EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT,  dated as of October 14, 1997 (this "Agreement"),
by and between JTM Industries,  Inc. (the "Company") and R. Stephen Creamer (the
"Executive").

         WHEREAS,  simultaneous  with and effective upon the  acquisition of the
company by  Industrial  Quality  Services,  Inc.,  a Delaware  corporation  from
Laidlaw,  Inc., the Company  desires to employ the Executive as Chief  Executive
Officer of the Company; and

         WHEREAS,  the  Executive  desire to be retained in such capacity on the
terms and conditions set forth herein,  effective upon the  consummation of such
acquisition (the "Commencement Date"), it being understood and acknowledged that
if the  consummation  of the acquisition  shall not occur,  this Agreement shall
have no force or effect.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  the  mutual
agreements made herein, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

         1. No  Conflict.  The  Executive  represents  to the  Company  that the
execution,  delivery and  performance  by the Executive of this Agreement do not
and shall not conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute
(with or without  notice or lapse of time or both)  default  under any contract,
agreement or understanding, whether oral or written, to which the Executive is a
party or of which the Executive is or should be aware.

         2. Employment;  Duties. The Company shall employ the Executive as Chief
Executive  Officer  for the  "Employment  Period"  as  defined  in Section 3. In
addition,  the Company  shall use its best efforts to cause the  Executive to be
elected  Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board")  during
the Employment Term. The Executive,  in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer,
shall have such duties, responsibilities and authority normally incident to such
office. The precise duties,  responsibilities and authority of the Executive may
be  expanded,  limited or  modified,  at any time and from time to time,  at the
discretion of the Board.  During the  Employment  Period,  the  Executive  shall
devote all necessary working time, attention,  knowledge and experience and give
his diligent effort, skill and abilities,  to promote the business and interests
of the Company.  Subject to Section 8, the  Executive may serve as an officer or
director of make  investments  in, or otherwise  participate in, other entities,
provided that such service is disclosed in advance to the Board.

         3. Employment Period.  This Agreement shall have a term of three years,
commencing as of the  Commencement  Date and ending on the third  anniversary of
the  Commencement  Date (the  "Initial  Period"),  unless  sooner  terminated in
accordance  with the  provisions of Section 9. On the  expiration of the Initial
Period  and  on  each  yearly   anniversary   thereof,   this  Agreement   shall
automatically renew for an additional one-year period,  unless sooner terminated
in  accordance  with the  provisions  of  Section 9,  unless the  Company or the
Executive  notifies  the other in  writing  of its  intention  not to renew this
Agreement  not less  than  sixty  (60)  days  prior to such  expiration  date or
anniversary,  as the case may be. The term of this Agreement,  as in effect from
time to time, is referred to herein as the "Employment Period."

         4. Compensation and Benefits.

         a. Base  Compensation.  The Executive  shall be paid an aggregate  base
salary (the "Base  Salary") at the rate of $150,000  per annum,  less  statutory
deductions  and  withholdings.  The Base  Salary  shall be  payable  in a manner
consistent  with the normal  payroll  practices of the Company as in effect from
time to time.  The Base Salary  shall be reviewed  annually by the  Compensation
Committee of the Board (the "Committee").

         b. Annual Bonus.  In addition to the Base Salary,  the Executive may be
entitled  to  receive a  discretionary  annual  bonus for each year  during  the
Employment  Period  based  upon  such  factors  as shall be  established  by the
Committee, at the sole discretion of the Committee.

         c. Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in
each and every employee benefit and group insurance plan and program provided by
the Company for its officers and employees  generally,  in  accordance  with the
terms of the applicable plan documents as they may be amended form time to time,
substantially  consistent  with the  employee  benefits  being  provided  to the
officers and/or  employees of the Company as of the date  immediately  preceding
the effectiveness of this Employment Agreement.

         d. Business  Expense  Reimbursement.  The Company  shall  reimburse the
Executive for all reasonable and necessary business and travel expenses that the
Executive incurs in connection with the Executive's  performance of services for
the Company hereunder, in accordance with the reimbursement policies established
by the Company from time to time (which, the parties hereto  acknowledge,  shall
be  consistent  with the  policies  of the  Company as they  relate to  business
expense reimbursement as of thee date immediately preceding the effectiveness of
this Employment Agreement), and shall reimburse the Executive for the reasonable
expenses  associated  with the  maintenance of an office in Utah,  provided that
such reimbursement shall be limited to $3,000 per month.

