David Palmer-Jones heads New Year Honours List
Several notable waste management recognitions were made in King Charles’ inaugural New Year Honours List, including previous Group Senior Executive Vice President for Northern Europe at SUEZ Group, David Palmer-Jones.
The previous Vice-President and current self-employed Environmental Consultant spent 11 years as Chief Executive Officer of SUEZ recycling and recovery in the UK, as well as Chairman of the Environmental Services Association (ESA) from 2012 to 2015. In 2019 he assumed the position of Group Senior Executive Vice President for Northern Europe which he held until March 2022.
Palmer-Jones was voted the most influential individual in the waste and resources sector in Resource’s 2020 Hot 100 poll.
In an online statement, he said: “There is still so much to do, and so I look forward in the coming years to continue to contribute to improving the way the UK manages and protects its resources by both advocating but also delivering services which seek to minimise, reuse and recycle materials ensuring that any waste that can’t be managed in this way is treated in the most positive, safe and compliant manner”.
John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, added: "I’m delighted David’s outstanding contribution has been recognised with an OBE. A leading voice for the resources sector throughout his career, whether speaking in his role here at SUEZ, on behalf of the ESA or FEAD, or now as an independent consultant, David has always been a strong advocate for a comprehensive legislative framework to create a circular economy. His influence is evident in the ongoing transformation of the way we think about and manage resources here in the UK, and I’d like to congratulate David on his OBE on behalf of all here at SUEZ."
Other significant individuals from the waste management sector recognised in the 2023 Honours List include Susie Burrage, Martin Dorey, and Jez Mann.
Susie Burrage, the Managing Director of Recycled Products Ltd and President of the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), was given an OBE for ‘services to recycling and to the environment’. Burrage said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the achievement. Burrage is also currently an Ambassador for the Global Recycling Foundation, a UK Ambassador for the Bureau of International Recycling, and President of the European Metal Trade and Recycling Branch.
The founder of #2minutecampaigns, Martin Dorey, was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for ‘services to recycling and to the environment’. The travel writer encourages people to clean up the ocean – two minutes at a time – through social media campaigns and volunteer programs. The company also runs several education programs. Dorey commented: “Let’s hope it will enable me to jam my foot in a few more doors now and continue to play my part in keeping our beautiful planet alive’.
Jaspal Singh ‘Jez’ Mann – awarded an MBE for ‘services to the environment’ – is the Director of Simply Shred and Recycle Ltd.
