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EXHIBIT 4.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

CAPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INC. (the "Company") and DAVID SUTHERLAND-YOEST
(the "Executive") hereby enter into this EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the "Agreement")
dated as of September 7, 2001 (the "Effective Date") as follows:

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Subscription Agreement, dated
as of July 27, 2001 with the investors named therein (the "Subscription
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company is issuing and selling to such
investors an aggregate of 16,500,000 shares of its Common Stock for a purchase
price of US $2.00 per share;

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the
closing of the Subscription Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and agreements set forth
herein, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

1.     EMPLOYMENT.

The Company shall employ Executive, and Executive shall be employed by the
Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

2.     TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

2.1    TERM. Subject to Section 2.2 and the termination provisions hereinafter
       provided, the term of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall
       begin on the Effective Date and end on the third anniversary of the
       Effective Date (as extended pursuant to Section 2.2, the "Employment
       Term").

2.2    TERM EXTENSIONS. Commencing on the day after the Effective Date, the
       Employment Term will be automatically extended each day by one day, until
       the date which is three years following the first date, if any, on which
       the Company delivers to Executive or Executive delivers to the Company,
       as the case may be, a written notice that the Employment Term will not be
       extended, it being understood that, until such notice is given, the
       Employment Term shall be a continuously renewing three-year period.

3.     DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

Executive shall serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. Executive's duties shall include the responsibilities, duties and
authorities provided for under the Company's Bylaws, as amended from time to
time.

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4.     COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

(a)    BASE SALARY. During the Employment Term, the Company shall pay Executive
       a base salary at the annual rate of three hundred thousand Canadian
       dollars ($300,000 CDN), or such higher rate as may be determined from
       time to time by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee
       thereof) (such amount, as increased from time to time, the "Base
       Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be paid on the Company's regular pay
       days in accordance with the Company's standard payroll practice for
       executive officers.

(b)    OTHER COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS.

       (i)    In addition to the Base Salary, Executive shall be entitled to an
              annual cash bonus of up to 100% of the Base Salary, subject to
              satisfaction of annual performance objectives mutually agreed upon
              by the Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof)
              and Executive at the beginning of each year.

       (ii)   Executive shall be eligible to participate in any supplemental or
              incentive compensation, stock option or other fringe benefit plans
              generally made available to executive officers of the Company and
              to receive additional compensation from the Company in such form
              and to such extent, if any, as the Board of Directors (or a duly
              authorized committee thereof) may from time to time specify and
              determine with respect to the Company's executive officers.

       (iii)  In addition to normal statutory holidays recognized by the
              Company, Executive shall be entitled to the greater of (a) four
              weeks of paid vacation annually and (b) such other amount of paid
              vacation as may be afforded executive officers under the Company's
              policies in effect from time to time.

(c)    EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT. The Company shall promptly reimburse Executive for
       travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incident to his position in
       accordance with the Company's customary practices applicable to full time
       executive officers.

(d)    BENEFIT PLANS. Executive shall be eligible to participate in or receive
       benefits under any retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plan,
       medical or dental benefit plans, life insurance plans, short-term or
       long-term disability plans or other fringe benefit plans as are generally
       made available to full time executive officers of the Company.

(e)    EMPLOYEE'S EXPENSES. All costs and expenses (including reasonable legal,
       accounting and other advisory fees) incurred by Executive to (i)
       determine in any tax year of Executive, the tax consequences to Executive
       of any amount payable (or reimbursable) under Section 7(b) or 7(c)
       hereof, or (ii) prepare responses to an Internal Revenue Service or
       Canada Customs and Revenue Agency audit of, and to otherwise defend, his
       personal income tax return for any year which is the subject of any such
       audit, or an adverse determination, administrative proceeding or civil
       litigation arising therefrom that is

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       occasioned by or related to any audit by the Internal Revenue Service or
       the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency of the Company's income tax
       returns, shall, upon written demand by Executive, be promptly advanced or
       reimbursed to Executive, or paid directly, on a current basis, by the
       Company or its successors; provided, however, in no event shall the
       Company be required to advance or reimburse to Executive or pay directly
       more than seventy-five thousand Canadian dollars ($75,000 CDN) in any
       given fiscal year pursuant to this Section 4(e).

5.     TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

Subject to the payment to Executive of all amounts required by Sections 6 and 7
below, Executive's employment hereunder may be terminated under the following
circumstances:

(a)    DEATH. Executive's employment hereunder shall terminate upon Executive's
       death.

(b)    TOTAL DISABILITY. The Company shall terminate Executive's employment
       hereunder upon Executive becoming "Totally Disabled." For purposes of
       this Agreement, Executive shall be "Totally Disabled" if, in the good
       faith determination of the Board of Directors, based on sound medical
       advice, Executive has become physically or mentally incapable of
       performing Executive's usual and customary duties under this Agreement
       for a continuous period of one hundred eighty (180) days, in which event
       Executive will be deemed Totally Disabled upon the expiration of such one
       hundred eighty (180) day period. Executive's receipt of disability
       benefits under the Company's long-term disability plan shall be deemed
       conclusive evidence of Total Disability for purposes of this Agreement;
       provided, however, that a determination of Total Disability also may be
       made by the Board of Directors as provided above in the absence of
       Executive's receipt of such long-term disability benefits.

