Abtech Holdings' Founder Named FAST COMPANY 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2012

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Abtech Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: ABHD) ("AbTech"), a developer and manufacturer of patented innovative environmental technologies addressing issues of water pollution and contamination, announced today its founder and CEO, Glenn R. Rink, has been named to FAST COMPANY magazine's "100 Most Creative People in Business" list in its June issue, which hits stands on May 22nd . The list spans innovators from virtually every industry around the globe, from Facebook to Starbucks to American Express.

Mr. Rink created the Smart Sponge®, a leading cost effective water filtration solution that solidifies, separates and removes contaminants, including hydrocarbons, sediment and other foreign elements found in stormwater, produced/frac water and industrial waste water that pollute our ponds, lakes, marinas, rivers and oceans. The AbTech solution not only treats water for a clean discharge, but also can be used to recycle water for re-use. These diverse applications allow AbTech to target multiple avenues of water contamination including stormwater runoff which, according to the EPA, is the leading cause of water pollution, as well as applications such as produced water and industrial waste water; e.g., fracking operations, nuclear power generation, chemical shipping tankers, etc.  AbTech has secured 17 patents related to the Smart Sponge technology and, following a three year regulatory approval process the antimicrobial Smart Sponge product was registered with the EPA (EPA Registration #86256-1) for outdoor use to reduce coliform bacteria, a pathogen. Smart Sponge® is currently installed in over 15,000 locations across America and in 8 countries. 

For over a decade, Mr. Rink has led AbTech Industries, Inc. in its commitment to Green Tech innovation, pioneering cutting-edge clean water solutions to meet community and industry needs. Mr. Rink, a passionate advocate for the environment, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc., a nonprofit organization known as the largest and fastest growing, grassroots environmental movement in the world, spanning six continents.

"It's an honor to be named to this prestigious list," said Mr.Rink. "The environmental problems surrounding water pollution around the globe mount daily, and the need for creative solutions to these increasingly complex dilemmas is crucial. Concerns over water quality are growing and the reality of water pollution threatening the quality of life, globally, requires innovative solutions that incorporate science and economics.  I am very fortunate to lead the successful development of a viable solution that has received great support to bring it to its commercialization stage. I look forward to furthering the Smart Sponge technology's application to address this growing global problem and preserve our natural resource."

For a video demonstration of how the Smart Sponge® works, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54OcgmCUYNY

A personalized module for each of the 100 companies is found at www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2012 as well as on their FAST COMPANY tablet app.  In addition, each year FAST COMPANY celebrates their Most Creative People at a special event. This year, they have partnered with the city of Montreal on a 3-day conference in May called C2-MTL: Creativity + Commerce. The Most Creative People gala will be a 1,000-person party on the evening of Wednesday, May 23, with multimedia installations featuring each honoree.

Investor Contact:
Yvonne L. Zappulla
Managing Director
Grannus Financial Advisors, Inc.
212-681-4108
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Jessica deGuardiola
Vice President
Regan Communications
212.710.0322
[email protected]

ABOUT ABTECH HOLDINGS, INC. (OTCBB: ABHD) AND ABTECH INDUSTRIES, INC.

AbTech Industries, Inc. (a subsidiary of Abtech Holdings, Inc.) is a full-service environmental technologies and engineering firm dedicated to providing innovative solutions to communities, industry and governments addressing issues of water pollution and contamination. Its products are based on polymer technologies capable of removing hydrocarbons, sediment and other foreign elements in storm water runoff (ponds, lakes and marinas),  flowing water (curbside drains, pipe outflows, rivers and oceans), and industrial process and wastewater.  AbTech's offerings include the ground-breaking new antimicrobial technology called Smart Sponge® Plus. This technology is effective in reducing coliform bacteria found in stormwater, industrial wastewater, and municipal wastewater. Smart Sponge® Plus is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (Registration #86256-1). AbTech's teams of water treatment technology experts, civil and environmental engineers, and field operations specialists develop solutions to improve the quality of our limited water resources. AbTech's Smart Sponge technology is installed in more than 15,000 locations across America and in 8 countries worldwide. For more information please visit: www.abtechindustries.com.

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Abtech Holdings, Inc.