The search has begun for a new Recycling Association chief executive, as Simon Ellin prepares to retire from the role.
He will leave in March 2023 after almost 12 years at the head of the trade organisation, it announced today (30 September).
Ellin joined the Independent Waste Paper Producers Association in 2009 as commercial director. In 2011, he replaced David Symmers as chief executive of both the IWPP and The Recycling Association upon Symmers’ retirement.
During Ellin’s tenure, The Recycling Association has grown to a record 119 member companies, and frequently been highly critical of fmcg suppliers for not taking responsibility for the lifecycle and recyclability of their packaging.
In 2017, Ellin made national headlines for a speech in which he attacked the design of the Pringles tube. Dubbing the mixed-materials carton “the worst packaging offender” in terms of recyclability, he asked: “What idiot designed this?”
In the same speech, Ellin criticised Lucozade Sport for its bottle that was “so confusing to computer scanners that it has to be picked by hand off the recycling conveyor”.
His comments led to Pringles owner Kellogg’s unveiling a paper tube in 2020 and Suntory Beverage & Food redesigning the Lucozade Sport bottle last year to be more easily recyclable.
Ellin has had “a transformative effect on The Recycling Association, boosting our membership and our profile both domestically and internationally” said the body’s president, Craig Curtis.
“Whether appearing on BBC Breakfast, speaking at international conferences or helping members with their issues, he has always put their interests first. He has also been able to communicate to them how the industry is changing, ensuring we put quality first.
“I’m sure I won’t be alone in saying that we will miss Simon,” Curtis added. “On behalf of our members, I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his many years of service for them and the wider industry.”
Ellin said he had a “wonderful career in the recycling industry”, but now was “the time to take a step back and spend more time with my wife, daughters and grandson”.
No comments yet