David P. Steiner Elected Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management Inc.; A. Maurice Myers to Remain Chairman Until November 2004.

Business Editors

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2004

Lawrence O'Donnell III Elected President and Chief Operating Officer;

Robert G. Simpson Elected Senior Vice President

and Chief Financial Officer

Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:WMI) announced today that the Company's Board of Directors has elected David P. Steiner Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management effective immediately. As CEO, Steiner succeeds A. Maurice Myers, who will remain Waste Management's Chairman of the Board until November 2004. Steiner served previously as Waste Management's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Immediately prior to that assignment, he served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

In addition, the Waste Management Board of Directors elected Lawrence O'Donnell III President and Chief Operating Officer. O'Donnell served previously as Executive Vice President, Operations Support and Chief Administrative Officer. Immediately prior to that assignment, he served as Executive Vice President in charge of Waste Management's Western Group. O'Donnell will report directly to Steiner.

Replacing Steiner as Chief Financial Officer is Robert G. Simpson. Simpson previously served as Waste Management's Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. Immediately prior to that assignment, Simpson served as Waste Management's Vice President of Taxation.

Upon the retirement of Myers in November 2004, current Waste Management Board member John C. (Jack) Pope will assume the role of non-executive Chairman of the Waste Management Board of Directors. Pope is former President and Chief Operating Officer of United Airlines.

"The appointments today reflect a carefully orchestrated succession plan initiated by the Board more than two years ago," said Myers. "The Board voted unanimously to put this team in place and is very confident and excited about Waste Management's future under the leadership of this senior executive group. I share their enthusiasm and anticipate great results from the continued implementation of the operational excellence strategy the Company has been pursuing during my tenure."

As CEO, Steiner joins the Waste Management Board of Directors, increasing the size of the Board by one and bringing the total number of Board members to 10. "By splitting the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, we believe this will serve as a further enhancement to the many positive, shareholder friendly improvements we have already made in the areas of corporate governance," added Myers.

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.

-- 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;

-- possible charges against earnings as a result of shut-down

operations, development or expansion projects, uncompleted

acquisitions or other events;

-- the effects that trends toward requiring recycling, waste

reduction at the source and prohibiting the disposal of

certain types of wastes could have on volumes of waste going

to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities;

-- the effect the weather has on our quarter-to-quarter results,

as well as the effect of extremely harsh weather on our

operations;

-- the effect that price fluctuations on commodity prices may

have on our operating revenues;

-- the outcome of litigation or threatened litigation;

-- the effect competition in our industry could have on our

profitability;

-- possible diversions of management's attention and increases in

operating expenses due to efforts by labor unions to organize

our employees;

-- possible increases in operating expenses due to fuel price

increases or fuel supply shortages;

-- the effects of general economic conditions, including the

ability of insurers to fully or timely meet their contractual

commitments and of surety companies to continue to issue

surety bonds;

-- the need for additional capital if cash flows are less than we

expect or capital expenditures are more than we expect, and

the possibility that we cannot obtain additional capital on

acceptable terms if needed;

-- possible errors or problems upon implementation of new

information technology systems; and

-- possible fluctuations in quarterly results of operations or

adverse impacts on our results of operations as a result of

the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations.

Additional information regarding these and/or other factors that could materially affect results and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein may be found in Part I, Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.