What Heritage-Crystal Clean does

Heritage-Crystal Clean (operating as Crystal Clean) is a US-based environmental services provider specializing in parts cleaning, used oil collection and re-refining, and the collection, treatment and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The company operates more than 90 service branches and over 120 facilities across the continental United States, serving approximately 90,000 customer locations in automotive, industrial manufacturing, energy/utilities, chemical, food and beverage, and other verticals. Its service portfolio spans parts washers and solvent recyclers, aqueous chemistries under the Mirachem® brand, a 75 million gallon-per-year used oil re-refinery in Indianapolis producing Group II base oils, antifreeze recovery centers, wastewater vacuum truck services, hazardous waste TSDF operations, and the 4never™ closed-loop PFAS remediation solution with its SAFF®10 treatment technology.

The company makes money primarily through recurring field-service contracts (parts cleaning subscriptions with retained equipment ownership), transaction-based waste collection and disposal fees, and the sale of re-refined base oils, co-product fuels and recovered antifreeze. Pricing is quote-based with an indexed monthly fuel surcharge, and customer relationships are deepened through bundled programs such as One Drive Automotive (automotive vertical) and the Environmental Solutions Partners (ESP) managed-services program that adds compliance documentation, waste minimization consulting and ESG support. Distribution is direct via field sales and service representatives operating out of the branch network, supplemented by a customer portal for invoicing and document management.

Heritage-Crystal Clean was founded in 1999 through a partnership between Heritage Environmental Services and Joseph Chalhoub, IPO'd on NASDAQ in March 2008 under ticker HCCI, and was taken private in 2023 by J.F. Lehman & Company for $1.2 billion. Current CEO Brian Recatto has led the company since February 2017. Under private ownership the company has executed a clear roll-up strategy, acquiring Patriot Environmental Services (2022), Envirosafe Services of Ohio (2024), and Premium Environmental Services and Worldwide Recovery Systems (2025), while launching the PFAS remediation platform that targets a high-growth emerging contaminant category.

Name

Heritage-Crystal Clean

Legal name

Heritage-Crystal Clean, LLC

Website

https://crystal-clean.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Heritage-Crystal Clean, operating as Crystal Clean, is a US-based environmental services provider operating 90+ branches and 120+ facilities, offering parts cleaning, used oil re-refining (75M gal/yr), hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, and 4never™ PFAS remediation to approximately 90,000 customer locations across automotive and industrial manufacturing verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Waste Management Services

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (5622), Polish and Other Sanitation Good Manufacturing (325612)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Waste Recycling & Recovery (Solvent Recovery, Oil Re-refining, Metals Recovery) (EUAIAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Used Oil & Oily Waste Management (Collection, Re-refining, Disposal) (BPALAFAI), Solvent Recovery & Recycling Services (BPALAHAC), Industrial Waste Treatment (Physical/Chemical) & Neutralization (BPALAHAB), Special Waste Disposal (Asbestos, Treated Wood, PFAS-impacted Residuals, Other Regulated Wastes) (EUAIACAK), Universal Waste Management (Batteries, Lamps, Mercury-Containing) (BPALAHAL)

Keywords

• Environmental waste services
• Parts cleaning services
• Used oil re-refining
• Hazardous waste disposal
• PFAS remediation solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Elgin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Parts Cleaning Services: Provides aqueous and solvent parts cleaning services with regular scheduled visits. Services include parts washers, solvent recyclers, and paint gun cleaners. Crystal Clean retains ownership of equipment and provides ongoing chemistry delivery and waste removal.
2. Used Oil Collection and Re-Refining: Collects used oil from customer locations and processes it through company's oil re-refinery to produce Group II base oils, co-product fuels, and vacuum tower asphalt extender. Re-refinery capacity of 75 million gallons per year.
3. Waste Drum Disposal: Hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection, transportation, and disposal services. Includes universal and electronic waste recycling, and secure product destruction.
4. Wastewater Vacuum Truck Services: Collection and transport of wastewater, oil, and solid waste from customer locations to treatment facilities. Includes sludge removal, trench and drain cleaning, and oil water separator cleaning.
5. PFAS Remediation Services: Closed-loop PFAS remediation solution (4never™) for removing and destroying PFAS from contaminated waters and landfill leachate. Includes AFFF disposal and removal services.
6. Field and Industrial Services: Emergency spill response, environmental remediation, tank cleaning, hydroblasting, pipeline pigging, and specialty waste disposal services.
7. Antifreeze Services: Collection and recovery of spent antifreeze through regional recovery centers. Products include various antifreeze formulations meeting ASTM standards.
8. Bulk Wastewater Management: Solidification, landfill leachate services, petroleum contact water management, and wastewater treatment services.
9. Environmental Solutions Partners Program: Comprehensive environmental services management partnership providing compliance support, waste minimization consultation, and ongoing monitoring for business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heritage-Crystal Clean provides parts cleaning services (aqueous and solvent parts washers, paint gun cleaners, solvent recyclers) along with used oil collection and re-refining, hazardous and non-hazardous waste collection/transportation/disposal, wastewater vacuum truck services, PFAS remediation through its 4never™ solution, antifreeze recovery, and field/industrial services including emergency spill response and tank cleaning. The company owns the equipment placed at customer locations, delivers chemistry and removes spent fluids on scheduled routes, and processes material through its own treatment facilities — most notably a 75 million gallon-per-year oil re-refinery in Indianapolis producing Group II base oils.

