Our IT department provides technical support to all Crystal Clean members across the country, and Jeremy Wilson plays a huge role in gladly solving anyone’s technical issues. Learn more about Jeremy in our latest Employee Spotlight.

Jeremy has always had a love for technology. Beginning with his first position learning IT skills, he utilized a platform to work with network equipment at a technology company. After 15 years, Jeremy wanted to move outward to explore new opportunities. In August 2021, he came across Crystal Clean and was able to bring together his technical skills and experience to connect with others.

A typical day for Jeremy can vary greatly, depending on who needs assistance. He will receive help desk tickets, take calls, and resolve most issues with laptops, software, printers, and other devices. The one thing that remains consistent every day, all day, is Jeremy’s selflessness. Jeremy prioritizes other people’s time before his own. He likes to go based off an employee’s availability, even if that means he must come in early or stay late. His passion for helping others is why Jeremy is a blueprint of the Crystal Clean values.

The two Crystal Clean values Jeremy feels he lives out the most every day are honesty and respect. He believes, “In life, you must give an honest opinion to people, and you need to show respect to everyone whether they deserve it or not.”

“Jeremy embodies the values of Crystal Clean. His motto ‘Teamwork makes the dream work’ is a testament to his dedication to customer service and positive outlook,” says Craig Rose, Crystal Clean’s Chief Information Technology Officer. “Throughout the company, Jeremy is recognized as a valued team player and congenial, effective problem solver.” Others in the company would describe Jeremy as a dedicated, exceptional, and patient employee with a great attitude.

Those traits that Jeremy embodies tie into his proudest moment so far from his time working at Crystal Clean. A few months ago, President & CEO Brian Recatto was giving a speech along with announcing winners for raffle prizes. Jeremy was lucky enough to win one of the prizes, and when his name was announced, cheering filled the room. He felt so loved while walking up to get the gift because of the glowing smiles and appreciation all employees expressed for him. That moment was pure happiness for Jeremy.

The happiness Jeremy felt is what he radiates daily when helping employees. When assisting someone on a technical issue, Jeremy always tries to make that person smile. Even on bad days, he is happy to listen to issues work related or not.

When asked what keeps the IT team running efficiently, Jeremy says the feeling of being a family. As a department, they are always cracking jokes, telling stories, and always working together. Jeremy explains it as a beautiful thing, especially the way the group teaches one another. The IT department is constantly learning things from each other, no matter how small. Everyone’s knowledge in IT is excelling every day because of the welcomeness and willingness to learn the department’s duties. And without a hardworking, passionate, and helpful IT department, the rest of the company wouldn’t be capable of carrying out their duties to keep Crystal Clean on top.

The IT department is an essential part of the company’s success. If no one is here to help with technical issues, the company would experience extreme delays across the country. To continue serving our customers and equipping our employees to do their jobs well, the IT department’s reliability is a key piece of the puzzle.

The biggest thing that motivates Jeremy to go to work is the freedom to enjoy life and being able to take care of his family. He lives with his wife of 22 years along with five kids- three boys and two girls. In his free time, he loves to travel, especially out of the country, or play poker and watch football (especially the Rams) with friends. Jeremy made it clear that giving his kids a good life is everything to him, along with helping anyone when he can. Jeremy says, “Everyone is welcome with open arms.”

Jeremy is thankful for the opportunities this company brings him every day, and every employee is just as thankful for him being the remarkable employee he is. His devotion and passion for the company is what sets him apart.

The last words Jeremy would like the entire company to know on behalf of his department, is if you have a problem with your computer, try restarting your laptop!

Oil is one of the most commonly used substances in the world and it impacts everyone’s life in some way, whether it’s in their personal or professional life. As one of the primary lubricants used in machines, oil is used to literally keep our world running every day. But a common misconception about oil is that it not a renewable resource and that it must be disposed once it has been used. But that’s not true, and oil no longer has to be a non-renewable resource. Thanks to the advanced technology of oil re-refining, used oil can now be recycled and transformed into a renewable resource indefinitely.

What Type of Oil Is Used for Re-refining?

To better understand the recycling of used oil, we need to first understand what exactly qualifies as used oil for a re-refinery. These specific oil types are typical of engine and machine part lubricants. Examples include engine oil, synthetic engine oil, hydraulic oil, and gear oil. These lubricants are ideal candidates for re-refining due to their similar lubrication properties, with viscosity being the primary difference based on their specific applications. As they are used in an application, the oil begins to break down. This can result from heat and pressure over time or accumulating contaminants such as dirt and engine debris, resulting in a sludge. Once the oil begins to break down the additives in the oil that enhance its viscosity begin to diminish over time.  At this point, whether it’s a 3,000 mile or a 10,000 mile oil change, the now used oil is ready to be collected and make its way to an oil re-refinery.

