<Page>
Exhibit 3.96
STATE OF NEW YORK }
SS:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE }
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ANNEXED COPY HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THE SAME IS A TRUE
COPY OF SAID ORIGINAL.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 28 2002
[SEAL]
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
SPECIAL DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
DOS-1266 (7/00)
<Page>
4814561
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
NORTHERN SANITATION INC.
Under Section 402 of the Business Corporation Law.
The undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation pursuant to
Section 402 of the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York, does
hereby certify and set forth:
FIRST: The name of the corporation is NORTHERN SANITATION INC.
SECOND: The purposes for which the corporation is formed are:
To engage in the business of carting and contracting for the removal of
garbage, ashes, rubbish, debris, trash, waste, rags, cloth, waste paper, old
household goods, soil, bricks, stone and any other refuse from any building,
hotel, plant, factory, mill, warehouse, tenement, private dwelling, vacant
property or any other structure of any kind, and also to sell or dispose of said
garbage ashes, soil, bricks, stone or paper or other refuse to any person
desiring to purchase the same; to process the same, and to maintain, acquire,
buy, sell, let or otherwise deal in and with installations or facilities for the
processing thereof, and the sale and disposal of the products of such
processing. To own, lease, buy, sell, operate and maintain a fleet of motor
trucks and other modes of conveyances to carry out the purposes of this
corporation. Generally to engage in the garbage collection business and to
collect and dispose of rubbish placed for collection and disposition by persons,
corporations, associations or firms.
To deal in generally in second hand and discarded clothing, household
furniture, paper, machinery, tools and implements and all other goods, wares and
merchandise of every kind, and to repair, clean, renovate and otherwise
recondition the said merchandise for resale to others.
To acquire by purchase, subscription underwriting or otherwise, and to own,
hold for investment, or otherwise, and to use, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage,
pledge, exchange, or otherwise dispose of real and
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personal property of every sort and description and wheresoever situated,
including shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip, securities,
evidences of indebtedness, contracts or obligations of any corporation or
association, whether domestic or foreign, or of any firm or individual or of the
United States or any state, territory or dependency of the United States or any
foreign country, or any municipality or local authority within or without the
United States, and also to issue in exchange therefor, stocks, bonds or other
securities or evidences of indebtedness of this corporation, and, while the
owner or holder of any such property, to receive, collect and dispose of the
interest, dividends and income on or from such property and to possess and
exercise in respect thereto all of the rights, powers and privileges of
ownership, including all voting powers thereon.
To construct, build, purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, equip, hold,
own, improve, develop, manage, maintain, control, operate, lease, mortgage,
create liens upon, sell, convey or otherwise dispose of and turn to account,
any and all plants, machinery, works, implements and things or property, real
and personal, of every kind and description, incidental to, connected with, or
suitable, necessary or convenient for any of the purposes enumerated herein,
including all or any part or parts of the properties, assets, business and good
will of any persons, firms, associations or corporations.
The powers, rights and privileges provided in this certificate are not to
be deemed to be in limitation of similar, other or additional powers, rights and
privileges granted or permitted to a corporation by the Business Corporation
Law, it being intended that this corporation shall have all the rights, powers
and privileges granted or permitted to a corporation by such statute.
THIRD: The office of the corporation is to be located in the City of
Plattsburgh, County of Clinton, State of New York.
FOURTH: The aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have the
authority to issue is Two Hundred (200), all of which shall be without par
value.
FIFTH: The Secretary of State is designated as agent of the corporation
upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the
Secretary of State shall mail a copy of any process against the corporation
served upon him is:
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Sand Plains Road
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this certificate has been subscribed to this 28th day
of October, 1981 by the undersigned, who affirms that the statements made herein
are true under the penalties of perjury.
/s/ Gerald Weinberg
--------------------------
GERALD WEINBERG
90 State Street
Albany, New York
3
<Page>
GW
085781
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
NORTHERN SANITATION INC.
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
4814561 FILED NOV 18 1981
AMT. OF CHECK $ 110
FILING FEE $ 100
TAX $ 10
COUNTY FEE $_______
COPY $_____________
CERT $_____________
REFUND $___________
SPEC HANDLE $_____
BY: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
---------------
P. Clinton
Filed by: Neverett & Asadourian, P.C.
39 Court Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
[SEAL]
BILLED
<Page>
STATE OF NEW YORK }
SS:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE }
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ANNEXED COPY HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THE SAME IS A TRUE
COPY OF SAID ORIGINAL.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 28 2002
[SEAL]
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
SPECIAL DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
DOS-1266 (7/00)
<Page>
F941031000210
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
UNDER SECTION 805 OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
The undersigned, being the President and Secretary of NORTHERN SANITATION,
INC. do hereby certify and set forth:
(1) The name of the corporation is: NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
(2) The Certificate of Incorporation of NORTHERN SANITATION, INC. was
filed with the Department of State of the State of New York on the 13th day of
November, 1981.
