EXHIBIT 99.1





                                                    Contact:  Kim Mortyn
                                                              (415) 375-1522


                         EMCON COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
                        ORGANIC WASTE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

          SAN MATEO, California,  March 1, 1996 -- EMCON (NASDAQ:MCON) announced
today it has  completed the  acquisition  of Organic  Waste  Technologies,  Inc.
(OWT),  a  privately   held  landfill  gas   technology  and  services   company
headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

          Principals of EMCON and OWT both commented they are extremely  pleased
to have completed this acquisition since the synergies between the two companies
significantly  strengthen each firm's service areas.  EMCON's engineering design
capabilities  and  OWT's  installation,   operations  and  maintenance  services
complement each other, and both companies' customers should benefit as a result.
Gene  Herson  (EMCON's  President  and CEO)  emphasized  this is the first  step
towards  the goal of  creating  the  "best in  class"  integrated  environmental
management services company.

          EMCON's acquisition is non-dilutive to existing  shareholders and will
be accounted for as a purchase. Under the terms of the agreement, EMCON acquires
all of the capital stock of OWT in exchange for $14 million in cash.

          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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