Metals association chief to leave in New Year

After more than three years in the position, Ms Millington has decided to leave when her current contract ends in March 2009, after overseeing what she described as a “very successful lobbying campaign this year”.

At that time, Ms Millington said she looked “forward to working with Michael as we pursue the issues described in the BMRA’s Agenda for Change”.

The metal recycling sector has been particularly badly hit by the global economic slowdown (see letsrecycle.com story), and the situation with recovered metals' classification under 'end of waste' regulations – which could significantly reduce regulation of the sector – remains unclear.

Decision

Speaking to letsrecycle.com today about her decision to leave, Ms Millington explained that it was “time to do different things” and she would be moving on to “non-work-related” responsibilities.

And, responding to rumours that her departure would coincide with the BMRA moving from its offices in Brampton, a rural town in Cambridgeshire, she said “not as far as I know”.

The association is now advertising for a new director-general and is inviting applications until December 15, with the aim of interviewing for the role in January.

Her work was praised by Mr Wright, who said: “Lindsay has done a magnificent job and we will be sorry to see her go. The director general of BMRA is a key role that offers a great opportunity for someone who wants to be the voice of the UK's leading recycling sector and play a role in developing policy and regulation for an industry that makes a £5 billion contribution to the UK's balance of payments.

“We are now in a stronger position than ever in terms of relationships with government and regulatory authorities and our membership levels are at a peak,” he added.

Awareness

In a statement, the BMRA said that Ms Millington's lobbying work had helped to raise awareness of metal recycling in the UK and EU, and the association will now be advertising for someone to continue this work in the future.

Commenting on her work, Ms Millington said: “There is now much wider recognition of the size and scope of the industry and of the vital contribution that recovering metals makes to the achievement of European targets for recycling end-of-life vehicles, WEEE, packaging, batteries and construction materials.”

And, she drew particular progress that had been made on advancing the BMRA cause in the past year, during which time it published its 'Agenda for Change' (see letsrecycle.com story).

She said: “We have had a very successful lobbying campaign this year. In the spring, our policy document ‘Agenda for Change' attracted a lot of interest, and MPs held an adjournment debate on metal recycling. We have worked closely with European Commission researchers towards a position that could soon bring the much needed ‘end-of-waste' decision for recovered metals.

“We have also been able to raise industry concerns about over-regulation, shipment controls and other issues directly with ministers and with the House of Commons environment select committee,” she added.

Ms Millington joined the recycling organisation in September 2005 from metal sector strategic skills organisation MetSkill, which she helped to set up in 1990 to develop work experience and vocational work in the sector.