         5.  Confidentiality.  The  Executive  recognizes  that  it  is  in  the
legitimate business interest of the Company to restrict his disclosure or use of
Trade  Secrets  and  Confidential  Information  relating  to the Company and its
direct or indirect  subsidiaries,  parents or  affiliates  for any purpose other
than in connection  with his  performance  of his duties to the Company,  and to
limit  any  potential  appropriation  of such  Trade  Secrets  and  Confidential
Information by the Executive.  The Executive  therefore  agrees that both during
and  at  all  times  after  the  Employment  Period,   shall  be  maintained  as
confidential  all Trade  Secrets and  Confidential  Information  relating to the
Company  and  its  direct  or  indirect  subsidiaries,   parents  or  affiliates
heretofore or in the future obtained by the Executive. The terms "Trade Secrets"
and/or "Confidential  Information" means matters of a confidential  technical or
business  nature that have been  maintained as confidential or the disclosure of
which could likely have an adverse  effect upon the  interests of the Company or
its direct or indirect subsidiaries, parents or affiliates.

         6.  Return of  Documents  and  Property.  Upon the  termination  of the
Executive's  employment with the Company, or at any time upon the request of the
Company, the Executive (or his heirs or personal  representatives) shall deliver
to the Company (a) all documents and materials  (including,  without limitation,
computer  files)  containing  Trade  Secrets or other  Confidential  Information
relating to the  business and affairs of the Company and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries,  parents or affiliates, and (b) all documents, materials and other
property  (including,  without  limitation,  computer  files)  belonging  to the
Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries,  parents or affiliates, which in
either case are in the  possession or under the control of the Executive (or his
heirs or personal representatives).

         7.  Discoveries and Works.  All Discoveries and Works made or conceived
by the  Executive  during his  employment  by the  Company,  whether  during the
Employment  Period or at any time prior thereto,  whether or not on the property
or  premises  of the  Company,  jointly  or with  others,  which  relate  to the
activities  of the  Executive  with  the  company  or  its  direct  or  indirect
subsidiaries,  parents or affiliates shall be owned by the Company or its direct
or indirect  subsidiaries,  parents or  affiliates.  The term  "Discoveries  and
Works"  includes,  by way of example but without  limitation,  Trade Secrets and
other Confidential information, patents and patent applications,  trademarks and
trademark  registrations  and  applications,  service  marks  and  service  mark
registrations   and   applications,   trade  names,   copyrights  and  copyright
registrations  and applications.  The Executive shall (a) promptly notify,  make
full  disclosure  to, and execute and deliver any  documents  requested  by, the
Company,  as the case may be, to evidence or better assure title to  Discoveries
and Works in the  Company or its  direct or  indirect  subsidiaries,  parents or
affiliates,  as so requested, (b) renounce any and all claims, including but not
limited to claims of ownership and royalty,  with respect to all Discoveries and
Works and all other  property  owned or licensed by the Company or its direct or
indirect  subsidiaries,  parents or  affiliates,  (c) assist the  Company or its
direct  or  indirect  subsidiaries,   parents  or  affiliates  in  obtaining  or
maintaining  for itself at its own expense  United  States and foreign  patents,
copyrights,  trade  secret  protection  or  other  protection  of  any  and  all
Discoveries and Works, and (d) promptly  execute,  whether during his employment
with the Company or thereafter, all applications or other endorsements necessary
or  appropriate  to  maintain  patents  and other  rights for the Company or its
direct or indirect subsidiaries,  parents or affiliates and to protect the title
of the Company or its direct or  indirect  subsidiaries,  parents or  affiliates
thereto,  including  but not limited to  assignments  of such  patents and other
rights.  The  Executive  acknowledges  that all  Discoveries  and Works shall be
deemed "works made for hire" under the  Copyright  Act of 1976,  as amended,  17
U.S.C. ss. 101.