Product overview

Heritage-Crystal Clean operates as a comprehensive environmental services provider offering a broad portfolio of waste management and recycling solutions. The company provides a unified platform of services including parts cleaning, waste drum disposal, oil services with re-refining capabilities, wastewater management, PFAS remediation, and field/technical services. Core offerings include the proprietary 4never™ closed-loop PFAS remediation solution and the Mirachem® line of aqueous cleaning chemistries. Additional programs like Environmental Solutions Partners (ESP) and the One Drive Automotive Program bundle multiple services for targeted industry segments. The company operates a 75-million gallon per year oil re-refinery and multiple waste recovery centers nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 4never™ PFAS Remediation: First closed-loop PFAS remediation solution for the landfill and industrial waste management markets, providing separation, concentration, transportation, and destruction of PFAS.
• One Drive Automotive Program
• Environmental Solutions Partners (ESP)

Products and services

• Parts Cleaners Aqueous and solvent-based parts cleaning equipment including parts washers, paint gun cleaners, and solvent recyclers for industrial and automotive applications, with company-owned equipment placed on customer sites and serviced on scheduled routes along with chemistry delivery and waste removal.
• Waste Drum Disposal Collection and disposal services for hazardous and non-hazardous waste drums, universal waste, electronic waste, and secure product destruction.
• Oil Services and Re-Refinery Products Used oil collection from customer locations and re-refining into high-quality Group II base oils, co-product fuels, and vacuum tower asphalt extender at the Indianapolis re-refinery with 75 million gallons per year capacity.
• Wastewater Vacuum Truck Services Collection and transport of wastewater, sludge, and related solids from customer locations, including sludge removal, trench and drain cleaning, car wash pit cleaning, CNC machine cleaning, and oil-water separator/sump pit cleaning.
• Antifreeze, Heat Transfer Fluids, and Windshield Washer Fluid Antifreeze services, industrial heat transfer fluids, and bulk windshield washer fluid, with regional recovery centers providing closed-loop distillation and recovery.
• Aqua Filtration Systems Patented filtration systems extending the life of water-based fluids in aqueous chemistry, machine cutting coolant, air compressor condensate, and mop water station applications.
• Absorbents and Facility Maintenance Universal absorbents, oil-only absorbents, spill kits and containment pallets, wipers and accessories, and commercial floor cleaning products.
• Solvents and Chemistries Aqueous chemistries, solvent chemistries, paint gun cleaner solutions, and brake clean program supporting parts cleaning operations.
• Field Services Industrial services including emergency spill response, environmental remediation, oil spill response, pipeline pigging and cleaning, tank cleaning, hydroblasting, and APHIS waste disposal.
• Technical Services Specialty waste disposal, lab pack services, on-site RCRA compliance support, and decontamination services for hazardous waste management.
• PFAS Remediation PFAS contaminated water and landfill leachate treatment, plus AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) disposal and removal services using the 4never™ closed-loop solution.
• Bulk Wastewater Management Solidification, landfill leachate services, petroleum contact water management, and wastewater management for large-scale industrial clients.
• Bulk Waste Management Bulk solid waste management, bulk containerized waste collection and disposal, and bulk liquid waste disposal services.
• Renewable Solutions / Waste Treatment Services Sustainable waste recovery operations including used oil re-refining, industrial wastewater treatment, landfill leachate treatment, waste solidification, waste-to-energy recovery, hazardous waste landfill services, fuel blending, antifreeze recycling and recovery, and non-hazardous waste processing.
• Environmental Solutions Partners (ESP) Program Comprehensive environmental services management program offering centralized vendor management, compliance support, waste minimization consultation, ESG program assistance, and ongoing monitoring for business customers with complex waste streams.
• One Drive Automotive Program Bundled automotive environmental services program offering used oil management, antifreeze collection/delivery, parts cleaning, and other services with tiered pricing benefits based on service volume.

