In the early years, Ralph McDonell, owner and founder of Environmental Control Systems started a small silver recovery business back in the 60’s with an average silver price of $ 1.69/t.oz. After designing and building an electrolytic silver recovery unit for a Toronto Photo Lab, Ralph realized the potential in the market place and ventured out on his own in 1969.

Ralph started the business by picking up different photo chemicals from printers and photo labs in his Mustang convertible and desilvering these solutions on-site at his warehouse. Over the next 10 years, Ralph continued to expand the business by recycling and processing expired x-ray film and litho film. He also established a complete custom line of silver recovery equipment.

In the mid 90’s, ECS continued its upward growth. Now with more employees, his own manufacturing facility for silver recovery and related equipment and in-house silver refinery, Ralph’s customer base began to expand across Canada. Offices in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax were opened to facilitate ECS’s continued growth.

Now one of the largest silver recovery companies in Canada, Environmental Control Systems still operates our Head Office out of Barrie, ON. Our recycling programs are increasing and customer awareness is growing thanks to a large part of everyone believing and knowing that they can make a difference. People are being educated and are realizing for example that they can’t just pour any chemicals down the drain without proper treatment or throw hazardous materials such as sharps and needles in the landfill anymore.

While our business continues to grow, our focus on the environment and recycling grows with it. ECS has a friendly team of sales and service staff who eagerly look after our clientele. With services and equipment that we can offer any world-wide client, we want to make a difference. It is with this team effort that ECS continues to succeed in these industries, by offering what others don’t – SATISFACTION!

"I trust that you will enjoy our website and the information within it to be helpful when making a decision to utilize our services. Please feel free to contact anyone of our team members."

Sincerely,

Ralph McDonell