How is Used Oil Re-refined?

The re-refining process begins as soon as the used oil arrives at the facility. First, it goes through a set of rigorous tests to confirm it meets the requirements to become a useable base oil. Once all the boxes are checked, the used oil is pumped to the vacuum distillation unit. This unit heats the oil under vacuum, which lowers the boiling point and allows the oil to become vaporized. As this gas is produced, this in turn allows vacuum gas oil (VGO) vapor to be separated from the residue or vacuum tower asphalt extender (VTAE). The VGO vapor is condensed and cooled before being pumped to the hydro treatment. Different oil types are separated into three distinct products during this process dependent on the boiling temperature: vacuum gas oils (VGO), light distillate fuels (LDF), and vacuum tower asphalt extender (VTAE). Each of these products go to a different part of the facility to start a separate journey to become a usable product.

Vacuum gas oils undergo further re-refining to become base oil through a process called hydrotreatment. During hydrotreatment, the VGO is treated with hydrogen gas at high temperatures and pressures to remove contaminants. The hydrogen reacts with the impurities, converting them into stable compounds that can be separated and removed. The result is a cleaner, higher-quality base oil that can be further processed into lubricants or other valuable products. Hydrotreatment is essential for ensuring that the recycled oil meets strict quality standards and can effectively replace virgin oil in various applications. Light distillate fuels collected during the distillation process possess unique properties that make them an excellent sustainable energy source. The vacuum tower asphalt extender can be found remaining at the bottom of the vacuum distillation unit. It has many useful properties such as flexibility, waterproofing, and adhesion that make it an ideal binding agent for producing roofing shingles and asphalt pavement.

Re-refining is the sustainable way to manage used oil. By recycling used oil at Crystal Clean’s re-refinery, we make oil into a renewable resource, creating a variety of new base oils and materials used to construct homes and roads in local communities. This transformation not only showcases the innovative potential of re-refining but also highlights the significant environmental and economic benefits of recycling used oil.

For mor­e information about Crystal Clean’s re-refining process and products, visit here.

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The project uses Crystal Clean’s 4never™ solution to separate, concentrate, transport, and destroy PFAS from contaminated waters.

Hoffman Estates, IL – Crystal Clean, Inc. a leading provider of specialized environmental and waste management solutions to commercial and industrial end-markets, today announced it completed its largest PFAS remediation project to date. The project, utilizing Crystal Clean’s 4never™ solution, successfully treated 1.46 million gallons of PFAS impacted waters over the course of three weeks.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is a group of chemicals known as “forever chemicals” that have been used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. Research has shown that they have become pervasive in the environment and pose a health risk when accumulated in the body, creating a need to safely manage and remove these contaminants.

The 4never™ solution, which is a turnkey service with a tailored approach to remove PFAS contaminants based on project requirements and goals, operated around the clock with an on-site PFAS processing plant at a confidential industrial site in the midwestern U.S. The on-site PFAS processing plant utilized a set of four SAFF® (Surface Active Foam Fractionation) units, manufactured and exclusively distributed by 4never™ partners EPOC Enviro and Allonnia, to treat a variety of PFAS impacted event and site waters.

The multi-SAFF® processing setup treated the PFAS contaminated waters by separating and concentrating PFAS from the water, reducing the contaminants down to a few gallons a day of PFAS concentrate. The PFAS concentrate was then transported to a Crystal Clean facility for final management and offsite third-party destruction.

“The combination of technologies, expertise, and infrastructure to deliver a complete PFAS remediation solution at this scale is one of the key benefits and a testament to the flexibility of our 4never™ solution,” said Brian Recatto, President & CEO of Crystal Clean. “We are enormously proud to be able to bring this solution to businesses seeking large scale PFAS remediation, addressing what is becoming one of the leading environmental issues of the century in an environmentally responsible way.”

“EPOC Enviro’s patented SAFF® technology has now successfully remediated over 260 million gallons of PFAS impacted waters at more than thirty sites around the globe,” said EPOC Enviro President Peter Murphy. “With the recent release of Maximum Contaminant Levels by the U.S. EPA in relation to drinking waters for six PFAS compounds, as well as CERCLA designation of PFOS and PFOA, having a proven and environmentally friendly method of managing PFAS has never been more relevant.”

