Clean Harbors Announces Second Quarter 2004 Financial Results.

BRAINTREE, Mass. -- Company Exceeds Revenue and EBITDA Guidance; EBITDA Nearly Doubles to $19.4 Million and Operating Income Increases to $9.4 Million

Clean Harbors, Inc. ("Clean Harbors") (NASDAQ: CLHB), the leading provider of environmental and hazardous waste management services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004.

Clean Harbors reported second-quarter 2004 revenues of $161.6 million, compared with $172.0 million in the second quarter of 2003. Second-quarter 2003 included one-time revenues of $19.2 million associated with the clean-up of a major oil spill on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Income from operations in the second quarter of 2004 totaled $9.4 million compared with $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2003. The Company generated a second-quarter 2004 net loss of $(12.1) million, or $(1.63) per share, compared with a net loss of $(6.8) million, or $(0.57) per share a year ago. The net loss in the second quarter of 2004 includes a non-recurring charge of $6.9 million associated with the embedded derivative on the Company's Series C preferred stock, $7.1 million of net direct refinancing expenses and $1.1 million in other one-time costs associated with the refinancing of the Company's capital structure on June 30, 2004.

Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2004, were $304.4 million, compared with $314.3 million for the comparable period a year ago. Net loss for the first six months of 2004 was $(9.3) million, or $(1.49) per share, compared with a net loss of $(14.0) million, or $(1.17) per share, for the same period a year earlier.

In conjunction with the debt refinancing on June 30, 2004, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the offering to redeem all outstanding shares of the Series C preferred stock. Beginning with the third quarter of 2004, Clean Harbors will no longer record a non-cash adjustment to the Company's quarterly financial results based on the embedded derivative.

EBITDA nearly doubled to $19.4 million in the second quarter of 2004, compared with $9.8 million in the same period a year earlier. (Note: See disclosures regarding non-GAAP financial results below).

Financial Review

"Clean Harbors surpassed second-quarter revenue and EBITDA guidance through a combination of targeted growth initiatives and continued focus on reducing costs," said Alan S. McKim, chairman and chief executive officer. "The quarter was characterized by strong seasonal demand for our broad range of environmental services, and we benefited from both an improving economy and solid execution on our business development plans. By concentrating our sales and marketing efforts on increasing the number and size of large facilities projects, we were able to drive additional volumes to our landfills. Also, by targeting specific vertical markets where we have identified promising growth opportunities, we won a number of new customers and gained market share in the quarter."

"During the second quarter, we completed one of our 2004 goals by refinancing the Company's debt structure," said McKim. "This new structure is made up of three components: $150 million in secured notes, a $30 million undrawn revolving credit facility and a $90 million synthetic letter of credit facility. The refinancing strengthens Clean Harbors' balance sheet with approximately $20 million of cash, providing us with the liquidity and flexibility to focus on long-term financial and strategic objectives. We expect to leverage the benefits of this transaction as a catalyst for additional revenue growth and an improved bottom-line performance."

"As evidenced by our strong growth in EBITDA and operating income during the quarter, we continue to recognize benefits from the comprehensive cost-cutting and operational initiatives that we implemented during the past year," said McKim. "We made progress toward our goal of internalizing more of our transportation and disposal costs. Also, we continued to closely manage our environmental and capital expenditures, limiting spending on these during the second quarter to $2.6 million and $6.7 million, respectively."

Non-GAAP Second-Quarter Results

The Company reported EBITDA for the second quarter of 2004 of $19.4 million compared with EBITDA of $9.8 million in the second quarter of 2003.

Clean Harbors reports EBITDA results, which are non-GAAP, as a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and believes that such information provides an additional measurement of the Company's performance. The Company defines EBITDA in accordance with its outstanding loan agreements, as described in the following reconciliation showing the differences between reported income (loss) and EBITDA for the second quarter of 2004, and the second quarter of 2003 (in thousands):

