EXHIBIT 99.1


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                  Media Contact:  John Kyte
January 23, 2003                                                    972-265-2030

SAFETY-KLEEN FILES UPDATED JOINT PLAN OF REORGANIZATION WITH COURT

PLANO, TX - Safety-Kleen  Corp.  today announced that it has filed with the U.S.
Bankruptcy  Court in Wilmington,  Delaware,  an amended  version of its proposed
joint plan of  reorganization  and disclosure  statement for the Company and the
majority  of its  domestic  subsidiaries.  Safety-Kleen  voluntarily  filed  for
Chapter 11 protection on June 9, 2000.

"This  is  another  positive  step  toward   finalizing  our  proposed  plan  of
reorganization  and  disclosure  statement,  and it is evidence that progress is
being made in reaching  final  agreements  between our various  constituencies,"
said Company  Chairman,  CEO and President Ronald A.  Rittenmeyer.  "This filing
brings us one step closer to emerging from bankruptcy protection."

The  amended  version of the  proposed  plan of  reorganization  and  disclosure
statement reflects Safety-Kleen's  understanding of recent successful settlement
discussions  between the Company's secured lenders and the official committee of
unsecured creditors with regard to litigation pending between them.

The proposed joint plan of reorganization and disclosure statement is subject to
Bankruptcy  Court approval and, if approved,  could become  effective early this
year.

A copy of Safety-Kleen's amended Joint Plan of Reorganization, as filed with the
U.S. Bankruptcy Court today, is available on-line at  www.safety-kleen.com or at
www.safetykleenplan.com.

Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act: Sections of this release  constitute
forward-looking  statements  that  involve a number of risks and  uncertainties.
Many factors could cause actual results to differ  materially  from our expected
results. These factors include risks associated with approval and implementation
of the Joint Plan of Reorganization; actual emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection;   continued  productive  relations  with  creditors;  the  continued
availability  of  credit;  changes  in demand for the  Company's  services;  and
competition.

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