During its General Assembly and Branch General Assemblies on 25-26 March, EURIC, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, made history by achieving a fully gender-balanced Presidency, led by re-elected President Olivier François (Galloo, France) for a 3-year term. The new Presidency is supported by four Vice-Presidents: Alicia Garcia-Franco, Director General of FER (Spain); Cinzia Vezzosi, President of Assofermet (Italy); Peter Hodecek, Executive Board Member of WKO Österreich (Austria); and Sebastian Will, Deputy Chairman of bvse (Germany), who was also appointed as Treasurer.

EuRIC also elected leaders for its 7 Branches, with the Non-Ferrous Metal Recycling Branch (EUROMETREC) electing women to all positions. Emmanuel Katrakis, former Secretary General of EuRIC and currently representing FEDERREC, France), was elected President of EuRIC’s Ferrous Metals Recycling Branch. The election results are as follows:

• For the Ferrous Metals Recycling Branch (EFR): President: Emmanuel Katrakis (FEDERREC, France), Vice-Presidents: Howard Bluck (BMRA, UK), Tuomas Haikka (Kuusakoski Recycling, Finland)
• For the Non-Ferrous Metals Recycling Branch (EUROMETREC): President: Susie Burrage (BMRA, UK, re-elected), Vice Presidents: Piritta Laurila (Finnish Scrap Dealers Association, Finland), and Tess Pozzi (FEDERREC, France)
• For the Plastics Recycling Branch (EPRB): President: Sophie Sicard (FEDERREC, France, re-elected), Ion Olaeta Bolinaga (FER, Spain), Joost Schollaert (Denuo, Belgium)
• For the Mechanical Tyres Recycling Branch (MTR): President: Poul Steen Rasmussen (Genan, Denmark, re-elected), Maarten van Randeraat (Granuband Group, The Netherlands), and Daniel Shockmann (bvse Germany)
• For the Paper Recycling Branch (ERPA): President: José Andrés Martín Cubero (Repacar, Spain), Vice-Presidents: Romy Kölmel (bvse, Germany), and Olivier Thomas (FEDERREC, France).
• For EuRIC Textiles: President: Mariska Boer (VHT, The Netherlands, re-elected), Vice-Presidents: Martin Böschen (TEXAID, Switzerland), Martin Wittmann (bvse, Germany)
• For the Construction and Demolition Branch (ECDB): President: Pär Larshans (SRI, Sweden, re-elected), Vice Presidents: Josef Aschl (bvse, Germany), Giorgio Bressi (ANPAR, Italy)

EuRIC congratulates all newly elected Board Members and wishes them success in their roles. The election results prove EuRIC’s leadership in Europe’s recycling industry, as well as its commitment to gender equality and geographical representation.

Note to editor:

For press-related enquiries, please contact Zoi Didili, EuRIC Senior Communications Advisor, by email at zdidili@euric.org or by phone at +32 (0) 489 09 46 02.  The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) is the umbrella organisation for the recycling industries in Europe. Through its 75 members from 23 European countries, EuRIC represents more than 5,500 large companies and SMEs involved in the recycling and trade of various resource streams. They represent a contribution of 95 billion EUR to the EU economy and 300,000 green and local jobs. By turning waste into resources, recycling reintroduces valuable materials into value chains over and over again. By bridging circularity and climate neutrality, recyclers are pioneers in leading Europe’s industrial transition.