delivering this Guaranty in
consideration of and as inducement for Vendor closing the transactions under
the Agreement.

         E.      Guarantor is the parent company of Purchaser and will derive a
substantial and direct benefit from the consummation of the transactions under
the Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, Guarantor agrees as follows:

         1.      GUARANTY.        Guarantor, intending to be legally bound,
hereby guarantees, absolutely and unconditionally, to Vendor the full and
prompt payment of and any and all amounts (including, without limitation,
Vendor's legal expenses and reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements)
payable by Purchaser under the Agreement and the Notes, and hereby further
guarantees the full and timely performance and observance of all of the
covenants, terms, indemnities, conditions and agreements therein provided to be
performed and observed by Purchaser; and Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees
to and with Vendor that if default shall at any time be made by Purchaser in
the payment of any amounts due under the Agreement or the Notes, or if
Purchaser should default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
covenants, agreements, indemnities and conditions contained in the Agreement or
the Notes, Guarantor shall and will forthwith pay amounts and will faithfully
perform, observe and fulfill all of such terms, covenants,

<PAGE>   47
indemnities, agreements and conditions and will forthwith pay to Vendor all
damages that may arise in consequence of any default by Purchaser under the
Agreement or the Notes, including, without limitation, all reasonable
attorneys' fees, and disbursements incurred by Vendor or caused by any such
default or the enforcement of this Guaranty.

         2.      EFFECTIVENESS.   This Guaranty is an absolute and
unconditional guaranty of payment (and not of collection) and of performance.
The liability of Guarantor is co-extensive with that of Purchaser.  Guarantor
hereby expressly agrees that the validity of this Guaranty and the obligations
of Guarantor hereunder shall in no way be terminated, affected, diminished or
impaired by reason of:  (a) the assertion or the failure to assert by Vendor
against Purchaser of any of the rights or remedies reserved to Vendor pursuant
to the terms, covenants and conditions of the Agreement or the Notes, or (b) by
non-liability of Purchaser under the Agreement or the Notes by reason of
Purchaser's insolvency or discharge in bankruptcy.

         3.      CONTINUING GUARANTY.      This Guaranty is a continuing
guaranty, and the liability of Guarantor hereunder shall in no way be affected,
modified or diminished by reason of:  (a) any assignment of the Agreement or
the Notes, or (b) any extension of time that may be granted by Vendor to
Purchaser, or (c) any consent, indulgence or other action, inaction or omission
under or in respect of the Agreement or the Notes, or (d) any bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, arrangement, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, receivership, trusteeship or similar proceeding affecting
Purchaser, whether or not notice thereof is given to Guarantor.

         4.      BANKRUPTCY, ETC.          Should Vendor be obligated by any
bankruptcy or other law to repay to Purchaser or to Guarantor or to any
trustee, receiver or other representative of either of them, any amounts
previously paid, this Guaranty shall be reinstated in the amount of any such
repayment.  Vendor shall not be required to litigate or otherwise dispute its
obligations to make such repayments if Vendor, in good faith, believes that
such obligation exists.

         5.      NO WAIVER.       No delay on the part of Vendor in exercising
any right, power or privilege under this Guaranty or failure to exercise the
same shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise affect any such right, power or
privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege.  No waiver or modification of any provision of this Guaranty nor any
release or termination of this Guaranty shall be effective unless in writing,
signed by Vendor; nor shall any such waiver be applicable except in the
specific instance for which given.

         6.      EXERCISE OF RIGHTS.       All of Vendor's rights and remedies
under the Agreement, the Notes and under this Guaranty, now or hereafter
existing at law or in

                                    - 2 -
<PAGE>   48
equity or by statute or otherwise, are intended to be distinct, separate and
cumulative, and no exercise or partial exercise of any such right or remedy
therein or herein mentioned is intended to be in exclusion of or a waiver of
any of the others.

         7.      PAYMENTS.        Guarantor agrees that whenever at any time or
from time to time Guarantor shall make any payment to Vendor or perform or
fulfill any term, covenant or condition hereunder or under the Agreement or the
Notes on account of the liability of Guarantor hereunder, Guarantor will notify
Vendor in writing that such payment or performance, as the case may be, is for
such purpose.  No such payment or performance by Guarantor pursuant to any
provision hereof shall entitle Guarantor, by subrogation or otherwise, to the
rights of Vendor to any payment by Purchaser or out of the property of
Purchaser, except after payment of all sums or fulfillment of all covenants,
terms, conditions or agreements to be paid or performed by Purchaser.

         8.      ESTOPPEL.        Guarantor agrees that Guarantor will  at any
time and from time to time, within ten business days following written request
by Vendor, execute, acknowledge and deliver to Vendor a statement certifying
that this Guaranty is unmodified and in full force and effect (or if there has
been any modification, that the same is in full force and effect as modified
and stating such modification).  Guarantor agrees that such certificate may be
relied on by anyone holding or proposing to acquire any interest in Vendor.

