<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT 10.36

                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.

                      TRANSACTIONS UNDER THE COMMON STOCK
                        AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                 DATED AS OF
                               DECEMBER 26,1996

                               DECEMBER 26,1996

DOCUMENT                                                            TAB NUMBER
--------                                                            ----------
Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement made as of                  1 
December 26, 1996 by and among Waste Recovery, Inc. (the                   
"Company") and the Investors set forth on SCHEDULE A                      
thereto (the "Investors")                                                 
                                                                         
Warrant Number 1 for the Purchase of 366,666 Shares of                  2  
the Common Stock of the Company issued December 26, 1996                  
to Bette Nagelberg                                                        
                                                                         
Warrant Number 2 for the Purchase of 366,667 Shares of                  3  
the Common Stock of the Company issued December 26, 1996                  
to Ronald I. Heller                                                       
                                                                         
Warrant Number 3 for the Purchase of 16,667 Shares of the               4  
Common Stock of the Company issued December 26, 1996 to                   
R. Anthony Cioffari                                                       
                                                                         
Warrant Number 4 for the Purchase of 25,000 Shares of the               5  
Common Stock of the Company issued December 26, 1996 to                   
GKN Securities Corp.                                                      
                                                                         
Stock Certificate Number 4381 for 366,666 Shares of Common              6  
Stock of the Company dated December 26, 1996 issued to                    
Bette Nagelberg                                                           
                                                                         
Stock Certificate Number 4382 for 50,000 Shares of Common               7  
Stock of the Company dated December 26, 1996 issued to                    
Rachel Heller                                                             
                                                                         
Stock Certificate Number 4383 for 50,000 Shares of Common               8  
Stock of the Company dated December 26, 1996 issued to                    
Ronald I. Heller as Custodian for Evan Heller                             
                                                                         
Stock Certificate Number 4384 for 266,667 Shares Of Common              9  
Stock of the Company dated December 26, 1996 issued to                    
Delaware Charter Guaranty & Trust Co. fbo Ronald I. Heller IRA            
                                                                        
Stock Certificate Number 4385 for 16,667 Shares of Common               10  
Stock of the Company dated December 26, 1996 issued to                    
R. Anthony Cioffari                                                     

Legal Opinion of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell (A Professional             11
Corporation) dated December 26, 1996 to the Investors                   

<PAGE>


















                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.


                   COMMON STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                               December 26, 1996 

<PAGE>

                                   AGREEMENT

    This COMMON STOCK AND WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made as 
of the 26th day of December, 1996, by and among Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas 
corporation ("Company"), and each of the investors listed on the signature 
page and on Schedule A hereto ("Investors").

    WHEREAS, the Company wishes to sell to the Investors, and the Investors 
wish to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common 
stock, no par value ("Common Stock"), of the Company and 750,000 warrants, 
each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $2.0625 
per share during the four year period commencing on the date hereof 
("Warrants"), on the terms and in the manner set forth in this Agreement.

    IT IS AGREED:

    1.   PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMMON STOCK AND WARRANTS.

         1.1. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the 
Investors hereby purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby sells to 
the Investors, an aggregate of 750,000 shares ("Shares") of Common Stock and 
750,000 Warrants (the Shares and Warrants, collectively, "Investor 
Securities") at a purchase price of $1.45 per share and $.05 per Warrant or 
an aggregate of $1,125,000.

         1.2. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company 
is delivering to each Investor certificates representing the portion of the 
Investor Securities set forth opposite such Investor's name on Schedule A 
attached hereto and each Investor is delivering to the Company a certified or 
official bank check or a wire transfer in the respective amount set forth on 
Schedule A representing payment of the purchase price, the receipt and 
adequacy of both of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties.

    2.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company hereby 
represents and warrants to the Investors that:

         2.1. ORGANIZATION, GOOD STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. The Company is a 
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the 
laws of the State of Texas and has all requisite corporate power and 
authority to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be 
conducted. The Company is duly qualified to transact business, and is in good 
standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure so to qualify would have a 
material adverse effect on its business or properties (a "Material Adverse 
Effect"). A true and correct copy of the Company's Certificate of 
Incorporation ("Certificate") and By-laws are attached hereto as Exhibit A.

         2.2. CORPORATE POWER; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. The Company has all 
requisite legal and corporate power to (i) execute and deliver this 
Agreement, (ii) issue the Shares and the Warrants and the Common Stock 
issuable upon conversion of the Warrants, and (iii) carry out and perform its 
obligations under the terms of this Agreement. The Company has all necessary 
authorizations, approval, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of all 
governmental and/or regulatory officials and bodies to own or lease its 
properties and conduct its business and the Company is and has been doing 
business in compliance with all such authorizations, approval, orders, 
licenses, certificates and permits and all federal, state and local laws, 
rules and regulations, except where the failure to do so would not have a 
Material Adverse Effect.

<PAGE>

         2.3. AUTHORIZATION. This Agreement has been duly authorized, 
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and 
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

         2.4. CAPITALIZATION. Prior to the issuance of the Shares and the 
Warrants, there are no more than 18,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the 
Company outstanding on a fully diluted basis, after giving effect to the 
exercise and/or conversion of all outstanding options, warrants and 
convertible securities.

         2.5. VALID ISSUANCE OF SHARES AND WARRANTS.

              (a)  The issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares and Warrants 
being purchased by the Investors hereunder, and the reservation for issuance 
of the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, have been duly 
authorized by all required corporate action on the part of the Company, and 
the Shares and Warrants are duly and validly issued, the Shares are fully 
paid and non-assessable and, based in part upon the representations and 
warranties of the Investors in this Agreement, the Shares and Warrants will 
be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities 
laws. The Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants has been duly 
and validly reserved for issuance and, upon issuance in accordance with the 
terms of the Warrants and payment of the exercise price set forth in the 
Warrants, shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. 
The Shares (and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) will 
be free and clear from any liens or encumbrances other than those created by, 
or imposed upon, the holders thereof through no action of the Company; 
provided, however, that Shares (and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise 
of the Warrants) may be subject to restrictions on transfer under state 
and/or federal securities laws as set forth herein.

              (b)  The outstanding shares of Common Stock are all duly and 
validly authorized and issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, and were 
issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws 
and have not been issued in violation of any preemptive rights.

         2.6. 10b-5 REPRESENTATION. Schedule 2.6 lists all of the reports 
filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended ("Exchange Act"), or the rules and regulations thereunder 
("Regulations") since January 1, 1996. The Company has filed all reports 
required to be filed by it pursuant to the Exchange Act and the Regulations. 
Each of such reports, when filed, complied in all material respects with the 
requirements of the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the 
Regulations and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or 
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in 
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which 
they were made, not misleading. Since the date of the most recent report on 
Form 10-Q filed by the Company under the Exchange Act and the Regulations, 
there has been no material adverse change in the business, financial 
condition, assets or, to the Company's knowledge, business prospects, of the 
Company.

         2.7. CONSENTS. No consent, approval, order, license, certificate or 
permit from, or authorization of, or registration, qualification, 
designation, declaration or filing with, any federal, state, local, foreign 
or provincial governmental authority or any court or other tribunal is 
required on the part of the Company in connection with the consummation of 
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consent of any party to 
any contract, agreement, instrument, lease, license, arrangement or 
understanding to which the Company is a party is required for the execution, 
delivery or performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated 
hereby.

<PAGE>

         2.8. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS. The Company is not in 
violation or default of any provisions of its Certificate or By-Laws. The 
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the consummation 
of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in any such violation 
or be in conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and 
giving of notice, either a default under any such provision, instrument, 
judgment, order, writ, decree, or contract or constitute an event which 
results in the creation of any lien, charge, or encumbrance upon any assets 
of the Company. The Company does not have any knowledge of any termination or 
material breach or anticipated termination or material breach by the other 
parties to any material contract or commitment to which it is a party or to 
which any of its assets is subject.

    3.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTORS. The Investors 
hereby represent and warrant to the Company that:

         3.1. AUTHORIZATION. This Agreement constitutes their valid and 
legally binding obligations, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Each 
Investor represents that it has full power and authority to enter into this 
Agreement.

         3.2. PURCHASE FOR OWN ACCOUNT. The Shares and Warrants to be 
received by each Investor pursuant to the terms hereof and the Common Stock 
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (collectively, the "Securities") will 
be acquired for investment for such Investor's own account, not as a nominee 
or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part 
thereof, and each Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any 
participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this 
Agreement, each Investor further represents and warrants that it does not 
have any contract, undertaking, agreement, or arrangement with any person to 
sell, transfer, or grant participations to such person or to any third 
person, with respect to any of the Securities.

         3.3. RESTRICTED SECURITIES. Each Investor understands that the 
Shares and the Warrants it is purchasing are characterized as "restricted 
securities" under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being 
acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering 
and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be 
resold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended 
("Act") only in certain limited circumstances. In this regard, each Investor 
represents that it is familiar with Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 
144 ("Rule 144"), as presently in effect, and understands the resale 
limitations imposed thereby and by the Act. Without in any way limiting the 
representations set forth above, each Investor agrees not to make any 
disposition of all or any portion of the Shares or Warrants (or the Common 
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) unless there is then in effect 
a registration statement under the Act covering such proposed disposition and 
such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement; or 
each Investor shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and 
shall have furnished the Company with a statement of the circumstances 
surrounding the proposed disposition, and, if reasonably requested by the 
Company, each Investor shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of 
counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such disposition will 
not require registration of such shares under the Act. It is agreed that the 
Company will request opinions of counsel for transactions made pursuant to 
Rule 144 only if such request is reasonable.

