Crystal Clean Expands Technical and Field Services Capabilities with Acquisition of AET Environmental

11/18/2021 | Comment

Heritage-Crystal Clean, LLC (Crystal Clean), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers, acquired AET Environmental, based in Denver, CO, on September 30, 2021.

“We are excited to have AET Environmental join the Crystal Clean family,” Crystal Clean President & CEO Brian Recatto said. “Their tremendous amount of technical experience and capabilities has been critical to their long-term success, and we will lean on their expertise as we continue to expand our technical and field services capabilities across the company.”

AET Environmental was founded in 1993 and specializes in hazardous and industrial waste disposal, in-plant support and remediation, as well as training and compliance assistance. They operate four locations in the western and southern United States and serve customers within manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, medical and industrial laboratories, and more. AET Environmental will continue to do business under the same name, now as a Heritage-Crystal Clean company.

“We are excited to support Crystal Clean in realizing their vision of helping the business world run cleaner,” said Frank Virginia, General Manager of AET Environmental. “We look forward to sharing our expertise with the Crystal Clean team and expanding Crystal Clean’s footprint in the environmental and technical services markets.”

Heritage-Crystal Clean was founded in 1999 and operates a network of more than 90 service branches across the nation and multiple waste recovery centers, including an oil re-refinery, regional antifreeze recovery centers, and several wastewater treatment facilities. Crystal Clean offers the wide range of services needed to protect the environment and create a brighter, sustainable future.

Crystal Clean Acquires Raider Environmental Services

11/11/2021 | Comment

Heritage-Crystal Clean, LLC (Crystal Clean), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers, acquired Raider Environmental Services, based in the Miami-Dade area of Florida, on September 14, 2021. The acquisition of Raider Environmental adds two locations to the Crystal Clean network of facilities, including a new wastewater treatment facility, in southern Florida.

“This acquisition is another strategic step for us as we continue to increase our internal waste disposal capabilities,” Crystal Clean President & CEO Brian Recatto said. “Crystal Clean now has an additional wastewater treatment facility with non-hazardous waste solidification capabilities, which will serve as an internal offload site for vacuum and bulk wastewater as we continue to expand our retail industrial waste marketing presence.”

Raider Environmental Services was founded in 2001 and has the capabilities for wastewater collection and treatment, emergency response, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste management. The company also has expertise in the unique waste management process required by the marine industry to decontaminate, transport, and safely recycle/dispose of any industrial waste produced by the cruise industry. Raider Environmental will be transitioning to doing business under the Crystal Clean name.

Heritage-Crystal Clean was founded in 1999 and operates a network of 90 service branches across the nation and multiple waste recovery centers, including an oil re-refinery, regional antifreeze recovery centers, and several wastewater treatment facilities. Crystal Clean offers the wide range of services needed to protect the environment and create a brighter, sustainable future.

Crystal Clean Announces Acquisition of Coles Environmental

10/25/2021 | Comment

Heritage-Crystal Clean, LLC (Crystal Clean), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers, acquired Coles Environmental, based in Bakersfield, CA, on August 24, 2021.

“With this acquisition, Crystal Clean continues to strengthen its position in the western United States,” Crystal Clean President & CEO Brian Recatto said. “Coles Environmental has the capabilities and permits to process and consolidate a wide range of California hazardous and industrial non-hazardous materials, allowing us to continue growing our customer base and offer first class, sustainability-minded services.”

Coles Environmental was founded in 1988 and operates a state and federally permitted facility, offering environmental services, testing, and treatment for bulk solids, liquids, and containerized wastes. The facility will be integrated into Crystal Clean as a waste processing facility and distribution hub for many of the company’s products and services. The location will improve Crystal Clean’s route density, distribution cost structure, and efficiency. Coles Environmental will be transitioning to doing business under the Crystal Clean name.

“Joining the Crystal Clean network of branches is an exciting next step,” said Bryan Hill, General Manager of Coles Environmental. “Customers will continue to receive the same great service from the same great people, now with the support of Crystal Clean’s nationwide network and wide range of services to offer customers throughout California.”

