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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DWKo/ScPAijEO9Regv4069RbavEcpmqLk9y34GPZs7bz0E7UqpiEj4f57jx5IwAA
 Qzk9PeqEwwqp1o3zU6YajQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-035549.txt : 20031215
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-035549.hdr.sgml : 20031215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031215105530
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-035549
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLEAN HARBORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000822818
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT [4955]
		IRS NUMBER:				042997780
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1501 WASHINGTON ST
		STREET 2:		325 WOOD RD
		CITY:			BRAINTREE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02184
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6178491800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 327
		STREET 2:		325 WOOD ROAD
		CITY:			BRAINTREE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02184

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GEARY WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032361
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16379
		FILM NUMBER:		031053327

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CLEAN HARBORS INC
		STREET 2:		1501 WASHINGTON STREET
		CITY:			BRAIN TREE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02185
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781 849 1800 X4453

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CLEAN HARBORS INC
		STREET 2:		1501 WASHINGTON STREET
		CITY:			BRAINTREE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02185
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd25631.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000822818</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CLEAN HARBORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>clhb</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001032361</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GEARY WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CLEAN HARBORS ,  INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1501 WASHINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRAINTREE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02185-9048</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Ex. Vice Pres.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock (exercise of Employee Stock Option)</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>7.66</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1842</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndi
rectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName>William J. Geary</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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</TEXT>
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