EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

        We maintain the US Ecology, Inc., 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan ("the Plan") for employees who voluntarily contribute a portion of their compensation, thereby deferring income for federal income tax purposes. The Plan covers substantially all of our employees in the United States. Participants may contribute a percentage of salary up to the IRS limitations. We contribute a matching contribution equal to 55% of participant contributions up to 6% of compensation. We contributed matching contributions to the Plan of $354,000, $273,000 and $311,000 in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

        We also maintain the Stablex Canada Inc. Simplified Pension Plan ("the SPP"). This defined contribution plan covers substantially all of our employees at our Blainville, Québec facility in Canada. Participants receive a company contribution equal to 5% of their annual salary. The Company contributed $354,000 in 2011 and $56,000 for the two months of ownership in 2010 to the SPP.