Gemma Stapeley, former Head of Recycling at Aylesford Newsprint, has been appointed Interim Commercial Manager at DS Smith’s recycling division.
Stapeley, one of several hundred people made redundant when the newsprint manufacturer went into administration in February, will now be responsible for sourcing mixed paper for the packaging company's paper recycling mill in Kemsley, Kent.
Stapeley commented: “I am delighted to have joined DS Smith’s recycling division, the largest fibre recycler in Europe, at a time of great change in the recovered paper market.
“I am sourcing mixed paper for the Kemsley Mill in Kent, so as always material quality will be key. Quality is at the heart of everything that we do at DS Smith because poor quality recyclate challenges our ability to source good quality materials for our Group’s packaging manufacturing activities.
“I look forward to the exciting challenges that lie ahead.”
Stapeley has worked in the resources industry for over 10 years. After finishing her degree in Environmental Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2001, she went on to hold roles at SITA UK (now known as Suez Environnement) and Guildford Borough Council before joining Aylesford Newsprint as Recycling Area Manager in 2006. She progressed to Recycling Operations Manager in 2010 and was made Head of Recycling the year after. In February of this year, Stapeley was made redundant with several hundred others after the company went into administration.
She has been employed at packaging manufacturer DS Smith since March.
Find out more about DS Smith.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.