WRAP expanding organics programme

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Mar 16, 2006

WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) has appointed Dr Richard Swannell to the newly created position of Director of Organics.

With plans to expand the scope of its Organics Programme from April this year, WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) has appointed Dr Richard Swannell to the newly created position of Director of Organics.

Richard will take up his new role from 1st April 2006 and his responsibilities will include providing strategic direction and support as the Organics Programme expands into new areas, including land restoration, as part of WRAP's new Business Plan for 2006-08.

Anne O'Brien, who has headed up WRAP's Organics Programme since 2001, will be staying on as a key member of the Organics team to provide expert input into the planning and delivery of the new Business Plan targets.

"I am really proud of the fantastic work that the Organics team has done over the last four years, including development of the national standard for compost, BSI PAS 100, large scale funding to support extra collection and composting capacity and providing training to 1,000 representatives within the organics industry".

"I am looking forward to working closely with Richard as we take the programme on to further successes in the future," says Anne.

"I am delighted to have been offered this opportunity and this is a very important and challenging programme," says Richard.

"WRAP's plans to drive up demand in key markets, including brownfield site restoration, will mean building strong relationships with companies and organisations to demonstrate the benefits that quality compost can bring them".

"I am looking forward to working with such an impressive team in WRAP who have already achieved so much".

"Through its work on compost standards and markets, WRAP will play an increasingly important role in helping the UK to meet its Landfill Directive targets for biodegradable waste diversion".

"Working with the Environment Agency on defining the point at which quality compost becomes a product, and ceases to be a waste, will be an early priority for the team".

In interim period until April, Richard will carry on as Head of Innovation for WRAP's retail waste minimisation work, but will also be engaged in developing the new organics strategy and meeting key industry stakeholders.