In memoriam: Michael Pownall

United Kingdom – UK recycling industry stalwart and character Michael Pownall has died at the age of 79 after a long illness.

Michael and his brother John ran the Nottingham-based McIntyre group of companies. He later founded Nottingham Metal Recyclers, which at its peak had a turnover of over £60 million and employed 160 people. More latterly, he was involved in the scrap metal machinery business with J. McIntyre Machinery Ltd and JMC Recycling Systems Ltd, also of Nottingham. JMC continues to sell equipment worldwide and is run by Michael’s sons, Phillip and David, and daughter Sally.

Michael was a former president of the British Secondary Metals Association (which combined with the British Scrap Federation to form the British Metals Recycling Association) and a regular attendee of the conventions of the BIR world recycling organisation.