Emterra Group is commemorating a milestone year as it marks 50 years of advancing recycling and circular economy initiatives across communities in Canada and beyond.
Founded in 1976 in Vancouver by entrepreneur Emmie Leung, the company began as a one person operation under the banner of International Paper Industries. Over five decades it has grown into a leading North American resource recovery organization, steadily differentiating itself through early investments and a willingness to innovate when others paused.
The company has extended its reach by integrating multiple stages of the recycling value chain. Today it covers collection and processing, operates its own multi material Producer Responsibility Organization, and maintains an in house electric vehicle fleet to support day to day operations.
Looking back on the journey, founder and chief executive Emmie Leung acknowledges that recycling was not a mainstream idea at the outset. She expresses pride in the company’s progress and gratitude to the many employees, partners, and communities that have helped shape its story. The milestone is presented as a bridge between a storied legacy and the next chapter, grounded in a readiness to adapt to a changing industry landscape.
Paulina Leung, the group’s chief sustainability officer, stresses a values driven approach to growth. She points to ongoing investments in people, technology, and data as essential to enabling organizations to become stewards of the environment. Central to the strategy is Producer Responsibility, with a focus on tracking resources, recovering materials, and reintegrating them to maximize value and support a truly circular economy.
Key milestones that defined the path
Several developments stand out as defining moments in Emterra’s evolution:
- Starting in Vancouver in 1976 as a single person operation under a new name
- Expanding across Canada and into the United States
- Building a fully integrated recycling capability from collection through processing
- Launching a multi material Producer Responsibility Organization to manage producer obligations
- Creating an in house electric vehicle fleet to reduce emissions and improve efficiency
- Unveiling a refreshed corporate identity and a dedicated 50th anniversary logo along with a new corporate website
Throughout 2026, Emterra plans to celebrate with staff, community partners, clients, and industry stakeholders. The program will spotlight the people behind the operations, the innovations driving progress, and the community ties that have supported the company over the decades.
As it looks to the future, Emterra reiterates a commitment to using technology, data, and collaborative solutions to empower responsible environmental stewardship. The Producer Responsibility model remains central to its work, ensuring resources are tracked, recovered, and reintegrated to maximize value and help close the loop for a more circular economy.