         3.4. ACCREDITED INVESTOR STATUS. Each Investor represents and 
warrants that it is an "accredited investor" within the meaning of Rule 
501(a) of Regulation D, promulgated under the Act.

         3.5. LEGENDS. It is understood that the certificates evidencing the 
Shares and the Warrants (and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the 
Warrants) shall bear the following legend:

<PAGE>

         THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
         ("ACT"), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE
         SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE
         REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT OR
         PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
         OF SAID ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF
         COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT
         SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

    After the Registration Statement, referenced in Section 4.4(a) 
hereinbelow, is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission 
("Commission"), or after any registration statement in which Investor 
Securities or Additional Shares (as hereinafter defined) are included 
pursuant to the registration rights set forth in Section 4.4(b) is declared 
effective by the Commission, the Investors may deliver to the Company the 
certificates representing the Investor Securities and/or Additional Shares so 
registered, and the Company will, within three days after receipt by the 
Company of the foregoing, cause its transfer agent to issue new certificates 
representing and in exchange for the aforementioned certificates, which new 
certificates shall be legended as follows:

         THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE
         SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION
         STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT (i) THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS
         CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE, (ii) THE HOLDER COMPLIES WITH THE
         PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
         1933, AS AMENDED, AND (iii) THE SALE IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
         THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS.

    The legend shall be removed by the Company from any certificate at such 
time as the holder of the shares represented by the certificate delivers an 
opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that 
such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any 
provisions of the Act, or at such time as the holder of such shares satisfies 
the requirements of Rule 144(k) under the Act, provided that Rule 144(K) as 
then in effect does not differ substantially from Rule 144(k) as in effect as 
of the date of this Agreement, and provided further that the Company has 
received from the holder a written representation that (i) such holder is not 
an affiliate of the Company and has not been an affiliate during the 
preceding three (3) months, (ii) such holder has beneficially owned the 
shares represented by the certificate for a period of at least three (3) 
years or such other period of time then set forth under Rule 144(k),and (iii) 
such holder otherwise satisfies the requirements of Rule 144(k) as then in 
effect with respect to such shares.

    4.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

         4.1. USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company will apply the proceeds received 
from the sale of the Common Stock for working capital and general corporate 
purposes. No proceeds of the Shares and Warrants sold to the Investors or the 
proceeds of any exercise of the Warrants in excess of $25,000 will be used to 
pay any debt for borrowed funds from any director or officer, or any debts or 
obligations owed to any officer, director or stockholder of the Company or 
any of their respective affiliates.

<PAGE>

         4.2. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION. The Company shall 
deliver to the Investors copies of all reports filed by the Company under the 
Exchange Act and the Regulations at the time such reports are filed with the 
Commission.

         4.3. ANTI-DILUTION RIGHTS. Until the date which is three months 
after the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective in 
the event that the Company issues (i) any shares of Common Stock at a price 
per share less than $1.25,(ii) any options to purchase or rights to subscribe 
for Common Stock exercisable at a price (including the purchase price of such 
option or rights) per share of Common Stock of less than $1.25, or (iii) 
securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or options to 
purchase or rights to subscribe for such convertible or exchangeable 
securities, at a price per convertible or exchangeable security (including 
the purchase price of the rights to subscribe for such convertible or 
exchangeable security) of less than $1.25, the Company will issue to the 
holders of the Shares ("Holders") that amount of additional shares of Common 
Stock ("Additional Shares") as will cause the effective per share purchase 
price of the Common Stock held by the Holders to be equal to the per share or 
per security purchase or exercise price of the Common Stock or securities 
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock so issued. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will not be required to issue 
Additional Shares to the Holders as a result of the issuance of options (and 
the shares of Common Stock underlying such options) to purchase shares of 
Common Stock to officers, directors or employees of the Company if the 
exercise price of such options is not less than the market price of the 
Common Stock on the date the options are granted.

         4.4. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

              (a)  On or before May 15. 1997, the Company shall file a 
registration statement under the Act ("Registration Statement") with the 
Commission registering for resale the Shares, the Additional Shares, if any, 
that have been issued to the Holders, and the Warrants and the shares of 
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (collectively, the 
"Registrable Securities"). The Company will use its best efforts to have such 
registration statement declared effective promptly thereafter.

              (b)  In addition to the registration rights granted in 
subsection (a) above, (i) the Holders and the holders of the Warrants 
("Warrantholders") shall have the right to include the Registrable Securities 
as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other 
than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145(a) promulgated 
under the Act or pursuant to Form S-8 or any equivalent form), and (ii) upon 
the request, on one occasion, of the holders of more than 50% of any 
Additional Shares which may have been issued pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof 
and which have not been registered pursuant to Section 4.4(a) hereof 
("Additional Registrable Securities"), the Company shall file a registration 
statement under the Act with the Commission registering for resale such 
Additional Registrable Securities.

              (c)  The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to 
registering the Registrable Securities and any Additional Registrable 
Securities, including, without limitation, the fees (not to exceed $5,000) 
and expenses of one special counsel for the selling securityholders, but the 
Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions in connection with the 
sale of the Registrable Securities and any Additional Registrable Securities. 
The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause the filing required 
herein to become effective promptly and to qualify or register the 
Registrable Securities and any Additional Registrable Securities in such 
States as are reasonably requested by the Holders and the Warrantholders; 
provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register 
the Registrable Securities or Additional Registrable Securities in a State in 
which such registration would cause (i) the Company to be obligated to 
register or license to do business in such 

<PAGE>

State, or (ii) the principal stockholders of the Company to be obligated to 
escrow their shares of capital stock of the Company. The Company shall cause 
any registration statement filed pursuant to the rights granted under this 
Section 4.4 to remain effective until the earliest of (i) the date by which 
all of the Registrable Securities and Additional Registrable Securities, if 
any, have been sold pursuant to the registration statement, or (ii) the date 
by which all of the Registrable Securities or Additional Registrable 
Securities, if any, are eligible for resale without restriction pursuant to 
Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Act.

              (d)  Notwithstanding Section 4.4(b)(i) hereof, if the offering 
with respect to which a registration statement is filed is managed by an 
independent underwriter, then (i) if in the reasonable judgment of the 
managing underwriter, which shall be evidenced by a writing delivered to each 
Holder and each Warrantholder, the sale of the Registrable Securities or the 
Additional Registrable Securities in connection with the proposed offering 
would have a material adverse effect on the offering, the Holders and 
Warrantholders shall not sell their Registrable Securities or Additional 
Registrable Securities under such registration statement until 90 days after 
the effective date of such registration statement without the consent of the 
managing underwriter, and (ii) if securities are to be registered for the 
benefit of any other selling security holder ("Selling Holder"), each Holder 
and each Warrantholder shall be entitled to sell immediately under such 
registration statement a percentage of the total number of Registrable 
Securities and Additional Registrable Securities of a particular class of 
securities owned by him equal to the highest percentage of that class to be 
sold under such registration statement (vis-a-vis the total number of 
securities of that class owned) by any such Selling Holder, with the Holder 
or Warrantholder being entitled to sell the balance of his Registrable 
Securities and/or Additional

              (e)  The Company shall indemnify the holder(s) of the 
Registrable Securities or Additional Registrable Securities to be sold 
pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who 
controls such holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 
20(a) of the Exchange Act, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or 
liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses 
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any 
claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the 
Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement other 
than arising from information set forth therein furnished by or on behalf of 
such holders or their successors or assigns in writing for specific inclusion 
in such registration statement. The holder(s) of the Registrable Securities 
or Additional Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration 
statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not 
jointly, indemnify the Company against all loss, claim, damage, expense or 
liability (including all reasonable attorneys' fees and other expenses 
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any 
claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the 
Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf 
of such holders, or their successors or assigns, in writing, for specific 
inclusion in such registration statement.

              (f)  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as 
requiring the Warrantholders to exercise their Warrants prior to or after the 
initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

              (g)  Each of the Holders and Warrantholders participating in 
any of the foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a complete, 
accurate and executed questionnaire provided by the Company requesting 
information customarily sought of selling securityholders.

    5.   OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL. The Investors concurrently with the 
execution of this Agreement shall receive from Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, 
special counsel for the Company, an opinion, dated as of the date hereof, in 
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

<PAGE>

    6.   INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each 
Investor and its successors and assigns. from and against any losses, 
damages, expenses or liabilities, including, without limitation, reasonable 
attorneys' fees, which may be sustained, suffered or incurred by that 
Investor, its successors and assigns, arising from or in connection with the 
breach of any the Company's covenants, representations, warranties, 
agreements, obligations or undertakings hereunder. The Investors, jointly but 
not severally, shall indemnity and hold harmless the Company from and against 
any losses, damages, expenses or liabilities. including, without limitation, 
reasonable attorneys' fees, which may be sustained, suffered or incurred by 
the Company arising from or in connection with the breach of any the 
Investors' covenants. representations. warranties, agreements, obligations or 
undertakings hereunder. These indemnities shall survive the execution of this 
Agreement.

