Page 21 from: June / July 2008

June/July 2008 21

Maguin of France. He also noted the organisa-
tion’s intention to form an International Trade
and Arbitration Council which would adopt a
‘proactive’ approach to issues regarded as
harmful to free trade such as the imposition of
duties and import/export bans.

Recycling ‘dynamism’
Other guest speakers at the General Assembly
contributed to the decidedly upbeat tone of
the event. The ‘dynamism’ of the recycling
industry’s activities was praised by Robert
Calcagno, the representative of His Serene
Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco who
had extended his patronage to the BIR Spring
Convention. The Government Advisor on
Equipment, Environment and Urban Devel-
opment also noted that Prince Albert had
approved policies designed to boost the prin-
cipality’s recovery and recycling rate from 6%
in 2007 to more than 20%.
Meanwhile, Professor Philippe Chalmin,
Chairman of the CyclOpe commodity market
research institute in France, described high
commodity prices as a ‘gift from heaven’ which
would foster greater wisdom in resource utili-
sation and therefore increased recycling.

Ikbal Nathani’s BIR joke
Being peed off
During the BIR Convention in Monte-Carlo,

three men – a German, an American and a

guy from India – were standing next to each

other in the lavatory and peeing in silence.

When they were fi nished, they headed for the

washbasins. The German washed his hands

at least three times, carefully dried them and

said: ‘My mother taught me to wash my

hands very carefully after peeing.’ The Amer-

ican not only washed his hands but also

scrubbed them until they glowed pink. As he

dried his hands, he said: ‘My mother taught

me always to wash and scrub my hands very

thoroughly after peeing.’ The Indian guy

headed straight for the exit without even

bothering to wash his

hands. As he was head-

ing for the door, he said

over his shoulder to the

other two: ‘My mother

taught me never to pee

on my hands.’

Recycling International celebrates its 10th anniversary
Recycling International was launched ten years ago at the BIR Spring Convention in Paris. In Monte-
Carlo, where the world recycling body celebrated its 60th birthday, the magazine unveiled its 100th
edition – the fi rst to appear after a major re-design. Moreover, to demonstrate its strong links with BIR,
Recycling International sponsored the hospitality lounge and organised a cocktail party for delegates
and exhibitors, with hundreds of delegates gathering for drinks, snacks and a chat. Recycling Internatio-
nal also prepared a special gift for all BIR delegates: a book called ‘Boobs, beads and bourbon and other
recycled stories’ containing the best Viewpoints written by Editor Manfred Beck over the last decade.

From left to right: Sales Manager Jan-Willem Ypma and Magazine Administrator Helga
Fresen of Recycling International presented the 100th edition of the magazine to BIR
Director General Francis Veys and World President Dominique Maguin.

Recycling International’s Publisher and Editor
Manfred Beck got writer’s cramp because of
the number of requests from delegates to
autograph his book ‘Boobs, beads and bour-
bon and other recycled stories’.

Henrik Harjula of the OECD’s Environment
Directorate/National Policies Division: ‘Non-
hazardous recyclable materials should be
exempted from waste legislation.’

Nicole Bauwens of Belgium-based E-Crane
International.

Central keynote speaker at BIR’s General
Assembly was Lord Nicholas Stern of
Brentford, who led a review on the econo-
mics of climate change and the likely con-
sequences for current and future genera-
tions. This resulted in the publication of the
renowned 700-page Stern Review Report.

From left to right: Recycling International’s Financial Director
Esther van de Boogaard; Marije Berrevoets; and Recycling Interna-
tional’s Deputy Editor Gert-Jan van der Have.

‘Eurotrash’: after a dinner party near the castle in Monaco, it
rained cats and dogs. Since Kent Kiser, Publisher/Editor of ISRI’s
‘Scrap’ magazine, and his wife Penny could not get a taxi, they
wrapped themselves in trash bags provided by the restaurant prior
to the 20-minute walk back to their hotel.

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