Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.22

                                 AMENDMENT NO. 3

                             TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT NO. 3 to Employment Agreement (this "Amendment") is
dated effective as of December 30, 2003, by and between Ross M. Patten, an
individual, hereinafter referred to as "Executive", and Synagro Technologies,
Inc, a Delaware corporation hereinafter referred to as "Synagro" or the
"Company".

         WHEREAS, Executive and Synagro entered into an Employment Agreement
dated February 19, 1999 (the "Employment Contract"), and amended it by the
Agreement Concerning Employment Rights dated January 27, 2000 (the "First
Amendment"), and the Amendment No. 2 to Agreement Concerning Employment Rights
dated March 1, 2001 (the "Second Amendment"). The Employment Contract as amended
by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment and this Amendment is referred to
as the ("Agreement");

         WHEREAS, Executive and Synagro desire to further amend the Agreement in
certain respects as more specifically set forth below; and

         WHEREAS, capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual
promises and covenants set forth herein, agree as follows:

         I.    CHANGE OF POSITION, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

               (a) The Company and Executive agree that, effective as of
September 8, 2003, Executive's position, duties and responsibilities with the
Company have been modified. Effective as of such date, Executive's position with
the Company has been changed significantly from Chief Executive Officer to Vice
President. The Company and Executive agree that Executive shall remain as
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company ("Chairman") until the earlier
of such time as the Company shareholders replace Executive with another duly
elected board member, the other board members elect a new chairman or Executive
resigns. Executive hereby resigns from all other positions, titles and authority
as an officer and director of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

               (b) As a result of such changes in position, duties and
responsibilities, the Company and Executive agree to amend and restate Sections
1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Agreement to read as follows:

               "(1) EMPLOYMENT. During the remaining Employment Period (as
         defined in Section 4 hereof), the Company shall employ Executive, and
         Executive shall serve, as Vice President of the Company.

               (2) COMPENSATION. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid to
         Executive during the remaining Employment Period an annual base salary
         for his services under this Agreement of $281,875.00, in equal
         semi-monthly

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installments of $11,744.79, in accordance with the Company's normal payroll
procedures until the earlier of (i) December 30, 2005, or (ii) the last day of
the month in which Executive no longer serves as either Chairman or Vice
President for any reason.

               In the event Executive ceases serving as Chairman and as Vice
         President for any reason prior to December 30, 2005, the Company shall
         pay a lump sum cash payment to Executive in an amount equal to $563,750
         less the aggregate amount of all base salary installment payments paid
         by the Company pursuant to the preceding sentence for the Employment
         Period after October 1, 2003. Such lump sum payment shall be due and
         payable on the last day of the month in which Executives no longer
         serves as either Chairman or Vice President.

               In the event Executive continues to serve as Chairman after
         December 30, 2005, Executive shall thereafter be entitled to receive
         the compensation for serving as a member of the Board of Directors of
         the Company equal to the compensation then paid to the Company's
         independent directors. Executive shall not be entitled to any
         compensation for serving as Chairman or Vice President after the date
         of this Amendment and prior to December 30, 2005 other than the
         compensation set forth in the first two paragraphs of this Section 2
         and in Section 5 of the Agreement.

               As further described in the Agreement, the Company and Executive
         may terminate Executive's employment with the Company and his director
         position as Chairman essentially at any time and for any reason and
         upon such termination the Executive shall be entitled to the remaining
         guaranteed payments described in the second paragraph of this Section
         2. The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that the guaranteed
         payments set forth in this Section 2 are in consideration for (i) the
         execution and delivery by Executive of the General Release attached as
         Exhibit A to this Amendment (ii) Executive's agreement to continue to
         perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to him by the Chief
         Executive Officer (iii) the extension of the continuing obligations of
         Executive under the Agreement as set forth in Section IV of this
         Amendment, including without limitation the extension of Executive's
         covenant not to compete.

               (3) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXECUTIVE. During the
         Employment Period, Executive shall perform the duties and
         responsibilities assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer to the
         best of his ability and with reasonable diligence. In determining
         Executive's duties and responsibilities, the Chief Executive Officer
         shall act in good faith and shall not assign duties and
         responsibilities to Executive that are not appropriate or customary
         with respect to the position of Executive hereunder. In performing
         Executive's duties and responsibilities hereunder, Executive shall not
         be required to devote his services full-time to the business of the
         Company. Executive will however make himself available, on an as-needed
         basis, to provide such duties and responsibilities assigned to him.

                                       2

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                             (4) TERM OF EMPLOYMENT. Executive's term of
         employment with the Company under this Agreement shall begin on the
         Effective Date and continue thereafter until Notice of Termination
         pursuant to Section 7 as given by either the Company or Executive to
         the other party. The Company and Executive shall each have the right to
         give Notice of Termination at will, with or without cause, at any time.
         The period from the Effective Date through the date of Executive's
         termination of employment as Vice President for whatever reason shall
         be referred to herein as the "EMPLOYMENT PERIOD"."