         8. Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation.

         a. Restrictive Covenant. The Executive agrees that he shall, during the
Restricted  Period  (as  defined  below),  refrain  from,  either  alone  or  in
conjunction with any other Person, or directly or indirectly through his present
or future affiliates or Associates (as defined below):

                  (i) (except  pursuant to his duties  performed for the Company
     during the Employment  Period)  directly or indirectly,  owning,  managing,
     operating,  joining,  or having a financial  interest,  in  controlling  or
     participating  in the  ownership,  management,  operation or control of, or
     being  employed as an  employee,  agent or the  Executive,  or in any other
     individual or representative  capacity  whatsoever,  or using or permitting
     his name to be used in connection with, or lending assistance (financial or
     otherwise) to or being otherwise  connected in any manner with any business
     or enterprise engaged in the Restricted  Business (as defined below) within
     any portion of the United States whether or not such business is physically
     located  within  the United  States);  _provided_,_however_,  that  nothing
     contained  herein shall be  construed  as  preventing  the  Executive  from
     engaging in the ownership, purchase and/or sale of landfills; and

                  (ii)  soliciting,  inducing,  or  attempting  to influence any
     individual  who the Executive,  after due inquiry,  knows is an employee of
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries,  parents or affiliates to terminate
     his or her employment  relationship  with the Company or such subsidiary or
     affiliates,  or to become  employed by the  Executive  or any  affiliate or
     associate  of the  Executive  or any  person  by  which  the  Executive  is
     employed,  or  interfering  in any  other  way  the  employment,  or  other
     relationship,  of the Company or such  subsidiary,  parent or affiliate and
     any employee thereof;  provided,  however,  that this clause (ii) shall not
     apply as it may relate to Jean I. Everest.

         b. Definitions. As used herein:

                  (i)  "Associate"  means  with  respect  to  any  person,   any
     corporation  or other  business  organization  of which  such  person is an
     officer,  employee  or  partner or is the  beneficial  owner,  directly  or
     indirectly, of ten percent (10%) or more of any class of equity securities,
     any trust or estate  in which  such  person  has a  substantial  beneficial
     interest  or as to which  such  person  serves as a trustee or in a similar
     capacity and any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such
     spouse;

                  (ii) "Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and continued  failure
     of the Executive to follow the lawful directions of the Board, (ii) any act
     of  fraud or  dishonesty,  misappropriation  or  embezzlement,  or  willful
     misconduct in connection  with the  performance of the  Executive's  duties
     hereunder,  (iii)  a  material  breach  by the  Executive  of any  material
     provision  hereof or of any material  contractual or material legal duty to
     the company (including,  but not limited to, the unauthorized disclosure of
     Trade Secrets or other  Confidential  Information),  after  written  notice
     thereof from the Board and a 30-day  opportunity  to cure in the event that
     such breach is curable, (iv) the conviction of the Executive of a felony or
     other crime or offense involving moral turpitude (including pleading guilty
     or no contest to such a crime or offense or a lesser  charge which  results
     from plea  bargaining),  whether or not  committed in  connection  with the
     business of the Company,  (v) the Executive's alcohol or substance abuse or
     (vi)  a  material  breach  by  the  Executive  of  the  provisions  of  any
     stockholders  agreement  or other  agreement  relating  to the  Executive's
     acquisition of an equity interest in the Company to which the Executive may
     become a party on or after  the  Commencement  Date  after  written  notice
     thereof from the Board and a 30-day  opportunity  to cure in the event that
     such breach is curable.

                  (iii)  "Good  Reason"  shall  mean a  material  breach  by the
     Company of any material provision hereof (after written notice thereof from
     the  Executive  and a 30-day  opportunity  to cure in the  event  that such
     breach is  curable);  a  transfer  of the  Executive's  customary  place of
     employment to a location more than 40 milers from Salt Lake City,  Utah; or
     a  material  change  in the  nature  of the  Executive's  duties,  title or
     responsibility without the consent of the Executive.

                  (iv)  "Restricted   Business"  means  the  provision  of  coal
     by-product  ("CCB")  management  services,  such  as  collection,  removal,
     disposal and marketing of fly-ash and other CCBs.