(c)    TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE. The Company may terminate
       Executive's employment hereunder for "Cause" at any time after providing
       written notice to Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
       "Cause" shall mean any of the following: (A) conviction of a crime
       (including conviction on a nolo contendere plea) involving an indictable
       offense or, in the good faith judgment of the Company's Board of
       Directors, moral turpitude; (B) deliberate and continual refusal to
       perform Executive's usual and customary duties under this Agreement
       (other than as a result of vacation, sickness, illness or injury) after
       thirty (30) days' written notice by registered mail to Executive of such
       failure to perform, specifying that the failure constitutes cause; (C)
       fraud or embezzlement; (D) gross misconduct or gross negligence in
       connection with performance of Executive's duties under this Agreement;
       or (E) breach of any of the covenants set forth in Section 8 hereof.

(d)    VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE. Executive may terminate his
       employment hereunder (i) at any time during the Employment Term after
       providing thirty (30) days' written notice to the Company, or (ii) at any
       time within six (6) months after a

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       Change of Control (as defined in Section 7(a) hereof), without prior
       notice, as provided in Section 7 of this Agreement.

(e)    TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. At any time during the Employment
       Term, the Company may terminate Executive's employment hereunder without
       Cause effective immediately upon written notice to Executive.

6.     COMPENSATION FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

In the event that Executive's employment hereunder is terminated, Executive
shall be entitled to the following compensation and benefits upon such
termination:

(a)    TERMINATION BY REASON OF DEATH OR TOTAL DISABILITY. In the event that
       Executive's employment is terminated by reason of Executive's death or
       Total Disability:

       (i)    Executive or his beneficiaries or estate shall be entitled to
              receive, within fourteen (14) days after the effective date of
              termination, any accrued but unpaid Base Salary for services
              rendered by Executive to the Company prior to the date of
              termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses required to be
              reimbursed under this Agreement, and cash compensation (at a rate
              per day equal to the Base Salary divided by the number of business
              days in the relevant year) for any accrued vacation that remained
              unused by the Executive at the time of termination.

       (ii)   Any earned benefits to which Executive (or his beneficiaries or
              estate) may be entitled pursuant to the plans, policies and
              arrangements referred to in Section 4(d) hereof shall be
              determined and paid in accordance with the terms of such plans,
              policies and arrangements.

       (iii)  Executive (or his beneficiaries or estate) shall be entitled to be
              paid his Base Salary on the Company's regular pay days for a
              period of three (3) years from the effective date of termination
              plus a lump sum payment on the effective date of termination equal
              to three (3) times the average of the cash bonuses paid to
              Executive in each of the two (2) most recently completed fiscal
              years; provided, however, that if at the time of termination
              Executive has not been employed by the Company for two fiscal
              years, such lump sum payment shall equal three (3) times
              Executive's Base Salary.

       (iv)   Executive or his beneficiaries or estate shall be entitled to
              continue to receive life insurance, medical, dental and short-term
              and long-term disability benefits of the type and amount made
              available to Executive immediately prior to termination pursuant
              to the plans, policies and arrangements referred to in Section
              4(d) hereof for a period of three (3) years from the effective
              date of termination; provided, however, if such plans, policies
              and arrangements do not continue to be maintained by the Company
              or are otherwise not available to Executive, the

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              Company shall provide for and make available to Executive
              substantially similar economic benefits as were provided to
              Executive pursuant to such plans, policies and arrangements as of
              the effective date of termination.

       (v)    Any stock options granted Executive prior to the effective date of
              termination will continue to vest (to the extent such options were
              unvested at the time of termination) and Executive or his
              beneficiaries or estate shall be permitted to exercise such
              options at the same time and in the amounts as would have been the
              case had Executive remained employed by the Company.

(b)    TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. In the event that Executive's employment is
       terminated by the Company for Cause pursuant to Section 5(c):

       (i)    Executive shall be entitled to receive, within fourteen (14) days
              after the effective date of termination, any accrued but unpaid
              Base Salary for services rendered by Executive to the Company
              prior to the date of termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses
              required to be reimbursed under this Agreement, and cash
              compensation (at a rate per day equal to the Base Salary divided
              by the number of business days in the relevant year) for any
              accrued vacation that remained unused by the Executive at the time
              of termination.

       (ii)   Any earned benefits to which Executive may be entitled pursuant to
              the plans, policies and arrangements referred to in Section 4(d)
              hereof shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms
              of such plans, policies and arrangements.