         II.   POST-TERMINATION BENEFITS. As a result of the change in position
with the Company and reduced duties and responsibilities, as well as the
guaranteed compensation payments as set forth in Section 2 of the Agreement (as
amended and restated above), Executive shall not be entitled to any
post-termination benefits or severance under Sections 6 (a) or (b) of the
Agreement or under any severance pay plan or program maintained by the Company
that covers Executive.

         III.  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TERMINATE FOR GOOD REASON. Executive hereby
waives his rights and additional benefits under this Agreement that may result
from a termination by the Executive for Good Reason, including without
limitation as a result of the changes in position, duties and responsibilities
described above in Section I of this Amendment. Such waiver by Executive of such
rights and benefits shall be for all purposes under the Agreement. As
consideration for such waiver, the Company and the Executive agree that (i)
effective as of the date of this Amendment, all of the Executive's stock options
that were unvested shall immediately vest, and (ii) upon termination of the
employment of Executive, for any reason whatsoever, the Company shall provide
post-employment medical coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions
beginning with the second sentence of Section 10 of the Agreement, provided,
however, that such post-employment medical coverage shall be provided for
eighteen (18) months following the Termination Date rather than for two (2)
years. The Company and Executive also acknowledge, agree and confirm that under
Section 6(c) of the Agreement all of Executive's outstanding and vested options
that are unexercised as of his Termination Date may be exercised during the
exercise period ending on the shorter of (i) two (2) years from his Termination
Date or (ii) the expiration date of the stock option as specified in the stock
option plan or stock option agreement, as applicable, notwithstanding any
provision in such plan or agreement that provides for a more limited time period
to exercise stock options following termination of employment.

         IV.  EXTENSION OF EXECUTIVE'S NONCOMPETE AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS.
Executive acknowledges and confirms that his obligations under the Agreement
that are intended to continue after the Termination Date shall continue in
accordance with their terms, including without limitation, Executive's
obligations under Sections 6(c), 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 24. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, however, Executive agrees that his obligations under
Sections 11, 13, 14, and 16 of the Agreement shall be extended and continue for
a period equal to the later of (i) four (4) years from the effective date of
this Amendment, or (ii) two (2) years after the later of (x) the termination of
the Employment Period or (y) the date Executive ceases to serve as Chairman.

                                       3

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V. RATIFICATION. Except as provided by this Amendment, (i) the Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect, and (ii) none of the rights, interests and
obligations existing and to exist under the Agreement are hereby released,
diminished or impaired. The Company and Executive agree that in the event of any
conflict between the Agreement and this Amendment, this Amendment shall control.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed effective as of the date first above written.

                               SYNAGRO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
                               a Delaware corporation

                               By: /s/ Alvin L Thomas II
                                   -------------------------------------------
                                   Alvin L. Thomas II, Executive Vice President
                                   and General Counsel

                               EXECUTIVE

                               /s/ Ross M. Patten
                               ------------------------------------------------
                               Ross M. Patten, Individually

                                       4<PAGE>
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.23

                                 GENERAL RELEASE

         This General Release (the "Release") is hereby executed and delivered
by Ross M. Patten ("Patten") in favor of Synagro Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company").

         WHEREAS, Patten and the Company entered into an Employment Agreement,
dated February 19, 1999, and amended it by the Agreement Concerning Employment
Rights, dated January 27, 2000 (the "First Amendment"), and the Amendment No. 2
to Agreement Concerning Employment Rights dated March 1, 2001 (the "Second
Amendment") (the Employment Agreement as amended by the First Amendment and the
Second Amendment and as further amended by the Third Amendment (as defined
below) is referred to herein as the "Employment Agreement");

         WHEREAS, Patten's position, duties and responsibilities with the
Company have been modified effective September 8, 2003; and

         WHEREAS, in connection with such modification, the Company and Patten
have entered into that certain Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement dated as
of the date hereof (the "Third Amendment").

         NOW, THEREFORE, as the primary inducement of the Company to enter into
the Third Amendment, the consideration to be paid by the Company thereunder, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby expressly acknowledged, Patten hereby agrees as follows:

         1. RELEASE BY PATTEN. Patten, for himself and for all and each of his
assigns, agents, attorneys, representatives, spouse, heirs, executors and
administrators (hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Patten Releasors"),
does covenant not to sue, and does fully remise, release and forever discharge
the Company and all of its predecessor and successor firms, parents,
subsidiaries and affiliates, and all and each of their present and former
officers, directors, principals, shareholders, employees, insurers, plan
administrators, attorneys and agents, and all and each of their respective
assigns, agents, representatives, spouses, heirs, executors and administrators
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company Releasees"), of and from any and all
actions, causes of actions, liabilities, suits, debts, sums of money, accounts,
bonds, bills, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises,
damages, judgments, claims and demands whatsoever, state or federal, in law or
in equity, whether based on statute, common law, or any other source, whether
known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, suspected or unsuspected, which relate
in any way to his employment with the Company , including but not limited to any
an all claims under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act, the Texas Labor
Code, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act, the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967 ("ADEA"), the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, any other
federal, state or local laws or regulations prohibiting employment
discrimination or pertaining to employment, any and all claims for wages,
commissions, bonuses, money, overtime, severance pay, sick leave, holiday pay,
vacation pay, life insurance, group medical insurance, retirement plan
contributions, or any other fringe benefit of the Company, violations of state
and/or federal wage and hour laws, or workers'

