ReMA chair Colin Kelly: ‘Open the gates of your facilities’

Along with the renaming of ISRI to ReMA, in April, the US recycling association welcomed a new chair. That was nothing special, as the ‘changing of the guard’ happens every two years. But with the arrival of Colin Kelly, you could argue the association has broken with a long tradition.

All past ReMA (ISRI) chairs were ‘scrappies’ – mostly men, often third or fourth generation, who grew up in family scrap businesses. People like Joel Denbo, John Sacco, Doug Kramer and George Adams to name a select few.

Compared to his predecessors, Kelly is a relative newcomer in the recycling sector. But he is someone who has found his way pretty quickly. Most importantly, perhaps, he brings new ideas and experience from outside the industry, as he tells Recycling International.

WHO’S COLIN KELLY?

‘I’m from Everett, Massachusetts and a descendant of Irish immigrants. I work as vice-president public affairs at Radius Recycling, previously known as Schnitzer Steel.

My career didn’t start in recycling. After college I discovered the hospitality business. For many years I ran my own restaurant, Paul’s, in downtown Everett. Fantastic place, great food and happy guests. Simultaneously I served on the city council.’

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN RECYCLING?

‘Having sold my restaurant, I worked with the local Chamber of Commerce. During that time, I was offered an opportunity to join Radius as the New England director of government and public affairs. In this role, I engaged with the community, sharing information about our recycling processes and products.’

AND ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER…

‘I played a key role in establishing Everett’s first recycling programme. It started small with two collections a month but expanded as recycling gained popularity. I’ve always stressed the importance of recycling to my children. So, when the opportunity to join Radius Recycling came up, I knew I had to fully commit to the industry. My journey began by attending a ReMA meeting and I soon became a candidate for vice-president of the New England chapter. That experience fuelled my deeper involvement and now, 17 years later, here I am leading ReMA.’

HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN HOSPITALITY HELPED IN SERVING THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY?

‘Running a restaurant is all about making sure people are having a good time, enjoying the food and the atmosphere. As a host, you have to be open and welcoming to your guests. It’s something that is in my nature.  I’ve learned from experience that being open and friendly not only applies to hospitality but to all sectors and industries.’

DOES THAT REALLY APPLY TO RECYCLING?       

‘Let’s face it, in the past, the recycling industry was pretty closed off. That’s changing, sure, and it should. But we still have a long way to go. I believe in welcoming the community and showcasing the incredible work we do helps people get a better understanding of the work and contribution recyclers deliver. We should take much more pride in our work and be transparent about it with the community. I told the ReMA Convention on my inauguration and I’m saying it again now: our facilities should be open every day for everybody.’

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC FOR THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY?  

‘Our industry and this trade association are well-positioned for the future. We play a vital role in the manufacturing chain, as recycled materials are crucial to achieving sustainability goals. Without our industry, those goals would be impossible to reach.’

WHAT ABOUT THAT RESTAURANT – DO YOU MISS IT?

‘It was a great business. I loved it and I learned so much. But I don’t regret selling it. Besides, the place where I ran Paul’s is now a coffee shop. Not my baby to be honest.’