LARAC has announced the introduction of three new members following recent and forthcoming departures of its long-standing permanent team.
Jennifer Perry, the committee's Executive Officer and longest serving member of the employed staff, will be retiring in May 2022. Dianne Hewgill, LARAC’s seconded policy officer left in August 2021 and Lee Marshall, their most recent CEO, left in November.

Joining the LARAC team are the following members:
John Coates – Head of External Affairs
John is currently LARAC’s interim CEO. He is a former vice chair and treasurer for LARAC and has held senior positions in waste management in both unitary and county councils.
Carole Taylor – Internal Affairs Manager
Carole has been the North West representative for LARAC since July 2002 and has held all of the positions in LARAC. Before becoming Internal Affairs Manager, Carole will finish with her four years as Chair (2018-2021).
Mariana McManus – Support Officer
Mariana will be moving from the London Borough of Merton where she is a principal policy officer. As LARAC’s Support Officer, she will work with Carole to provide excellent services for their members and provide support to the LARAC Executive and Board of Directors.
LARAC have spent time developing a new structure, in order for all key member services to canoe to be delivered now and into the future. This period has also allowed them to adapt certain elements of their strategic business plan - with the end goal of increasing staffing resources and resilience.
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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.