    7.   MISCELLANEOUS.

         7.1  SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES. The warranties, representations, and 
covenants of the Company and the Investors contained in or made pursuant to 
this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and 
shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject matter 
thereof made by or on behalf of the Investors or the Company.

         7.2. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Nothing in this Agreement, express or 
implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto 
or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, 
or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly 
provided in this Agreement.

         7.3. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and 
construed under the laws of the State of New York, disregarding any 
principles of conflicts of laws.

         7.4. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which 
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         7.5. TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles and subtitles used in this 
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in 
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

         7.6. NOTICES. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or 
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing, shall be sent by 
facsimile to the party to be notified and shall be deemed effectively given 
upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, or four days after 
deposit with the United States Post Office, by registered or certified mail, 
postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified. Any notice to the 
Company shall be sent to the Company at its facsimile number and address set 
forth on the signature page hereof, and any notice sent to an Investor shall 
be sent to the Investor at the facsimile number and address set forth under 
its name on Schedule A hereto, or at such other facsimile number or address 
as such party may designate by ten (10) days' advance written notice to the 
other parties, with a copy for the Company to Kent Jamison, Esq., Locke 
Purnell Rain Harrell, 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200, Dallas, Texas 75201-6776, 
fax no. (214) 740-8800, and with a copy for the Investors to David Alan 
Miller, Esq., Graubard Mollen & Miller, 600 Third Avenue, New York, New York 
10016-2097, fax no. (212) 818-8881.

         7.7. FINDER'S FEE. Each party represents that it neither is nor will 
be obligated for any finders fee or commission in connection with this 
transaction except that the Company is obligated to pay GKN Securities Corp. 
("GKN") the fees set forth in Section 7.10 hereof. The Company agrees to 
indemnify and hold harmless the Investors from any liability for any 
commission or compensation in the nature of a finders fee (and the costs and 
expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) 

<PAGE>

for which the Company or any of its officers, employees, or representatives 
is responsible.

         7.8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. This Agreement 
constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the 
parties with regard to the subjects hereof. Any term of this Agreement may be 
amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived 
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or 
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the holders 
of a majority of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the 
Investor Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this 
Section 7.8 shall be binding upon each holder of any securities purchased 
under this Agreement at the time outstanding (including securities into which 
such securities are convertible), each future holder of all such securities. 
and the Company.

         7.9. SEVERABILITY. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are 
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be 
excluded from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be 
interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in 
accordance with its terms.

         7.10.     EXPENSES. The Company agrees to (i) pay $20,000 to GKN in 
consideration of introducing the Investors to the Company, (ii) pay $15,000 
to Graubard Mollen & Miller ("GM&M"), special counsel to the Investors, for 
its fees and expenses incurred in connection with this transaction, and (iii) 
issue 25,000 Warrants having the same terms as the Warrants issued to the 
Investors hereunder to GKN as additional consideration for introducing the 
Investors to the Company. The Investors may deduct from the purchase price 
payable hereunder the amounts to be paid to GKN and GM&M.

<PAGE>

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the 
date first above written.

                                      WASTE RECOVERY, INC.
                                      By:  /s/ THOMAS L. EARNSHAW
                                         --------------------------------
                                           Thomas L. Earnshaw
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       Address:  309 S. Pearl Expressway
                                                 Dallas, Texas 75201
                                       Fax:      (214) 745-8945


INVESTORS:


/s/ BETTE NAGELBERG                   Delaware Charter Guaranty & Trust Co. FBO
----------------------------------    Ronald I. Heller - IRA
Bette Nagelberg                       


/s/ RONALD I. HELLER                  By:  /s/ RONALD I. HELLER
-----------------------------------       --------------------------------
Ronald I. Heller                      Name:
                                      Title:


/s/ RACHEL HELLER                     /s/ R. ANTHONY CIOFFARI
----------------------------------    ------------------------------------
Rachel Heller                         R. Anthony Cioffari


/s/ RONALD I. HELLER
-----------------------------------
Ronald I. Heller, as Custodian for Evan Heller

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                                NUMBER OF
                                AMOUNT OF       SHARES OF      NUMBER OF
INVESTOR                        INVESTMENT     COMMON STOCK    WARRANTS
--------                        ----------     ------------    ---------
Bette Nagelberg                  $550,000        366,666        366,666
662 Juniper Place
Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Fax: (201) 459-9458

Ronald I. Heller                  $18,333           --          366,667
74 Farview Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Fax: (201) 459-9458

Rachel Heller                     $72,500         50,000          --
74 Farview Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Fax: (201) 459-9458

Ronald I. Heller as               $72,500         50,000          --
Custodian for Evan Heller
74 Farview Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Fax: (201) 459-9458

Delaware Charter Guaranty        $386,667        266,667          --
& Trust Co. FBO
Ronald I. Heller - IRA
74 Farview Road
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Fax: (201) 459-9458

R. Anthony Cioffari               $25,000         16,667         16,667
75 Evergreen Street
Midland Park, NJ 07432
Fax: (212) 509-5181


                                       
<PAGE>

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE COMMON STOCK WHICH MAY BE ACQUIRED UPON THE 
EXERCISE HEREOF HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS 
AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE 
SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH 
ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION 
OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, DECEMBER 26, 2000.

                                                            For the Purchase of
                                                              366,666 shares of
                                                                   Common Stock
No.  1


                            WARRANT FOR PURCHASE OF
                            SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.

                             (A Texas corporation)


     Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that for value received, Bette Nagelberg, or her registered assigns (the
"Registered Holder"), residing at 622 Juniper Place, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
07417, is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the
Company, pursuant to this Warrant ("Warrant"), at any time or from time to time
until December 26, 2000 ("Expiration Date"), 366,666 shares of Common Stock, no
par value, of the Company ("Common Stock"), at a purchase price equal to $2.0625
per share of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise of this Warrant, and the purchase price per share, each as adjusted
from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Warrant, are hereinafter
referred to as the "Warrant Shares" and the "Purchase Price," respectively.

     l.   EXERCISE.

          (a)  This Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder, in whole
or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant (with the Notice of Exercise Form
attached hereto as Exhibit I duly executed by such Registered Holder) at the
principal office of the Company, or at such other office or agency as the
Company may designate, accompanied by payment in full, in lawful money of the
United States, of an amount equal to the then applicable Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares then being purchased upon such
exercise.

          (b)  Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been
effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which this
Warrant shall have been surrendered to the Company as provided in subsection 1
(a) above. At such time, the person or persons in whose name or names any
certificates for Warrant Shares shall be issuable upon such exercise as provided
in subsection 1 (c) below shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders
of record of the Warrant Shares represented by such certificates.

          (c)  As soon as practicable after the exercise of the purchase right
represented by this


                                       
<PAGE>

Warrant, the Company at its expense will use its best efforts to cause to be 
issued in the name of the Registered Holder and delivered to you:

               (i)  a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares
of Warrant Shares to which such Registered Holder shall be entitled upon such
exercise plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which such Registered Holder
would otherwise be entitled, a Warrant Share representing the remainder of the
fractional share to the next whole Warrant Share, and

               (ii) in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or
warrants (dated the date hereof) of like tenor, stating on the face or faces
thereof the number of shares currently stated on the face of this Warrant minus
the number of such shares purchased by the Registered Holder upon such exercise
as provided in section 1(a) above.

     2.   ADJUSTMENTS.

          (a)  SPLIT, SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF SHARES. If the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock at any time while this Warrant remains
outstanding and unexpired shall be subdivided or split into a greater number of
shams, or a dividend in Common Stock shall be paid in respect of Common Stock,
or a similar change in the Company's capitalization occurs which affects the
outstanding Common Stock, as a class, then the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such subdivision or at the record dale of such dividend
shall, simultaneously with the effectiveness of such subdivision or split or
immediately after the record date of such dividend (as the case may be), be
proportionately decreased. If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
combined or reverse-split into a smaller number of shares, the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such combination or reverse split shall,
simultaneously with the effectiveness of such combination or reverse split, be
proportionately increased. When any adjustment is required to be made in the
Purchase Price, the number of shares of Warrant Shares purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be changed to the number determined by dividing
(i) an amount equal to the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, by (ii) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (b)  RECLASSIFICATION, REORGANIZATION, CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER. In the
case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any reorganization,
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other
than a merger or reorganization with respect to which the Company is the
continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of the
Common Stock), or a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the payment of a liquidating distribution then, as part of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating
distribution, the Company shall arrange for the other party to the transaction
to agree to, and lawful provision shall be made, so that the Registered Holder
of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter to receive upon the exercise
hereof (to the extent, if any, still exercisable), the kind and amount of shares
of stock or other securities or property which such Registered Holder would have
been entitled to receive if, immediately prior to any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating distribution, as
the case may be, such Registered Holder had held the number of shares of Common
Stock which were then purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant. In any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company) shall be made in the application of the provisions set forth
herein with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Registered
Holder of this Warrant such that the provisions set forth in this Section 2
(including provisions with respect to the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, in relation to any shares of
stock or other securities or property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise
of this Warrant.


