EBI

About EBI

The story begins in 1960 in Berthierville, Quebec, not with a grand vision for environmental services, but with a single truck and a bulldozer. Rolland Sylvestre, alongside his wife Marie-Ange, started an excavation and earthmoving business. In 1965, the company incorporated as 'Les Entreprises Berthier inc.,' which became known by the acronym EBI. The business steadily grew, diversifying into services like agricultural drainage and snow removal. A pivotal moment came in 1970 when EBI entered the waste collection business, a novel service for the region at the time. This move set the company on a new trajectory. By the late 1970s, the founders' four sons—Pierre, René, Michel, and Bernard—officially joined the family enterprise, having been involved since their youth. This next generation would steer the company toward significant innovation and expansion. EBI established itself as a pioneer by looking at waste not just as something to be managed, but as a resource. In 2003, the company launched a facility to convert biogas from its landfill into renewable natural gas, a unique process in Canada at the time. This forward-thinking move into renewable energy became a core part of its identity. A major turning point occurred in 2018 when EBI secured a $70 million investment from the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, providing the capital to accelerate its growth. This investment fueled further expansion, including the landmark 2021 acquisition of Cosemar, the third-largest waste management company in Chile. Today, EBI stands as a multi-generational family business that has evolved from local excavation contractor to an international leader in environmental and renewable energy services.