For the three months ended:
                                          June 30,      June 30,
                                            2004          2003
                                   ---------------------------------
Net income (loss)                        $(12,127)      $(6,799)
Accretion of environmental
 liabilities                                2,619         2,783
Depreciation and amortization               6,256         6,439
Interest expense, net                       5,443         5,979
Provision for income taxes                  2,314         1,262
Non-recurring severance charges                --           265
(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets          (242)          267
Loss on refinancing                         7,099            --
Refinancing transaction costs               1,126            --
Change in value of embedded
 derivative                                 6,877          (429)
                                   -----------------------------
EBITDA                                    $19,365        $9,767
                                   =============================

Business Outlook

"We established some momentum in the second quarter including securing several sizeable contracts in our Site Services Business, and winning some larger remediation projects to feed our landfills and incinerators," said McKim. "Going forward, we will continue executing our ongoing top- and bottom-line initiatives. For the third quarter of 2004, we are expecting 4 percent to 7 percent revenue growth over the third quarter of 2003, and EBITDA in the range of $17.5 million to $20 million. As planned, during the third quarter, some of our incinerators will be shut down for a period of time for scheduled maintenance."

"With the refinancing of our capital structure now complete, we have greatly improved our long-term financial stability and are evaluating whether to consider smaller bolt-on acquisitions to expand our presence in specific regions," concluded McKim.

Conference Call Information

Clean Harbors will conduct a conference call for investors to discuss the information contained in this news release today, Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. (ET). Investors who want to hear a webcast of the call should log onto www.cleanharbors.com and select "Investor Relations." In addition, if you are unable to listen to the live webcast, the call will be archived on the investor section of the website.

About Clean Harbors, Inc.

Clean Harbors, Inc. is North America's leading provider of environmental and hazardous waste management services. With an unmatched infrastructure of 48 waste management facilities, including nine landfills, five incineration locations and seven wastewater treatment centers, the Company provides essential services to more than 30,000 customers, comprising of more than 175 Fortune 500 companies, thousands of smaller private entities and numerous governmental agencies. Headquartered in Braintree, Massachusetts, Clean Harbors has more than 100 locations strategically positioned throughout North America in 36 U.S. states, six Canadian provinces, Mexico and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.cleanharbors.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "plans to," "estimates," "projects," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.

A variety of factors beyond the control of the Company affect the Company's performance, including, but not limited to:

--The effects of general economic conditions in the United States, Canada and other territories and countries where the Company does business;

--The effect of economic forces and competition in specific marketplaces where the Company competes;

--The possible impact of new regulations or laws pertaining to all activities of the Company's operations;

--The outcome of litigation or threatened litigation or regulatory actions;

--The effect of commodity pricing on overall revenues and profitability;

--Possible fluctuations in quarterly or annual results or adverse impacts on the Company's results caused by the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations or regulatory rules and regulations;

--The effect of weather conditions or other aspects of the forces of nature on field or facility operations;

--The effects of industry trends in the environmental services and waste handling marketplace;

--The effects of conditions in the financial services industry on the availability of capital and financing;

--The Company's ability to successfully complete the integration of the CSD acquisition which became effective in September 2002 and to manage the significant environmental liabilities which it assumed in connection with that acquisition;

--The availability and costs of liability insurance and financial assurances required by governmental entities relating to our facilities.

Any of the above factors and numerous others not listed nor foreseen may adversely impact the Company's financial performance. Additional information on the potential factors that could affect the Company's actual results of operations is included in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K, in its entirety and specifically Item 7, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, which will be filed with the SEC in August.

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                               Unaudited
                (in thousands except per share amounts)


                               Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
                                    June 30,            June 30,
                              -------------------- -------------------
                                  2004      2003      2004      2003
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------

Revenues                       $161,631  $172,035  $304,388  $314,340
Cost of revenues                115,842   131,797   223,302   238,411
Selling, general and
 administrative expenses         27,550    30,736    50,998    57,800
Accretion of environmental
 liabilities                      2,619     2,783     5,207     5,516
Depreciation and amortization     6,256     6,439    11,661    13,087
Restructuring                        --        --        --      (124)
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------

Income (loss) from operations     9,364       280    13,220      (350)
Other income (expense)           (6,635)      162    (1,104)      154
Refinancing (expenses), net      (7,099)       --    (7,099)       --
Interest expense, net            (5,443)   (5,979)  (10,801)  (11,489)
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------