Crystal Clean is increasing its PFAS remediation capabilities and expanding the operating capacity of its 4never™ solution at a national scale. Crystal Clean currently operates a PFAS treatment facility in Michigan and has construction plans to add SAFF® treatment capabilities to several of its U.S. based commercial wastewater treatment facilities.

About Crystal Clean, Inc.

Crystal Clean, Inc., provides environmental and industrial services to manufacturers and other industrial businesses, utilities and governmental entities, and vehicle maintenance businesses. Their service programs include parts cleaning, regulated containerized and bulk waste management, used oil collection and re-refining, wastewater vacuum, emergency and spill response, industrial and field services, and waste antifreeze collection, recycling and product sales. These services help customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. For more information about Crystal Clean, visit www.crystal-clean.com.  

About EPOC Enviro

EPOC Enviro is an environmental engineering firm, dedicated to developing and implementing clever and practical engineering solutions on a global scale to permanently remove PFAS and other emerging contaminants from the environment. Their award winning SAFF® technology proudly applies the principles of intelligent design, sustainable engineering, and green chemistry. To learn more visit epocenviro.com.

About Allonnia 

Allonnia is a bio-ingenuity company dedicated to extracting value where others see waste. They believe elegant solutions to the world’s biggest problems will be found in the world’s smallest organisms. Allonnia is pioneering novel approaches and imaginative combinations in biotechnology and engineering to solve waste challenges in nature, using nature. To learn more visit allonnia.com.  

Media Contacts

Crystal Clean

Mike Ademe
Communications & Marketing Manager
mike.ademe@crystal-clean.com
224-281-1530

EPOC Enviro

Michelle Mahon
Communications Manager
mmahon@opecsystems.com

In charge of our Rochester Branch is none other than Branch Manager Eddie Sands. He is an environmental services expert backed by over 40 years of industry experience, with the past 17 years spent at Crystal Clean. He is a dedicated manager, devoted to supporting his team and setting them up for success careers that in turn benefit our customers.

Running a Crystal Clean branch isn’t always smooth sailing, but the challenge is part of what Eddie loves about the job. Eddie has run into his fair share of obstacles in his time and each experience has helped him become who he is today. His time at Crystal Clean began with the grand opening of our Rochester branch. With his prior experience in the field, he was the perfect fit for overseeing the success of this new service branch. Our Rochester location only had one truck with two employees when it opened, one of them being Eddie. Compared to where the branch is at today, it has come a long way. Now with eight trucks and 10 employees, there has been plenty of growth and success due to Eddie’s leadership.

His best advice is that regardless of whatever goes wrong, the best thing you can do is remain positive and focus on ways you can still achieve your goal for the day. In addition to this, a message he would want to send to new sales and service representatives is that Crystal Clean is going to give you all the tools you need to achieve success, but in the end, it is going to be your own drive that will ultimately decide the fate of your career.

When asked his thoughts on Eddie Sands, Crystal Clean’s Divisional VP of Sales, Ed Guglielmi, had this to say.

“When I think of Eddie Sands, three of Crystal Clean’s values come to mind: honesty, respect, and accountability. Eddie is a true leader, never afraid to do something himself that he would ask his employees to do. He is always professional, positive, and delivers results. I wouldn’t want anyone else in charge of the Rochester Branch”.

At the end of each day, Eddie does some self-reflection to see if there was anything he could have done better or differently. No one is perfect, but Eddie says that doesn’t mean you can’t try to be. Eddie prides himself on his ability to form and guide a team. With playing baseball in high school and throughout college, he has developed many team building skills and utilizes them daily in order to run his branch to the best of his ability.

“Eddie Sands is the ultimate teacher when it comes to his team. He is fully dedicated to making his team successful in all they do. I would love to have 20 more people like Eddie in my region,” said Regional Manager Gregg Diamond when asked about Eddie.

To run his team to the best of their ability, Eddie focuses on promoting safety within his branch. Eddie stated, “We don’t have a full bench of backups for our employees, it’s important everyone focuses on safety for their own sake, the company’s sake, and the customer’s sake”. Over the years he has earned multiple safety awards at Crystal Clean. These awards hold a large importance to Eddie as they show his commitment to Crystal Clean’s value of safety.

