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SCHEDULE 13G
(12/31/97)

CLEAN HARBORS INC
Cusip # 184496107
Amendment

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Cusip # 184496107

Item  1:    REPORTING PERSONS
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (Tax ID: 22-2370029)

Item  4:    CITIZENSHIP
Delaware Corporation

Item  5:    SOLE VOTING POWER
423,200   (See Note 1)*
* Persons who are officers of Dimensional Fund Advisors
Inc. also serve as officers of DFA Investment Dimensions
Group Inc., (the "Fund") and The DFA Investment Trust
Company (the "Trust"), each an open-end management
investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.  In their capacities as officers of
the Fund and the Trust, these persons vote 83,200
additional shares which are owned by the Fund and
122,500   shares which are owned by the Trust. (Included
in Item 7 of this page of this Schedule)

Item  6:    SHARED VOTING POWER --
None

Item  7:    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER --
628,900   (See Note 1)

Item  8:    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER --
0

Item  9:    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED --
628,900   (See Note 1)

Item 11:    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY LINE 9 --
6.23  (See Note 1)

Item 12:    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON --
IA

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ITEM 1(A).  NAME OF ISSUER

CLEAN HARBORS INC

ITEM 1(B).  ADDRESS OF ISSUER

1501 Washington Street
BRAINTREE  MA  02184

ITEM 2(A).  NAME OF PERSON FILING

Dimensional Fund Advisors

ITEM 2(B).  ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA  90401

ITEM 2(C).  CITIZENSHIP

A Delaware Corporation

ITEM 2(D).  TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES

Common Stock

ITEM 2(E).  CUSIP NUMBER

184496107

ITEM 3.     This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1 (b), or
13d-2 (b) and the person filing is an investment advisor
registered under section 203 of the Investment Advisors
Act of 1940.

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ITEM 4.     OWNERSHIP
ITEM 4(a).  AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
See Page 2, Item No. 9
ITEM 4(b).  PERCENT OF CLASS
See Page 2, Item No. 11
ITEM 4(c).  NUMBER OF SHARE AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
(i).  SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR DIRECT THE VOTE --
See Page 2, Item No. 5
(ii).  SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE --
None
(iii).  SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT DISPOSITION OF --
See Page 2, Item No. 9
(iv).  SHARE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT DISPOSISTION OF --
None

ITEM 5.     OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that
as of 12/31/97 the reporting person has ceased to be the
beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class
of securities, check the following: [ ]

ITEM 6.     OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF
ANOTHER PERSON
All Securities reported in this schedule are onwed by
advisory clients of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc., no one
of which to the knowledge of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.
owns more than 5% of the class.  Dimensional Fund Advisors
Inc disclaims beneficial ownership of all such securities.

ITEM 7.     IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY:
Not Applicable

ITEM 8.     IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
Not Applicable

ITEM 9.     NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not Applicable

ITEM 10.    CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired
in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for
the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of such securities
and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant
in any transaction having such purposes or effect.

(Note 1): All securities reported on the schedule are owned by advisory
clients of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.  Dimensional Fund
Advisors Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of all such
securities.

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete are correct.

Signature

Monday, February 6, 1997
Date

Michael T. Scardina
Vice President and Chief Finacial Officer
Name/Title