Ellin to retire from Recycling Association

The Recycling Association is the trade association for the paper recycling sector and other UK recycling companies.

Dr Ellin joined Independent Waste Paper Producers (IWPP), the association’s trading arm, as commercial director in 2009. In 2011, Dr Ellin replaced the retiring David Symmers as chief executive of both the Recycling Association and IWPP.

Under Dr Ellin’s stewardship, the association has grown and now counts a “record” 119 companies as members.

Announcing his retirement, Dr Ellin said: “I’ve had a wonderful career in the recycling industry, but my best time has been as chief executive of the Recycling Association, which has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years.”

He added: “I’ve made many friends within our membership but also in the wider recycling sector and I will definitely miss everybody.”

Dr Ellin said now was the time to “take a step back”. He intends to spend more time with his wife, daughters and grandson. He also said he wanted to take the opportunity to play more golf, cycle, tend his allotment and see more live music, “while I still have plenty of fuel left in the tank.”

Support

Within his announcement, Dr Ellin said he could not have achieved success with the Recycling Association without the support of past presidents Simon Marsden and Adrian Jackson, current president Craig Curtis, vice president Celine Grant, past IWPP chair Michael Bolton and “all those who have served on the boards of the Recycling Association and IWPP.”

“In particular, the support and friendship of Chris Burton and Arlene and Donna in the Daventry office has made my time with the Recycling Association much more rewarding,” he said. “I couldn’t have done this role without them.”

‘Transformative’

Mr Curtis paid tribute to Dr Ellin, saying he had had a “transformative” effect on the Recycling Association, boosting its membership and profile domestically and internationally.

He always put members’ interests first

• Craig Curtis, president of the Recycling Association

The association’s current president added: “Whether appearing on BBC Breakfast, speaking at international conferences or helping members with their issues, he has always put their interests first.

“But he has also been able to communicate to them how the industry is changing, ensuring that we put quality first or explaining the impact the Resources & Waste Strategy will have on their businesses.

“I’m sure I won’t be alone in saying that we will miss Simon and, 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. I look forward to working with him until his departure in March.”