Quantifiable outcome

• 77% less greenhouse gas emissions from re-refined base oil compared to traditional base oil products
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Union PacificcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Key rail partner supporting Crystal Clean in transporting materials such as base oil, used oil, solvents, and other regulated waste streams. In 2025, Crystal Clean completed more than 650 rail shipments in partnership with Union Pacific, achieving zero non-accident releases (NARs). Crystal Clean received Union Pacific's 2025 Chemical Transportation Safety Pinnacle Award for the third time.
• GMG EnvirosafesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Compliance training partnership providing full suite of compliance solutions including OSHA, RCRA, DOT, EPA, and ISO 14000 training. Training available in English and Spanish in classroom or online formats. GMG Envirosafe serves as Crystal Clean customers' 'Your Compliance Department' providing dedicated team with full-time support.
• PFAS Technology Providers (Global)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Crystal Clean partnered with leading technology providers across the globe to implement 4never™ turnkey PFAS solution to separate, concentrate, and destroy PFAS. The 2025 launch of SAFF®10 PFAS treatment technology extends these technology partnerships.
• CHWMEGsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Global facility auditing organization partnership for environmental operations review. Since partnership began, 69 Crystal Clean facilities have undergone thorough CHWMEG reviews to gather environmental compliance data and improve organizational accountability on safety and compliance.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services: One of the largest US environmental services companies, providing solid waste, recycling, and hazardous/industrial waste services (including former US Ecology operations). Competes broadly with Crystal Clean on industrial waste collection, treatment, and disposal.
• Stericycle: National regulated waste services company with focus on medical waste and secure information destruction, but also serving industrial customers with hazardous and specialized waste services. Competes in regulated waste collection, compliance services, and parts cleaning adjacencies.
• Veolia North America: Global environmental services giant with significant US hazardous waste, water treatment, and industrial cleaning operations. Competes in PFAS treatment, wastewater services, and industrial field services at scale Crystal Clean cannot match directly.
• Waste Management: Largest US waste management company with deep national collection, treatment, and disposal infrastructure. Overlaps with Crystal Clean on industrial waste, used oil recycling, and landfill leachate services, though WM is far broader in municipal solid waste.

Direct peers

• Vertex Energy: Used oil re-refining and specialty petroleum products company that produces Group II/II+ base oils. Direct competitor in used oil collection, re-refining, and specialty fuel products sold to lubricant blenders and industrial buyers.
• Clean Harbors: Largest North American provider of hazardous waste management, environmental services, and parts cleaning (via Safety-Kleen). Direct competitor across Crystal Clean's hazardous waste TSDF, parts cleaning, used oil, and field services lines, with comparable vertical integration and recycling capabilities.
• Tradebe: Privately held environmental services company operating hazardous waste treatment, recovery, and recycling facilities in the US and Europe. Direct competitor in industrial waste management, solvent recycling, and PFAS remediation service lines.

Others

• Heritage Environmental Services: Former parent of Crystal Clean and continuing operator of hazardous waste management, industrial cleaning, and emergency response services. Highly comparable in service mix (hazardous waste, field services) and shares historical DNA with Crystal Clean, making it a structural peer even outside a competitive geography.

Emerging players

• Enviri (formerly Harsco): Diversified environmental services company with industrial waste management, site remediation, and resource recovery segments. Comparable in environmental services scope, though its core identity includes broader industrial and metals segments.

Regional players

• PSC (Philip Services Corp.) / SECURE Energy Services: Industrial and environmental services firm with waste management, processing, and recycling operations serving oil & gas and industrial customers. Comparable in field services, waste handling, and re-refining/midstream processing — though more concentrated in Canadian oil & gas markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/H_CrystalClean
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heritage-crystal-clean

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A5 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heritage-Crystal Clean