(3) The Certificate of Incorporation is amended to reflect the imposition
of restrictions on the Board of Directors. A new Article SIXTH shall be added to
the Certificate of Incorporation of NORTHERN SANITATION, INC. imposing
restrictions on the Board of Directors and shall read as follows:
SIXTH: All managerial acts in the conduct of the corporate affairs shall
be authorized or consented to by the shareholders and the board shall have
no discretion or power in connection therewith, except that where necessary
or convenient as determined by the shareholders' the board shall adopt any
resolution concerning the business and affairs of the corporation as may be
directed by the shareholders.
The affirmative vote of 67% of the issued and outstanding shares
entitled to vote shall be necessary to approve actions requiring the
approval of the shareholders as provided for herein.
(4) The amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation was authorized by a
vote of the Board of Directors, followed by the unanimous affirmative vote of
the Shareholders of the corporation at a meeting of the Directors and
Shareholders of said corporation duly called and held on the 17th day of
October, 1994, a quorum being present.
STAFFORD, TROMBLEY, PURCELL, LAHTINEN, OWENS & CURTIN, PC ATTORNEYS AND
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
ONE CUMBERLAND AVENUE, P O BOX 2947, PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK 12901-0269
1
<Page>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate has been subscribed this 21 day of
October, 1994, by the undersigned who affirm that the statements made herein are
true under the penalties of perjury.
/s/ Gloria Sarbou, President
-----------------------------
Gloria Sarbou, President
/s/ Ross M. Sarbou
-----------------------------
Ross M Sarbou, Secretary
2
<Page>
F941031000210
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FILED OCT 31 1994
TAX $ ____________
BY: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
----------------
Clinton
STAFFORD, THOMBLEY, PURCELL, LAHTINEN,
OWENS & CURTIN, P.C.
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
P O BOX 2947,
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK 12901-0269
941031000225
3
<Page>
STATE OF NEW YORK }
SS:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE }
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ANNEXED COPY HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THE SAME IS A TRUE
COPY OF SAID ORIGINAL.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 28 2002
[SEAL]
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
SPECIAL DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
DOS-1266 (7/00)
<Page>
F951215000207
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
NORTHERN EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.
AND
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
INTO
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
UNDER SECTION 904 of the BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
The undersigned, Gloria Sarbou and Ross M. Sarbou, being respectively, the
President and Secretary of NORTHERN EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC., a domestic
corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the
State of New York; and Gloria Sarbou and Ross M. Sarbou, being respectively the
President and Secretary of NORTHERN SANITATION, INC., a domestic corporation
duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of New
York do hereby certify and set forth:
1. The name of each constituent corporation is as follows:
Northern Equipment Company, Inc.
Northern Sanitation, Inc.
2. The name of the surviving corporation shall be Northern Sanitation,
Inc.
3. The designation, number and voting rights of the outstanding shares of
each class and series of each of the constituent corporation is as follows:
<Table>
<Caption>
Constituent Corporation Class Series Number
- ----------------------- ----- ------ ------
Northern Equipment Company, Inc. Common First 100
Northern Sanitation, Inc. Common First 89.5
</Table>
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4. There are no amendments or changes to be made in the Certificate of
Incorporation of Northern Sanitation, Inc.
5. The effective date of the Merger of Northern Sanitation, Inc. and
Northern Equipment Company, Inc. is the date of filing of the Certificate by
the Department of State.
6. (a) The Certificate of Incorporation of Northern Sanitation, Inc., a
domestic corporation, was filed with the New York State Department of State on
November 13, 1981.
(b) The Certificate of Incorporation of Northern Storage Company, Inc.
was filed with the New York State Department of State on August 18, 1987 and
the name was later changed to Northern Equipment Company, Inc.
7. (a) The merger of Northern Equipment Company, Inc. and Northern
Sanitation, Inc. was authorized by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors
of Northern Equipment Company, Inc. on November 15, 1995 and all the
shareholders subsequently authorized it on November 15, 1995.
(b) The Board of Directors of Northern Sanitation, Inc. authorized the
proposed merger by unanimous vote on November 15, 1995 and all the shareholders
subsequently authorized it on November 15, 1995.
8. A copy of the Plan of Merger of Northern Equipment Company, Inc. and
Northern Sanitation, Inc. into Northern Sanitation, Inc. was given to all of the
holders of shares of each of the corporations.
9. The Plan of Merger has not been abandoned.
2
<Page>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and signed the
Certificate, consisting of three (3) pages, this 15th day of November, 1995 by
the undersigned who affirm that the statements made herein are true under the
penalties of perjury.
NORTHERN EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.
BY: /s/ Gloria Sarbou, President
------------------------------
Gloria Sarbou, President
BY: /s/ Ross M. Sarbou, Sec.
------------------------------
Ross M. Sarbou, Secretary
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
BY: /s/ Gloria Sarbou, President
------------------------------
Gloria Sarbou, President
BY: /s/ Ross M. Sarbou, Sec.
