<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CORPORATION'S BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
EARNINGS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                           0000086135
<NAME>                          SAFETY-KLEEN CORP.
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-28-1998
<CASH>                          30,458
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   142,160
<ALLOWANCES>                    7,977
<INVENTORY>                     51,849
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                247,329
<PP&E>                          890,507
<DEPRECIATION>                  393,379
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  1,055,135
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           365,772
<BONDS>                         0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>           0
<PREFERRED>                     0
<COMMON>                        6,010
<OTHER-SE>                      546,898
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    1,055,135
<SALES>                         0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                241,777
<CGS>                           0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   181,781
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                40,559
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              3,612
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 16,243
<INCOME-TAX>                    6,286
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             9,957
<DISCONTINUED>                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 0
<CHANGES>                       0
<NET-INCOME>                    9,957
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   0.17
<EPS-DILUTED>                   0.16