                                       
<PAGE>

     3.   LIMITATION ON SALES. Each holder of this arrant acknowledges that this
Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or any successor legislation (the
"Act"), and agrees not to sell, pledge, distribute, offer for sale, transfer or
otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares issued upon its exercise
in the absence of (a) an effective registration statement under the Act as to
this Warrant or such Warrant Shares and registration or qualification of this
Warrant or such Warrant Shares under any applicable, Blue Sky or state
securities law then in effect or (b) an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the
Company, that such registration and qualification are not required. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless the offering and sale of the
Warrant Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the Warrant shall
have been effectively registered under the Act, the Company shall be under no
obligation to issue the shares covered by such exercise unless and until the
Registered Holder shall have executed an investment letter in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company, including a warranty at the time of such exercise
that it is acquiring such shares for its own account, and will not transfer the
Warrant Shares unless pursuant to an effective and current registration
statement under the Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Act and any other applicable restrictions, in which event the Registered
Holder shall be bound by the provisions of a legend or legends to such effect
which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s) representing the Warrant Shares
issued pursuant to such exercise. The Warrant Shares issued upon exercise
thereof shall be imprinted with legends in substantially the following form:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
     REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("ACT"), OR
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR
     OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
     RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN
     OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT
     SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

     After the Registration Statement, referenced in Section 4 hereinbelow, is
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), or
after any registration statement in which Warrant Shares are included pursuant
to the registration rights set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Common Stock and
Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and the initial Registered Holder
("Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement") is declared effective by the
Commission, the Registered Holder may deliver to the Company the certificates
representing the Warrant Shares so registered, and the Company will, within
three days after receipt by the Company of the foregoing, cause its transfer
agent to issue new certificates representing and in exchange for the
aforementioned certificates, which new certificates shall be legended as
follows:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES MAY BE
     SOLD PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT (i) THE
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE, (ii) THE HOLDER
     COMPLIES WITH THE PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND (iii) SALE IS IN COMPLIANCE
     WITH THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS."

     4.   REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDER. The Company has agreed to
register the Warrants


                                       
<PAGE>

and Warrant Shares issuable hereunder on a Registration Statement under the Act 
("Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 
accordance with Section 4 of the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement. 
These registration rights shall inure to the benefit of any transferee of the 
Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

     5.   NOTICES OF RECORD DATE. In case:

          (a)  the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common
Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of
this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any
dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution payable
solely in capital stock of the Company or out of funds legally available
therefor), or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right, or

          (b)  of any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or

          (c)  of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up of the, Company,

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the
Registered Holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i)
the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend,
distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which
the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the
time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to
exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for
securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten ( 10) days prior to the
record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice, provided
that the failure to mail such notice shall not affect the legality or validity
of any such action.

     6.   RESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LISTING OF STOCK. The Company will at
all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery upon the
exercise of this Warrant, such shares of Warrant Shares and other stock,
securities and property, as from time to time shall be issuable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and shall use its best efforts to list and maintain the
quotation of the Warrant Shares on the same system or exchange as the Company's
outstanding Common Stock.

     7.   REPLACEMENT OF WARRANTS. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Warrant and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of an
indemnity agreement (with surety if reasonably required) in an amount reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, or (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and
cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new
Warrant of like tenor.

     8.   TRANSFERS, ETC.

          (a)  The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained a register
containing the names and addresses of the Registered Holders of this Warrant.
Any Registered Holder may change its,


                                       
<PAGE>

his or her address as shown on the warrant register by written notice to the 
Company requesting such change.

          (b)  Until any transfer of this Warrant is made in the warrant
register, the Company may treat the Registered Holder of this Warrant as the
absolute owner hereof for all purposes; provided, however, that if and when this
Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be
obligated to) treat the bearer hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

     9.   NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. Until the exercise of this Warrant, the
Registered Holder of this Warrant shall not have or exercise any rights by
virtue hereof as a shareholder of the Company.

     10.  CHANGE OR WAIVER. Any term of this Warrant may be changed or waived
only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement
of the change or waiver is sought.

     11.  HEADINGS. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any provision of
this Warrant.

     12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York as such laws are applied to
contracts made and to be fully performed entirely within that state between
residents of that state.

     13.  MAILING OF NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications under
this Warrant (except payment) shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given if sent by facsimile and either delivered to the addressees in person, by
Federal Express or similar receipt delivery or by postage prepaid, certified
mail, return receipt requested, as follows:

Registered Holder: To his address on page 1 of this Warrant.

     with a copy to:
                     Graubard Mollen & Miller
                     600 Third Avenue
                     New York, New York  l0016-2097
                     Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
                     Fax: (212) 818-8881

The Company:         Waste Recovery, Inc.
                     309 S. Pearl Expressway
                     Dallas, Texas 75201
                     Fax: (214) 745-8945

     with a copy to:
                     Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
                     2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
                     Dallas, Texas 75201-6776
                     Attn: Kent Jamison, Esq.
                     Fax: (214) 740-8800

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may designate 
from time to time. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case may be, the 
delivery in person or by mailing.


                                       
<PAGE>

                                     WASTE RECOVERY, INC.


                                     By:  /s/THOMAS L. EARNSHAW
                                       --------------------------------------- 
                                         Thomas L. Earnshaw
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT I

                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE



TO:  Waste Recovery, Inc.
     309 S. Pearl Expressway
     Dallas, Texas 75201

     l.   The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of the Common Stock
of Waste Recovery, Inc., pursuant to terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders
herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full, together with all
applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     2.   Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of
the Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is
specified below:

     3.   The undersigned represents that it will sell the shares of Common
Stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from registration thereunder.


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Name)


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Address)

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Taxpayer Identification Number)



-----------------------------------
[PRINT NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]


By:
   --------------------------------

Title:                             
      -----------------------------

Date:                              
     ------------------------------

<PAGE>

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE COMMON STOCK WHICH MAY BE ACQUIRED UPON THE
EXERCISE HEREOF HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD,
PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, DECEMBER 26, 2000.

                                                             For the Purchase of
                                                               366,667 shares of
                                                                    Common Stock
No.  2
   -------

                          WARRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF
                             SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.

                             (A Texas corporation)


     Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that for value received, Ronald I. Heller, or his registered assigns (the
"Registered Holder"), residing at 74 Farview Road, Tenafly, New Jersey 07670, is
entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company,
pursuant to this Warrant ("Warrant"), at any time or from time to time until
December 26, 2000 ("Expiration Date"), 366,667 shares of Common Stock, no par
value, of the Company ("Common Stock"), at a purchase price equal to $2.0625 per
share of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise of this Warrant, and the purchase price per share, each as adjusted
from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Warrant, are hereinafter
referred to as the "Warrant Shares" and the "Purchase Price," respectively.

     1.   EXERCISE.

          (a)  This Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder, in whole
or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant (with the Notice of Exercise Form
attached hereto as Exhibit I duly executed by such Registered Holder) at the
principal office of the Company, or at such other office or agency as the
Company may designate, accompanied by payment in full, in lawful money of the
United States, of an amount equal to the then applicable Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares then being purchased upon such
exercise.

          (b)  Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been
effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which this
Warrant shall have been surrendered to the Company as provided in subsection 1
(a) above. At Such time, the person or persons in whose name or names any
certificates for Warrant Shares shall be issuable upon such exercise as provided
in subsection 1 (c) below shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders
of record of the Warrant Shares represented by such certificates.

          (c)  As soon as practicable after the exercise of the purchase right
represented by this 

<PAGE>

Warrant, the Company at its expense will use its best efforts to cause to be 
issued in the name of the Registered Holder and delivered to you:

               (i)   a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares
of Warrant Shares to which such Registered Holder shall be entitled upon such
exercise plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which such Registered Holder
would otherwise be entitled, a Warrant Share representing the remainder of the
fractional share to the next whole Warrant Share, and

               (ii)  in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or
warrants (dated the date hereof) of like tenor, stating on the face or faces
thereof the number of shares currently stated on the face of this Warrant minus
the number of such shares purchased by the Registered Holder upon such exercise
as provided in subsection 1 (a) above.

     2.   ADJUSTMENTS.

          (a)  SPLIT, SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF SHARES. If the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock at any time while this Warrant remains
outstanding and unexpired shall be subdivided or split into a greater number of
shares, or a dividend in Common Stock shall be paid in respect of Common Stock,
or a similar change in the Company's capitalization occurs which affects the
outstanding Common Stock, as a class, then the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such subdivision or at the record date of such dividend
shall, simultaneously with the effectiveness of such subdivision or split or
immediately after the record date of such dividend (as the case may be), be
proportionately decreased. If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
combined or reverse-split into a smaller number of shares, the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such combination or reverse split shall,
simultaneously with the effectiveness of such combination or reverse split, be
proportionately increased. When any adjustment is required to be made in the
Purchase Price, the number of shares of Warrant Shares purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be changed to the number determined by dividing
(i) an amount equal to the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, by (ii) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (b)  RECLASSIFICATION, REORGANIZATION, CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER. In the
case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any reorganization,
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other
than a merger or reorganization with respect to which the Company is the
continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of the
Common Stock), or a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the payment of a liquidating distribution then, as part of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating
distribution, the Company shall arrange for the other party to the transaction
to agree to, and lawful provision shall be made, so that the Registered Holder
of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter to receive upon the exercise
hereof (to the extent, if any, still exercisable), the kind and amount of shares
of stock or other securities or properly which such Registered Holder would have
been entitled to receive if, immediately prior to any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating distribution, as
the case may be, such Registered Holder had held the number of shares of Common
Stock which were then purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant. In any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company) shall be made in the application of the provisions set forth
herein with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Registered
Holder of this Warrant such that the provisions set forth in this Section 2
(including provisions with respect to the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, in relation to any shares of
stock or other securities or property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise
of this Warrant.

