HOUSTON, Apr 28, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WMI) today announced seasonal price increases for its temporary roll-off business. A 10% premium will be instituted immediately in 41 of its 52 Market Areas, for the seasonally strong second and third quarters. The Company's seven Market Areas located in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Arizona will have their own seasonal price increase in the fourth quarter of 2005, as that is when the Company sees the roll-off business in those areas increase. Finally the Company noted that prices for temporary roll-off business in its four Market Areas in Texas and Louisiana which are not heavily seasonal, will continue to be adjusted as demand dictates.

"Similar to other industries with highly seasonal demand, including hotels and transportation, we see the need to price our roll-off business to correlate with customer demand and to cover our corresponding increased costs to provide service," said David P. Steiner, Chief Executive Officer.

"Waste Management is committed to maintaining a foundation of financial strength and we believe instituting this price increase will help enable us to maintain that commitment."

Waste Management, Inc. is its industry's leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services. Based in Houston, the Company serves municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential customers throughout North America.

Certain statements contained in this press release include statements that are "forward-looking statements." Outlined below are some of the risks that the Company faces and that could affect our financial statements for 2005 and beyond and that could cause actual results to be materially different from those that may be set forth in forward-looking statements made by the Company. However, they are not the only risks that the Company faces. There may be additional risks that we do not presently know or that we currently believe are immaterial which could also impair our business. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition, the Company, from time to time, provides estimates of financial and other data relating to future periods. Such estimates and other information are the Company's expectations at the point in time of issuance but may change at some future point in time. By issuing such estimates the Company has no obligation, and is not undertaking any obligation, to update such estimates or provide any other information relating to such estimates. The following are some of the risks we face:

-- the effects competition may have on our profitability or cash flows, including the negative impact to our yield on base business resulting from price roll-backs and lower than average pricing to retain and attract customers;

-- our inability to maintain or expand margins as volumes increase if we are unable to control variable costs or our fixed cost base increases;

-- increases in employee-related costs and expenses, including health care and other employee benefits such as unemployment insurance and workers' compensation, as well as the costs and expenses associated with attracting and retaining qualified personnel;

-- possible increases in expenses due to fuel price increases or fuel supply shortages;

-- the effect that fluctuating commodity prices may have on our operating revenues and expenses;

-- the general effects of a weak economy, including the resulting decreases in volumes of waste generated;

-- external factors beyond our control, such as higher interest rates and the possible inability of insurers to meet their obligations, both of which may cause increased expenses;

-- the effect the weather has on our quarter-to-quarter results, as well as the effect of extremely harsh weather on our operations;

-- possible changes in our estimates of site remediation requirements, final capping, closure and post-closure obligations, compliance and regulatory developments;

-- the possible impact of regulations on our business, including the cost to comply with regulatory requirements and the potential liabilities associated with disposal operations;

-- our ability to obtain and maintain permits needed to operate our facilities;

-- the effect of limitations or bans on disposal or transportation of out-of-state waste or certain categories of waste;

-- possible charges against earnings as a result of shut-down operations, uncompleted development or expansion projects or other events;

-- the effects that trends toward requiring recycling, waste reduction at the source and prohibiting the disposal of certain types of wastes could have on volumes of waste going to landfills and waste-to-energy facilities;

-- possible diversions of management's attention and increases in operating expenses due to efforts by labor unions to organize our employees;

-- the outcome of litigation or threatened litigation;

-- the need for additional capital if cash flows are less than we expect or capital expenditures are more than we expect, and the possibility that we cannot obtain additional capital on acceptable terms if needed;

-- possible errors or problems upon implementation of new information technology systems; and

-- possible fluctuations in quarterly results of operations or adverse impacts on our results of operations as a result of the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations.

Additional information regarding these and/or other factors that could materially affect results and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein may be found in Part I, Item 1 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

SOURCE: Waste Management, Inc.

Waste Management, Inc., Houston
Analysts:
Greg Nikkel, 713-265-1358
or
Media:
Heather Browne, 713-265-1514