EXHIBIT 1

                               Contact: Kim Mortyn
                                 (415) 375-1522


                       EMCON ANNOUNCES PENDING ACQUISITION

         SAN MATEO,  California,  January 31, 1996 -- EMCON  (NASDAQ:MCON) today
announced  it has reached an agreement to acquire  Organic  Waste  Technologies,
Inc.  (OWT),  a privately  held  landfill gas  technology  and services  company
dedicated to designing,  manufacturing,  installing, operating and maintaining a
complete range of environmental control systems for its landfill clients.

         For the past decade,  OWT has specialized in providing state of the art
services  related  to the  operation,  maintenance,  monitoring  and  control of
landfill gas and leachate control systems.  The services  provided are a natural
adjunct  to  capabilities  already  offered  by  EMCON,  a 25 year  veteran  and
nationally  recognized  expert in landfill  consulting  services  throughout the
United States.

         The acquisition is non-dilutive  to existing  shareholders  and will be
accounted for as a purchase. Under the agreement,  recognized to be of strategic
value to both  companies  on account  of the  complementary  services  each firm
offers,  EMCON will acquire all of the capital  stock of OWT in exchange for $14
million in cash. Subject to the satisfaction of various closing conditions,  the
proposed transaction is scheduled to close in early March, 1996.

         Enthusiasm for the  transaction  is shared equally by EMCON  President,
Eugene M. Herson, and OWT President,  Mark H. Shipps.  Commented Herson,  "EMCON
has always been on the  cutting  edge of the  landfill  services  industry.  Our
merger with OWT takes advantage of the synergies between our two firms,  linking
the nation's leading landfill design firm with the premier  integrated  landfill
contractor,  thus  strengthening our core business." "By aligning ourselves with
EMCON," added  Shipps,  "we will be able to improve our products and services by
integrating   EMCON's  strong  and  diverse   engineering   talents  with  OWT's
installation, operations and maintenance capabilities."

         EMCON is a nationally  recognized consulting firm providing services in
environmental  engineering,  waste management, air and water quality management,
occupational  health and safety,  and  construction.  Established in 197l, EMCON
offers its environmental services from over 40 offices nationwide to private and
public sector clients in the United States and abroad.



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