<PAGE>

     3.   LIMITATION ON SALES. Each holder of this Warrant acknowledges that
this Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or any successor
legislation (the "Act"), and agrees not to sell, pledge, distribute, offer for
sale, transfer or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares issued
upon its exercise in the absence of (a) an effective registration statement
under the Act as to this Warrant or such Warrant Shares and registration or
qualification of this Warrant or such Warrant Shares under any applicable Blue
Sky or state securities law then in effect or (b) an opinion of counsel,
satisfactory to the Company, that such registration and qualification are not
required. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless the offering
and sale of the Warrant Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the
Warrant shall have been effectively registered under the Act, the Company shall
be under no obligation to issue the shares covered by such exercise unless and
until the Registered Holder shall have executed an investment letter in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company, including a warranty at the time of such
exercise that it is acquiring such shares for its own account, and will not
transfer the Warrant Shares unless pursuant to an effective and current
registration statement under the Act or an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Act and any other applicable restrictions, in which event
the Registered Holder shall be bound by the provisions of a legend or legends to
such effect which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s) representing the
Warrant Shares issued pursuant to such exercise. The Warrant Shares issued upon
exercise thereof shall be imprinted with legends in substantially the following
form:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
     REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("ACT"), OR
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR
     OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
     RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN
     OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT
     SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

     After the Registration Statement, referenced in Section 4 hereinbelow, is
declared, effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), or
after any registration statement in which Warrant Shares are included pursuant
to the registration rights set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Common Stock and
Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company, and the initial Registered
Holder ("Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement") is declared effective by
the Commission, the Registered Holder may deliver to the Company the
certificates representing the Warrant Shares so registered, and the Company
will, within three days after receipt by the Company of the foregoing, cause its
transfer agent to issue new certificates representing and in exchange for the
aforementioned certificates, which new certificates shall be legended as
follows:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES MAY BE
     SOLD PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT (i)
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE, (ii) THE HOLDER
     COMPLIES WITH THE PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND (iii) THE SALE IS IN
     COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS."

     4.   REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDER. The Company has agreed to
register the Warrants 

<PAGE>

and Warrant Shares issuable hereunder on a Registration Statement under the 
Act ("Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 
accordance with Section 4 of the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement 
These registration rights shall inure to the benefit of any transferee of the 
Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

     5.   NOTICES OF RECORD DATE. In case:

          (a)  the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common
Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of
this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any
dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution payable
solely in capital stock of the Company or out of funds legally available
therefor), or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right, or

          (b)  of any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or

          (c)  of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up of the Company,

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the
Registered Holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i)
the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend,
distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which
the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the
time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to
exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for
securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the
record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice, provided
that the failure to mail such notice shall not affect the legality or validity
of any such action.

     6.   RESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LISTING OF STOCK. The Company will at
all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery upon the
exercise of this Warrant, such shares of Warrant Shares and other stock,
securities and property, as from time to time shall be issuable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and shall use its best efforts to list and maintain the
quotation of the Warrant Shares on the same system or exchange as the Company's
outstanding Common Stock.

     7.   PLACEMENT OF WARRANTS. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Warrant and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of an
indemnity agreement (with surety if reasonably required) in an amount reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, or (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and
cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new
Warrant of like tenor.

     8.   TRANSFERS ETC.

          (a)  The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained a register
containing the names and addresses of the Registered Holders of this Warrant.
Any Registered Holder may change its, 

<PAGE>

his or her address as shown on the warrant register by written notice to the 
Company requesting such change.

          (b)  Until any transfer of this Warrant is made in the warrant
register, the Company may treat the Registered Holder of this Warrant as the
absolute owner hereof for all purposes; provided, however, that if and when this
Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be
obligated to) treat the bearer hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

     9.   NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. Until the exercise of this Warrant, the
Registered Holder of this Warrant shall not have or exercise any rights by
virtue hereof as a shareholder of the Company.

     10.  CHANGE OR WAIVER. Any term of this Warrant may be changed or waived
only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement
of the change or waiver is sought.

     11.  HEADINGS. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any provision of
this Warrant.

     12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York as such laws are applied to
contracts made and to be fully performed entirely within that state between
residents of that state.

     13.  MAILING OF NOTICES. ETC. All notices and other communications under
this Warrant (except payment) shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given if sent by facsimile and either delivered to the addressees in person, by
Federal Express or similar receipt delivery or by postage prepaid, certified
mail, return receipt requested, as follows:

Registered Holder:   To her address on page 1 of this Warrant.

     with a copy to:
                     Graubard Mollen & Miller
                     600 Third Avenue
                     New York, New York 10016-2097
                     Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
                     Fax: (212) 818-8881

The Company:         Waste Recovery, Inc.
                     309 S. Pearl Expressway
                     Dallas, Texas 75201
                     Fax: (214) 745-8945

     with a copy to:
                     Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
                     2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
                     Dallas, Texas 75201-6776
                     Attn: Kent Jamison, Esq.
                     Fax: (214) 740-8800

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may designate
from time to time. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case may be, the
delivery in person or by mailing.

<PAGE>

                                      WASTE RECOVERY, INC.


                                      By:  /S/ THOMAS L. EARNSHAW
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                           Thomas L. Earnshaw
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT I
                                       
                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE

TO:  Waste Recovery, Inc.
     309 S. Pearl Expressway
     Dallas, Texas 75201

     1.   The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of the Common 
Stock of Waste Recovery, Inc., pursuant to terms of the attached Warrant, and 
tenders herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full, 
together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     2.   Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares 
of the Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as 
is specified below:

     3.   The undersigned represents that it will sell the shares of Common 
Stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from registration thereunder.

                                            __________________________________
                                            (Name)


                                            __________________________________
                                            (Address)

                                            __________________________________

                                            __________________________________

                                            __________________________________
                                            (Taxpayer Identification Number)



__________________________________
[PRINT NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]


By:_______________________________

Title:____________________________

Date:_____________________________

<PAGE>

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE COMMON STOCK WHICH MAY BE ACQUIRED UPON THE 
EXERCISE HEREOF HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS 
AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE 
SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH 
ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN 
OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS 
NOT REQUIRED.

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, DECEMBER 26, 2000.

                                                           For the Purchase of
                                                              16,667 shares of
                                                                  Common Stock
No.  3  
   -----
                                       
                          WARRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF
                            SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                      OF
                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.
                                       
                             (A Texas corporation)


     Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby 
certifies that for value received, R Anthony Cioffari, or his registered 
assigns (the "Registered Holder"), residing at 75 Evergreen Street, Midland 
Park, New Jersey 07432, is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to 
purchase from the Company, pursuant to this Warrant ("Warrant"), at any time 
or from time to time until December 26, 2000 ("Expiration Date"), 16,667 
shares of Common Stock, no par value, of the Company ("Common Stock"), at a 
purchase price equal to $2.0625 per share of Common Stock. The number of 
shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant, and the 
purchase price per share, each as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the 
provisions of this Warrant, are hereinafter referred to as the "Warrant 
Shares" and the "Purchase Price," respectively.

     l.   EXERCISE.

          (a)  This Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder, in 
whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant (with the Notice of 
Exercise Form attached hereto as Exhibit I duly executed by such Registered 
Holder) at the principal office of the Company, or at such other office or 
agency as the, Company may designate, accompanied by payment in full, in 
lawful money of the United States, of an amount equal to the then applicable 
Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares then being 
purchased upon such exercise.

          (b)  Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been 
effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which this 
Warrant shall have been surrendered to the Company as provided in subsection 
1 (a) above. At such time, the person or persons in whose name or names any 
certificates for Warrant Shares shall be issuable upon such exercise as 
provided in subsection 1 (c) below shall be deemed to have become the holder 
or holders of record of the Warrant Shares represented by such certificates.

          (c)  As soon as practicable after the exercise of the purchase 
right represented by this 

<PAGE>

Warrant, the Company at its expense will use its best efforts to cause to be 
issued in the name of the Registered Holder and delivered to you:

               (i)  a certificate or certificates for the number of full 
shares of Warrant Shares to which such Registered Holder shall be entitled 
upon such exercise plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which such 
Registered Holder would otherwise be entitled, a Warrant Share representing 
the remainder of the fractional share to the next whole Warrant Share, and

               (ii) in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or 
warrants (dated the date hereof) of like tenor, stating on the face or faces 
thereof the number of shares currently stated on the face of this Warrant 
minus the number of such shares purchased by the Registered Holder upon such 
exercise as provided in subsection 1(a) above.