Another value that is important to Eddie is accountability. It’s an important value he looks for in each of his employees. It’s important to have faith in your team and that’s where this value comes into play.

“If every team member focuses on being accountable then success is bound to follow,” Eddie shared. At Crystal Clean each employee must hold themselves accountable to ensure that the services they provide are in line with our quality of standards.

Looking at what motivates Eddie to wake up and go to work takes us more into his life outside of work. Eddie says his motivation and drive to do his best everyday regardless of the obstacles comes from his wife Christine. “I wouldn’t have been doing this as long as I have if it weren’t for her by my side,” said Eddie. He has 4 children that he is very proud of. They are all grown up and out living their lives with families of their own.

Throughout his tenure at Crystal Clean, Eddie has proved himself to be a dependable asset. He has formed many friendships throughout the company and is known for his can-do attitude. There is a clear passion from Eddie when it comes to providing our customers with the best service possible. He is truly fit for his role as a leader for the Rochester branch and hope to see more success follow Eddie for years to come. 

Proper management of hazardous wastes is critical to keep our environment healthy and protect people’s well-being. When hazardous waste isn’t handled correctly, it can cause serious harm to our environment. There are many details that go into the hazardous waste disposal process to ensure that waste is managed safely. This includes knowing what materials are considered hazardous waste, where they come from, what rules are in place, the proper training for handling, and how waste can be disposed.

What is Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as, “a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or environment.” There are four characteristics that determine if waste is considered hazardous: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. There are also certain substances that are classified by the EPA as “listed” that must be treated as hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste can be found in places such as industrial and automotive facilities, hospitals, and even our homes. They can be found in chemical byproducts that exhibit some type of hazardous characteristic. If proper hazardous waste disposal methods are not used then these wastes can pollute our soil, water, and the air we breathe, resulting in harm to people, plants, and animals. Exposure to hazardous waste can lead to different health concerns such as breathing problems, neurological issues, and even cancer. The risk of harm to the environment and people is the reason why hazardous waste disposal requires proper guidance.

The Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) is a set of regulations created to encourage proper management of hazardous wastes. Any organization that generates hazardous waste is categorized as a hazardous waste generator and has cradle-to-grave responsibility for their waste. Depending on the amount of waste produced, a generator will be classified as a very small quantity, small quantity, or large quantity generator.

These rules determine how much and how long hazardous wastes can be on site and how they must be stored. The EPA also regulates the transportation, storage, recycling, treatment, and disposal methods for hazardous waste disposal. There are many methods of disposal for these types of waste such as supplemental fuel, incineration, and landfill neutralization/stabilization. Each of these methods serve as a safe and effective way to dispose of hazardous wastes.

Why Choose Crystal Clean for Hazardous Waste Disposal?

When looking for a partner to help you safely manage hazardous waste, it is important that they are trained and educated to operate in compliance with regulations for both the safety of the environment around them and their own well-being. Crystal Clean’s team of sales and service representatives are up to date on the latest local, state, and federal regulations, giving you a partner you can trust to safely manage hazardous waste. Our team can help take the hassle out of hazardous waste management, keeping your business in compliance and giving you peace of mind knowing your waste is being handled safely.

Proper hazardous material management is key to protecting the earth’s resources, and Crystal Clean is the name customers trust. We treat hazardous wastes in a variety of methods to meet your business and sustainability goals and are committed to helping your business run cleaner. For more information on these methods please visit our hazardous waste disposal page.

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Hoffman Estates, IL – Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (“Crystal Clean”), a leading provider of parts cleaning, hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, used oil re-refining, antifreeze recycling, industrial and field services, and emergency and spill response services, has acquired Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc. (“Envirosafe”), based in Oregon, OH.

The acquisition of Envirosafe expands Crystal Clean’s network to include a fully permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility. The facility holds both federal and state RCRA permits, allowing it to accept nearly 600 different U.S. EPA waste codes.

“The addition of Envirosafe immediately enhances our infrastructure with a fully permitted TSDF that improves our hazardous waste infrastructure and processing capabilities,” Brian Recatto, President & CEO of Crystal Clean, commented. “Adding these abilities will allow us to bring more value-added services to our growing customer base as we take another step towards realizing our of vision of helping the business world run cleaner. We are excited to welcome Envirosafe’s team members into Crystal Clean.”

With the acquisition, Crystal Clean now operates more than 120 service branches, industrial services facilities, and waste recovery centers serving the continental U.S. It’s waste recovery centers include a state-of-the-art oil re-refinery, multiple wastewater treatment and non-hazardous waste processing facilities, several antifreeze recovery centers, and the newest addition of a hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility.

About Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., provides environmental and industrial services to vehicle maintenance businesses, manufacturers and other industrial businesses, as well as utilities and governmental entities. Their service programs include parts cleaning, regulated containerized and bulk waste management, used oil collection and re-refining, wastewater vacuum, emergency and spill response, industrial and field services, and waste antifreeze collection, recycling and product sales. These services help customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. For more information about Heritage-Crystal Clean, visit www.crystal-clean.com.  

About Envirosafe Services of Ohio, Inc. (ESOI)

ESOI is a fully permitted hazardous waste TSDF with both state and federal Part B permits in Oregon, Ohio. ESOI supplies customers with specialized expertise in the treatment and disposal of environmentally sensitive wastes and by-products. ESOI’s long- term liability protection, proven waste management expertise, and commitment to premium services combine to offer premiere waste treatment and disposal services.

Located in the bustling city of Fort Worth, Texas you will find Courtney George. She is a Sales and Service Representative (SSR) with a contagious amount of charisma and became a proud member of the Crystal Clean team in 2021. Behind her, you’ll see an impressive trail of success that shows she has a promising future with Crystal Clean.

Courtney started her journey at Crystal Clean as a Branch Clerical in Dallas until she made the transition to become an SSR in Fort Worth. Her reasoning to wanting to become an SSR stems from her desire to help the people around her.  She prides herself at work by seeing how much of a positive impact she can leave when visiting the customers on her routes. Maintaining a strong drive for a task regardless of its size is just one of the traits that Courtney has that leaves Crystal Clean’s customers more than satisfied with the service they receive.

“She always impressed me with her professionalism dealing with customers” shared Todd Rohde, Divisional Vice President. “The way she supported customers as a Branch Clerical made her a perfect fit to be someone out in the field working face-to-face with our customers.”

Courtney lives out many of Crystal Clean’s values every day. Some of the most notable that make an impact in her day-to-day activities are accountability, respect, and safety. Being accountable is crucial for the environmental industry. Managing customer waste streams is something that our SSR’s deal with every day.  Once this waste is moved onto our trucks it becomes our responsibility and the accountability of our employees is what ensures the waste is properly managed.

Courtney stated, “You have to be accountable for your route and the image you present. From start to finish, we represent Crystal Clean through ourselves and our work”.

Respect is a value she holds in high regard as she always wants to help make people’s days better whenever possible. She said, “It is important to respect your coworkers, customers and the company itself”.

What might be the most important value to Courtney is safety. Safety is what ensures each person on the job gets to go home in good health. Courtney brought up how there are multiple safety checks in the SSR position that are there to keep employees and the environment safe.

She stays sharp by setting up challenges for herself that she has witnessed other SSR’s experience so that when the time comes, she’s prepared and ready. One of the notable milestones Courtney accomplished as her first steps to becoming an SSR was completing her CDL courses, as well as tanker and hazmat endorsements.  Courtney has a strong desire to want to succeed at any task and finds joy in making people’s lives easier, which made her a perfect fit for a Crystal Clean SSR.

“One of the things that has impressed me the most about Courtney is her attitude.  She has a very upbeat demeanor which is contagious,” said Fort Worth’s Branch Manager, Toby Knight when asked about Courtney. He went on to say, “She has meshed with our group well in Fort Worth and we are all proud to have her on the team.”

When asked her thoughts on the direction of Crystal Clean for the next 10 years Courtney said, “I hope to see the company expand and have more ownership of the waste facilities we use”.

Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time out with her friends and family gatherings with her siblings. She also has a 22-year-old son who she is very proud of and eager to see him succeed. She is also an avid fan of basketball and football. Her favorite teams are the LA Clippers and the LA Raiders and appreciates the chance to see them when they play in Texas.

What many people might not know about Courtney is that she has a background in construction. She was a professional electrician for over 2 years until she decided to move to a career path that enabled her to fulfill her passion for helping others.

When asked about her dream job within the company, Courtney expressed an interest in Human Resources, citing the opportunity to work closely with people as her motivation. It is clear to everyone who meets Courtney that she is a people person and would be suited to any position where she is able to help others.

Courtney has a great set of values and a drive to want to improve that contributes to her success as a Crystal Clean SSR. Her outgoing personality is a valuable tool when it comes to providing exceptional service to our customers. We are glad to have someone like her on our team and feel confident that she will continue to impress others throughout her Crystal Clean career.

