Canadian Waste Management Industry Innovator Emmie Leung Wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award

TORONTO - Nov. 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Global professional services firm EY has recognized Canadian waste industry trailblazer, Emmie Leung, who continues to achieve success in growing the company she founded some 38 years ago. Last week, Leung was presented with EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year^TM Ontario 2014 award for Energy and Cleantech. Leung was selected among 120 other Ontario entrepreneurs, as a nominee for the program.

Under Leung’s leadership, the Emterra family of waste management businesses continue to innovate to drive waste from landfill and maximize recycling opportunities.  Leung’s vision for a world with “zero waste” inches closer. The award recognizes Leung for building and leading a successful, growing and dynamic business.

EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year celebrates the contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs. Award finalists from all areas of business are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility.

“Under Emmie’s leadership, Emterra has been an industry pioneer, transforming the sector and achieving success in a land of giants,” says Colleen McMorrow, Entrepreneur of the Year National and Ontario Program Director. “Her passion and determination are an inspiration, and we’re so pleased to recognize her entrepreneurial success.” Her determination to succeed was acknowledged as a model for young entrepreneurs. EY boldly described her success as “gravity defying”.

Upon accepting the award Leung said that standing amongst the best and brightest in Canada was one of her proudest moments.  “My greatest good fortune and the reason I am able to stand here this evening is because of the long list of people who have my back – my staff for their incredible support, everyone of whom I treasure; our customers and communities who partner with us to work toward the goal of increasing recycling diversion and minimizing waste; and my family who anchors me and gives me strength and encouragement when I am pulled in every direction in the process of building the business.”

Starting as a “one woman operation”, Emterra Group (http://www.Emterra.ca) now operates three Canadian divisions including Emterra Environmental; Emterra Tire Recycling and Canadian Liquids Processors. Emterra now operates 21 material recovery facilities and operating locations with a fleet of 550 vehicles and over 1000 employees. Services include waste resources management; collecting, recycling and marketing packaging, printed paper and scrap tires; and converting waste liquids into green products like ethanol and eco-friendly windshield washer fluid.  Emterra serves over 80 Canadian communities serving 10% of the Canadian population.  Emterra Group has also expanded into the United States, with operations in Michigan since 2013 (http://www.emterrausa.com/).