(c)    VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EXECUTIVE. In the event that Executive
       terminates his employment pursuant to Section 5(d)(i) hereof:

       (i)    Executive shall be entitled to receive, within fourteen (14) days
              after the effective date of termination, any accrued but unpaid
              Base Salary for services rendered by Executive to the Company
              prior to the date of termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses
              required to be reimbursed under this Agreement, and cash
              compensation (at a rate per day equal to the Base Salary divided
              by the number of business days in the relevant year) for any
              accrued vacation that remained unused by the Executive at the time
              of termination.

       (ii)   Any earned benefits to which Executive may be entitled pursuant to
              the plans, policies and arrangements referred to in Section 4(d)
              hereof shall be determined and paid in accordance with the terms
              of such plans, policies and arrangements.

(d)    TERMINATION BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE. In the event that Executive's
       employment is terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section
       5(e) hereof:

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       (i)    Executive shall be entitled to continue to receive his Base Salary
              on the Company's regular pay days until the later of (A) September
              7, 2004 and (B) the first anniversary of the effective date of
              termination.

       (ii)   Executive shall be entitled to continue to receive life insurance,
              medical, dental and short-term and long-term disability benefits
              of the type and amount made available to Executive immediately
              prior to termination pursuant to the plans, policies and
              arrangements referred to in Section 4(d) hereof until the later of
              (A) September 7, 2004 and (B) the first anniversary of the
              effective date of termination; provided, however, that if such
              plans, policies and arrangements do not continue to be maintained
              by the Company or are otherwise not available to Executive, the
              Company shall provide for or make available to Executive
              substantially similar economic benefits as were provided to
              Executive pursuant to such plans, policies and arrangements as of
              the effective date of termination.

       (iii)  Any stock options granted to Executive prior to the effective date
              of termination will continue to vest (to the extent such options
              were unvested at the time of termination) and Executive shall be
              permitted to exercise such options at the same time and in the
              amounts as would have been the case had Executive remained
              employed by the Company;

       provided, however, that if the Company terminates Executive's employment
       without Cause within six (6) months after a Change of Control, Executive
       shall be paid the amounts set forth in Sections 7(b) and 7(c) hereof
       rather than the amounts set forth in this Section 6(d).

(e)    NO OTHER BENEFITS OR COMPENSATION. Except as may be provided under this
       Agreement or under the terms of any incentive compensation, employee
       benefit or fringe benefit plan applicable to Executive at the time of
       Executive's termination of employment, Executive shall have no right to
       receive any other compensation, or to participate in any other plan,
       arrangement or benefit, with respect to future periods after such
       termination or resignation.

(f)    SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION. Notwithstanding
       anything herein to the contrary, in the event that the Board of Directors
       determines in its good faith judgment that Executive has violated
       Sections 8(a) or 8(b) hereof, the Company shall have the right to suspend
       or terminate any or all remaining payments or benefits payable pursuant
       to Section 6 of this Agreement. Such suspension or termination of
       benefits shall be in addition to and shall not limit any and all other
       rights and remedies that the Company may have against Executive.

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7.     CHANGE OF CONTROL.

(a)    RESIGNATION FOLLOWING CHANGE OF CONTROL. In the event that Executive
       terminates his employment with the Company within six (6) months after a
       "Change of Control" pursuant to Section 5(d)(ii) hereof, Executive shall
       be entitled to the compensation described in this Section 7 upon such
       termination. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" means
       (A) the sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the
       Company to any person or entity that, prior to such sale, was not
       controlled by the Company, (B) a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or
       other reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving entity or
       becomes owned entirely by another entity, unless at least 50% of the
       outstanding voting securities of the surviving or parent corporation, as
       the case may be, immediately following such transaction are beneficially
       held by such persons and entities in the same proportion as such persons
       and entities beneficially held the outstanding voting securities of the
       Company immediately prior to such transaction, (C) the acquisition in a
       single transaction or series of related transactions, other than pursuant
       to the Subscription Agreement or pursuant to any other acquisition by the
       Investors, as such term is defined in the Subscription Agreement (such
       other acquisition by the Investors being referred to as an "Investor
       Acquisition"), of more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company
       by a single person or "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of
       the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether
       through the acquisition of previously issued and outstanding voting
       securities or of voting securities that have not been previously issued,
       or any combination thereof; provided, however, that any Investor
       Acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control if the Investor
       Acquisition is accompanied by a change in the board of directors of the
       Company such that the directors of the Company prior to such acquisition
       no longer constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Company
       after such acquisition and (D) the voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
       liquidation or winding up of the Company, or the adoption of any
       resolution with respect thereto.

(b)    COMPENSATION PAYABLE. In the event that Executive terminates his
       employment pursuant to Section 5(d)(ii) hereof:

       (i)    Executive shall be entitled to receive, within fourteen (14) days
              after the effective date of termination, any accrued but unpaid
              Base Salary for services rendered by Executive to the Company
              prior to the date of termination, any accrued but unpaid expenses
              required to be reimbursed under this Agreement, and cash
              compensation (at a rate per day equal to the Base Salary divided
              by the number of business days in the relevant year) for any
              accrued vacation that remained unused by Executive at the time of
              termination.

