“In 1989 we started with a dream – to make commercial recycling viable for any size of business.”
Urban Impact started at a time when recycling was a relatively unknown business practice. So we had to work hard to demonstrate that recycling was viable for businesses. Over 25 years later, Urban Impact is proud to serve more than 6,500 customer locations in BC and Alberta, helping companies and organizations of all shapes and sizes make a real difference to the environment and their bottom line.
Our values at work
Urban Impact was founded as a values-based company. Here are some of the core beliefs that continue to drive our business:
Our roots run deep in the zero-waste movement
We want to put customers’ unique needs first to help them achieve their sustainability goals.
We always want to drive, implement and monitor recycling programs to help our customers reach and exceed their diversion goals.
Delivering the best range of solutions to our customers requires constant innovation.
Our overarching goal is to make a positive impact on our local environment.
We could not do our important recycling work without the dedication of our great Urban Impact employees at every level. They are Recycling Rock Stars.
We could not do our important recycling work without the dedication of our great Urban Impact employees at every level. They are Recycling Rock Stars.
We set the sustainability bar just as high for ourselves
While our business is helping companies reduce waste, Urban Impact is just as committed to being a leader in our own sustainable business practices. Here are just a few of our efforts:
State-of-the-art plants and equipment to improve environmental performance.
Waste reduction in our day-to-day operations.
Waste audits and office-wide recycling programs.
Staff reward program for greener commuting choices.
Smarter work schedules.
Supporting our community.
Urban Impact is very pleased to be recognized as a Top Employer by BC Business magazine.
Recycling success takes vision, commitment and passion
Nicole Stefenelli
As Founder and CEO, Nicole is highly passionate about sustainability and ensuring that Urban Impact helps facilitate positive social and environmental change in the community. In 2010, Ernst and Young recognized Nicole as CEO of the Year in the Cleantech category. In 2012, she was awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Entrepreneur category.Rod Nicolls
In his role as Urban Impact’s Vice President Operations, Rod oversees all plant and trucking operations, and is also responsible for innovation and the development of services. He has over 25 years’ experience in the recycling industry and applies this deep knowledge base to creating process and equipment improvements throughout the company.Our Recycling Plants at Work
The Urban Impact Richmond Plant was constructed in 2008 and was designed from the ground up to automate the sortation and processing of a variety of bulk and specialty materials including various paper grades, eWaste, batteries and other specialized recyclable materials. Between 20 and 40 metric tonnes of material can be sorted and baled every hour. The Richmond plant also serves as the main hub for Urban Impact’s Richmond trucking division, sales staff and customer service.
The New Westminster Recycling Facility was constructed in 2010. The design and plan of this state-of-the-art plant automates the processing of mixed rigid containers and the baling of bulk paper grades. This plant can process a whopping 10 metric tonnes per hour of containers, and bale up to 40 tonnes an hour of bulk paper. (That’s a lot!)
Our commitment to the continued investment in plant automation allows Urban Impact to offer customers efficient and consistent recycling services across a wide variety of materials year in and year out.