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compensation disability claims; provided, however, that this Release shall not
apply to (i) the Company's obligations and liabilities under the Third Amendment
and the Company's obligations and liabilities under the Employment Agreement
required to be performed after the Termination Date, (ii) all of Patten's rights
to coverage, if any, under directors' or officers' liability insurance policies
of the Company that by their terms would apply to Patten's acts or omissions
while serving the Company or its subsidiaries or its affiliates and (iii) any
indemnification arrangements with the Company (including pursuant to the
Company's Bylaws) that apply to Patten's service with the Company or its
subsidiaries or its affiliates. Patten warrants and represents on behalf of the
Patten Releasors that neither he nor any other Patten Releasor has assigned to
any other person or entity, any claims against the Company Releasees.

         2. RELEASE OF AGE CLAIMS. Patten expressly acknowledges and agrees
that, by executing and delivering this Release, he is waiving any and all rights
or claims that he may have arising under the ADEA, and the Older Workers'
Benefit Protection Act ("OWBPA"), which have arisen on or before the date of
execution of this Release. Patten further expressly acknowledges and agrees
that:

         a.   The Release is part of an agreement between the parties that is
              written in a manner calculated to be understood by Patten and that
              Patten in fact understands the terms, conditions and effect of
              this Release;

         b.   This Release refers to rights or claims arising under ADEA and
              OWBPA;

         c.   Patten does not waive rights or claims under ADEA or OWBPA that
              may arise after the date this Release is executed;

         d.   In return for this Release, Patten will receive consideration
              beyond that which he was already entitled to receive before
              entering into this Release;

         e.   Patten is hereby advised in writing by this Release to consult
              with an attorney before signing this Release;

         f.   Patten has been informed that he has twenty-one (21) days within
              which to consider the Release; and

         3. Patten has been informed that he has seven (7) days following the
date of

         4. NON-DISPARAGEMENT. Patten agrees that he will not: (i) disparage,
criticize or otherwise harm the reputation of the Company, or any of its related
or affiliated entities, or its business, products, services, employees, officers
or directors, whether written or oral, including without limitation by
electronic mail, on the Internet, or in any other communication method or
medium; (ii) disrupt or impair the operations of the Company, or any of its
related or affiliated entities; and (iii) disrupt, interfere with or otherwise
injure the relationships between the Company, any of its related or affiliated
entities, and their customers, suppliers and business partners.

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         5. NO ORAL MODIFICATION. This Release may not be modified orally.

         6. NO ORAL WAIVER. No breach of any provision hereof can be waived by
any undersigned party unless in writing. Waiver of any one breach by an
undersigned party will not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach of the
same or any other provision hereof.

         7. VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT. Patten has been represented or has been given
the opportunity to be represented by counsel of his choice in connection with
the negotiation and execution of this Release. Patten has relied solely upon his
own judgment, belief and knowledge, and/or the advice and recommendation of his
own independently selected counsel, concerning the nature, extent and duration
of his rights and claims, and that he has not been influenced to any extent
whatsoever in executing this document, or the exhibits hereto, by any
representations or statements except those expressly contained or referred to
herein. Patten executes this Release voluntarily and of his own free will,
without coercion or duress to do so.

         8. REVOCATION. Patten may revoke this Release in its entirety during
the seven (7) days following execution of the Release by Patten. Any revocation
of the Release must be in writing and hand delivered during the revocation
period. This Release will become effective and enforceable seven (7) days
following execution by Patten, unless it is revoked during the seven-day period.
In the event Patten revokes this Release, the Third Amendment shall become null
and void.

         9. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CONSIDERATION.. Patten acknowledges and agrees
that but for the execution and delivery of this Release to the Company, the
Company would not have entered into the Third Amendment with Patten, and as a
material inducement for the Company to enter into the Third Amendment and to pay
to Patten the consideration provided for thereunder, Patten has executed and
delivered this Release in favor of the Company.

         10. GOVERNING LAW. This Release will be governed by the substantive
laws of the State of Texas without regard to conflicts of law principles.

         11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Release along with the Employment Agreement
constitutes the entire understanding and agreement between the parties with
respect to the subject matter covered by this Release. This Release supersedes
any previous settlement agreement entered into by the parties.

         12. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The paragraph headings in this Release are for
convenience and reference only and shall not be otherwise considered in the
interpretation hereof.

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Dated Effective: December 30, 2003.

                                        /s/ Ross M. Patten
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        ROSS M. PATTEN

Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 30th day of December, 2003.

/s/ Diana Ellis-Smith
---------------------------------
Notary Public

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