Each time I speak with George Kirchmair he is on the road, driving around to one of YORK1’s facilities or project sites in Ontario or to an industry event. As the newly appointed Executive Vice President (EVP) there are many moving parts that he is responsible for overseeing, with the company following a roadmap toward continued growth.
The Mississauga, Ont.-based company provides environmental services to both public and private sectors, with a focus on non-hazardous solid and liquid waste management, soil remediation and beneficial reuse, grading and earthworks, and more. The facilities and fleet of collection vehicles support a robust number of construction projects, municipal/commercial waste and recycling programs, and unprecedented public infrastructure development.
The company’s core values prioritize community responsibility and environmental sustainability, which is reflected in YORK1’s wood recycling, scrap metal recovery, and low-carbon fuel initiatives.
YORK1 is a growing company. In the past two years, it has achieved a remarkable expansion — more than doubling the capacity of its waste division. The most recent acquisition is First Choice Disposal, a strategic choice that enhances service offerings and strengthens the company’s waste collection and recycling market presence in the Greater Toronto/Hamilton Area.
Over the course of our conversation, Kirchmair provides insights into his enthusiasm for engineering solutions for the circular economy and his dedication to making strategic moves that continue to grow the business.
George Kirchmair, Executive Vice President, YORK1, has been active in the industry for decades. An avid athlete and supportive father, he also made the time to coach minor hockey in his community. Credit: YORK1.
Let’s begin at the beginning. What prompted you to enter the industry? Did you have any mentors who inspired you to become an engineer?
I was always good at math, and I was an athlete. Those were two key factors that led me to enter the engineering profession. One of my favourite teachers in high school, who was also my coach, encouraged me to think about getting into engineering. She suggested I follow in their footsteps to McMaster University, and that’s what I did.
Another factor that influenced me is growing up in Sarnia around the petrochemical industry. I became interested in chemistry and physics, and was pretty good at grasping the concepts, so it made sense for me to pursue my education in Chemical Engineering.
You recently received a promotion to Executive Vice President. What are your current responsibilities with YORK1?
I support the executive team in achieving our immediate and long-term goals. YORK1 manages 10 processing facilities around the Province of Ontario, accepting non-hazardous mixed waste and construction debris. We also provide several complex and bundled infrastructure services including bulk excavation, civil and site services, demolition, abatement, shoring, and much more.
We’re committed to our mission of delivering top-tier environmental solutions and infrastructure services, and our acquisitions reinforce that commitment. YORK1 has grown a lot since Brian Brunetti [President and CEO of YORK1] and I arrived. Just over six years ago, when we both joined the company at about the same time, there were approximately 50 people working for the company — and now we’re almost at 1,000. Through several strategic acquisitions, we have grown our service offering to meet the needs of our customers, and we have a full slate of additional M&A targets to ensure that we continue evolving for the future.
YORK1 has serviced the industry for more than 70 years and has completed more than 15,000 projects, while helping to divert more than four million tonnes of waste from landfill. Credit: YORK1.
How has the industry changed over the years since you started?
The industry has changed a lot since 1990, when the original soil standards were very much in their infancy. The 1989 guidelines for the decommissioning and cleanup of sites in Ontario were at a starting point. They got people thinking differently and doing things differently. Petroleum impacted storage tanks and metal containers that were corroded from underground fueling systems were finally getting addressed. The introduction of water standards and emergency spill awareness standards also helped.
The main impetus that occurred before the Excess Soil Regulation was CEPA [Canadian Environmental Protection Act] standards. Regulation 153 and the advent of the regulation for the Records of Site Condition, which formalized how remediation and restoration work should be done in Ontario, was a game changer. Later the Excess Soil Regulation and other standards gave structure to the work in a more specific way.
What are some major milestone moments that have made a difference and supported the circular economy?
When I started out, I was fortunate to be involved in some pioneering work in terms of undertaking the remediation of soils and working for petroleum companies mitigating storage tank contamination and facilitating upgrades.
We were early pioneers in bioremediation – I was one of the first to obtain a mobile ECA [or Environmental Compliance Approval, a permission that allows businesses to operate their facility or site with environmental controls that protect human health and the natural environment] at sites across Ontario.
Another project comes to mind; a very large brownfield project in Toronto at a site impacted by industrial activities in which we implemented an innovative approach to remediating the soil with heavy metals. We were able to apply a circular approach in which no landfilling or disposal was required by sending the soil as a raw material to a metal smelter.
With respect to YORK1, there have been some transformational projects we’ve been involved in for the infrastructure segment in Ontario. We have successfully completed several demolition projects where over 95-100 per cent of the debris was diverted from landfill and repurposed through recycling efforts, including metals, asphalt, concrete, bricks, and more. Projects have included the Gardiner Expressway, The London Free Press, Ontario Power Generation – Thunder Bay, and Bloor Collegiate, just to name a few. By reclaiming valuable materials, we are actively supporting the circular economy and minimizing environmental impact, while also creating new opportunities and paving the way for future development.
Addressing climate change and extra water and wastewater are definitely important issues these days. As the population multiplies and climate mitigation becomes increasingly necessary, these services are going to become more and more critical.
At the Ontario Environment Industry Association’s “Go Green on the Greens” 2024 Golf Tournament, from left to right: Tom Williams of XCG, a Division of Trace Associates Inc., George Kirchmair of YORK1, David Harper of The Kilmer Group, and Todd Latham of Actual Media Inc. (parent company of Environment Journal).
When it comes to the environmental market, how do you think we can improve how municipalities and the private sector can increase resource recovery and decrease waste going to landfill?
We need to tap into our knowledge base to find diversion and recycling methods that are beneficial to the environment as well as the business. In terms of how the province and the municipalities can support, there’s a lot of room to make a concerted effort to better support recycling and waste diversion. Right now, the permitting process in Ontario makes it very difficult to bring new and innovative ideas to construct and operation. The current Ontario government is doing a good job in terms of trying to eliminate red tape and improve the time it takes to bring solutions to fruition. But it takes a long time for things to go from engineering to completion. With continued efforts to streamline regulations and support innovative ideas, we can make a significant difference today in advancing recycling and waste diversion solutions in Ontario. Overall, the environmental business has gone through its infancy to progressive regulations has spurred a very vibrant industry.
Did you take a break from driving around and working to have a summer vacation?
Yes, I enjoyed my annual fishing trip with my family, including my three sons. It’s the highlight of our summer and the simplest form of rest and relaxation I know.
Connie Vitello is editor of Environment Journal.
Featured image credit: Getty Images
