Emterra Environmental Helping Cosmopolitan ‘Green’ Saskatoon Apartments and Condos

Saskatoon, SK (March 2, 2015) – Under contract with Cosmopolitan Industries (Cosmo), Emterra Environmental is helping ‘green’ apartments, condominiums and townhouses across Saskatoon. After beginning delivery of the 3, 4 and 6 yard bins in late fall, Emterra and Cosmo report that 87% of them are in place and the residents of those buildings have started to recycle.

The remainder of the recycling bins and additional carts, about 100 of the 800, will be delivered over the next few months with the expectation that Saskatoon’s multi-residential recycling program will be fully launched on target by May 1.

Emterra is collecting the recycling materials comprising packaging and printed paper at multi-family buildings and townhouses and delivering them to Cosmo’s newly upgraded material recovery facility. Cosmo, a long-time leader in recycling in Saskatoon, has a multi-year contract with the city to provide recycling services to approximately 35,600 units in condos, apartment buildings and townhouses. Cosmo sub-contracted the collection to Emterra.

We’re very pleased and excited to be helping Cosmopolitan introduce recycling to residents of multi-family buildings and townhouses in Saskatoon. We know people have been looking forward to a comprehensive and consistent recycling program, regardless of which building and complex they live in. This will make recycling much more convenient and accessible city-wide and this is residents’ opportunity to contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment by recycling instead of sending these resource materials to landfill,” says Emmie Leung, Founder and CEO of Emterra Group.

Saskatoon’s goal is to have multi-family and townhouse residents divert at least 70 per cent of recyclables or 3,500 tonnes of waste packaging and printed paper from the landfill. That’s about 2 kg or 5 pounds of recyclables a week for each household. Recyclables include metal, glass, plastic bags, plastic containers and juice boxes and milk cartons as well as paper, newspapers and magazines, boxboard and cardboard.

“The residents of our city have always placed great importance on the social benefits of recycling and the opportunity it gives for persons with intellectual disabilities to have an identifiable role within the community.  With Emterra engaged in collecting from Multi-Unit residential properties we look forward to giving those living in condos and apartments ‘Over 400 Reasons to Recycle.’ The City of Saskatoon has entrusted Cosmo with this city-wide program and we are happy to have Emterra help us reach the goal of growing a greener Saskatoon,” says Ken Gryschuk, Manager of Business Development and Community Relations at Cosmopolitan Industries.

The city’s contract builds on Cosmo’s 35-year relationship in improving the environmental health of the community while creating learning and developmental opportunities for more than 400 adults with intellectual disabilities.

About Emterra Group

Emterra Group is a Canadian leader in waste resources management. A family owned and operated company, it comprises four divisions offering municipal and industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) customers with a fully integrated approach to collecting, processing and marketing waste, recyclables, organic waste, used tires, and more. Emterra has operations in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Michigan, USA, and annually ships about 500,000 tonnes of recyclables to end-markets to be re-manufactured into new products.

About Cosmopolitan Industries

Founded in 1971 Cosmopolitan Industries provides day programs for over 400 adults with intellectual disabilities in Saskatoon and area.  Cosmo’s level of service far exceeds its primary funding so Cosmo operates as a Social Enterprise to create opportunities for each program participant to live a better, more meaningful and more productive life.  Cosmo operates a NAID certified confidential document destruction operation, Cosmo Shred, and provides services to businesses on a contract basis.  Best known as the pioneers of recycling in the city, it has over 30 years of experience as a processor in the industry.

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Contact:

Paulina Leung
VP of Corporate Strategy and Business Development
Emterra Group
905.336.9084, ext. 130
Paulina.Leung@emterra.ca 

Ken Gryschuk
Manager of Business Development and Community Relations
Cosmopolitan Industries
306-664-3158 www.cosmoindustries.com
kgryschuk@cosmoindustries.com