Episode
How Alan McKim Built Clean Harbors into a Five Billion Dollar Environmental Services Company
- Published
- Nov 18, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3452
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Summary
Alan McKim , founder of Clean Harbors , joins the Environmental Transformation Podcast to discuss how he grew the company from a four-person startup in 1980 into one of North America's largest environmental and industrial services providers. McKim reflects on early emergency response work, major acquisitions including Safety Kleen, going public during the 1987 crash, and building a nationwide network of 20,000 employees, 10,000 vehicles, 700 service centers, and 100 permitted waste facilities. He also shares insights from his Undercover Boss experience, the role technology plays in Clean Harbors operations, and lessons from his book, “ Doing the Doing .” Thanks to our Sponsors: WASTELINQ , E-Tank , and Cascade Environmental