As an environmental services company, one of Crystal Clean’s top priorities is to deliver services that promote safety and sustainability. A major piece of the puzzle is the importance of knowing the type of materials that are being collected, how to properly classify them, knowing what regulations apply, and ultimately what is the proper way to manage the waste.

A large part of Crystal Clean’s operations rely on the waste approvals process to ensure the safety of our employees and the environment through proper compliance. That’s where Crystal Clean’s Waste Approvals department comes in, led by Chuck Sizemore. As the Waste Approvals Manager, safety is a top priority for Chuck, stemming from his background in chemistry and a passion for compliance. He is dedicated to helping the field stay safe and ensuring the company is in compliance with regulations.

Chuck has worked in the environmental services industry for more than a decade and is a dedicated member of the Crystal Clean team that is making his mark in the EHS department at our corporate office in Hoffman Estates. Chuck’s journey at Crystal Clean has been nothing short of remarkable. Here’s an insight into his experiences and insights, shedding light on his career path, daily routine, and his perspective on life inside and outside of work.

Chuck initially joined Crystal Clean in the spring of 2007. Although he took a brief hiatus in 2015 to move to the Coachella Valley in California, he rejoined the team in 2018, demonstrating his strong commitment to the industry.

When Chuck started with Crystal Clean in 2007, the company was still in its early stages and the Waste Approvals department was a small team handling various responsibilities. Chuck had to wear many hats, working on approvals, permitting, reporting, and even renewing emissions for AFS vans. As the company grew over the years, his role evolved into the manager of the Waste Approvals department, taking on numerous challenges that came with the position.

A typical day for Chuck involves handling requests from the field to ensure everyone’s safety and compliance. He works with an impressive team that comes from various backgrounds relating to the environmental industry. His team plays a key role in keeping the company in compliance with EPA, DOT, and OSHA regulations. The waste approvals team helps keep Crystal Clean in compliance from the time materials are picked up from a customer, during transportation, while it’s in our facilities, and to the end processing site.

“Chuck has done an excellent job of leading his team towards success and promoting the importance of compliance and how it impacts the safety of those in the field,” shared Anita Decina, Crystal Clean’s VP of Operational, Safety & Environmental Excellence. “His team supports our sales force every day, answering emails and phone calls to help them maintain compliance and provide customers the service and excellence Crystal Clean is known for.”

Chuck thrives on problem-solving and finds that his ability to explain complex processes is a key trait that has contributed to his success. He encourages his team and coworkers to ask questions and believes that communication is essential for learning and improvement.          

When asked about what keeps his team working together so efficiently, Chuck shared this insight. “I encourage my group to ask questions. Not just to me, but to coworkers as well. You can learn from anyone by asking questions.”

The Waste Approvals department plays a critical role for Crystal Clean’s entire field sales and service staff. Chuck’s team has a vital role in ensuring proper waste characterization, disposal categorization, and routing. They also help with technical support, making the profiling process more manageable for the field staff and beneficial for customers.

“There are many people counting on the Waste Approvals department each day at Crystal Clean, and I want to help as many of them as I can” shared Chuck when on the topic of his team’s duty towards the field.

Chuck enjoys the puzzle-solving aspect of the waste approvals process, where each waste stream presents a unique challenge to address. As a manager, he fosters teamwork, encourages his team to discuss work issues with colleagues, and emphasizes the importance of collaborative decision-making. Chuck lives out Crystal Clean’s values by forming strong relationships to ensure effective teamwork. He believes that everyone’s ability to work together will lead to our success.

Outside of work, Chuck has a rich family life, with a wife and two young children, along with a dog and a couple of parakeets. He’s a man of diverse interests, holding three chemistry degrees with a minor in medieval studies.

Looking ahead, Chuck is excited to watch Crystal Clean continue expanding its capabilities as the company grows, allowing it to consistently exceed the needs and expectations of customers. Chuck’s dedication, problem-solving skills, and commitment to safety make him a valuable member of Crystal Clean, and he looks forward to continuing his journey with the company.

Crystal Clean’s Board of Directors Unanimously Recommends Shareholders Vote “FOR” Each of the Proposals at the Upcoming Special Meeting

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCCI) (“Crystal Clean” or the “Company”) today announced that leading independent proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”) and Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) recommend that Crystal Clean shareholders vote “FOR” Crystal Clean’s proposed combination with J.F. Lehman & Company (“JFLCO”) at the Company’s upcoming Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) scheduled for October 10, 2023.

