Morton announces retirement from REPIC

REPIC, the UK’s largest producer compliance scheme for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has announced that CEO Philip Morton is to retire at the end of the year after 12 years in the role.

Morton has led the not-for-profit company since it was established in April 2004, and has seen it become the first compliance scheme to collect and recycle two million tonnes of electrical waste since new government regulations were introduced in 2007.

Morton will be succeeded by Mark Burrow-Smith, who will join the compliance scheme next month. Currently CEO at Irish waste management company Greenstar, Burrow-Smith spent four years as Chief Operating Officer and Operations Director at Viridor before moving to the Dublin-based company in June 2015.

Before taking up that role, he had worked as Viridor’s Regional Director for the North and South East, as well as Managing Director of its Viridor Resource Management trading arm. During that time he was responsible for the operational set up of the Greater Manchester Waste PFI, worth around £4.5 billion.

‘Pivotal input into shaping the WEEE compliance environment’

Commenting on Morton’s time leading the organisation, Abs Bokhari, Chairman of REPIC, said: “Phil’s retirement represents the culmination of over 12 years of service and leadership to REPIC and the industry. We want to thank Philip formally for his tremendous dedication, contribution and achievements for REPIC and for his pivotal input into shaping the WEEE compliance environment in the UK.”

Morton will remain as a representative of REPIC for non-UK activities at groups such as the WEEE Forum, a European association of 30 electrical and electronic waste collection and recovery systems, and WEEE Europe, a joint venture of European take-back systems for WEEE and batteries.

Bokhari continued: “The board has had the time to conduct a full and proper process to manage this important transition and is confident that Mark’s wealth of experience and leadership qualities will see him ideally placed to sustain, build and capitalise on the significant progress made over the years.”

Morton himself concluded: “REPIC is a special company with many dedicated people. I have been CEO for over 12 years and I believe this is the right time for a new leader to take over. In making this decision, it has been important to me that the changeover is a smooth transition and continuity of service remains.”

More information about REPIC can be found on the organisation’s website.