         9.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.     AS A FURTHER INDUCEMENT TO VENDOR TO
CLOSE UNDER THE AGREEMENT AND IN CONSIDERATION THEREOF, GUARANTOR COVENANTS AND
AGREES THAT IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT ON, UNDER OR BY VIRTUE OF THIS
GUARANTY, GUARANTOR SHALL AND DOES HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY.

         10.     GOVERNING LAW.   Without regard to principles of conflicts of
laws, the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         11.     LEGAL CAPACITY.  Guarantor warrants and represents to Vendor
that Guarantor has the legal right and capacity to execute this Guaranty.  In
the event that this Guaranty shall be held ineffective or unenforceable by any
court of competent jurisdiction, then Guarantor shall be deemed to be Purchaser
under the Agreement and the Notes with the same force and effect as if
Guarantor were expressly named as Purchaser therein.

         12.     NUMBER; GENDER.  All terms and words in this Guaranty,
regardless of the number or gender in which they are used, shall be deemed to
include any other number or any other gender as the context may require.

                                    - 3 -
<PAGE>   49
         13.     DEFAULT.         If Guarantor fails to pay any amount payable
under this Guaranty when due, interest on such amount shall accrue from the
date such amount was due until paid at the prime rate per annum (or substitute
similar rate) quoted by Citibank, N.A., plus 4% on the basis of a 360-day year
for the actual number of days elapsed.

         14.     JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS.   Guarantor irrevocably 
submits to the jurisdiction of any Pennsylvania State or Federal court sitting
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania over any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Guaranty.  Guarantor hereby agrees that Vendor shall
have the option in its sole discretion to lay the venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding in the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the
United States of America for the District of Pennsylvania.  Guarantor
irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any objection which
Guarantor may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such
suit, action or proceeding brought in such court and any claim that any suit,
action or proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.  Guarantor agrees that a final judgment in any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon
Guarantor.  Guarantor hereby irrevocably appoints Purchaser as authorized agent
to accept, on behalf of Guarantor, service of any and all process which may be
served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to above. 
Process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred
to above by any method permitted by law or by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to Purchaser. Guarantor agrees that
such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon
Guarantor in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law be taken and held to be a valid personal service upon
and personal delivery to Guarantor.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Guaranty as
of the date first above written.

ATTEST:                                    PHILIP SERVICES CORP.

By                                         By
  -------------------------------            ------------------------------
  Name:                                      Name:
  Title:                                     Title:

                                    - 4 -
<PAGE>   50
                                                                 SCHEDULE 11.10

                   ASSIGNMENT OF SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

    THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 21st day of July, 1997.

B E T W E E N:

                                PHILIP ENVIRONMENTAL (DELAWARE) INC.
                                a corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws
                                of the State of Delaware

                                (hereinafter referred to as the "Assignor")

                                - and -

                                RESI ACQUISITION (DELAWARE)
                                CORPORATION,
                                a corporation incorporated pursuant to the laws
                                of the State of Delaware

                                (hereinafter referred to as the "Assignee")

         WHEREAS the Assignor has entered into a Share Purchase Agreement dated
June 13, 1997 as Purchaser with Republic Environmental Systems, Inc. (the
"Vendor") providing for the sale by the Vendor to the Assignor of all of the
issued and outstanding shares in Republic Environmental Recycling (New Jersey),
Inc., Republic Environmental Systems (Technical Services Group), Inc., Republic
Environmental Systems (Pennsylvania), Inc., Republic Environmental Systems
(Transportation Group), Inc. and Chem-Freight, Inc., which Share Purchase
Agreement is attached hereto as Schedule "A";

         AND WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11.10 of the Share Purchase
Agreement, the Assignor is entitled to assign all of its right, title and
interest thereunder;

         AND WHEREAS, the Assignor wishes to assign all of its right, title and
interest in the Share Purchase Agreement to the Assignee.

         NOW, THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH that in consideration of the
sum of TWO DOLLARS ($2.00) and other good and valuable consideration and in
consideration of the Assignee accepting the within assignment and assuming the
Assigner's obligations thereunder, the Assignor does hereby set over, assign,
transfer, release and quit claim unto the Assignee all of its right, title and
interest whatsoever in and to the Share Purchase Agreement attached hereto in
Schedule "A";

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD unto the Assignee, its successors and assigns, all
benefits and advantages accruing thereon under the Share Purchase Agreement.
<PAGE>   51
         THE ASSIGNEE covenants that it is jointly and severally liable with
the Assignor with respect to all of the representations, warranties, covenants,
indemnities and agreements of the Purchaser under the Share Purchase Agreement.

         THE ASSIGNOR covenants, represents and warrants that it has full
corporate power and authority to set over the aforesaid Share Purchase
Agreement.

         THIS AGREEMENT shall ensure to and be binding upon the parties hereto,
their respective successors and assigns.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed by the parties as
of the date first written above.

                                        PHILIP ENVIRONMENTAL (DELAWARE), INC.



                                        Per:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                          ASO

                                        RESI ACQUISITION (DELAWARE) CORPORATION



                                        Per:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                                          ASO


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