Loss before provision for
 income taxes and cumulative
 effect of change in
 accounting principle            (9,813)   (5,537)   (5,784)  (11,685)
Provision for income taxes        2,314     1,262     3,526     2,250
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------

Net loss before cumulative
 effect of change in
 accounting principle           (12,127)   (6,799)   (9,310)  (13,935)
Cumulative effect of change in
 accounting principle, net of
 tax                                 --        --        --        66
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------

Net loss                        (12,127)   (6,799)   (9,310)  (14,001)
Dividends and accretion on
 preferred stock                 10,761       814    11,616     1,618
                              ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss attributable to
 common shareholders           $(22,888)  $(7,613) $(20,926) $(15,619)
                              ========== ========= ========= =========

Basic and diluted loss per
 share:
     Loss before cumulative
      effect of change in
      accounting principle       $(1.63)   $(0.57)   $(1.49)   $(1.17)
                              ========== ========= ========= =========
     Cumulative effect of
      change in accounting
      principle, net of tax         $--       $--       $--       $--
                              ========== ========= ========= =========
     Loss attributable to
      common shareholders        $(1.63)   $(0.57)   $(1.49)   $(1.17)
                              ========== ========= ========= =========
Weighted average common shares
 outstanding                     14,044    13,436    14,002    13,353
                              ========== ========= ========= =========


                 CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                ASSETS
                        (dollars in thousands)

                                             June 30,     December 31,
                                               2004           2003
                                             ------------ ------------
                                             (Unaudited)
Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                    $17,389       $6,331
    Restricted cash                                3,913          ---
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
     doubtful accounts of $3,136 and $3,572,
     respectively                                113,340      114,429
    Unbilled accounts receivable                   8,251        9,476
    Deferred costs                                 5,425        5,395
    Prepaid expenses                              10,040        8,582
    Supplies inventories                           9,774        9,018
    Deferred tax asset                               171          178
    Properties held for sale                      12,285       12,690
                                             ------------ ------------
         Total current assets                    180,588      166,099
                                             ------------ ------------

Property, plant and equipment, net               170,698      166,542
                                             ------------ ------------

Other assets:
    Restricted cash                                  ---       88,817
    Deferred financing costs                       9,556        6,297
    Goodwill                                      19,032       19,032
    Permits and other intangibles, net            76,728       79,811
    Deferred tax asset                             6,356        6,594
    Other                                          8,083        6,967
                                             ------------ ------------
                                                 119,755      207,518
                                             ------------ ------------

         Total assets                           $471,041     $540,159
                                             ============ ============

                 CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
          LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
                  AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                        (dollars in thousands)


                                               June 30,   December 31,
                                                 2004         2003
                                              ----------- -----------
                                              (Unaudited)
Current liabilities:
    Uncashed checks                               $4,805      $5,983
    Revolving credit facility                        ---      35,291
    Current portion of capital lease
     obligations                                   1,459       1,207
    Accounts payable                              59,098      60,611
    Accrued disposal costs                         2,466       2,021
    Deferred revenue                              23,379      22,799
    Other accrued expenses                        34,863      32,240
    Current portion of environmental
     liabilities                                  18,648      21,282
    Income taxes payable                           5,050       2,623
                                              ----------- -----------
               Total current liabilities         149,768     184,057
                                              ----------- -----------

Other liabilities:
    Environmental liabilities, less current
     portion                                     163,516     161,849
    Long-term obligations, less current
     maturities                                  148,045     147,209
    Capital lease obligations, less current
     portion                                       3,880       3,412
    Other long-term liabilities                    8,253      18,055
    Accrued pension cost                             609         633
                                              ----------- -----------
               Total other liabilities           324,303     331,158
                                              ----------- -----------

Commitments and contingent liabilities

Redeemable Series C Convertible Preferred
 Stock, $.01 par value:  Authorized 25,000
 shares; Issued and outstanding 0 and 25,000
 shares, respectively, net of issuance costs
 and fair value of embedded derivative                --      15,631

               Total stockholders' equity
                (deficit)                         (3,030)      9,313
                                              ----------- -----------

               Total liabilities, redeemable
                convertible preferred stock
                and stockholders' equity
                (deficit)                       $471,041    $540,159
                                              =========== ===========