Our Company History: From Local Recycler to National Sustainability Leader

What began as a small paper recycling business in Ontario has grown into one of Canada’s most respected environmental solutions providers. Canada Fibers Ltd. has evolved steadily since its founding, expanding services, pioneering technologies, and reshaping how Canadians think about waste.
This page highlights the key moments, decisions, and innovations that shaped our journey—turning waste into value across communities, businesses, and industries.

The Early Years: Humble Beginnings in Paper Recovery

Canada Fibers started with a single, clear goal: to improve local paper recycling in Toronto. Operating with just a few trucks and a small facility, the company quickly earned trust for its reliability, transparency, and commitment to environmental ethics.
Over time, the company began processing a wider range of materials, introducing mixed recycling programs and expanding partnerships with municipalities and private sector clients.

Scaling Up: Public Contracts and the MRF Breakthrough

The 1990s and early 2000s brought rapid growth as Canada Fibers secured key municipal recycling contracts. The development of the advanced MRF Complex (Material Recovery Facility) marked a turning point—equipping the company with technology to handle large volumes of residential recyclables more efficiently.
This milestone helped define Canada Fibers as a serious player in the industry, capable of operating at scale while maintaining environmental integrity.

Creating a Vertical Ecosystem: Urban Group Launch

With increasing demand for closed-loop sustainability solutions, Canada Fibers launched its Urban Group of companies:

• Urban Polymers to process post-consumer plastics
• Urban Biofuels to produce fuel pellets from clean wood fiber
• Urban Garden Products to transform organic waste into soil enhancers
• Urban Mining to recover valuable materials from the waste stream

These divisions allowed Canada Fibers to manage the entire lifecycle of recyclable materials, reducing dependency on third-party processors and maximizing resource recovery.

Innovation in Action: Projects That Made a Difference

One standout moment was the company’s partnership with Lush Cosmetics. Through Urban Resource Group, Canada Fibers helped convert ocean plastic into new packaging—turning pollution into purpose.
The company also participated in public education initiatives like the On Point Radio interview series, highlighting the issue of Blue Box contamination and what citizens can do to reduce it.

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Looking Forward: Building a Greener Tomorrow

As Canada Fibers Ltd. continues to innovate, its commitment remains rooted in its history: creating meaningful environmental change through action. The next chapter will be defined by deeper integration with businesses via Business Services, collaboration with municipalities through Public Services, and constant refinement of the systems that keep materials in circulation.
From a modest paper operation to a national sustainability force, our story is far from over—and it’s powered by the belief that even waste has value.