Vanden appoints commercial director
Vanden Recycling has appointed Aaron Williamson as commercial director, which forms part of its “plans to expand and strengthen its growing UK operation”.
Mr Williamson joins Vanden UK as director of business development, bringing operational and commercial experience in the recycling sector such as running operational facilities.
Since 2020 Vanden has “accelerated plans” to achieve full UK geographic coverage, and to expand across Europe with a new presence in The Netherlands, Spain and Italy. This growth has included hiring experienced commercial staff across these regions.
Mr Williams said: “Vanden has worked hard towards having full UK coverage to provide a personal and customer-centric service. It is my aim and passion to drive this quality service, working with existing and new partners around the country.”
John Carapetis, chief trading officer at Vanden Recycling, added: “We have recognised that the only way to consistently deliver the personal, transparent and responsible service Vanden is known for, is to have people on the ground in every region.”
The company is also recruiting for a business development manager and a business development manager for recyclable plastics.
Totus ‘strengthens for European growth’
European resource management specialist, Totus Environmental, has expanded its senior management team to support operation development in mainland Europe and the UK.
Bringing over 50 years’ combined experience in the sector, Clare Noble and Chris Barnes have been appointed to the positions of commercial director and operations director.
Ms Noble joins Totus after spending 30 years with healthcare provider PHS across senior commercial and operational roles. She will be responsible for Totus’ Alternative Fuels, Commodities and Hazardous Waste divisions, and its marketing and commercial teams.
Mr Barnes has spent over 28 years working in the hazardous waste sector with Biffa, Tradebe and Veolia. He will oversee Totus’ operations and compliance divisions and driving the company’s digitisation strategy which will transform the way the business will operate.
Totus’ managing director Andy Jones said: “I’m delighted to welcome Chris and Clare to Totus as we enter an exciting phase for our business. We have witnessed a huge amount of change over the last 10 years and our success has been founded on an ability to adapt quickly and efficiently to market conditions.”
Podback appoints marketing head
Podback, the UK-wide coffee pod recycling scheme, announced the appointment of Diana Caldwell as head of marketing and communications on 9 February.
Set up by Nestlé and Jacobs Douwe Egberts UK, Podback provides simpler ways for people to recycle their coffee pods.
Podback went live across the UK in April 2021, offering a nationwide Collect+ delivered by Yodel drop-off service to customers and is working with local authorities to offer kerbside collections.
Ms Caldwell will focus on driving growth for the scheme, increasing public awareness around coffee pod recycling, and supporting with bringing on-board new members and local authority partners. She will work closely with Rick Hindley, Podback’s executive director.
Mr Hindley said: “Diana’s experience of spearheading effective communication campaigns around recycling is precisely what we need as we approach the first anniversary of the programme.”
Ms Caldwell added: “Clear and engaging communications are so important when it comes to encouraging the right behaviours around recycling. I’m looking forward to making a difference in this new role.”
Diana has previously worked at Alupro (the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation) with Mr Hindley, and the aluminium recycling specialist Novelis.
BIG appoints head of corporate finance
Biomass specialist Bioenergy Infrastructure Group (BIG) has announced the appointment of Tylor Hartwell as head of corporate finance.
BIG is said to have one of the UK’s largest portfolios of energy-from-waste and waste wood facilities and has invested in over 20 projects across the UK to date.
BIG has interest in over 100MW of operational assets, diverting more than a million tonnes of waste from landfill, to generate enough electricity to power around 250,000 homes in the UK each year.
Tylor Hartwell said: “I look forward to ensuring BIG can support a meaningful reduction in UK carbon emissions and lead the exploration for UK carbon capture.”
Simon Hicks, CEO of Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, commented: “He joins at an exciting time for our company as we look to shift into our next stage of growth and increase our focus on net zero energy.”
The company looks to capitalise on the growth of the energy-from-waste sector, using its experience in the conversion of waste and waste wood to syngas via gasification, to become a low carbon energy producer.
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