       (ii)   Executive shall be entitled to continue to receive his Base Salary
              on the Company's regular pay days for a period of three (3) years
              from the effective date of termination plus a lump sum payment on
              the effective date of termination equal

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              to three (3) times the average of the cash bonuses paid to
              Executive in each of the two (2) most recently completed fiscal
              years; provided, however, that if at the time of termination
              Executive has not been employed by the Company for two fiscal
              years, such lump sum payment shall equal three times Executive's
              Base Salary.

       (iii)  Executive shall be entitled to continue to receive benefits
              pursuant to the plans, policies and arrangements referred to in
              Section 4(d) hereof for a period of three (3) years from the
              effective date of termination; provided, however, if such plans,
              policies and arrangements do not continue to be maintained by the
              Company or are otherwise not available to Executive, the Company
              shall provide for and make available to Executive substantially
              similar economic benefits as were provided to Executive pursuant
              to such plans, policies and arrangements as of the effective date
              of termination.

       (iv)   Any stock options granted Executive prior to the effective date of
              termination will continue to vest (to the extent such options were
              unvested at the time of termination) and Executive shall be
              permitted to exercise such options at the same time and in the
              amounts as would have been the case had Executive remained
              employed by the Company.

       Except as may be provided under this Section 7 or under the terms of any
       incentive compensation, employee benefit or fringe benefit plan
       applicable to Executive at the time of termination, Executive shall have
       no right to receive any other compensation, or to participate in any
       other plan, arrangement or benefit, with respect to future periods after
       such termination.

(c)    CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. In the event that any portion
       of the compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement, and any
       other payments and benefits under any other agreement with, or plan of
       the Company to or for the benefit of Executive (collectively, "Total
       Payments") constitute an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of
       Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") (if applicable),
       then the Company shall pay Executive as promptly as practicable following
       such determination an additional amount (the "Gross-up Payment")
       calculated as described below to reimburse Executive on an after-tax
       basis for any excise tax imposed on such payments under Section 4999 of
       the Code. The Gross-up Payment shall equal the amount, if any, needed to
       ensure that the net parachute payments (including the Gross-up Payment)
       actually received by Executive after the imposition of federal and state
       income, employment and excise taxes (including any interest or penalties
       imposed by the Internal Revenue Service), are equal to the amount that
       Executive would have netted after the imposition of federal and state
       income and employment taxes, had the Total Payments not been subject to
       the taxes imposed by Section 4999. For purposes of this calculation, it
       shall be assumed that Executive's tax rate will be the maximum federal
       rate to be computed with regard to Section 1(g) of the Code.

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       In the event that Executive and the Company are unable to agree as to the
       amount of the Gross-up Payment, if any, the Company shall select a law
       firm or accounting firm from among those regularly consulted (during the
       twelve-month period immediately prior to the Change of Control) by the
       Company regarding federal income tax matters and such law firm or
       accounting firm shall determine the amount of the Gross-up Payment and
       such determination shall be final and binding upon Executive and the
       Company.

8.     RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

(a)    COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY. Executive covenants and agrees that at all times
       during Executive's employment with the Company, and during the
       Non-Compete Period (as defined below), Executive will not, without the
       prior written consent of the Company, directly or indirectly, engage in,
       assist, or have any active interest or involvement, whether as an
       employee, agent, consultant, creditor, advisor, officer, director,
       stockholder (excluding holdings of less than 1% of the stock of a public
       company), partner, proprietor or any type of principal whatsoever in any
       person, firm or business entity which is engaged in the business of
       collecting, storing, transferring, recovering, recycling, marketing or
       disposing of rubbish, garbage, paper, textile wastes, or liquid or other
       wastes within 75 miles of any operating location of the Company or any of
       its subsidiaries.

(b)    NON-SOLICITATION. Executive covenants and agrees that at all times during
       Executive's employment with the Company, and during the Non-Compete
       Period, Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the
       Company, directly or indirectly (i) induce any customer of the Company or
       any of its subsidiaries to patronize any similar business which competes
       with any material business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;
       (ii) canvass, solicit or accept any similar business from any customer of
       the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) request or advise any
       customer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to withdraw, curtail
       or cancel such customer's business with the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries; (iv) disclose to any other person, firm or corporation the
       names or addresses of any customer of the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries other than as required in connection with the performance of
       Executive's duties under this Agreement; or (v) cause, solicit, entice or
       induce any present or future employee of the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or any of its
       subsidiaries, or to accept employment with, or compensation from,
       Executive.