     2.   ADJUSTMENTS.

          (a)  SPLIT, SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF SHARES. If the 
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock at any time while this 
Warrant remains outstanding and unexpired shall be subdivided or split into a 
greater number of shares, or a dividend in Common Stock shall be paid in 
respect of Common Stock, or a similar change in the Company's capitalization 
occurs which affects the outstanding Common Stock, as a class, then the 
Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision or at the 
record date of such dividend shall, simultaneously with the effectiveness of 
such subdivision or split or immediately after the record date of such 
dividend (as the case may be), be proportionately decreased. If the 
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be combined or reverse-split into a 
smaller number of shares, the Purchase Price in effect immediately prior to 
such combination or reverse split shall, simultaneously with the 
effectiveness of such combination or reverse split, be proportionately 
increased. When any adjustment is required to be made in the Purchase Price, 
the number of shares of Warrant Shares purchasable upon the exercise of this 
Warrant shall be changed to the number determined by dividing (i) an amount 
equal to the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant 
immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by the Purchase Price in 
effect immediately prior to such adjustment, by (ii) the Purchase Price in 
effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (b)  RECLASSIFICATION, REORGANIZATION, CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER. In 
the case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any reorganization, 
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation 
(other than a merger or reorganization with respect to which the Company is 
the continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification 
of the Common Stock), or a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets 
of the Company, or the payment of a liquidating distribution then, as part of 
any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or 
liquidating distribution, the Company shall arrange for the other party to 
the transaction to agree to, and lawful provision shall be made, so that the 
Registered Holder of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter to receive 
upon the exercise hereof (to the extent, if any, still exercisable), the kind 
and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property which such 
Registered Holder would have been entitled to receive if, immediately prior 
to any such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or 
liquidating distribution, as the case may be, such Registered Holder had held 
the number of shares of Common Stock which were then purchasable upon the 
exercise of this Warrant. In any such case, appropriate adjustment (as 
reasonably determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) shall be made 
in the application of the provisions set forth herein with respect to the 
rights and interests thereafter of the Registered Holder of this Warrant such 
that the provisions set forth in this Section 2 (including provisions with 
respect to the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as 
is reasonably practicable, in relation to any shares of stock or other 
securities or property thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of this 
Warrant.

<PAGE>

     3.   LIMITATION ON SALES. Each holder of this Warrant acknowledges that 
this Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the 
Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or any 
successor legislation (the "Act"), and agrees not to sell, pledge, 
distribute, offer for sale, transfer or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or 
any Warrant Shares issued upon its exercise in the absence of (a) an 
effective registration statement under the Act as to this Warrant or such 
Warrant Shares and registration or qualification of this Warrant or such 
Warrant Shares under any applicable Blue Sky or state securities law then in 
effect or (b) an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Company, that such 
registration and qualification are not required. Without limiting the 
generality of the foregoing, unless the offering and sale of the Warrant 
Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the Warrant shall have 
been effectively registered under the Act, the Company shall be under no 
obligation to issue the shares covered by such exercise unless and until the 
Registered Holder shall have executed an investment letter in form and 
substance satisfactory to the Company, including a warranty at the time of 
such exercise that it is acquiring such shares for its own account, and will 
not transfer the Warrant Shares unless pursuant to an effective and current 
registration statement under the Act or an exemption from the registration 
requirements of the Act and any other applicable restrictions, in which event 
the Registered Holder shall be bound by the provisions of a legend or legends 
to such effect which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s) representing 
the Warrant Shares issued pursuant to such exercise. The Warrant Shares 
issued upon exercise thereof shall be imprinted with legends in substantially 
the following form:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
     REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("ACT"), OR
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR
     OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
     RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN
     OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT
     SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

     After the Registration Statement, referenced in Section 4 hereinbelow, 
is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission 
("Commission"), or after any registration statement in which Warrant Shares 
are included pursuant to the registration rights set forth in Section 4.4(b) 
of the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and 
the initial Registered Holder ("Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement") 
is declared effective by the Commission, the Registered Holder may deliver to 
the Company the certificates representing the Warrant Shares so registered, 
and the Company will, within three days after receipt by the Company of the 
foregoing, cause its transfer agent to issue new certificates representing 
and in exchange for the aforementioned certificates, which new certificates 
shall be legended as follows:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES MAY BE
     SOLD PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT (i) THE
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE, (ii) THE HOLDER
     COMPLIES WITH THE PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND (iii) THE SALE IS IN
     COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS."

     4.   REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDER. The Company has agreed to 
register the Warrants 

<PAGE>

and Warrant Shares issuable hereunder on a Registration Statement under the 
Act ("Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 
accordance with Section 4 of the Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement. 
These registration rights shall inure to the benefit of any transferee of the 
Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

     5.   NOTICES OF RECORD DATE. In case:

          (a)  the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common 
Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise 
of this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any 
dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution payable 
solely in capital stock of the Company or out of funds legally available 
therefor), or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of 
any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right, or

          (b)  of any capital reorganization of the Company, any 
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or 
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a 
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any 
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or

          (c)  of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or 
winding-up of the Company,

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to 
the registered Holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may 
be, (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such 
dividend, distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such 
dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such 
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, 
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any 
is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such 
other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of this 
Warrant) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such 
other stock or securities) for securities or other properly deliverable upon 
such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, 
dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least 
ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event 
specified in such notice, provided that the failure to mail such notice shall 
not affect the legality or validity of any such action.

     6.   RESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LISTING OF STOCK. The Company will 
at all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery 
upon the exercise of this Warrant, such shares of Warrant Shares and other 
stock, securities and property, as from time to time shall be issuable upon 
the exercise of this Warrant and shall use its best efforts to list and 
maintain the quotation of the Warrant Shares on the same system or exchange 
as the Company's outstanding Common Stock.

     7.   REPLACEMENT OF WARRANTS. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably 
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of 
this Warrant and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of 
an indemnity agreement (with surety if reasonably required) in an amount 
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or (in the case of mutilation) upon 
surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will issue, in lieu 
thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

     8.   TRANSFERS, ETC.

          (a)  The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained a register 
containing the names and addresses of the Registered Holders of this Warrant. 
Any Registered Holder may change its, 

<PAGE>

his or her address as shown on the warrant register by written notice to the 
Company requesting such change.

          (b)  Until any transfer of this Warrant is made in the warrant 
register, the Company may treat the Registered Holder of this Warrant as the 
absolute owner hereof for all purposes; provided, however, that if and when 
this Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be 
obligated to) treat the bearer hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all 
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

     9.   NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. Until the exercise of this Warrant, the 
Registered Holder of this Warrant shall not have or exercise any rights by 
virtue hereof as a shareholder of the Company.

     10.  CHANGE OR WAIVER. Any term of this Warrant may be changed or waived 
only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which 
enforcement of the change or waiver is sought.

     1l.  HEADINGS. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of 
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any 
provision of this Warrant.

     12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in 
accordance with the laws of the State of New York as such laws are applied to 
contracts made and to be fully performed entirely within that state between 
residents of that state.

     13.  MAILING OF NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications under 
this Warrant (except payment) shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently 
given if sent by facsimile and either delivered to the addressees in person, 
by Federal Express or similar receipt delivery or by postage prepaid, 
certified mail, return receipt requested, as follows:

Registered Holder: To his address on page 1 of this Warrant.

     with a copy to:
                    Graubard Mollen & Miller
                    600 Third Avenue
                    New York, New York 10016-2097
                    Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
                    Fax: (212) 818-8881

The Company:        Waste Recovery, Inc.
                    309 S. Pearl Expressway
                    Dallas, Texas 75201
                    Fax: (214) 745-8945

     with a copy to:
                    Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
                    2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
                    Dallas, Texas 75201-6776
                    Attn: Kent Jamison, Esq.
                    Fax: (214) 740-8800

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may 
designate from time to time. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case 
may be, the delivery in person or by mailing,

<PAGE>

                                       WASTE RECOVERY, INC.


                                       By:  /s/ THOMAS L. EARNSHAW
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Thomas L. Earnshaw
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer 
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT I

                               NOTICE OF EXERCISE


TO:  Waste Recovery, Inc.
     309 S. Pearl Expressway
     Dallas, Texas 75201

     l.   The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of the Common Stock
of Waste Recovery, Inc., pursuant to terms of the attached Warrant, and tenders
herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full, together with all
applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     2.   Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of
the Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is
specified below:

     3.   The undersigned represents that it will sell the shares of Common
Stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from registration thereunder.


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Name)


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Address)

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Taxpayer Identification Number)



-----------------------------------
[PRINT NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]


By:
   --------------------------------

Title:                             
      -----------------------------

Date:                              
     ------------------------------

<PAGE>

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE COMMON STOCK WHICH MAY BE ACQUIRED UPON THE
EXERCISE HEREOF HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE "ACT"), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE SOLD,
PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE
STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME, DECEMBER 26, 2000.

                                                             For the Purchase of
                                                                25,000 shares of
                                                                    Common Stock
No.  4    
   ------

                          WARRANT FOR THE PURCHASE OF
                             SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
                                       OF
                              WASTE RECOVERY, INC.

                             (A Texas corporation)


     Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that for value received, GKN Securities Corp. or its registered assigns (the
"Registered Holder"), residing at 61 Broadway, New York, New York 10006, is
entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company,
pursuant to this Warrant ("Warrant"), at any time or from time to time until
December 26, 2000 ("Expiration Date"), 25,000 shares of Common Stock, no par
value, of the Company ("Common Stock"), at a purchase price equal to $2.0625 per
share of Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise of this Warrant, and the purchase price per share, each as adjusted
from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Warrant, are hereinafter
referred to as the "Warrant Shares" and the "Purchase Price," respectively.

