A former president of both the Independent Waste Paper Processors Association (now the Recycling Association) and the British Waste Paper Association, John developed his paper recycling business in Yorkshire.
He started the company, Cutts Bros, with his brother Patrick in Doncaster, his home town, and went on to develop premises in Sheffield as well. The business grew and it became a major supplier of cardboard to the UK and later overseas markets as well as other materials.
With John moving to the Isle of Man in 1997, John’s son Richard went on to become managing director of the business.
In 2011, the company Cutts Bros, was acquired by Spain’s SAICA to become a feeder company to its newly-established mill at Partington, Manchester (see letsrecycle.com story)
Commenting on the sale, John said at the time: “I am very pleased that we are becoming part of SAICA but it is a sad day for me as this has been a big part of my life. I am sure the business will continue to expand and the SAICA mill in Partington is a very exciting development.”
Funeral
Richard Cutts told letsrecycle.com that his father “passed away on Sunday 26th August 2018 at age 79 surrounded by his loved ones.”
Richard continued: “He was a beloved husband of Julie, a loving father to Richard and Samantha and leaves behind four grandchildren, Robert, Gabriella, Alexandra and Amber, to whom he remained devoted. Adored by all who knew him, he will be greatly missed.”
And, Richard added: “There will be a service at Braddan Church, Braddan, Isle of Man on 22 September at 10:30am. Family flowers only please. Donations can be made to the Neo Natal Unit at Doncaster Royal Infirmary where his grandson Robert was born and spent the first few weeks of his life. John would want to encourage the beginning of life in preference to the ending of it.”
IWPPA
Remembering John, Neil Clarke, managing director of paper recycling business Recycling UK, said: “I remember John coming to see my Dad and I at our Ellesmere Port site in the early 1980s when we applied to join the IWPPA. Shortly after I was invited to join the council and subsequently Board of IWPP Ltd, and I personally spent a lot of time with John on our IWPPA committee work and travels in the 80s and early 90s.”
Neil Clarke continued: “I really respected the forthright but fair way he put across the independent cause to the mill owned groups in those days. John was part of a team who helped the independent sector get the recognition and respect it deserved within our industry and helped sow the seeds for the very strong Recycling Association that we have today.”
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