Brian Recatto, President and CEO of Crystal Clean, said, “We are pleased that ISS and Glass Lewis recognize the benefits of Crystal Clean’s transaction with JFLCO, and support our recommendation that all shareholders vote ‘FOR’ the proposal to adopt and approve the merger agreement. We are confident this transaction is in the best interests of Crystal Clean and its shareholders, and will strengthen our ability to serve our customers, and employees as the partner of choice nationwide for premier environmentally-sustainable solutions. We strongly urge all Crystal Clean shareholders to follow the recommendation of the Crystal Clean Board of Directors by voting ‘FOR’ all transaction-related proposals today.”

As previously announced, Crystal Clean and JFLCO have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which JFLCO agreed to acquire Crystal Clean for $45.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. Crystal Clean and JFLCO expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, approval by Crystal Clean shareholders, and satisfaction of other customary conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Crystal Clean will become a privately held company and shares of Crystal Clean common stock will no longer be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange or trade in any other public market.

If Crystal Clean shareholders have any questions or need assistance in voting their shares, they should contact Crystal Clean’s proxy solicitor, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., at (800) 322-2885 (toll-free) or (212) 929-5500 (collect), or email at proxy@mackenziepartners.com.

About Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. provides parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal, emergency and spill response, and industrial and field services to vehicle maintenance businesses, manufacturers and other industrial businesses, as well as utilities and governmental entities. Our service programs include parts cleaning, regulated containerized and bulk waste management, used oil collection and re-refining, wastewater vacuum, emergency and spill response, industrial and field services, waste antifreeze collection, recycling and product sales. These services help our customers manage their used chemicals and liquid and solid wastes, while also helping to minimize their regulatory burdens. Through our used oil re-refining program, during fiscal 2022, we recycled approximately 66 million gallons of used oil into high quality lubricating base oil, and we are a supplier to firms that produce and market finished lubricants. Through our antifreeze program during fiscal 2022 we recycled approximately 4.5 million gallons of spent antifreeze which was used to produce a full line of virgin-quality antifreeze products. Through our parts cleaning program during fiscal 2022 we recycled 2.3 million gallons of used solvent into virgin-quality solvent to be used again by our customers. In addition, we sold 0.6 million gallons of used solvent into the reuse market. Through our containerized waste program during fiscal 2022 we collected approximately 22 thousand tons of regulated waste which was sent for energy recovery. Through our wastewater vacuum services program during fiscal 2022 we treated approximately 84 million gallons of wastewater. Crystal Clean is headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and operates through 105 branch and industrial services locations serving approximately 104,000 customer locations.

About J.F. Lehman & Company

J.F. Lehman & Company is a leading private equity investment firm focused on the aerospace, defense, maritime and environmental sectors. This investment strategy reflects the firm’s deep experience in and commitment to these sectors since the firm’s founding three decades ago. Headquartered in New York, NY, the firm currently has approximately $4.5 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.jflpartners.com.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement (the “proposed merger”). In connection with the proposed merger, Crystal Clean filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a definitive proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) on Schedule 14A on August 31, 2023. Crystal Clean has mailed the Proxy Statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the proposed merger. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Crystal Clean may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF CRYSTAL CLEAN ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. Investors and security holders are or will be able to obtain the documents (if and when available) free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or free of charge from Crystal Clean by directing a request to Mark DeVita, EVP & CFO, at mark.devita@crystal-clean.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Crystal Clean and JFLCO and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders of Crystal Clean in favor of the proposed merger. Information about Crystal Clean’s directors and executive officers is set forth in the Proxy Statement. Additional information concerning the interests of Crystal Clean’s participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of Crystal Clean ’s stockholders generally, is also set forth in the Proxy Statement.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results and are not statements of historical fact. Such statements may include statements regarding the completion of the proposed merger and the expected timing of the completion of the proposed merger, the management of Crystal Clean upon completion of the proposed merger and Crystal Clean’s plans upon completion of the proposed merger. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions as of the time they are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often accompanied by words that convey projected future events or outcomes such as “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “view,” “opportunity,” “potential,” or words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of Crystal Clean or its management about future events. There can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of Crystal Clean will not differ materially from any projected future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Actual future results, performance or achievements may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the control of Crystal Clean, including, but not limited to: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the inability to complete the proposed merger due to the failure to obtain stockholder approval for the proposed merger or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the proposed merger; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from Crystal Clean’s ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed merger; Crystal Clean’s ability to retain and hire key personnel in light of the proposed merger; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed merger that may impact Crystal Clean’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the ability of the buyer to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the proposed merger; potential litigation relating to the proposed merger that could be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on Crystal Clean’s relationships with its customers, operating results and business generally; and the risk that the proposed merger will not be consummated in a timely manner, if at all. Crystal Clean refers you to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Crystal Clean’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and comparable sections of Crystal Clean’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All of the forward-looking statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on Crystal Clean or its business or operations. Readers are cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Crystal Clean does not undertake any obligation to update, revise or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Heritage-Crystal Clean

