Urban Mining: Extracting Value from Everyday Waste
Modern landfills and recycling streams are filled with untapped value. At Urban Mining, a division of Canada Fibers Ltd., we specialize in recovering usable materials from complex waste inputs—turning what would otherwise be discarded into high-quality raw commodities.
This isn’t just recycling. It’s a form of urban resource extraction that supports circular manufacturing, conserves virgin materials, and strengthens Canada’s domestic supply chain.
What Is Urban Mining?
Urban mining refers to the recovery of valuable materials from waste generated in cities—post-consumer plastics, metals, paper fiber, organics, and even energy feedstock.
Instead of mining raw materials from the Earth, Canada Fibers reclaims them from the urban environment, then feeds them into a broader recovery ecosystem that includes Urban Polymers, Urban Biofuels, and Urban Garden Products.
This process is not only sustainable—it’s economically strategic.
Materials Recovered Through Urban Mining
- Plastics
Separated by type (PET, HDPE, PP) and processed for re-manufacturing at Urban Polymers. - Wood Fiber
Recovered clean wood becomes renewable fuel via Urban Biofuels. - Metals
Aluminum, steel, and other non-ferrous materials are extracted using high-efficiency sorting technology at the MRF Complex. - Organics
Organic matter is composted or blended into nutrient-rich soil for Urban Garden Products.
Technology at Work
Canada Fibers uses advanced infrastructure to support Urban Mining operations:
- Optical sorters to identify polymers by resin code
- Eddy current separators to isolate non-ferrous metals
- Automated balers and shredders for efficient downstream processing
- AI-assisted robotics for real-time quality control
Combined with front-end material collection through Public Services, these tools help maximize recovery and minimize landfill disposal.
Why Urban Mining Matters
- 🌍 Reduces reliance on virgin material extraction
- ♻️ Keeps post-consumer waste in productive circulation
- 🏗 Supports green manufacturing and local industry
- 🔒 Increases supply chain resilience in critical materials
Urban Mining helps municipalities and businesses achieve zero-waste goals, reduce emissions, and contribute to a truly circular economy. This approach reflects the broader mission outlined in our Company History.
Recommended Video
Curious about how urban mining works globally?
🎬 Urban Mining: The Future of Resource Recovery
A Smarter, Closed-Loop Future
With Urban Mining, Canada Fibers turns waste streams into resource streams—redefining how cities manage material flows. Whether it’s plastic for packaging, metal for remanufacturing, or organics for soil, our systems are built to deliver real circularity at scale.
To explore how this service benefits public infrastructure, check out Public Services, or learn how we support commercial sectors via Business Services.
Recycling Is Broken. Should I Even Bother? – The New York Times
