Mr Butt took over the reins from Rick Wilcox in 2009 and went on to oversee a rise in membership, more representation of sector voices in government and the launch of a twice-yearly member magazine.
Mr Simon Dowson, told letsrecycle.com: “Peter’s done a tremendous job and is very a hard act to follow. I hope to live up to his high standards.”
Former school bursar, businessman and military man Mr Dowson took over the part-time role from Mr Butt last month (September 15), and has already been getting stuck into the role.
Priorities for the new WRA chief will include working with the Environment Agency with regards to wood storage limits and fire safety risk.
And, merely days after Mr Dowson started in the post, the Environment Agency published a briefing note on waste wood management, which focused on the need to effectively segregate material into different grades before subsequent processing at recycling sites (see letsrecycle.com story).
The Agency document was acknowledged by the WRA, which stated at the time: “We look forward to working with the EA to develop an industry best code of practice and to seek new markets for waste wood, particularly fines.”
Background
Mr Dowson has a part military background, having joined the army’s Green Howards infantry regiment after leaving school in Yorkshire in 1977. After 12 years, the Yorkshireman then set up his own marquee-hire company – Ryedale – which he described as a “feel-good business” due to time spent working outdoors at celebratory events.
Mr Dowson commented: “The industry [wood recycling] seems intensely practical and generally very outdoors – a little like the marquee business!”
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After selling Ryedale, he studied for an MBA qualification in 1994 at the University of Durham, and has since spent the “largest part” of his career working as a bursar at a number of schools including Shrewsbury School.
Married with two grown-up sons, Mr Dowson – who is still based in Yorkshire – describes his short time in the wood recycling sector so far as “very involving, interesting and diverse.”
He added: “There’s a strong ‘can-do’ attitude among the members I’ve met at meetings and events so far.”
And, although he has only been in the job a few weeks, he is already planning on visiting many more members.
“I am hoping to try and get around as many locations as possible, as quickly as possible,” he said.
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