8
‘For circularity to
develop, we need
circular logic’
Policy makers are fundamentally
caught in a linear thought pro-
cess, believes Dutchman and
Austria-based WEEE plastics
expert Chris Slijkhuis. During
the latest International
Electronics Recycling Congress
Salzburg, Austria, Slijkhuis was
presented with the IERC
Honorary Award for nearly two
decades of promoting the inter-
ests of Europe’s e-scrap
(plastics) processing sector.
WERE YOU SURPRISED AT BEING
HONOURED?
‘I was overwhelmed. I’m merely one of
the many cogwheels in the WEEE
recycling clockwork. At the same time,
I believe that the award rewards the
WEEE plastics recycling industry as a
whole and, in that sense, I see it as a
wonderful recognition for the work
that WEEE plastics recyclers have
been doing to get where we are
today.
I must also thank my wife Els. She
gave up her career to accompany me
abroad when we become an expat
family. Els allowed me to spend far
too much time away from home and
even accepted it when I often worked
on at home.’
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN
THE E-SCRAP INDUSTRY?
‘I was working in the production of
electronics when the WEEE Directive
was introduced. So much of the pro-
duction was relocated to the Far East I
was confronted with a choice to move
there as well or find a different route
for my career.
Then I met Mike Biddle (MBA
Polymers) and Christian Müller-
Guttenbrunn (MGG) in one of our pro-
duction facilities back in 2004 and I
was impressed by their plans to recy-
cle plastics from WEEE in an industrial
process. So when I did have to choose
a new career route, the logical choice
was to contact Mike and that’s how I
got into this fascinating world of
WEEE recycling. It was a completely
new industry with a different language
and culture.’
BIG CHALLENGES, TOO?
‘The development of the WEEE plas-
tics recycling industry is a fascinating
story with many hurdles and problems
but it has its successes. It’s still a
young industry but we have managed
to develop processes and a market for
A U T H O R Martijn Reintjes
Chris and Els Slijkhuis. ‘Els allowed me
to spend far too much time away from
home.’
08-09_qari25years.indd 8 03-02-2023 14:37
