Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Environmental Remediation Chicago IL Experts
Founded in 1946, RW Collins has established itself as a leader in environmental remediation, excavation, and underground tank removal services. With over 75 years of experience, we specialize in addressing contaminated soil and hazardous waste challenges across commercial, residential, and industrial sites. Our third-generation, family-owned business combines deep industry expertise with a modern equipment fleet to deliver safe, efficient, and code-compliant solutions.Certified as a Women-Owned Business, we serve clients throughout Chicago and the Midwest, including engineering firms, government agencies, and oil companies. Our commitment to safety excellence and environmental stewardship has earned us an industry-leading reputation for tackling projects of all scopes and complexities.
Services
Environmental Remediation
Excavation Services
Underground Tank Removal
Soil Remediation
Brownfield Remediation
In-situ Mixing Treatment
Hazardous Waste Removal
Site Preparation
Tank Abandonment
Contaminated Soil Cleanup
Details
- Year established: 1946
Highlights and features
- We offer 75+ years of specialized expertise in environmental remediation and excavation
- Our OSHA 40-hour HAZMAT-certified crews ensure the highest safety standards
- We maintain one of the Midwest's most versatile equipment fleets for diverse projects
- Our patented in-situ soil treatment methods reduce project costs and hazardous waste generation
- Third-generation family ownership ensures deep institutional knowledge and accountability
Associations and certifications
- WBENC
- Avetta
- ISNet
- Browz
- PEC
- ASA Chicago
- UCA of Illinois
- National Safety Council
Services
Environmental Remediation
We specialize in hazardous and non-hazardous soil remediation for industrial, commercial, and residential sites. Our OSHA-certified teams utilize advanced techniques like in-situ mixing and ISCO to treat contaminants including PCBs, lead, and petroleum compounds. With thousands of completed projects across the Midwest, we provide full documentation and EPA-compliant disposal solutions for contaminated materials.
Underground Tank Removal
As Chicago's leading tank removal contractor since 1946, we handle UST decommissioning for gas stations, airports, and industrial facilities. Our licensed crews safely remove tanks ranging from 130 to 100,000 gallons while navigating complex obstacles. We maintain state licenses in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin with full compliance documentation for all removal projects.
Excavation Services
Our extensive equipment fleet supports excavation projects for new construction, infrastructure, and remediation sites. Capabilities include foundation work, utility trenching, and hazardous material handling. We utilize GPS technology and drones for precision grading, serving developers and contractors with turnkey solutions from site preparation to final grading.
In-situ Remediation
We implement cost-effective in-situ mixing techniques to treat contamination on-site. This method reduces hazardous waste generation by using specialized equipment to stabilize contaminants in place. Our approach offers faster remediation times and lower costs compared to traditional excavation methods while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Brownfield Remediation
Our experts specialize in revitalizing contaminated industrial sites for redevelopment. We handle MGP sites, former manufacturing facilities, and other complex brownfields using customized remediation plans. With decades of experience in regulatory compliance, we provide complete documentation and community-focused solutions that meet environmental standards.
People
Robert W. Collins
Founder
A WWII Navy Seabee veteran, Robert W. Collins established the company in 1946 after constructing infrastructure in the Pacific theater. His legacy of engineering excellence and commitment to quality forms the foundation of our safety-first culture and technical expertise.
Questions
What environmental remediation services do you offer?
We handle hazardous and non-hazardous soil remediation, in-situ mixing, MGP site cleanup, and brownfield reclamation for commercial, industrial, and residential properties across the Midwest.
Are you certified for hazardous material handling?
Our crews hold OSHA 40-hour HAZMAT training, Confined Space Entry, and UST Decommissioning Certificates. We maintain certifications with Avetta, ISNet, and other leading safety organizations.
How long have you served the Chicago area?
Since 1946, we've provided excavation and environmental services to Chicago and the Midwest, completing thousands of projects including the Percy L. Julian HS sports complex renovation.
What excavation capabilities do you have?
We handle site clearing, foundation work, utility trenching, and hazardous material excavation using GPS-guided equipment and a modern fleet capable of managing projects of all sizes.
Do you handle large-scale tank removal projects?
Yes, we specialize in tank farm decommissioning for oil companies and industrial clients, including the OHare Super Satellite Tank Farm project, with removal capabilities up to 100,000-gallon tanks.
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