Investor Contact:
Mark DeVita
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
mark.devita@crystal-clean.com
847-836-5670

Media Contact:
Mike Ademe
Communications & Marketing Manager
mike.ademe@crystal-clean.com
224-281-1530

or

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Eric Brielmann / Kaitlin Kikalo
212-355-4449

JFLCO

Karina Perelmuter
IR@Jflpartners.com

At Crystal Clean, the reason we are successful is because of the grit and drive of our employees. Our team is why we’re able to provide premier, environmentally sustainable solutions to our customers. From the truck to the office and our operating facilities, we couldn’t be where we are today without our team.

Crystal Clean’s operations team are sometimes the unsung heroes that customers don’t always hear from. They are running things behind the scenes to make sure everything is prepared and goes where it needs to go. Crystal Clean’s antifreeze services team is one group where the field and operations groups are constantly communicating with one another to ensure customers receive the service and products they expect from a leading environmental company.

Crystal Clean is one of the largest antifreeze recyclers in North America and operates five antifreeze recovery centers across the nation. Out at the Battle Creek antifreeze recovery center, you’ll meet Kenny McDaniel and his operations team. Kenny is the facility manager and leads a team that reclaims used antifreeze collected from Crystal Clean’s sales and service representatives to produce new antifreeze products. The new product goes back to customers and creates a sustainable, closed-loop system that is cost-effective and reduces waste.

“I love being able to do what I do at Crystal Clean,” Kenny shared. “I’ve been in the business for more than 20 years, and it still amazes me how we’re able to take used antifreeze and transform it into a new product. The science behind the pre-treatment, distillation, and blending process keeps on improving and that is helping us create a premium product year-after-year.”

When you walk into the Battle Creek antifreeze recovery center, it can be easy to get overwhelmed initially with everything you see. Pipes, valves, racks, towers, machinery, and loading docks are all around you. Things are always moving with operators running equipment, loading and offloading trucks, testing product quality, and more.

“Our facility operates 24/7, so there are plenty of moving pieces to keep track of,” Kenny said. “Organization is key to running a facility like this and my goal is to make sure our team has everything they need to work effectively. I’m constantly planning to ensure we have enough feedstock to create our product, plenty of containers to store product in, and that we have transportation coordinated for receiving materials and shipping finished product.”
The Battle Creek facility is one of Crystal Clean’s largest antifreeze recovery centers and is continuing to expand as the company’s antifreeze service line grows. On average, the facility processes more than 160,000 gallons of antifreeze each month!

“Kenny’s leadership and his team at the Battle Creek facility are why the facility is operating at such a high level of excellence,” said Manny Robles, Crystal Clean’s Antifreeze Recycling Operations Manager. “It takes a lot of planning and coordination to run an antifreeze recovery operation, and they continue to exceed production goals month after month.”

The success of the Battle Creek recovery center come from not just one person alone. Kenny shared that the excellence his team brings in each day is vital to their success and that he is there to support them so that they can do their jobs well. One of the first things Kenny does when he comes in for the day is check-in with all of the operators to make sure everything is running well. He also puts a big emphasis on frequent communication and asking questions.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the amazing team we have at the facility,” Kenny said. “Communication is key and I’m always listening to ideas from my team on how we can improve things at the facility to operate more safely and efficiently. We all take pride in working here and the team genuinely cares about what’s going on with one another. We’re all in this together.”

Reflecting on his time at Crystal Clean, Kenny is excited for the things ahead. Sustainability is an important value to him, and he is proud to play a role at a company with the vision of helping the business world run cleaner. He is grateful for the opportunities he’s been given and how it has helped him develop into the leader he is today. Kenny is looking forward to what’s next as Crystal Clean continues to grow.