(c)    NON-DISPARAGEMENT. Executive covenants and agrees that Executive shall
       not engage in any pattern of conduct that involves the making or
       publishing of written or oral statements or remarks (including, without
       limitation, the repetition or distribution of derogatory rumors,
       allegations, negative reports or comments) which are disparaging,
       deleterious or damaging to the integrity, reputation or good will of the
       Company or its management.

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(d)    PROTECTED INFORMATION. Executive recognizes and acknowledges that
       Executive has had and will continue to have access to various
       confidential and proprietary information concerning the Company of a
       special and unique value which may include, without limitation, (i) books
       and records relating to the operation, finance, accounting, sales,
       personnel and management, (ii) policies and matters relating particularly
       to the Company's operations such as customer service requirements, costs
       of providing service and equipment, operating costs and pricing matters,
       and (iii) various trade or business secrets, including customer lists,
       route sheets, business opportunities, marketing or business
       diversification plans, business development and bidding techniques,
       methods and processes, financial data and the like (collectively, the
       "Protected Information"). Executive therefore covenants and agrees that
       Executive will not at any time, either while employed by the Company or
       afterwards, knowingly make any independent use of, or knowingly disclose
       to any other person or organization (except as authorized by the Company
       or as required in connection with the performance of Executive's duties
       under this Agreement) any of the Protected Information.

(e)    NON-COMPETE PERIOD. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Non-Compete
       Period" shall have the following meanings: (i) in the event of a
       termination of Executive without Cause pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof,
       the Non-Compete Period shall mean the period during which payments are
       being made to Executive pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof, (ii) in the
       event Executive terminates his employment within six (6) months after a
       Change of Control pursuant to Section 5(d)(ii) hereof, in the case of a
       Change of Control that Executive supported by voting in favor of the
       transaction as a director, the Non-Compete Period shall mean the period
       beginning on the effective date of termination and ending on the third
       anniversary of the effective date of termination and, in the case of any
       other Change of Control, the Non-Compete Period shall mean the period
       beginning on the effective date of termination and ending on the second
       anniversary of the effective date of termination.

9.     ENFORCEMENT OF COVENANTS.

(a)    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND FORFEITURE OF COMPENSATION. Executive
       agrees that any breach by Executive of any of the covenants set forth in
       Section 8 hereof during Executive's employment by the Company, shall be
       grounds for immediate dismissal of Executive and forfeiture of any
       accrued and unpaid Base Salary, bonus, commissions or other compensation
       of such Executive as liquidated damages, which shall be in addition to
       and not exclusive of any and all other rights and remedies the Company
       may have against Executive.

(b)    RIGHT TO INJUNCTION. Executive acknowledges that a breach of the
       covenants set forth in Section 8 hereof will cause irreparable damage to
       the Company with respect to which the Company's remedy at law for damages
       will be inadequate. Therefore, in the event of a breach of the covenants
       set forth in Section 8 by Executive, Executive and the

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       Company agree that the Company shall be entitled to the following
       particular forms of relief, in addition to remedies otherwise available
       to it at law or equity; (i) injunctions, both preliminary and permanent,
       enjoining or restraining such breach or anticipatory breach and Executive
       hereby consents to the issuance thereof forthwith and without bond by any
       court of competent jurisdiction; and (ii) recovery of all reasonable sums
       expended and costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the
       Company to enforce the covenants set forth in this section.

(c)    SEPARABILITY OF COVENANTS. The covenants contained in Section 8 hereof
       constitute a series of separate covenants, one for each applicable State
       in the United States and the District of Columbia, and one for each
       Province and Territory in Canada. If in any judicial proceeding, a court
       shall hold that any of the covenants set forth in Section 8 exceed the
       time, geographic, or occupational limitations permitted by applicable
       laws, Executive and the Company agree that such provisions shall and are
       hereby reformed to the maximum time, geographic, or occupational
       limitations permitted by such laws. Further, in the event a court shall
       hold unenforceable any of the separate covenants deemed included herein,
       then such unenforceable covenant or covenants shall be deemed eliminated
       from the provisions of this Agreement for the purpose of such proceeding
       to the extent necessary to permit the remaining separate covenants to be
       enforced in such proceeding. Executive and the Company further agree that
       the covenants in Section 8 shall each be construed as a separate
       agreement independent of any other provisions of this Agreement, and the
       existence of any claim or cause of action by Executive against the
       Company whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not
       constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of any of the
       covenants of Section 8.