Heritage-Crystal Clean was founded in 1999 and operates a network of more than 85 service branches across the nation and multiple waste recovery centers, including an oil re-refinery, regional antifreeze recovery centers, and several wastewater treatment facilities. Crystal Clean offers the wide range of services needed to protect the environment and create a brighter, sustainable future.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Announces Record 2021 Third Quarter Results

10/20/2021 |

ELGIN, IL, October 20, 2021 —  Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (Nasdaq: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers, today announced results for the third quarter which ended September 11, 2021.

The company hosted a conference call on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at 9:30 AM Central Time, during which management gave a presentation focusing on the Company’s operations and financial results. 

To view the financial results of the third quarter of 2021, please visit our financial releases page.

Crystal Clean CEO Brian Recatto Appears on Podcast, “Compounders: Anatomy of a Multibagger”

10/14/2021 | Comment

Crystal Clean CEO & President Brian Recatto appeared on the October 12, 2021 episode of the investor podcast “Compounders: Anatomy of a Multibagger.” The episode, hosted by Cove Street Capital Portfolio Manager Ben Claremon, is titled “Leading the Future of Waste Recycling.”

In the episode, CEO Recatto discusses a variety of topics with Claremon, such as how the company’s foundation is built on the sustainable recycling of waste, how Crystal Clean has navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of engaging employees throughout all areas of the company. The full episode can be viewed below, and can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean.

“Compounders: The Anatomy of a Multibagger” is hosted by Cove Street Capital Portfolio Manager, Ben Claremon, as he interviews public company executives to understand how successful leaders compound shareholders’ wealth over time. For more information about Cove Street Capital, please visit: www.CoveStreetCapital.com.

Crystal Clean Publishes Company Sustainability Report

10/04/2021 | Comment

As part of Crystal Clean’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiative, we are excited to share the release of our first company Sustainability Report. The report tells the story of how Crystal Clean is committed to sustainable waste recovery operations to recycle, reduce, and reuse.

“To us, sustainability is more than a simple check-the-box initiative,” shared Crystal Clean President & CEO Brian Recatto. “It is a journey and an area that requires constant re-evaluation to identify areas where we succeed and can continue to improve.”

This report focuses Crystal Clean’s ESG initiatives around “5 Ps”, which are Planet, People, Partnerships, Prosperity, and Peace. The 5 Ps were created from the United Nations list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) intended to bring together and grow a safer, stable, healthier, and more prosperous world. Using the 5 Ps will help Crystal Clean measure its progress and work to balance and support our goals.

The sustainability report shares Crystal Clean’s commitment to these practices while helping to create a safe, sustainable environment for customers and the communities we work in. We strive for continuous improvement as we evolve our environmental footprint and help the business world run cleaner.

“Sustainability is part of who we are as a company,” said Anita Decina, Crystal Clean’s Vice President of Operational, Safety, & Environmental Excellence. “Crystal Clean remains committed to sustainability in all areas of the company and helping others do the same.”

Crystal Clean’s sustainability report can be found on the Crystal Clean website at https://www.crystal-clean.com/company-info/sustainability/.

View Sustainability Report

Employee Spotlight – Carla Sipe

09/09/2021 | Comment
carla sipe

It’s time to be honest. When was the last time you read through the entire terms and conditions of a website or app? If you find yourself quickly skimming and scrolling through the body of text to get to the bottom, you’re not alone. A 2017 survey by Deloitte found that 91% of people agree to a terms of service without reading them. But within that last 9%, there are people like Carla Sipe who are detail-oriented and make sure everything in a contract lines up to be beneficial for both parties.

Carla has been part of the Crystal Clean team since 2007 and is currently the Contracts and Litigation Manager within the Legal Department. Each day, she wears multiple hats and can go from analyzing service agreements, submitting formalized bids for services, assisting with litigation matters, and more in a single day. Carla also finds herself and her team supporting departments across the company to help make their jobs easier as well.

“At its core, my job is help make the jobs out in the field easier for our sales and service team,” she shared. “Negotiating contracts with customers and vendors, sharing certificates of insurance, providing W-9 information, and many other parts of my job is focused around creating a smooth process for setting up new customers and vendors as our field team grows the business.”