     1.   EXERCISE.

          (a)  This Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder, in whole
or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant (with the Notice of Exercise Form
attached hereto as Exhibit I duly executed by such Registered Holder) at the
principal office of the Company, or at such other office or agency as the
Company may designate, accompanied by payment in full, m lawful money of the
United States, of an amount equal to the then applicable Purchase Price
multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares then being purchased upon such
exercise.

          (b)  Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been
effected immediately prior to the close of business on the day on which this
Warrant shall have been surrendered to the Company as provided in subsection 1
(a) above. At such time, the person or persons in whose name or names any
certificates for Warrant Shares shall be issuable upon such exercise as provided
in subsection 1 (c) below shall be deemed to have become the holder or holders
of record of the Warrant Shares represented by such certificates.

<PAGE>

          (c)  As soon as practicable after the exercise of the purchase right
represented by this Warrant, the Company at its expense will use its best
efforts to cause to be issued in the name of the Registered Holder and delivered
to you:

               (i)   a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares
of Warrant Shares to which such Registered Holder shall be entitled upon such
exercise plus, in lieu of any fractional share to which such Registered Holder
would otherwise be entitled, a Warrant Share representing the remainder of the
fractional share to the next whole Warrant Share, and

               (ii)  in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or
warrants (dated the date hereof) of like tenor, stating on the face or faces
thereof the number of shares currently stated on the face of this Warrant minus
the number of such shares purchased by the Registered Holder upon such exercise
as provided in subsection 1 (a) above.

     2.   ADJUSTMENTS.

          (a)  SPLIT SUBDIVISION OR COMBINATION OF SHARES. If the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock at any time while this Warrant remains
outstanding and unexpired shall be subdivided or split into a greater number of
shares, or a dividend in Common Stock shall be paid in respect of Common Stock,
or a similar change in the Company's capitalization occurs which affects the
outstanding Common Stock, as a class, then the Purchase Price in effect
immediately prior to such subdivision or at the record date of such dividend
shall, simultaneously with the effectiveness of such subdivision or split or
immediately after the record date of such dividend (as the case may be), be
proportionately decreased. If the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
combined or reverse-split into a smaller number of shares, the Purchase Price in
effect immediately prior to such combination or reverse split shall,
simultaneously with the effectiveness of such combination or reverse split, be
proportionately increased. When any adjustment is required to be made in the
Purchase Price, the number of shares of Warrant Shares purchasable upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be changed to the number determined by dividing
(i) an amount equal to the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by the Purchase Price
in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, by (ii) the Purchase Price in
effect immediately after such adjustment.

          (b)  RECLASSIFICATION, REORGANIZATION, CONSOLIDATION OR MERGER. In the
case of any reclassification of the Common Stock or any reorganization,
consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other
than a merger or reorganization with respect to which the Company is the
continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of the
Common Stock), or a transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, or the payment of a liquidating distribution then, as part of any such
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating
distribution, the Company shall arrange for the other party to the transaction
to agree to, and lawful provision shall be made, so that the Registered Holder
of this Warrant shall have the right thereafter to receive upon the exercise
hereof (to the extent, if any, still exercisable), the kind and amount of shares
of stock or other securities or property which such Registered Holder would have
been entitled to receive if, immediately prior to any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale or liquidating distribution, as
the case may be, such Registered Holder had held the number of shares of Common
Stock which were then purchasable upon the exercise of this Warrant. In any such
case, appropriate adjustment (as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company) shall be made in the application of the provisions set forth
herein with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Registered
Holder of this Warrant such that the provisions set forth in this Section 2
(including provisions with respect to the Purchase Price) shall thereafter be
applicable, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, in relation to any shares of
stock or other securities or property thereafter deliverable upon 

<PAGE>

the exercise of this Warrant.

     3.   LIMITATION ON SALES. Each holder of this Warrant acknowledges that
this Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as now in force or hereafter amended, or any successor
legislation (the "Act"), and agrees not to sell, pledge, distribute, offer for
sale, transfer or otherwise dispose of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares issued
upon its exercise in the absence of (a) an elective registration statement under
the Act as to this Warrant or such Warrant Shares and registration or
qualification of this Warrant or such Warrant Shares under any applicable Blue
Sky or state securities law then in effect or (b) an opinion of counsel,
satisfactory to the Company, that such registration and qualification are not
required. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless the offering
and sale of the Warrant Shares to be issued upon the particular exercise of the
Warrant shall have been effectively registered under the Act, the Company shall
be under no obligation to issue the shares covered by such exercise unless and
until the Registered Holder shall have executed an investment letter in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company, including a warranty at the time of such
exercise that it is acquiring such shares for its own account, and will not
transfer the Warrant Shares unless pursuant to an effective and current
registration statement under the Act or an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Act and any other applicable restrictions, in which event
the Registered Holder shall be bound by the provisions of a legend or legends to
such effect which shall be endorsed upon the certificate(s) representing the
Warrant Shares issued pursuant to such exercise. The Warrant Shares issued upon
exercise thereof shall be imprinted with legends in substantially the following
form:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
     REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED ("ACT"), OR
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR
     OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
     RESPECT THERETO UNDER THE ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH ANY
     APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW, OR UNLESS THE COMPANY RECEIVES AN
     OPINION OF COUNSEL, SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT
     SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED."

     After the Registration Statement, referenced in Section 4 hereinbelow, is
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), or
after any registration statement in which Warrant Shares are included pursuant
to the registration rights set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Common Stock and
Warrant Purchase Agreement between the Company and the initial Registered Holder
("Common Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement") is declared effective by the
Commission, the Registered Holder may deliver to the Company the certificates
representing the Warrant Shares so registered, and the Company will, within
three days after receipt by the Company of the foregoing, cause its transfer
agent to issue new certificates representing and in exchange for the
aforementioned certificates, which new certificates shall be legended as
follows:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THE SECURITIES MAY BE
     SOLD PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROVIDED THAT (i) THE
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS CURRENT AND EFFECTIVE, (ii) THE HOLDER
     COMPLIES WITH THE PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
     SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND (iii) THE SALE IS IN
     COMPLIANCE WITH THE PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS."

<PAGE>

     4.   REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF WARRANT HOLDER. The Company has agreed to
register the Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable hereunder on a Registration
Statement under the Act ("Registration Statement") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission in accordance with Section 4 of the Common Stock and Warrant
Purchase Agreement. These registration rights shall inure to the benefit of any
transferee of the Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

     5.   NOTICES OF RECORD DATE. In case:

          (a)  the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Common
Stock (or other stock or securities at the time deliverable upon the exercise of
this Warrant) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any
dividend or other distribution (other than a dividend or distribution payable
solely in capital stock of the Company or out of funds legally available
therefor), or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
any class or any other securities, or to receive any other right, or

          (b)  of any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification of the capital stock of the Company, any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a
consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving entity), or any
transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or

          (c)  of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up of the Company,

then, and in each such case, the Company will mail or cause to be mailed to the
Registered Holder of this Warrant a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i)
the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend,
distribution or right, and stating the amount and character of such dividend,
distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up is to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which
the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities at the
time deliverable upon the exercise of this Warrant) shall be entitled to
exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities) for
securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up. Such notice shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the
record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice, provided
that the failure to mail such notice shall not affect the legality or validity
of any such action.

     6.   RESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LISTING OF STOCK. The Company will at
all times reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery upon the
exercise of this Warrant, such shares of Warrant Shares and other stock,
securities and property, as from time to time shall be issuable upon the
exercise of this Warrant and shall use its best efforts to list and maintain the
quotation of the Warrant Shares on the same system or exchange as the Company's
outstanding Common Stock.

     7.   REPLACEMENT OF WARRANTS. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Warrant and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon delivery of an
indemnity agreement (with surety if reasonably required) in an amount reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, or (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and
cancellation of this Warrant, the Company will issue, in lieu thereof, a new
Warrant of like tenor.

     8.   TRANSFERS. ETC.

          (a)  The Company will maintain or cause to be maintained a register
containing the 

<PAGE>

names and addresses of the Registered Holders of this Warrant. Any Registered 
Holder may change its, his or her address as shown on the warrant register by 
written notice to the Company requesting such change.

          (b)  Until any transfer of this Warrant is made in the warrant
register, the Company may treat the Registered Holder of this Warrant as the
absolute owner hereof for all purposes; provided, however, that if and when this
Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be
obligated to) treat the bearer hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.

     9.   NO RIGHTS AS SHAREHOLDER. Until the exercise of this Warrant, the
Registered Holder of this Warrant shall not have or exercise any rights by
virtue hereof as a shareholder of the Company.

     10.  CHANGE OR WAIVER. Any term of this Warrant may be changed or waived
only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement
of the change or waiver is sought.

     11.  HEADINGS. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning of any provision of
this Warrant.

     12.  GOVERNING LAW. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York as such laws are applied to
contracts made and to be fully performed entirely within that state between
residents of that state.

