HOT100 2012

1 (11) Ray Georgeson, Chief Executive, Resource Association: “A true champion for material quality.”

2(3) Joy Blizzard, Chair, LARAC: “She’s not afraid to speak her mind.”

3(7) Liz Goodwin, CEO, WRAP: “A deserving winner.”

4 (17) Andy Doran, Senior Manager – Sustainability and Recycling Development, Novelis Recycling: ”A leader in the packaging industry and beyond.”

5 (6) Jonathan Straight, Chief Executive, Straight plc: “He offers real, practical solutions that are making a real difference to people, communities and ultimately the globe.”

6 (NEW) Gemma Barratt, Head of Recycling, Aylesford Newsprint: “Gemma loves her job and constantly promotes the benefits of the industry she works in.”

7 (5) Iain Gulland, Director, Zero Waste Scotland: “Delivering on our vision in Scotland.”

8 (NEW) Jonathan Short, Managing Director, ECO Plastics: “Not afraid to be controversial.”

9 (18) Andy Rees, Head of Waste Strategy, Welsh Government: “The evidence speaks for itself.”

10 (30) Steve Lee, CEO, CIWM: “Steve is an industry must-have.”

11-20

11 (38) Janez Potocnik, European Environment Commissioner: “Sending out the right message.”

12 (16) Dominic Hogg, Director, Eunomia: “Anything you need to know, he knows it.”

13 (26) Chris Dow, Managing Director, Closed Loop Recycling: “If you searched for an alternative to ‘enthusiasm’ in a thesaurus you may very well turn up with the name Chris Dow.”

14 (31) David Palmer-Jones, CEO, SITA UK: “Industry heavyweight.”15 (29) Jane Stephenson, CEO, Resource Futures: “The original woman in waste.”

16 (15) Peter Jones, Director, Ecolateral: “Still leading the charge, challenging perceptions and looking
for synergies.”

17 (13) Eric Randall, Director of Recycling, Bryson Recycling: “A natural leader and pioneer in the design of the kerb-sort vehicle.”

18 (60) Julie Hill, Associate, Green Alliance: “Heading up a taskforce that could really change things.”

19 (34) Mathew Crocker, Head of Illegals and Waste, Environment Agency: “For putting more baddies behind bars.”

20 (12) Julian Parfitt, Principal Resource Analyst, Oakdene Hollins: “A living computer.”
21-30 21 (40) Adam Read, Director, AEA: “Still challenging convention and asking the big questions.”

22 (22) Jeremy Jacobs, Managing Director, Association for Organics Recycling: “For navigating a successful merger and emerging stronger.”23 (69) John Griffiths, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Welsh Government : “A worthy successor to Jane Davidson.”
24 (NEW) Rachelle Strauss, Blogger, My Zero Waste: “For all her hard work devoted to the grassroots National Zero Waste Week campaign.”

25 (20) Linda Crichton, Head of Programmes for Collection and Quality, WRAP: “For tirelessly supporting local authorities and putting up with Dick Perry.”

26 (21) Andy Moore, Coordinator, Campaign for Real Recycling: “A true revolutionary (and not just because of the beret).”

27 (66) Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Scottish Government: ”Committed to showing England up.”

28 (53) Steve Eminton, Editor, letsrecycle.com: “Shaper of opinions.”

29 (27) Colin Drummond, Chief Executive, Viridor.

30 (4) Peter Mills, Operations Director, New Earth Solutions: “Peter is still ahead of the game.”
31-40 31 (47) Andy Bond, Founder, 4R Environmental: “He is back in the social enterprise sector where he belongs and about to make an impact again.”

32 (NEW) Colin Church, Director of Climate, Waste and Atmosphere, Defra: “Seems to have a no-nonsense attitude.”

33 (NEW) Alan Whitehead, MP, Chair, Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group: “Years of dedicated work – plus, a HUGE amount of knowledge of the sector!”
34 (NEW) Matthew Farrow, Director of Policy, ESA: “Speaks for the waste industry.”

35 (NEW) Marcus Gover, Director of Closed Loop Economy, WRAP: “Nice guy.”

36 (32) Maxine Perella, Waste Market Editor, edie.net: “Very prolific and engaging – dares to question.”

37 (10) Nicola Peake, Managing Director – Environment, Kier: “We need more women in waste.”

38 (77) Margaret Bates, Manager, Centre for Sustainable Wastes Management, Northampton University: ”Professional Professor, widely seen as one of the most knowledgeable people on WEEE in the whole world.”

39 (39) Tony Breton, UK Coordinator, Novamont: “He’s a load of rubbish... Or a lean, green, organically bio-wrapped, landfill gas reduction machine!”

40 (55) Rick Hindley, Executive Director, Alupro.
41-50 41 (NEW) Philip Morton, Chief Executive, Repic: “At the vanguard of WEEE recycling.”