Leading up to her current role, Carla has worked in several departments at Crystal Clean’s corporate headquarters in Elgin, IL. She’s held positions within Branch Administration, Accounting, and Corporate Accounts, giving her a thorough understanding of many vital areas that help the company continue to run on a day-to-day basis. And once she moved to the legal department, she felt that she found her niche.

“I started negotiating contracts in 2011 and I felt I found a role that was perfect for me,” she said. “Every time a new contract comes in, I see it as a problem-solving challenge where my goal is to create a contract everyone agrees on. That feeling of satisfaction after negotiating a contract where both parties are happy is one of my favorite parts of my job.”

When asked to share some insights on what she views as important characteristics that lead to success, Carla was quick to point out the importance of setting goals for yourself both personally and professionally. Goal setting at Crystal Clean lead Carla to create personal goals for herself that were a little out of her comfort zone. Starting with small goals and growing from there as time went on is a key piece of what she has attributed to her successful career at Crystal Clean. And encouraging others to set goals and supporting them along the way is something that is just as important.

“Carla has always been an important part of our law department. Many of the accomplishments we’ve had with our contracting process have been a result of her hard work and organization. Carla is also a great manager and a natural leader. We have a very cohesive and supportive team environment, and she’s a critical part of it,” shared David Chameli, VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. “Doing the right thing is very important to her. She is extremely client focused, and she’s always prepared to help anyone at a moment’s notice.”

Carla has always felt support by Crystal Clean and her team to grow in her career and continue to take advantage of new opportunities. In fact, she was encouraged by her team to look into Crystal Clean’s Education Assistance Program to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Carla took advantage of this program, and graduated from Franklin University in 2017 with a degree in Business Administration.

“There are always opportunities in front of you, and the best thing you can do is take advantage of them,” she said. “Crystal Clean makes it a goal to promote from within. Asking questions and finding opportunities for you to cross-train are always a positive step forward for your career and also build your confidence in the work you do.”

Carla is excited to continue her career at Crystal Clean as both the company and the Legal team continue to grow. She knows there are exciting things in store for the future and can’t wait to see what’s next. Carla has recently taken a great interest in traveling and has a goal to visit all 50 states and five other continents in her lifetime. Carla’s most recent experience was a mission trip to Kenya, Africa. When Carla is not traveling, she enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with family. 

you can do is take advantage of them.

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. Welcomes Tony Chase to its Board of Directors

02/15/2021 | Comment

Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (NASDAQ: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services, announced today the addition of Tony Chase to its Board of Directors.

“We are excited to welcome Tony to Heritage-Crystal Clean’s Board of Directors,“ said Heritage-Crystal Clean President & CEO Brian Recatto. “Mr. Chase is a highly respected entrepreneur and leader in the Houston area with a proven track record of building successful businesses in an aggressive timeframe. Having a group of diverse voices at the leadership table is increasingly important as we work to reach our full potential as a leading environmental services company that helps the business world run cleaner.”

Mr. Chase is the current chairman and CEO of ChaseSource, L.P., a Houston-based staffing, facilities management, and real estate development firm that is recognized as one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the nation. He is also the principal owner of the Marriott Hotel at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX.

“The world is re-evaluating its relationship with waste and where energy comes from,” Tony shared. “Crystal Clean is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities now and in the future as a leader in the environmental services industry. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the strategic plan of the company as we all work towards reaching our full capacity.”

Mr. Chase is a Houston native and graduate from Harvard College, holds a degree from Harvard Law School and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a successful entrepreneur and has started and sold three ventures, including a conglomerate of radio stations, a group of international call centers, and the mobile phone service provider Cricket Wireless. He also sits on the board of several Houston-area nonprofits and national companies.

Mr. Chase is the recipient of many awards including the American Jewish Committee’s 2016 Human Relations Award, Houston Technology Center’s 2015 Entrepreneur of the Year, 2013 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award (NAACP), 2013 Bob Onstead Leadership Award (GHP) and the 2012 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award. He also received Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Pinnacle Award (Bank of America) and the Baker Faculty Award (UH Law Center).