10.    DISPUTES AND PAYMENT OF ATTORNEY'S FFES.

If at any time during the term of this Agreement or afterwards there should
arise any dispute as to the validity, interpretation or application of any term
or condition of this Agreement, the Company agrees, upon written demand by
Executive (and Executive shall be entitled upon application to any court of
competent jurisdiction, to the entry of a mandatory injunction, without the
necessity of posting any bond with respect thereto, compelling the Company) to
promptly provide sums sufficient to pay on a current basis (either directly or
by reimbursing Executive) Executive's costs and reasonable attorney's fees
(including without limitation expenses of investigation and disbursements for
the fees and expenses of experts) incurred by Executive in connection with any
such dispute or any litigation, (a) provided that Executive shall repay any such
amounts paid or advanced if Executive is not the prevailing party with respect
to any dispute or litigation arising under Sections 5(c) or 8 of this Agreement,
or (b) regardless of whether Executive is the prevailing party in a dispute or
in litigation involving any other provision of this Agreement, provided that the
court in which such litigation is first initiated determines with respect to
this obligation, upon application of either party hereto, that Executive did not
initiate frivolously such litigation. Under no circumstances shall Executive be
obligated to pay or reimburse the Company for any attorneys' fees, costs or
expenses incurred by the

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Company. The provisions of this Section shall survive the expiration or
termination of this Agreement and Executive's employment hereunder.

11.    WITHHOLDING OF TAXES.

The Company may withhold all applicable taxes from any compensation and benefits
payable under this Agreement.

12.    NON-DISCLOSURE OF AGREEMENT TERMS.

If Executive's employment with the Company is terminated for any reason, the
Company agrees that, except to the extent required by law, it will not make or
publish, without the express written consent of Executive, any written or oral
statement concerning Executive or the terms of Executive's employment with the
Company, including, without limitation, his work-related performance or the
reasons or basis for the termination of Executive's employment with the Company.

13.    ASSIGNMENT.

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of, and be binding upon, the parties hereto and their respective
heirs, representatives, successors and assigns. This Agreement shall not be
assignable by Executive, and shall be assignable by the Company only to any
financially solvent corporation or other entity resulting from the
reorganization, merger, consolidation or amalgamation of the Company with any
other corporation or entity or any corporation or entity to or with which the
Company's business or substantially all of its business or assets may be sold,
exchanged or transferred, and it must be so assigned by the Company to, and
accepted as binding upon it by, such other corporation or entity in connection
with any such amalgamation, reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale,
exchange or transfer (the provisions of this sentence also being applicable to
any successive such transaction).

14.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT.

This Agreement shall supersede any and all existing oral or written agreements,
representations, or warranties between Executive and the Company relating to the
terms of Executive's employment by the Company. It may not be amended except by
a written agreement signed by both parties.

15.    GOVERNING LAW.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal substantive laws of the Province of Ontario, without giving effect to
the conflict of law principles thereof.

                                      -12-
<Page>

16.    NOTICES.

Any notice, consent, request or other communication made or given in connection
with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if delivered personally, mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested), or by confirmed facsimile to those listed below at their
following respective addresses or at such other address as each may specify by
notice to the others:

       To the Company: Capital Environmental Resource Inc.

              1005 Skyview Drive
              Burlington, Ontario  L7P 5B1
              Attention:  Secretary

       To Executive: At the address for Executive set forth below.

17.    MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)    WAIVER. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any
       term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver
       thereof or deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon
       strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

(b)    SEPARABILITY. Subject to Section 9 hereof, if any term or provision of
       this Agreement is declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of
       competent jurisdiction and cannot be modified to be enforceable, such
       term or provision shall immediately become null and void, leaving the
       remainder of this Agreement in full force and effect.

(c)    HEADINGS. Section headings are used herein for convenience of reference
       only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of this Agreement.

(d)    RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Whenever the context so requires, the use of the
       singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa.

(e)    COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
       counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
       original, and such counterparts will together constitute but one
       Agreement.

                           [signature pages to follow]

                                      -13-
<Page>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

CAPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE, INC.

By:             /s/ Dennis Nolan
       --------------------------------------------

Title:          Secretary
       --------------------------------------------

Date:           September 7, 2001
       --------------------------------------------

EXECUTIVE

By:             /s/ David Sutherland-Yoest
       --------------------------------------------
       David Sutherland-Yoest
Date:           September 7, 2001
       --------------------------------------------

                                      -14-<Page>

EXHIBIT 4.10

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made as of this 24th day of September, 2001.

B E T W E E N:

            CAPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INC., an Ontario corporation having
            its head office at 1005 Skyview Drive, Burlington, ON L7P 5B1
            ("CAPITAL")

- AND -

            GEORGE BOOTHE, an individual residing at 1073 Forestvale Drive,
            Burlington, ON L7P 4W4
            (the "EMPLOYEE" or "MR. BOOTHE")

      WHEREAS, Mr. Boothe has been employed by Capital since February 17, 1999
and the parties wish to renegotiate and continue that relationship.

      AND WHEREAS, this Agreement replaces and supercedes all previous
employment agreements between the parties.

      NOW THEREFORE IN CONSIDERATION of the Employee's continued employment by
Capital, the mutual provisions contained herein, the compensation to be paid the
Employee either in the form of salary, other compensation or increases therein
and for good and valuable consideration more particularly set out herein, the
parties agree with each other as follows:

1.    EMPLOYMENT

      A.    Capital hereby employs the Employee and the Employee hereby accepts
            employment upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The
            Employee shall have the title of Vice President, Operations to be
            officed in the greater Toronto/Burlington/Oakville Ontario area and
            shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Capital or his
            designee and shall perform such duties, assume such responsibilities
            and devote such time, attention and energy to the business of
            Capital and corporations affiliated with Capital (the "Affiliated
            Corporations") as Capital shall reasonably require.

