EXHIBIT 59


                Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc. Announces
                   Merger Agreement with Safety-Kleen Corp.


     Columbia, S.C. - March 16, 1998 - Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc.
(NYSE:LLE) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with
Safety-Kleen Corp. (NYSE:SK) providing for the Laidlaw Environmental Exchange
Offer to proceed unimpeded and for the back end merger of Safety-Kleen into
Laidlaw Environmental.

     Under the terms of the agreement, Laidlaw Environmental has set the
exchange ratio at 2.80 shares of Laidlaw Environmental common stock for each
share of Safety-Kleen common stock and $18.30 in cash. The offer has been
extended to midnight, New York city time on March 27, 1998. The Safety-Kleen
Board of Directors unanimously recommends that its shareholders tender their
shares.

     Kenneth Winger, President and CEO of Laidlaw Environmental, stated:

     We are very satisfied that our negotiations and mutual efforts have
     resulted in the merger agreement and are gratified that our revised
     exchange offer has the full support of Safety-Kleen's Board. We urge
     all Safety-Kleen shareholders to tender their shares in accordance
     with our offer.

     As of March 13, 1998, over 24,180,000 shares of Safety-Kleen common stock
had been validly tendered and not withdrawn.

     Safety-Kleen is an environmental and industrial service company which
recycles and processes the waste streams of 400,000 industrial and automotive
customers.

     Laidlaw Environmental Services is the leading provider of hazardous and
industrial waste management services to industries and governments. The company
operates from more than 100 locations throughout North America.

CONTACT: Kenneth W. Winger, President and Chief Executive Officer, or Paul 
Humphreys, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Laidlaw 
Environmental Services, Inc. (803) 933-4210.