------------------------------
Ross M. Sarbou, Secretary
3
<Page>
F951215000207
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
NORTHERN EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC.
AND
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
INTO
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
UNDER SECTION 904 of the BUSINESS
CORPORATION LAW
Dated: November 15, 1995
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARMENT OF STATE
FILED DEC 15, 1995
TAX $ ______________
BY: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
----------------
Clinton
F951215000222
STAFFORD, TROMBLEY, PURCELL, LAHTINEN
OWENS & CURTIN, P.C.:
ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS AT LAW
P.O. Box 2947
PLATTSBURGH NEW YORK, 12901-0269
4
<Page>
STATE OF NEW YORK }
SS:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE }
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ANNEXED COPY HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THE SAME IS A TRUE
COPY OF SAID ORIGINAL.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 28 2002
[SEAL]
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
SPECIAL DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
DOS-1266 (7/00)
<Page>
[ILLEGIBLE]
F981223000377
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
OF
NS ACQUISITION, INC.
AND
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
INTO
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
UNDER SECTION 904 OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
We, the undersigned, being respectively the Vice President and Assistant
Secretary of NS Acquisition, Inc., and the President and Secretary of Northern
Sanitation, Inc., certify:
The Agreement and Plan of the Merger was adopted by the board of directors of
each constituent corporation.
1. The name of each constituent corporation is as follows:
NS Acquisition, Inc. and Northern Sanitation, Inc.
2. The name of the surviving corporation is:
Northern Sanitation, Inc.
3. The number of outstanding shares of NS Acquisition, Inc. is ten (10)
shares without par value, all of which are entitled to vote. The
number of outstanding shares of Northern Sanitation, Inc. is one
hundred eighteen (118) shares without par value, all of which shares
are entitled to vote.
4. The Certificate of Incorporation of NS Acquisition, Inc., was filed by
Department of State on the 21st day of December,
1 of 3
<Page>
1998 and the Certificate of Incorporation of Northern Sanitation,
Inc., was filed by the Department of State on November 13 1981.
5. The Merger was authorized by the Unanimous Written Consent of all
outstanding shares of NS Acquisition, Inc., entitled to vote thereon
and by the Unanimous Written Consent of all outstanding shares of
Northern Sanitation, Inc., entitled to vote thereon.
6. The Merger shall be effective of the filing of the Certificate of
Merger by the Department of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have each signed this certificate and
affirmed the truth of the statements contained therein under penalty of perjury
this 22nd of December, 1998.
NS ACQUISITION, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry S. Cifor
------------------------------
Jerry S. Cifor, Vice President
and Assistant Secretary
2 of 3
<Page>
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
By: /s/ Gloria Sarbou, President
------------------------------
Gloria Sarbou, President
By /s/ Ross M. Sarbou, Sec.
------------------------------
Ross M. Sarbou, Secretary
3 of 3
<Page>
[ILLEGIBLE]
F981223000377
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
OF
NS ACQUISITION, INC.
AND
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
INTO
NORTHERN SANITATION, INC.
UNDER SECTION 904 OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FILED DEC 23 1998
TAX $ 0
BY: /s/ JW
----------------
CLINTON
[SEAL]
[NATIONWIDE INFORMATION SERVICES INC LOGO]
52, James Street
Albany, NY 12207
(800) 873-3482
(800) 234-8522 FAX
*FILER:
Jack Quigley
Corporate Assistant Manager
981223000390
4
<Page>
STATE OF NEW YORK }
SS:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE }
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ANNEXED COPY HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE ORIGINAL
DOCUMENT IN THE CUSTODY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THAT THE SAME IS A TRUE
COPY OF SAID ORIGINAL.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON MAY 28 2002
[SEAL]
/s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
SPECIAL DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
DOS-1266 (7/00)
<Page>
CT-07
F010221000519
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE
OF
Northern Sanitation Inc.
UNDER SECTION 805-A OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
1. The name of the corporation is Northern Sanitation Inc. It was
incorporated under the name Northern Sanitation Inc.
2. The Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation was filed by the
Department of State on the November 13, 1981.
3. The following was authorized by the Board of Directors:
To change the post office address to which the Secretary of State shall
mail a copy of process in any action or proceeding against the corporation which
may be served on him from c/o The Corporation, PO Box 950, Sand Plains Road,
Plattsburgh, NY 12901 to c/o C T Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10011.
To designate C T CORPORATION SYSTEM, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York,
N.Y. 10011 as its registered agent in New York upon whom all process against the
corporation may be served.
/s/ Jerry S. Cifor
----------------------------------
Jerry S. Cifor, Vice President
1
<Page>
CT-07
F010221000519
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE
OF
NORTHERN SANITATION INC
UNDER SECTION 805-A OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW
ICC
STATE OF NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FILED FEB 21 2001
TAX $_____________
BY: /s/ SRW
---------------
CLIN
Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
25 Green Hill Lane
P.O. Box 866
Rutland, VT 05701
F010221000536
2