                  (v) "Restricted  Period" means the Employment  Period, and the
     period  thereafter equal to (i) three years in the case of a termination of
     the Employment Period by the Company with Cause or by the Executive without
     Good  Reason,  or  (ii)  two  years  in the  case of a  termination  of the
     Employment  Period for any other reason  (including by reason of expiration
     of the term of the Agreement).

         c.  Reasonableness  of  Restrictions.  The Executive  acknowledges  and
agrees that the restrictions set forth in this Section 8, and, specifically, the
period  of time  designated  as the  Restricted  Period  and  geographical  area
specified  hereunder,  are  reasonable  in view of the nature of the business in
which the Company is engaged,  and the Executive's  particular  knowledge of the
Company's and its subsidiaries,  parents and affiliates'  respective businesses,
and the  Executive  hereby  agrees not to  challenge in any way, or to otherwise
raise a defense to, the  enforceability  of any of the restrictions set forth in
this Section 8 during the Restricted Period in any manner whatsoever,  including
but not limited to challenging the  reasonableness of the restrictions set forth
herein.

         d. Enforceability of Restrictive  Covenant.  It is the understanding of
the Executive and the Company that the  provisions of this Section 8 be enforced
to  the  fullest  extent  permissible  under  the  laws  and  policies  of  each
jurisdiction in which enforcement may be sought,  and that the  unenforceability
(or the  modification  to conform to such laws or policies) of any provisions of
this Section  shall not render  unenforceable,  or repair,  the remainder of the
provisions of this Section 8, or of this Agreement.

         9.  Termination.  The  Company  or the  Executive  may  terminate  this
Agreement, with or without cause, with or without prior notice. In the event the
Company terminates this Agreement or the Executive resigns from employment,  the
Executive's  rights and the obligations of the Company  hereunder shall cease as
of the effective date of the termination,  including,  without  limitation,  the
right to receive the Base Salary,  any Bonus Award and all other compensation or
benefits provided for in this Agreement,  and the Executive hereby  acknowledges
and agrees that no severance or similar or other damages or payments of any kind
whatsoever  shall be payable to the Executive due to, in connection  with, or in
the event of, the Executive's termination or resignation from employment for any
reason.

         10. Enforcement.

         a. Equitable Relief.  The Executive agrees that the remedies at law for
any breach or threat of breach by him of any of the  provisions of Section 5, 6,
7 and 8 hereof will be inadequate,  and that, in addition to any other remedy to
which the  Company may be  entitled  at law or in equity,  the Company  shall be
entitled to a temporary  or permanent  injunction  or  injunctions  or temporary
restraining order or orders to prevent breaches of the provisions of Sections 5,
6, 7, and 8 hereof and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions thereof,
in each case  without  the need to post any  security  or bond.  Nothing  herein
contained  shall be  construed as  prohibiting  the Company  from  pursuing,  in
addition,  any  other  remedies  available  to the  Company  for such  breach or
threatened breach. A waiver by the Company of any breach of any provision hereof
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of a breach of any other provision
of this Agreement or of any subsequent breach by the Executive.

         b. Enforceability.  It is expressly understood and agreed that although
the Company and the Executive consider the restrictions contained in Sections 5,
6, 7 and 8 hereof to be reasonable  for the purpose of preserving  the goodwill,
proprietary  rights and going concern value of the Company,  if a final judicial
determination is made by a court having  jurisdiction that the time or territory
or  any  other  restriction  contained  in  such  Sections  5,  6, 7 and 8 is an
unenforceable restriction on the Executive's activities,  the provisions of such
Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 shall not be rendered void but shall be deemed amended to
apply as to such  maximum  time and  territory  and to such other extent as such
court may judicially determine or indicate to be reasonable.  Alternatively,  if
the court referred to above finds that any restriction  contained in Sections 5,
6, 7 and 8 or any remedy provided herein is unenforceable,  and such restriction
or remedy cannot be amended so as to make it enforceable, such finding shall not
affect the enforceability of any of the other restrictions  contained therein or
the  availability of any other remedy.  The provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8
shall in no respect limit or otherwise affect the Executive's  obligations under
other agreements with the Company.

         11.  Assignment.  The rights and  obligations of the parties under this
Agreement  shall not be  assignable  by either  the  Company  or the  Executive,
provided  that this  Agreement is  assignable by the Company to any affiliate of
the Company,  to any successor in interest to any business of the Company, or to
a purchaser  of all or  substantially  all of the assets of any  business of the
Company.

