The Resource Hot 100 2025 voting campaign has been launched, inviting you, professionals across the waste and resources sector, to nominate the people making the most significant impact on the UK's transition to a circular economy. Now in its 21st year, the poll will run until July 30th, with winners announced in September via a countdown on Resource.co and social media channels.

Margaret Bates, Head of the UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) Scheme Administrator, claimed the top spot in 2024, reflecting the industry's focus on producer responsibility implementation. Bates, who was seconded from her role as Managing Director at the On Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme, brought over three decades of waste management experience to the position overseeing the transformative producer responsibility program.

Stuart Hayward-Higham, Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer at SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, was named winner in 2023. His work translating complex policy developments around EPR, consistency, DRS, and carbon initiatives into actionable frameworks helped prepare the sector for the wave of regulatory changes now being implemented.

Category expansion recognises specialist excellence

Alongside the overall winner, the 2025 awards will feature three specialised categories: Innovator of the Year, Communicator of the Year, and Refill Return Pioneer of the Year. These awards will recognise the highest-placed eligible individuals within each specialty from the main Hot 100 list.

These categories reflect the diverse skills needed to drive meaningful progress in our sector. From technological innovation to effective communication and pioneering reuse systems, we're acknowledging the multifaceted expertise required to build a truly circular economy.

A sector navigating profound transformation

The waste and resources landscape in 2025 stands at a critical inflection point, with longstanding policy ambitions finally materialising into on-the-ground reality. After years of consultations, delays, and refinements, the sector is now navigating the simultaneous implementation of several generation-defining reforms.

The rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging marks perhaps the most fundamental shift in UK waste policy in decades. With PackUK now established as the scheme administrator and producers set to receive their first invoices in October, the industry is experiencing the challenging early stages of transferring £1.2-1.4 billion in annual costs from local authorities to businesses. This seismic financial reorganisation is creating waves across supply chains, with producers scrutinising packaging choices while simultaneously grappling with the administrative complexities of data reporting and fee structures.

Against this backdrop, England's Simpler Recycling system is reshaping collection practices for businesses and households alike. The implementation has created a patchwork of compliance requirements, with Wales already a year ahead with its more ambitious six-stream separation model. These divergent approaches reflect a tension between prioritising material quality and minimising operational disruption – a balancing act that operational leaders are struggling to perfect.

The much-anticipated Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) further illustrates the fragmentation of the UK's waste policy landscape. While England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland push forward with a coordinated 2027 launch for plastic and metal containers, Wales's insistence on including glass has created a significant policy divergence with profound implications for UK-wide operators. This split has become a test case for the post-Brexit constitutional settlement, pitting environmental ambition against market efficiency in ways that challenge the very concept of a unified UK approach.

These practical reforms are unfolding within a broader strategic context, as Defra's Circular Economy Taskforce works to develop a comprehensive strategy due in autumn. The need for such strategic renewal is underscored by the concern that only 20 per cent of the landmark 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy has been fully implemented – creating an "implementation deficit" where ambitious new policies are being built upon partially realised foundations.

For the people navigating these complex and often contradictory currents, we hope recognition through platforms like the Resource Hot 100 acknowledges not just their technical expertise, but their ability to provide clarity and direction during a period of unprecedented change.

Industry sponsorship enables continued recognition

The Resource Hot 100 2025 is made possible through industry support, with UNTHA UK serving as the headline sponsor. The industrial shredding specialist provides solutions for waste, reuse, recycling, and alternative fuel applications.

Category sponsors include SATCoL (Innovator of the Year), GreyParrot (Communicator of the Year), and Refill Return (Refill Return Pioneer of the Year), each supporting recognition in their specialist fields. We would like to thank our sponsors for their support and helping to enable this year’s poll.

Voting will remain open until July 30th, 2025. The Resource Hot 100 website has been populated with new nominees and some from previous years, but if you don't see someone who you believe is making a difference, it's easy to add your own nomination.

"Who do you think rates highest for inspiration? Who will prove unbeatable on innovation? Who has used their influence for good, and who has fought for improvement in the waste and resources sector?" asks Newman. "We're excited to see who will be recognised for their contributions during this pivotal time for our industry."

Visit hot100.resource.co to cast your vote today.