Company: CLH
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000822818-25-000007
Chunk: 279

Company: CLEAN HARBORS INC
Filing Date: 2025-02-19
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 279
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uctions in the demand for oil products and automotive services and volatility in oil prices in the markets we serve may negatively affect certain of our businesses.

Our operations, predominately within the SKSS segment, involve collecting used oil, re-refining a portion of such used oil into base and blended lubricating oils and then selling both base and blended oil products to customers. Reduced demand for oil products, whether temporary due to market conditions or a lasting long-term trend, may also lower demand for our services of collecting used oil and, in turn, reduce our feedstock oil volumes for processing through our re-refineries. There are significant fixed costs associated with operating our re-refinery facilities and should production volumes at these facilities decrease, our results of operations and profitability may be materially impacted. 

Factors such as geopolitical developments, supply and demand imbalances and macroeconomic shifts may contribute to heightened oil price volatility in global oil markets. This volatility may lead to reduced profitability and increased operating costs in our oil operations and also may impact the cost of fuels throughout our transportation network and facilities. These volatility impacts may affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Other businesses, including our Safety-Kleen branches’ core service offerings of containerized waste collection services, parts washer services and vacuum services, are inextricably connected to the automotive industry. Miles driven and routine automotive maintenance, along with other automotive industry trends, impact demand for parts-washer services, containerized waste collections and vacuum services. Declines in this industry, whether temporary or a lasting trend, may reduce the demand for these core service offerings which may adversely impact our financial results.

LEGAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE RISKS

Our businesses are subject to numerous statutory and regulatory requirements, which may increase in the future.

Our businesses are subject to numerous statutory and regulatory requirements. Our ability to continue to hold licenses and permits required for our businesses is subject to maintaining satisfactory compliance with such requirements. We may incur significant costs to maintain compliance. Our ability to obtain modifications to our permits or obtain permits to expand our facilities may be met with resistance, substantial statutory or regulatory requirements or may be too costly to achieve. These requirements may cause us to postpone or cancel our plans. Future statutory and regulatory requirements, including any legislation focused on combating climate change, may require significant cost to comply or may require changes to our products or services. 

Regulators, in addition to investors, customers and the public in general, have been increasingly focused on environmental, social and cybersecurity practices of