      B.    The Employee shall not, during the term of his employment hereunder,
            be engaged in any other activities if such activities interfere
            materially with the Employee's duties and responsibilities for
            Capital.

<Page>

                                       2

2.    COMPENSATION

      For all services rendered by the Employee under this Agreement, Capital
      agrees to compensate the Employee during the term hereof, as follows:

      A.    BASE SALARY. Employee's base salary shall be CDN $185,000 per annum
            payable on a periodic basis consistent with Capital's payroll
            procedures for executive employees. The Employee's base salary shall
            be reviewed at least annually and shall be increased as agreed by
            Capital and the Employee from time to time.

      B.    OTHER COMPENSATION. The Employee shall be entitled to receive the
            following additional compensation:

            i.    BONUS. The Employee shall receive a bonus for 2001 of CDN
                  $92,500 to be paid in the first pay period following the
                  release of Capital's 2001 financial statements, provided, that
                  Employee has not resigned his employment or been terminated
                  prior thereto. For each of 2002 and 2003, Employee may receive
                  an annual discretionary performance bonus of up to 50% of his
                  base salary.

            ii.   BENEFITS. Employee and his dependants shall continue to be
                  covered under Capital's executive benefit plan inclusive of
                  the matching pension contribution to a maximum of five percent
                  (5%) of base salary and such other benefits as may be
                  authorized by the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee
                  from time to time.

            iii.  VACATION. Employee shall be granted our (4) weeks vacation in
                  each fiscal year, to be taken at such times as mutually agreed
                  between the Employee and Capital. Vacation may only be taken
                  within the year of entitlement and may not be accumulated form
                  year to year unless otherwise mutually agreed.

            iv.   CAR.

                  (1)   Capital shall provide the Employee with a leased vehicle
                        (or equivalent car allowance) commensurate with his
                        position;

                  (2)   Capital shall be responsible for all costs incurred in
                        the operation of such vehicle including fuel,
                        maintenance, and insurance. Capital will compensate the
                        Employee for any deemed taxable benefits for his
                        personal use of such vehicle including taxable benefits
                        relating to operating costs; and

                  (3)   Capital shall purchase at its cost a transponder for the
                        Employee to use while commuting from and to his home to
                        and from Capital's offices.

<Page>

                                        3

            v.    STOCK OPTIONS. Effective upon the date of this Agreement, the
                  Employee shall be granted 75,000 options to purchase stock in
                  the capital of Capital, which shall vest upon the second
                  anniversary of this Agreement (the "Vesting Date"). The
                  exercise price for each optioned share shall be the price per
                  share as listed on Nasdaq at the close of business on the date
                  of this Agreement. Capital agrees that the Employee shall
                  remain entitled to such options vesting according to the
                  preceding schedule regardless of whether Employee's employment
                  shall terminate prior to the vesting of such options. In the
                  event of termination of the Employee, the options may be
                  exercised on the greater of ninety (90) days after such
                  termination or ninety (90) days from the Vesting Date (but not
                  beyond the Term of the Option). In all other circumstances,
                  the exercise of such options shall be governed by the stock
                  option plan, a copy of which is marked as EXHIBIT A attached
                  hereto and is hereby incorporated and shall form part of this
                  Agreement.

            vi.   MOBILE TELEPHONE. Capital shall provide the Employee with a
                  mobile telephone and pay all reasonable charges incurred by
                  the Employee in connection with the use of such telephone.

      C.    EXPENSES. Employee shall be reimbursed for all expenses reasonably
            and actually incurred in the performance of his duties, subject to
            submission of appropriate documentation in accordance with Capital's
            expense reimbursement policy in effect from time to time.

      D.    GREEN CARD. Employee shall be reimbursed for maintaining his U.S.
            emigration status (i.e., Green Card) inclusive of "alternative
            minimum taxes" payable to the Internal Revenue Service of the United
            States of America as well as reimbursement for the costs of
            obtaining Green Card status for his spouse and two (2) children.

      E.    PROMISSORY NOTE. The Employee and Capital agree that the Employee's
            promissory notes dated May 19, 1999 in the amount of CDN $85,000 and
            August 6, 1999 in the amount of CDN 15,000 shall be cancelled and
            that the Employee shall grant to Capital a replacement promissory
            note in the sum of CDN $100,000 and such note shall be payable in
            full without interest upon the second anniversary of this Agreement;
            provided that, in the event the Note or any portion thereof remains
            outstanding, the after-tax proceeds of any exercise of options by
            the Employee shall be applied to the amount then owing pursuant to
            the terms of the Note.

