Waste Management Inc. Names Richard T. Felago Senior Vice President Business Development and Corporate Strategy and James E. Trevathan Senior Vice President Eastern Group

Business Wire, July 19, 2004

HOUSTON -- Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:WMI) today named Richard T. Felago Senior Vice President of Business Development and Corporate Strategy and James E. Trevathan Senior Vice President of its Eastern Group.

In his new assignment, Felago will be responsible for leading the company's overall business development efforts and key corporate strategy initiatives. Trevathan will be responsible for the company's operations serving much of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. Felago will report to Waste Management CEO David Steiner. Trevathan will report to Waste Management President and Chief Operating Officer Larry O'Donnell.

"The needs of our markets and our business continue to evolve, and it is important that we maintain a leadership position in meeting these needs," said Steiner. "Rich brings 31 years of industry and business development experience to the position. Under his leadership, our goal is to continue to identify and secure valuable strategic assets that will allow for targeted future business growth."

"We're excited that Jim will be taking the lead in our Eastern Group," added O'Donnell. "In his 25 years at Waste Management, Jim has led vital field and corporate functions for the company, the most recent being sales and marketing initiatives that have helped us address the broader needs of our customers. His industry knowledge, leadership skills and company experience will be invaluable in leading the Eastern Group."

Most recently, Felago served as Senior Vice President - Eastern Group. Prior to that he was President of Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management. Felago's experience includes managing several waste-to-energy projects from development through construction, and he has worked in the waste industry for 31 years.

Trevathan previously served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. A national search will be conducted for his replacement. Previously, he has held positions including Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Southern Group, General Manager for Environmental Remediation and Region Vice President - Industrial.

In addition to the executive changes, the company also announced a realignment of several of its markets. Ohio, which has operated as a joint Market Area with Kentucky, will now operate as a stand-alone Market Area and will move from the Eastern Group to the Midwest Group. Kentucky along with West Virginia will realign and report into the Southern Group.

"These changes enable us to balance the revenues managed by these Groups and increase focus in the Eastern Group on the complex northeast corridor," said O'Donnell. "Ohio faces many of the same challenges as other states in the company's Midwest Group and will benefit from the experiences of the team there. Similarly the Kentucky and West Virginia markets align readily with the Southern Group."

Waste Management Inc. is its industry's leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services. Based in Houston, the Company serves municipal, commercial, industrial and residential customers throughout North America.

Certain statements contained in this press release include statements that are "forward-looking statements." Outlined below are some of the risks that the Company faces and that could affect our financial statements for 2004 and beyond and that could cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be set forth in forward-looking statements made by the Company. However, they are not the only risks that the Company faces. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial which could also impair our business. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition, the Company, from time to time, provides estimates of financial and other data relating to future periods. Such estimates and other information are the Company's expectations at the point in time of issuance but may change at some future point in time. By issuing such estimates the Company has no obligation, and is not undertaking any obligation, to update such estimates or provide any other information relating to such estimates. The following are some of the risks we face:

--possible changes in our estimates of site remediation requirements, final capping, closure and post-closure obligations, compliance and regulatory developments;

--the possible impact of regulations on our business, including the cost to comply with regulatory requirements and the potential liabilities associated with disposal operations, as well as our ability to obtain and maintain permits needed to operate our facilities;

--the effect of limitations or bans on disposal or transportation of out-of-state waste or certain categories of waste;