     13.  MAILING OF NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications under
this Warrant (except payment) shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently
given if sent by facsimile and either delivered to the addressees in person, by
Federal Express or similar receipt delivery or by postage prepaid, certified
mail, return receipt requested, as follows:

Registered Holder: To its address on page 1 of this Warrant.

     with a copy to:
                     Graubard Mollen & Miller
                     600 Third Avenue
                     New York, New York 10016-2097
                     Attn: David Alan Miller, Esq.
                     Fax: (212) 818-8881

The Company:         Waste Recovery, Inc.
                     309 S. Pearl Expressway
                     Dallas, Texas 75201
                     Fax: (214) 745-8945

     with a copy to:
                     Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
                     2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 2200
                     Dallas, Texas 75201-6776
                     Attn: Kent Jamison, Esq.
                     Fax: (214) 740-8800

or to such other address as any of them, by notice to the others may designate
from time to time. Time shall be counted to, or from, as the case may be, the
delivery in person or by mailing.

<PAGE>

                                      WASTE RECOVERY, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ THOMAS L. EARNSHAW
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                           Thomas L. Earnshaw
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>

                                                                      EXHIBIT I

                              NOTICE OF EXERCISE


TO:  Waste Recovery, Inc.
     309 S. Pearl Expressway
     Dallas, Texas 75201

     1.   The undersigned hereby elects to purchase shares of the Common 
Stock of Waste Recovery, Inc., pursuant to terms of the attached Warrant, and 
tenders herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full, 
together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

     2.   Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares 
of the Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as 
is specified below:

     3.   The undersigned represents that it will sell the shares of Common 
Stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption from registration thereunder.



                                   ------------------------------------ 
                                   (Name)

                                   ------------------------------------ 
                                   (Address)


                                   ------------------------------------ 

                                   ------------------------------------ 

                                   ------------------------------------ 
                                   (Taxpayer Identification Number)




------------------------------------ 
[PRINT NAME OF REGISTERED HOLDER]


By:
   ------------------------------------ 

Title:
       ------------------------------------ 
Date:

       ------------------------------------ 


<PAGE>


December 26, 19%



To the Investors set forth on Schedule A
hereto (the "Investors")


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Waste Recovery, Inc., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of 750,000
shares of its Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Common Stock"), and
750,000 warrants each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock (the
"Warrants").

     This opinion is delivered to you pursuant to Section 5 of the Common Stock
and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of December 26, 1996 (the "Stock
Purchase Agreement") between the Company and the Investors. Terms used herein
which are defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise defined
herein.

     In connection with this option, we have examined the following:

     A.   Stock Purchase Agreement; and

     B.   Form of Warrant for the Purchase of Common Stock of the Company (the
"Warrant Agreement").

     We have also examined such corporate records, instruments and other
documents as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render the opinions
expressed herein. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied
upon (i) the representations and warranties of the parties contained in or made
in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement and (ii) certificates or other
documents furnished by or on behalf of the Company and its officers. In
addition, as to certain matters we have relied upon certificates or other
communications or documents from various state authorities and public officials.
We have assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy of such
representations, warranties, certificates, communications and other documents
and of the factual matters contained therein.

     In connection with our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures (except signatures of officers of the Company), the legal capacity of
natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals
and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to
us as certified, conformed, reproduction or facsimile copies.

     We also have assumed, for purposes of the opinions expressed herein, that
(i) all parties to the Stock Purchase Agreement (other than the Company) are
validly existing and have the power and authority to enter into such documents
and perform their respective obligations thereunder, (ii) the Stock Purchase
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties
thereto other than the Company, and (iii) the Stock Purchase Agreement
constitutes the valid, binding and enforceable


<PAGE>


obligations of all parties thereto other than the Company.

     We are members of the State Bar of Texas. We do not express any opinion 
herein with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of 
Texas and applicable Federal law. You should be aware that we are not 
admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York. With your 
permission, we have assumed for purposes of rendering this opinion, without 
research or confirmation, that the relevant laws of the State of New York are 
identical to those of the State of Texas.

     Based on the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, 
limitations and conditions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

     1.   The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and 
in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas. Based solely on 
certificates from the Company and oral information from its corporate agent 
acting on behalf of the Company in such jurisdictions, the Company is duly 
qualified and licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in the states 
set forth on Schedule B to this opinion, and to our knowledge, such 
jurisdictions constitute all of the jurisdictions in which the Company owns 
or leases any real property or the character of its operations require such 
qualification or licensing, except where the failure to so qualify or be 
licensed would not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations 
or financial condition of the Company.

     2.   The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority under 
the laws of the state of its incorporation to own and operate its properties 
and to carry on its business as now conducted, and, to our knowledge, the 
Company has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, 
certificates and permits of and from any and all applicable governmental or 
regulatory officials and bodies to own or lease its properties and conduct 
its business and is and has been doing business in compliance with all such 
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits and all 
federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. The Company has the 
corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations 
under the Stock Purchase Agreement and to carry out the transactions 
contemplated thereby, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders 
required in connection therewith have been obtained.

     3.   The execution, delivery and performance of the Stock Purchase 
Agreement and each of the Warrant Agreements have been duly authorized by all 
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Stock Purchase 
Agreement and the Warrant Agreements have been duly executed and delivered by 
the Company and constitute the legally valid and binding obligations of the 
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective 
terms.

     4.   The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid 
for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all 
liens and charges (other than liens and charges that may be created by or 
attributable to the holder thereof); the holders thereof are not and will not 
be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The 
Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any 
holders of any security of the Company or, to our knowledge, similar 
contractual rights granted by the Company. When issued, the Warrants will 
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, 
upon exercise thereof and payment therefor, the number and type of securities 
of the Company called for thereby.

     5.   The execution, delivery and performance of the Stock Purchase 
Agreement and the issuance and sale by the Company to the Investors of the 
Common Stock and the Warrants in accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement 
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Stock 
Purchase Agreement will not (i) conflict with, result in a breach of, 
constitute a default or require any consent under, the Articles of 
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any statute, rule or 



<PAGE>

regulation binding on the Company, or, to our knowledge, any agreement, 
mortgage, deed of trust, note, indenture, contract or commitment or order, 
writ, judgment or decree to which the Company is a party or by which any of 
its properties or assets are bound, or (ii) to our knowledge, result in the 
creation of any lien upon any of the material properties or assets of the 
Company under any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, note, indenture, 
contract or commitment.

     6.   No action by or filing with any domestic governmental authority,
federal, state or local, is required in connection with (i) the execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of the Stock Purchase Agreement and or
(ii) the exercise by the Investors of any rights under the Stock Purchase
Agreement or the Warrant Agreements, except (x) with respect to the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and state securities or "blue sky"
laws pursuant to registration rights granted pursuant to the Stock Purchase
Agreement and (y) any filings required by the nature and extent of the ownership
of the Securities by the Investors.

     This opinion is limited by, subject to, and based on the following
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and conditions:

          (a)  The enforceability of the obligations of the Company under the 
Stock Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreements is subject to (i) the 
effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, 
fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, 
(ii) the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether 
considered in proceedings in equity or at law) and (iii) certain limitations 
regarding rights to indemnification and contribution thereunder.

          (b)  In connection with opinions expressed herein as being limited 
"to our knowledge" or "known to us" or containing similar qualifications, 
such opinions are based on the actual knowledge of our attorneys working on 
these or other matters for the Company, and we have made no independent 
investigations as to the accuracy or completeness of any representations, 
warranties, documents or other information, written or oral, made or 
furnished by or on behalf of any officer or representative of the Company.

     This opinion is limited to the matters expressly stated herein and no 
opinion is implied or may be implied beyond the matters expressly stated. 
This opinion is delivered on the express condition and assumption that the 
Investors and their counsel do not have any knowledge of any reason why any 
opinion expressed herein is not accurate in any material respect.

     This letter is furnished to you solely for your benefit in connection 
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase 
Agreement and may not be relied upon, delivered or described or quoted from 
in any manner or for any other purpose by any other person or entity without, 
in each instance, the prior written consent of this firm.

     The opinions we express herein are as of the date hereof, and we do not 
assume or undertake any responsibility or obligation to supplement such 
opinions to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our 
attention or to reflect any changes in the law which may occur after the date 
hereof.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   LOCKE PURNELL RAIN HARRELL
                                   (A Professional Corporation)




<PAGE>


                                   By:  /s/ KENT JAMISON              
                                        Kent Jamison 



<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------


     Bette Nagelberg
     662 Juniper Place
     Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417

     Ronald I. Heller
     74 Farview Road
     Tenafly, NJ 07670

     Rachel Heller
     74 Farview Road
     Tenafly, NJ 07670
     
     Ronald I. Heller
     as Custodian for Evan Heller
     74 Farview Road
     Tenafly, NJ 07670

     Delaware Charter Guaranty
     & Trust Co. FBO
     Ronald I. Heller -- IRA
     74 Farview Road
     Tenafly, NJ 07670

     R. Anthony Cioffari
     75 Evergreen Street
     Midland Park, NJ 07432 

<PAGE>

     SCHEDULE B


Texas (State of Incorporation)
Alabama (Qualification)
Florida (Qualification)
Georgia (Qualification)
Idaho (Qualification)
Illinois (Qualification)
Louisiana (Qualification)
North Carolina (Qualification) (New U.S. Tire Recycling Corp., a Texas
corporation)
Oregon (Qualification)
Pennsylvania (State of Incorporation) (Domino Salvage, Tire Division, Inc.)
South Carolina (Qualification)
Texas (Qualification)
Washington (Qualification)
West Virginia (Qualification)