29recyclinginternational.com | November/December | 2024
Henk Alssema (Netherlands)
In columns and on conference stages,
Alssema frequently shares his concerns
about the troubled plastics recycling sector:
extremely low demand for recycled materials, ris-
ing costs, shrinking margins and limited policy
support. These factors are taking more and more
companies to the brink of ruin. In his own coun-
try, as well as in Belgium and Germany, BIR’s plas-
tics division chairman and owner of Vita Plastics
has witnessed plastics recyclers go bankrupt, one
after another. Urgent action to implement man-
datory recycled content requirements and
extended producer responsibility (EPR) is needed
to prevent the collapse of crucial recycling infra-
structure, he warns.
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Amy Bird (UK)
Bird runs Countrywide Metals
Recycling and Connolley Metals in
the UK which process 25 000 tonnes of alumini-
um and 10 000 tonnes of copper per year. The
former fashion model joined the family firm
Jighand, launched by her parents in the 1970s,
before starting her own business in 2017. In
hindsight, she is very thankful for her experi-
ence as an introverted teenager. ‘Holding my
ground in the toxic fashion industry for almost
a decade taught me a thing or two about read-
ing people. That certainly helped me navigate
the scrappy lifestyle.’ She launched a venture
called Women in Recycling this year to help
‘build resilience’ amongst female recyclers
through dedicated networking events. Bird is
also eager to promote the recycling industry as
a career choice for the next generation. ‘I wish
more of them were aware just how much
opportunity is out there’
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Brandi Harleaux (USA)
Harleaux took over the family business of South Post Oak Recycling Center in Houston, Texas having
learned about buying and processing ferrous and non-ferrous metals from her parents, who started the
company in 1994. She returned to the company ten years ago after studying psychology and analysing the leader-
ship DNA of successful organisations. With a PhD,
she was hired to boost business development at
Walt Disney. She is now applying her know-how to
the world of scrap. This was cemented by being
chosen as ISRI’s director at large in 2022. Harleaux
is eager to grow her business and reflects how much
she enjoys being in the company of her industry
peers. ‘They were my rock through the toughest
times, such as the unique challenges sparked by the
pandemic. Together, we built a tradition of mutual
support that will carry on for years to come.’
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