42 (87) Phillip Ward, Independent Consultant: “Now he can say what he really thinks! It’s all rather fun.”

43 (63) Simon Weston, Managing Director, Smurfit Kappa: “Not afraid to tell it like it is.”44 (NEW) Emma Marsh, Head of Love Food Hate Waste, WRAP: “She’s leading the country’s most successful waste reduction campaign.”

45 (43) Barry Dennis, Director General, ESA: “He always gives you a straight answer.”

46 (41) Colin Kirkby, Executive Officer, LARAC: “He shows what can be achieved with determination and an ability to overcome all the numerous hurdles put in the way of ‘can do’ people.”

47 (NEW) Richard Swannell, Director of Design and Waste Prevention, WRAP: “Waste prevention is top of the hierarchy and so is Richard.”

48 (83) Peter Scholes, Managing Director, Urban Mines: “Knows C&I better than just about anybody.”

49 (NEW) Lord Deben, Chair, Committee on Climate Change: “The Landfill Tax’s architect is still getting around, promoting progressive ideas.”

50 (2) Mal Williams, CEO, Cylch: “Mal is a selfless and highly principled visionary whose true contribution to moving Wales to a resource-management economy will probably never be fully recognised.”
51-60 51 (14) Steve Read, Managing Director, Somerset Waste Partnership.

52 (51) Caroline Lucas, MP, Green Party: “An inspiration to Greens everywhere.”

53 (52) Dick Perry, Programme Area Manager for Collection and Quality, WRAP: “The godfather of recycling.”
54 (36) Steve Gough, Chief Executive, Valpak.

55 (46) Craig Anderson, Chief Executive, Furniture Re-use Network: “Forging partnerships with the private sector.”

56 (64) Dave Mansell, Strategy and Communications Team Leader, Somerset Waste Part: ”Knows his stuff.”

57 (65) Michael Chesshire, Director, Evergreen Gas: “Maverick of the organics sector.”

58 (50) Shlomo Dowen, National Coordinator, UK Without Incineration Network: “Sticking up for the little guy.”

59 (58) Jane Beasley, Director, Beasley Associates: “Jane brings a broad depth of knowledge, professionalism and above all enthusiasm to her work, which aids all stakeholders to understand complex waste management issues.”

60 (45) Michael Warhurst, Senior Campaigner – Economics and Resource Use, Friends of the Earth: ”Influencing policy in Brussels.”
61-70 61 (57) Russell Owens, Waste Strategy Officer, Welsh Government: “No one has done more in the UK this year to promote real recycling. Russ is a power behind a forward-thinking throne.”

62 (81) Craig Robinson, Director of RCP Market and Operations – UK and Ireland, UPM Kymenne: “Highly knowledgeable on the market, technical issues and an all-round good guy.”

63 (42) Lindsay Boswell, CEO, FareShare: “Proving vegetables come in all shapes and sizes!”
64 (9) Keith James, Special Advisor – Environmental Research, WRAP: “Keith is an innovative thinker and brings about real influential change at policy level.”

65 (54) Steve Simmons, Managing Director, Waste Dynamics: “Steve is a go-to-guy when you need technical advice.”

66 (44) Joe Papineschi, Director, Eunomia.

67 (76) Ian Hetherington, Director General, British Metals Recycling Association: “Showing leadership in reform of the scrap industry.”

68 (98) Stephen Gee, Event Director, RWM: “RWM just keeps getting bigger.”

69 (NEW) Ellen MacArthur, Founder, Ellen MacArthur Foundation: “For her vision and power to bring about the circular economy.”

70 (NEW) Stuart Foster, CEO, Recoup: “Mr Plastic Fantastic!”
71-80 71 (48) Dee Moloney, Managing Director, London Remade Solutions.

72 (35) Paul Jones, Consultant, Eunomia: “Collections guru – Paul’s knowledge of operations is second to none.”73 (85) Julian Elston, Managing Director, UK Container Maintenance: “Self-made man.”

74 (78) Emma Hallet, Operations Manager, Realiance: “Keeping the third sector alive.”

75 (70) Peter Davies, Sustainable Futures Commissioner for Wales, Sustainable Futures Commission.

76 (NEW) Richard Pullen, Head of Waste Strategy and Regulation, Defra: “Steering Defra through difficult times.”

77 (NEW) Bryn Walters, Principal Planner – Waste Development Plan, Derbyshire County Council: ”It’s all about the evidence!”

78 (NEW) Mervyn Jones, Head of Products and Materials, WRAP.
79 (19) Chris Coggins, Waste Management Consultant: “He’s still got it.”