      F.    ESCROW AGREEMENT.

            i.    Whereas, Capital, Mr. Boothe and Torys entered into an Escrow
                  Agreement dated September 4, 2001 (the "ESCROW AGREEMENT");
                  and, whereas, pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement,
                  the first of two (2) payments of CDN $194,250 have been paid
                  to Mr. Boothe; in consideration of the execution of this
                  Agreement and, in particular, the granting of stock options to
                  the Employee as set out in Section 2.B.v herein, the Employee
                  agrees to

<Page>

                                        4

                  amend the Escrow Agreement by directing Torys to pay to
                  Capital the remaining payment of CDN $194,250 plus accrued
                  interest.

            ii.   The Employee hereby agrees to release Capital from all his
                  claims and entitlement to such second payment.

3.    TERM, TERMINATION

      A.    The Employee shall be employed for a term of two (2) years ending
            September 23, 2003 (the "TERM").

      B.    The Employee may be terminated at any time for just cause without
            notice or compensation in lieu thereof.

      C.    In the absence of just cause, the Employee's employment may be
            terminated by Capital upon the payment by way of salary continuance
            of the Employee's base salary for the greater of the remaining Term
            at the time of termination of this Agreement or six (6) months (the
            "SEVERANCE PERIOD"). Such severance shall be paid over the Severance
            Period in accordance with Capital's payroll procedures for executive
            employees. For greater certainty should the agreement not be renewed
            for a further term Employee shall receive (6) six months severence
            paid in accordance with the above.

      D.    Upon the effective date of termination or resignation, the Employee
            shall promptly deliver and return to Capital all the property,
            including, but not limited to, credit cards, customer lists,
            financial data, letters, notes, notebooks, reports, or copies of any
            of the above, any Confidential Information, as defined in Section
            1.1 of the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement which is
            attached hereto as EXHIBIT B, which is incorporated into and forms a
            part of this Agreement (the "NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION
            AGREEMENT").

4.    NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION COVENANTS

      In consideration of the execution of this Agreement, and other good and
      valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
      acknowledged, the Employee agrees to enter into the Non-Competition and
      Non-Solicitation Agreement.

5.    SEVERABLE PROVISIONS

      In case of any one (1) or more of the provisions or parts thereof
      contained in this Agreement shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid,
      illegal or unenforceable in any respect (i) such invalidity, illegality or
      unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions or parts thereof of
      this Agreement, and (ii) this Agreement shall be construed as if such
      invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained
      herein. Failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of
      this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver of such provisions or any
      other provision of this Agreement.

<Page>

                                        5

6.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT

      The Employee acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement (together
      with any attachments hereto), which has been executed in triplicate and
      agrees that it is the entire Agreement with Capital and supersedes any and
      all previous oral or written agreements or representations respecting or
      relating in any way to the Employee's employment including but not limited
      to its terms and conditions. It is further agreed that this Agreement can
      only be amended by an agreement in writing signed by both the Employee and
      an officer of Capital provided that this shall not preclude Capital or
      Affiliated Corporations from granting an increase in salary or an
      enhancement of benefits. For greater certainty, any oral or written
      representations, understanding or agreements with Capital or Affiliated
      Corporations, any of their officers or representatives in any way relating
      to the Employee's employment including but not limited to its terms and
      conditions are hereby declared to be void, of no effect and are superseded
      by the provisions of this Agreement. The Employee further acknowledges and
      agrees that neither Capital nor Affiliated Corporations is in any way
      responsible or liable for any such oral or written representations,
      understandings or agreements.

7.    GOVERNING LAW

      This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed for all
      purposes by the laws of the Province of Ontario subject to the mandatory
      application of the statutes of any province other than Ontario where the
      Employee is employed in such other province and the laws of Canada
      applicable therein.

8.    ASSIGNMENT

      The Employee acknowledges that Capital or any of its Affiliated
      Corporations may assign this Agreement amongst themselves, to any
      corporation with which they are merged or amalgamated, or to any third
      party acquiring all or part of any of the businesses of Capital or any of
      its Affiliated Corporations.

9.    OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK INDEPENDENT ADVICE

      The Employee recognizes that this Agreement is an important document that
      affects his legal rights. For this reason, Employee may wish to seek
      independent legal advice before accepting the terms stated herein. The
      Employee acknowledges that he has had an opportunity to seek such
      independent legal advice. The Employee acknowledges that he has read and
      understands the provisions contained herein and acknowledges receipt of a
      copy of this Agreement.

                             SIGNATORY PAGE FOLLOWS

<Page>

                                        6

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date set
forth above.

CAPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE INC.

By:    /s/ David Sutherland-Yoest
    ---------------------------------------------
       David Sutherland-Yoest
       Chairman of the Board and C.E.O.

/s/ George Boothe
-------------------------------------------------
 GEORGE BOOTHE

-------------------------------------------------
 WITNESS

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