In September of 2020 we accepted The Board Challenge and we are proud to say that in less than six months we have met that challenge. We strongly believe Heritage-Crystal Clean will realize many benefits from the contributions Mr. Chase will bring to our business.

Heritage-Crystal Clean Partners with Romeo Power and Heritage Environmental Services to Invest in Future of Battery Recycling

02/10/2021 | Comment

The Heritage Group and Heritage Environmental Services, Inc. (collectively, “Heritage”), a leader in environmental and sustainability services, launched a new division, Heritage Battery Recycling (HBR), in late 2020 to address growing market demand for safe, sustainable solutions for lithium-ion batteries near or at end-of-life. HBR’s goal is to recover and reuse critical battery precursor resources that exist in finite supply across the globe.

In collaboration with Romeo Power, Inc. (“Romeo Power”) (NYSE: RMO), an energy technology leader delivering large-scale electrification solutions for complex commercial applications, HBR will develop a battery reuse and recycling facility sited in the southwestern United States.

“By working directly with Romeo Power, we have a unique opportunity to provide a safe, environmentally sound end-of-life strategy for commercial truck manufacturers, commercial fleet managers and conscientious business owners who are investing in clean energy today,” said Jeff Laborsky, CEO of Heritage. “We are proud to be part of this long-term sustainability collaboration.”

“Romeo Power is thrilled to expand our end-to-end electrification strategy through the Heritage Battery Recycling facility” said Lionel Selwood Jr., CEO of Romeo Power. “We are committed to anticipating our customers’ long-term needs as they transition to electrification, and HBR will provide them with a turnkey solution to repurpose end-of-life batteries safely and responsibly.”

To jumpstart efficiencies in transportation and logistics for HBR’s battery collection operations across North America, Heritage partnered with Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc. (“Crystal Clean”) (Nasdaq: HCCI), a leading provider of parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services primarily focused on small and mid-sized customers. Crystal Clean’s extensive network of 89 branch locations, advanced logistic operations and long-standing customer relationships across the automotive sector position it as an optimal partner for HBR.

Together, Heritage and Crystal Clean bring HBR access to over 100,000 customer locations, 2,500 knowledgeable employees, a fleet of over 1,300 power units and 108 facility locations across North America.

“The creation of Heritage Battery Recycling, and our partnership with Crystal Clean, reflects our 50-year legacy of pursuing sustainable solutions for our customers, and further demonstrates our commitment to achieving our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals,” said Jeff Laborsky, CEO of Heritage. “Our two companies together combine the strengths of Crystal Clean’s advanced collection capabilities with Heritage’s safe processing expertise.”

”Since its inception, Heritage-Crystal Clean has partnered with Heritage in an effort to provide value to our customers,” explained Brian Recatto, President and CEO of Heritage-Crystal Clean. “We’re excited about our commitment to invest in a new partnership with Heritage Battery Recycling because it not only furthers our valuable relationship with Heritage, but is demonstrative of our vision to protect the earth’s resources and our mission to provide environmentally sustainable solutions to our customers.”

HBR is investing in technology, partnerships and people to help identify the highest and best use of reduced capacity electric vehicle batteries and establishing best practices for recycling or refurbishment. Heritage’s experience with safely handling hazardous waste and managing total byproduct programs with many auto OEMs, makes it a natural fit for collaboration with automotive manufacturers facing this industry-wide challenge.

Heritage announced today that Shane Thompson has been named President of newly formed HBR. “Shane is the right leader for Heritage Battery Recycling,” said Laborsky. “His extensive background in battery end-of-life management makes him one of the world’s leading experts in this rapidly evolving industry. We are confident that Shane’s strong business relationships and deep understanding of the battery value chain will quickly position Heritage Battery Recycling as a market leader in North America.”

“I was thrilled to be asked to join the team and launch Heritage Battery Recycling,” said Shane Thompson. “We’ve reached an inflection point in the electrification of vehicles across North America – and as those spent battery units move to recycling or reuse opportunities, Heritage Battery Recycling will be ready to meet the demand.”