Gareth Rollings, Head of Waste at West Sussex County Council, has been appointed as Chair of the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), succeeding Cathy Cook, Senior Advisor at ReLondon, who has completed four years in the role.

His appointment, confirmed at LARAC's Annual General Meeting in October, will formally begin on 1 January 2026.

LARAC represents 80 per cent of all local authorities across the UK, supporting over 1,400 waste and recycling officers through policy engagement, events, webinars and sector-wide leadership.

Rollings said: "Stepping into the Chair's role at a point where government reforms are shifting from idea to implementation is a real honour. Local authorities are carrying the weight of Simpler Recycling roll-out, navigating evolving pEPR payments, and still waiting for clarity on DRS, ETS and long-term funding.

“LARAC's strength has always been the practical experience and shared challenges across our membership. My focus will be to amplify that collective voice as we move into 2026 and the reality of delivery."

Policy challenges

The appointment comes as local authorities prepare for the implementation of major waste management reforms, including Simpler Recycling in England, which mandates weekly food waste collections from March next year and the introduction of flexible plastic collections from 2027.

LARAC has been active in advocating for local authority interests during the development of these reforms as well as calling for clarity on Extended Producer Responsibility funding arrangements and raising concerns about the timing of the proposed Deposit Return Scheme, currently scheduled for October 2027.

Toni McNamara, Executive Director of LARAC, added: "Gareth has been an active and insightful member of the Executive for over five years now and we're delighted he will be leading LARAC as Chair. His position and grounding in local authority operations and his calm, strategic approach will serve our members well at a time when the sector is under enormous pressure to deliver major change."

Cook ‘pivotal’ in navigating changes

Cook became LARAC Chair in 2021 after joining the Executive as a National Representative in July 2020. She will remain on the Executive, continuing her involvement in shaping LARAC's policy and advocacy work.

Her four-year term spanned the transition from policy design to implementation across the Collection and Packaging Reforms, including direct engagement with Defra, devolved governments, industry bodies and local government organisations.

Cook said: "It has been a privilege to serve LARAC during such a pivotal time for local authorities. The scale of change we have faced has been immense, and LARAC has worked tirelessly to give councils the clarity, support and representation they need. I'm incredibly proud of the collective effort from the Executive Board, our members and our small HQ team of staff. Stepping back into a National Representative role means I can continue championing local authorities while supporting Gareth as he takes LARAC forward."

McNamara added: "Between 2021 and now, the waste and recycling sector has basically lived through a four-year policy avalanche that felt like trying to empty a wheelie bin during a hurricane. One minute government was promising shiny new reforms; the next minute every deadline had slipped off the calendar like a bin sticker in the rain. Cathy has somehow managed to steer LARAC with ease, professionalism and a level of calm confidence that frankly defies physics. We absolutely applaud her for it. We're delighted she will remain on the Executive and continue to be part of LARAC's voice."