A vacuum collector is provided comprising a suction hose, a first drum with a cover having a cylindrical head capable of generating powerful, small-
diameter cyclones, a second drum capable of generating large-
diameter cyclones, and a stack of three modules containing vacuum-producing motors atop a
HEPA filter atop primary filters. The suction hose is connected to the inlet of the small-
diameter cyclone-generating head on the cover of the first drum. The stack of modules containing motors,
HEPA filter, and primary filters is mounted on the second drum. The two cyclonic drums communicate through a flexible vacuum hose. When the vacuum-producing motors pull air from the interior of the vacuum collector, the suction hose sucks
atmospheric air mixed with contaminants from a surface into the head, which
spins the contaminant-laden air-
stream into a powerful, small-diameter
cyclone. As a result of cyclonic action, the contaminant laden air-
stream spirals to the bottom of the first drum, deposits most of its contaminants, reverses course, exits the drum, and enters the second drum, where it
spins into a large-diameter
cyclone, deposits more contaminants, passes through the primary and
HEPA filters, and exhausts via the vacuum-producing motors. Collectors comprising more than two communicating cyclonic drums for tailored
environmental remediation are also described.