IAN HETHERINGTON TO STEP DOWN AS DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE BRITISH METAL RECYCLING ASSOCIATION (BMRA)

LetsRecycle is reporting that Ian Hetherington is stepping down as DG of BMRA.  Ian has been DG since 2009, & will continue to advise the BMRA on European issues before retiring in September 2016.

During his interview with LetsRecycle Mr Hetherington said that metal theft, & the resulting Operation Tornado & ultimately the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013, had taken up a very significant proportion of his time.  He said that in his opinion the blame apportioned to the scrap metal industry for its role in perpetuating metal theft was “wholly wrong and unjust” – a view regarded by many with some scepticism.  He further expressed his concern that the police (& local authorities) have failed to follow up & enforce the Act, resulting in a significant number of operators ignoring the law (& still paying cash) – a view shared by many!

In the run-up to retiring, Mr Hetherington will represent the BMRA on the board of the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC), looking at the impact on the metals recycling sector of new EU legislation delivered through the circular economy package.

The role of DG at BMRA will be taken over by Robert Fell, who already has 30 years’ experience in the metals recycling sector, most recently as a senior research & development manager for packaging specialist Ardagh Group.  He also serves as director of the British Aerosols Manufacturers Association & acting chairman of the Metal Packaging Manufacturing Association.

Alongside the new DG, the BMRA Board has promoted Howard Bluck, the BMRA’s current head of environment to Technical Director.