About Us

Thinking innovatively– transforming waste to resources

Our Story

Our Story

As a family owned and operated company, we are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for waste resource recovery. We combine experience, innovation and leading-edge technology to design and deliver cost-effective recycling and waste reduction programs and advisory services.

From the early days of just one employee, to an international enterprise of more than 1,100 employees, 40 locations and five distinct divisions, we are dedicated to our people and to providing the very best service to our customers and the communities that we work with.

At Emterra, we transform waste into resources. With operations in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, as well as, the State of Michigan, we are committed to expanding our reach, leading by example and laying the ground work for our customers to set and achieve their own zero waste goals.

Our Vision

We shall improve people's lives through regenerative economies and ecosystems

Our Mission

To be a leader in creating and delivering products and services that enable people and businesses to become stewards of the environment and the future.

Our Values

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Safety First

We make safety a priority for ourselves, each other, our customers and members of our communities.

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Customer-Centric

We are empowered to deliver quality, reliable, value-added and professional solutions to our customers.

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Employee Engagement

We believe people make things happen. We are committed to developing our employees and treating them fairly, equitably and with respect.

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Entrepreneurialism

We believe that entrepreneurship is a fundamental expression of the human spirit, freedom and ingenuity; it is the unique culmination of the visionary and the pragmatic, of both art and science.

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Integrity

We are honest and empower each other to act with integrity.

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Diversity

We recognize it is our diversity that creates innovation, promotes inclusivity and produces better outcomes for our customers' changing needs.

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Community

We strengthen the well-being of the communities in which we live and work through economic, social and environmental contributions.

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Sustainability

We strive to demonstrate environmental leadership in everything we do.

Landfill Barometer

Metric tonnes of waste diverted by Emterra

Our founder

Our Founder

“I have a strong personal belief that there is value in everything and in everyone. That belief - coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit - compels me to view challenges not as barriers, but as opportunities; it has enabled me to build Emterra Group from a small, local curbside collector of cardboard into what it is today: one of the largest integrated resource management companies serving Canadians.”

Emmie Leung,
Founder and CEO

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Community Care™

Emterra is committed to helping improve the environmental health and well-being of the communities in which we live and work. To that purpose, we created our Community Care program.

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We partner with local organizations to design and implement charitable giving programs. These programs not only donate funds to worthy community causes, but also heighten awareness around waste reduction, entice consumers and businesses to recycle more and link community health to sustainability.

Supplier Diversity & Certificates

Supplier Diversity

We ensure that all vendors and service providers receive equal opportunity in doing business with us. By increasing procurement from diverse suppliers, Emterra enhances its supply chain in a socially responsible and community-focused manner.

Are you certified through a supplier council as a woman’s business enterprise (WBE) or minority business enterprise (MBE)? Are you interested in doing business with Emterra? Send us an email for more details.

Certificates for Councils

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Emterra is proud to be certified and self-recognized as a WBE through WBE Canada and WEConnect International and as a MBE through the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC).

Timeline/Milestones

2024

• Emterra Environmental Takes Over Northumberland County MRF.

2023

• Emterra Environmental Takes Over Niagara Falls MRF.
• Launch of Ontario's First Fully-Electric Mack LR Collection Vehicle.
• Emterra Group awarded one of Canada's Greenest Employers for the 8th year in a row.
• Launch of a new fleet of transport trucks to move recyclable materials to a network of facilities within Ontario

2022

• Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (“CAMSC”) Certification awarded for 7th year in a row
• Emterra Celebrates Grand Opening of Central Surrey Recycling and Waste Centre

2021

• Emterra Group celebrates its 45th anniversary
• Ryse Solutions Announces HYRYSE™ to Divert Cannabis Waste From Landfill
• Canada Plastics Pact Roadmap Launch

2020

• Emterra Group's Canadian Liquids Processors launches a Hand Sanitizer product to meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Emterra Environmental’s donation to cancer care in Niagara reaches $345,000

2019

• Recycle BC awards prestigious Blue Star Award
• Kingston awards recycling plant operation to Emterra Environmental

2018

• Emmie Leung named Leader of the Year by the Canadian Plastics Industry Association.
• Canada's Greenest Employer, awarded by Canada's Top 100 Employers.

2017

• Canada’s Greenest Employer, awarded by Canada’s Top 100 Employers.
• Women’s Executive Network names Emmie Leung one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women.

2016

• Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award.

2015

• Synergy Sustainability Institute’s EcoStar Awards (2015) in the Climate Action Category.
• Surrey Board of Trade’s 2015 Environment and Business Award.
• Recycling Council of Ontario’s Gold Award recognizing Emterra's Community Care program, Make Your Contribution at the Curb with the Region of Niagara

2014

• Recycling Council of Ontario’s Silver Award recognizing Emterra's Community Care program, Make Your Contribution at the Curb with the Region of Niagara

2013

• Emterra’s opens their latest and most advanced Material Recovery Facility (MRF), a single stream recycling facility, in Regina, SK.
• Top 10 finalist in Grant Thornton LLP and Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Private Business Growth Award.
• Recycling Council of Ontario’s Platinum Award in Sustainable Product or Services category for its windshield washer fluid, Transformations.
• Employer of the Year Award by the Manitoba Filipino Business Council.
• Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Winnipeg Award for Innovation – Large Business Category.

2012

• Emterra launches its first large-scale Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleet in Winnipeg - the largest cold weather CNG fleet in North America.
• Emterra Group becomes an international enterprise expanding into Michigan, USA.
• Recycling Council of Ontario’s Platinum Award recognizing Emterra's Community Care program, Make Your Contribution at the Curb with the Region of Niagara.

2011

• Emterra's fleet of trucks serving Niagara Region start operating on biodiesel.
• Emterra added the first CNG truck to its fleet serving the City of Surrey, BC.

2009

• Installation of a MRF, single stream recycling facility, in Surrey, BC – the plant was the first of its kind in the province.

2008

• A new name and brand, Emterra Group, was established, designating International Paper Industries (IPI) and Halton Recycling Limited (HRL) as Emterra Environmental and renaming Canadian Eco Rubber as Emterra Tire Recycling.
• Emterra Environmental’s Burlington, ON MRF becomes a single stream recycling facility.

2005

• Canadian Eco Rubber Ltd., begins operations in Brampton, ON to collect and process used and scrap tires.

2004

• Canadian Liquids Processors Limited joins Emterra Group, specializing in product destruction for sugar - and alcohol-based liquids converting them into ethanol

2003

• IPI expands into Manitoba and opens the province's first single stream recycling facility, (MRF), in Winnipeg, MB.

1995

• Ontario operation began under the name of Halton Recycling Ltd (HRL).

1982

• Emterra’s first material recovery facility opens in Surrey, BC. This facility is still in operation today.

1976

• Emmie Leung opens International Paper (IPI) Industries, collecting cardboard and newspaper in a panel truck.