Happy Stan's Recycling Services Ltd (HSR) Newsroom

About Us

At HSR, we understand that true sustainability goes beyond merely diverting waste—it's about fundamentally minimizing waste generation and transforming how businesses operate. Since our inception in 1988 as Happy Stan’s Recycling Services Ltd, we have evolved into a leading provider of comprehensive waste reduction solutions. With a vast network of global Zero Waste and resource management experts, HSR is at the forefront of advocating for progressive Zero Waste practices and policies in the business community.

Our mission is driven by our CLEER values—Commitment, Leadership, Excellence, Empowerment, and Responsibility. These principles guide us as we foster environmental protection through innovative waste reduction strategies.

The HSR family includes two specialized arms: HSR Services and HSR Zero Waste.

  • HSR Services: This division excels in processing a broad spectrum of materials, from paper and plastic to furniture and electronics, at our Metro Vancouver–licensed Resource Recovery Facility. Here, materials are meticulously sorted, processed, and directed primarily towards recycling or reuse, with landfill being the absolute last resort. We pride ourselves on not just meeting, but exceeding sustainability targets for thousands of companies of all sizes and industries.

  • HSR Zero Waste: Since 2017, this consulting division has been at the helm of guiding clients on their journey towards Zero Waste. We provide practical waste management strategies, alongside Zero-Waste education and training. HSR Zero Waste also supports organizations in achieving prestigious certifications such as LEED, BOMA, TRUE, and Green Marine, ensuring comprehensive and credible steps towards sustainability.

At HSR, we are not just offering services; we are championing a vision of a sustainable future. By partnering with us, businesses can unlock both financial and operational advantages while making a significant positive impact on the environment and society. Empower your organization with solutions that transcend short-term gains and pave the way for long-term sustainability.

 

Address

1603 Langan Avenue
Port Coquitlam, BC  V3C 1K6
Canada
604-464-0242

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Our Team

marketing@happystan.com

Marketing Team HSR

Marketing : Marketing Specialist

How We Started

  • A Year of Meaningful Recognition January 1, 2025

    In 2025, HSR Zero Waste was honoured as one of Canada's Top Environmental Consulting Services Providers. The recognition reflected the continued efforts of our team to support organizations in reducing waste at the source and making more sustainable choices every day.

    That same year, Happy Stan’s Recycling Services was nominated in the Port Coquitlam Best Biz Awards, including a nomination for the People’s Choice Award. Being recognized by our local community was especially meaningful, as it reminded us how much can grow from staying true to simple, people-first values.

  • Launching HSR Zero Waste January 1, 2019

    After years of hands-on work, the HSR team began asking a different kind of question. Not only about how to manage waste more efficiently, but also how to stop it from being created in the first place. This shift in thinking inspired the creation of HSR Zero Waste, a new division led by Jamie and shaped by the same values that had guided the company from the beginning.

    HSR Zero Waste was developed to help businesses take meaningful steps toward reducing waste at the source. Through thoughtful consulting, audits, training, and day-to-day support, the team works alongside clients to find practical, lasting solutions. For the company, this was a quiet but proud moment — a chance to build on everything that had come before and offer something even more helpful for the future.

  • New Materials, New Growth January 1, 2012

    This year brought several meaningful changes. HSR expanded its services by partnering with a third-party provider to offer office and warehouse composting. Styrofoam packaging was also added to the list of accepted materials, helping clients further reduce their landfill impact.

    In the same year, HSR began operating internationally under the name HSR Services. Even while reaching new regions, the company remained grounded in its community-first values, continuing to grow with purpose and intention.

  • Turning Recycling into a Family Business - Jamie Steps Forward into a New Role January 1, 2005

    After years of working alongside his dad, Jamie Kaminski officially took on the role of General Manager in 2005. At the time, Happy Stan’s continued to manage the city recycling contract for another two years before shifting its focus.

    The company began moving from a materials-oriented business to a service-oriented one, offering guidance, education, and tailored recycling solutions to businesses and households across the Lower Mainland. It was a natural next step, driven by experience, curiosity, and a desire to help others do more with less waste.

     

  • When the City Reached Out - City of Port Coquitlam January 1, 2003

    In 2003, the City of Port Coquitlam reached out to HSR with a challenge. They needed someone to manage their residential blue bag recycling program, which their current service provider was unable to handle due to the use of plastic bags. Stan did not have experience with this type of processing, but still wanting to help, he accepted the contract and began recycling for the City of Port Coquitlam.

    Soon after, the blue bag system was replaced by a new single-stream co-mingled process. That decision led HSR into municipal recycling services and opened the door to future innovations.

  • A New Name and a Clearer Path January 1, 1995

    During the 1990s, as the business grew, Stan decided to move forward and continued to provide recycling services under his new business name, Happy Stan’s Recycling Services Ltd. The company continued to grow its relationships with industrial partners and focused on the recycling of cardboard and cardboard tubes. The business remained hands-on, values-based, and focused on building long-term trust.

  • The First Truck and a Bigger Vision January 1, 1988

    In 1988, Stan made the decision to step away from janitorial work and commit fully to recycling. He partnered with a friend and opened All Canadian Recycling Services. Starting out with just a single one-ton cube truck, they began collecting paper and cardboard from print shops and real estate offices between Vancouver and Maple Ridge. From there, Stan and his partner took on larger contracts such as Island Paper Mills and BC Rail. His workforce also grew, adding on two very dedicated employees, his sons Chris and Jamie.

  • From Cleanups to Cardboard January 1, 1985

    Stan took his next step by starting a small janitorial business called All Canadian Janitorial, serving homes and offices around North Vancouver. While working, he noticed how much clean, usable paper and cardboard was being thrown away. Instead of letting it go to waste, Stan began collecting it and selling it to local recyclers. This decision was not just about business. It came from his belief that waste could be better managed with care and intention.

  • A Humble Start with a Recycling Heart January 1, 1980

    Stan Kaminski, the founder of the company who is also known as Happy Stan, started his recycling journey with his then-girlfriend Della by collecting newspapers from local hotels to raise money for the Gibsons Boys Club. It became a lifelong commitment to reducing waste and doing things differently. With a heart for people and an eye for opportunity, Stan laid the first stone in what would become Happy Stan’s Recycling Services.