80 (NEW) Andrew Wilkinson, Waste Manager, Conwy County Borough Council: “He has managed to navigate all the issues associated with local authority resistance to change and been bold, brave and successful.”
81-90 81 (75) Ron Humphreys, Managing Director, Palm Recycling: “Ron remains influential to those in the know.”

82 (NEW) Nigel Aitcheson, Director, Foresight Group: “Spearheading the government’s vision for green investment.”

83 (8) Julian Kirby, Resource Use Campaigner, Friends of the Earth: “Fighting the good fight.”

84 (NEW) Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive, Recolight: “Lighting the way forward.”

85 (NEW) Paul Bettison, Chairman, iESE.

86 (NEW) Gemma Clinton, Waste Reduction Manager, Dorset Waste Partnership: “One of LARAC’s tireless volunteers.”

87 (NEW) Karen Cannard, Writer, The Rubbish Diet: “Karen tackles waste with enthusiasm and humour!”

88 (80) Nina Sweet, Organics Sector Specialist, WRAP.

89 (94) Nicky Scott, Coordinator, Devon Community Composting Network: “He knows all there is to know about composting and is kind enough to let the rest of us in on it!”

90 (93) Ed Douglas Miller, Founder, Remarkable: “Truly, a remarkable man.”
91-100 91 (NEW) Nick Brown, Associate Director – Recycling, Coca-Cola Enterprises: “Leading Coca-Cola’s move into recycling as a business adjacency.”

92 (61) John Williams, Head of Materials for Energy & Industry, NNFCC: “Providing value information to the industry.”

93 (99) David Workman, Director General, CPI: “A safe pair of hands.”

94 (NEW) Peter Laybourn, Chief Executive, International Synergies Ltd: “For being a global exemplar in the area of industrial symbiosis.”

95 (NEW) Paul Vanston, Kent Waste Partnership Manager: “Gets the bigger picture.”

96 (73) Richard Featherstone, Development Manager, LCRN.

97 (NEW) Ian Goodfellow, Managing Director, Shanks Waste Management.

98 (NEW) Michael Green, Managing Director, G & P Batteries: “Mike truly understands the waste battery industry and is passionate about getting these damaging products out of mainstream waste.”

99 (NEW) Wayne Hubbard, Chief Operating Officer, LWARB: “Since Wayne has been involved in the board, it has committed to fund £56.8m to a variety of reuse and recycling projects.”

100 (NEW) Esther Kiddle, Founder, Women in Waste: “Let’s hope her organisation can change things.”

Patron Saint of Waste

The Fourth Coming

Ray Georgeson

Ray Georgeson, in his role as one of WRAP’s founding directors, dominated Resource’s HOT 100 list in the early Noughties. He’s never fallen off (or even too far down) the list, but this year, he’s surged from just outside the top 10 to reclaim the top spot (for the fourth time!) in our 2012 catalogue of saints of the resources industry.

As suggested by his performance in our annual power list over the years, Georgeson has been a stalwart of the resources industry from the start. It all began over 30 years ago now, and his introduction to the industry came not through divine intervention, but a chance meeting with an attractive redhead in 1980: “I was sitting in the pub with my best pal from school on Saturday lunchtime, thinking ‘Shall we go to the football or shall we just keep drinking?’”, Georgeson begins. “These two girls came into the pub and they were selling tickets for a coach trip to London to fill this bus that the local Friends of the Earth group were taking down for a demonstration against nuclear power. Well, my friend fancied the blonde and I fancied the redhead, and so we thought: ‘Right, we’re up for this.’”

Nothing came of this (unholy) teenage lust, but thanks to the fateful coach trip, Georgeson discovered something to care about and within weeks found himself organising local wastepaper collections for Friends of the Earth (rather than manning the anti-nuclear power barricades, as expected).

After a few years acting “as a sales rep in the textile industry by day and a green activist at night”, Georgeson went to university as a mature student in urban policy and geography, and joined Waste Watch as one of its first members when it started in 1987, “and just got more and more involved”. So passionate about recycling was Georgeson, that he took a job share at Waste Watch, running up a bit of debt to get his foot in the door, but his enthusiasm paid off. After stints at a couple of other community groups, he eventually became Director of Waste Watch in 1996. And, after four and a half years there, he again worked his charm – this time at WRAP as Director of Policy – and eventually set off on his own as an environmental consultant at Ray Georgeson Resources.

Never willing to rest on his laurels, it seems, Georgeson has more recently set up another organisation, the Resource Association, which he manages part-time as its Chief Executive, and this is presumably the reason why so many of you chose him as your favourite holyman this year. Billed as ‘a new voice for the reprocessing and recycling industries’, the Resource Association has been ensuring quality stays in the spotlight and encouraging ‘the management of materials as resources not waste’. Stay tuned for more miracles from your patron saint of waste...