         12.  Notices.  Any notice  required or permitted  under this  Agreement
shall be  deemed  to have  been  effectively  made or given  if in  writing  and
personally  delivered,  mailed properly addressed in a sealed envelope,  postage
prepaid by  certified or  registered  mail,  delivered by a reputable  overnight
delivery  service  or sent by  facsimile.  Unless  otherwise  changed by notice,
notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to:

                    R. Stephen Creamer
                    ECDC Environmental
                    127 South 500 East
                    Suite 675
                    Salt Lake City, Utah  84102
                    Fax: (801) 536-6111

                  with a copy to:

                    Parsons Behle & Latimer
                    One Utah Center
                    201 South Main Street
                    Suite 1800
                    Salt Lake City, Utah  84111
                    Fax: (801) 536-6111
                    Attention:  J. Gordon Hansen, Esq.

and properly addressed to the Company if addressed to:

                    JTM Industries, Inc.
                    c/o Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd.
                    399 Park Avenue
                    New York, New York  10043
                    Attention:  Joseph Silvestri
                    Facsimile No.: (212) 888-2940

                  with a copy to:

                    Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
                    101 Park Avenue
                    New York, New York 10178
                    Attention: Philip Werner, Esq.

         13. Severability.  Wherever there is any conflict between any provision
of this Agreement and any statute,  law, regulation or judicial  precedent,  the
latter shall  prevail,  but in such event the  provisions of this Agreement thus
affected  shall be curtailed  and limited only to the extent  necessary to bring
them within the requirements of the law. In the event that any provision of this
Agreement  shall be held by a court of  proper  jurisdiction  to be  indefinite,
invalid,  void or  voidable  or  otherwise  unenforceable,  the  balance  of the
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless such construction would
clearly be  contrary  to the  intentions  of the  parties or would  result in an
unconscionable injustice.

         14.   Counterparts.   This   Agreement   may  be  executed  in  several
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original  but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

         15.  Effect of  Termination.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary
contained  herein,  this Agreement or the  Executive's  employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 9 or otherwise expires,  the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall continue in full force and effect.

         16.  Disputes.  Except as necessary  to obtain the relief  specified in
Section  10(a),  any claim or  controversy  arising  out of or  relating to this
Agreement, or any breach thereof, or otherwise arising out of or relating to the
Executive's  employment,  compensation  and  benefits  with the  Company  or the
termination thereof,  shall be settled by arbitration in Salt Lake City, Utah in
accordance with the rules established by the American  Arbitration  Association,
_provided,_however_,  that the parties  agree that (i) the  arbitrator  shall be
prohibited  from  disregarding,  adding  to  or  modifying  the  terms  of  this
Agreement;  and (ii) the  arbitrator  shall be  required  to follow  established
principles of substantive law and the law governing  burdens of proof. Any claim
or controversy  not submitted to arbitration in accordance  with this Section 16
shall be considered waived and, thereafter,  no arbitration panel or tribunal or
court  shall  have  the  power to rule or make  any  award on any such  claim or
controversy.  The award rendered in any  arbitration  proceeding held under this
Section  16 shall be final  and  binding,  and  judgment  upon the  award may be
entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

         17. Miscellaneous; Choice of Law. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement,  and supersedes all prior agreements,  of the parties hereto relating
to the  subject  matter  hereof,  and  there  are no  written  or oral  terms or
representations  made by either party other than those  contained  herein.  This
Agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance  with the domestic
laws of the  State  of Utah,  without  giving  effect  to any  choice  of law or
conflict  of law  provision  or rule  (whether of the State of Utah or any other
jurisdiction)  that would cause the application of the laws of any  jurisdiction
other than the State of Utah.

         18. Indemnification.  In the event the Executive is made, or threatened
to be  made,  a party  to any  legal  action  or  proceeding,  whether  civil or
criminal,  by reason  of the fact that the  Executive  is or was an  officer  or
director of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, the Executive shall be
indemnified by the Company,  and the Company shall pay the  Executive's  related
expenses  when and as  incurred,  all to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law,
provided,  however, that no indemnification shall be made hereunder with respect
to  payments  and  expenses  incurred in relation to (i) matters as to which the
Executive  shall not have acted in good faith and in the reasonable  belief that
his action was in the best interest of the Company, or (iii) matters as to which
are otherwise prohibited by law.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.

                                   JTM INDUSTRIES, INC.

                                    /s/ J. I. Everest
                                   ---------------------
                                     By: J.I. Everest II
                                     Title: Treasurer & CFO

                                    EXECUTIVE

                                    /s/ R. Stephen Creamer
                                   ------------------------
                                      R. Stephen Creamer