Page 47 from: Recycling International November/December issue 2024

47recyclinginternational.com | November/December | 2024

Olivier François (France/Belgium)
François is a familiar face at global conferences with
an expertise spanning many materials and applica-

tions, including cars and e-scrap. He has been with Galloo
Group since 2000 and is an advocate for recyclers’ interests
through the French Federation of Recycling Enterprises. In
2022, the chemical engineer was elected president of the
European trade organisation EuRIC. François has often dis-
cussed EPR schemes at industry events. He believes collabora-
tion between producers such as carmakers and recyclers repre-
sents a ‘double win’ for the whole industry.

Alev Somer (Belgium)
Somer is the Trade & Environment director at BIR.
The analytical young professional isn’t afraid to criti-

cise the status quo, expertly citing recent statistics and reports
to support her conclusions. She
observes a shift in worldwide trade
patterns that is problematic. ‘The
competitiveness of the global recy-
cling industry depends on stable
market access. Trade barriers
imposed on recycled materials stop
the efficient allocation of resources
in the global fight for sustainability.
This ultimately harms circularity.’

Raymond Onovwigun (Nigeria/UK)
‘Only 1% of the world’s recycled metals comes from the African
continent,’ says Onovwigun, ceo of Romco Metals. His company,

headquartered in London, is hoping to boost that figure with a new recy-
cling plant in Ghana. ‘I have ambitious plans for further expansion.’ Indeed,
the entrepreneur recently launched a joint venture with Elemental Group,
called Romco Elemental, to pursue ‘strategic growth’ across Africa. This
includes bringing Elemental’s auto-catalyst and battery recycling opera-
tions to the
continent.
Romco Metals
recycles more
than 20 000
tonnes of non-
ferrous scrap a
year. The met-
als, mostly alu-
minium and
copper, are
sold to compa-
nies around the
world, includ-
ing major auto-
motive manu-
facturers.

Jay Robinovitz (USA)
Robinovitz is a metals recycling veteran, known to
many as the ceo of Alter Trading. The company,

based in Saint Louis, Missouri, celebrated its 125th anniversary
in 2023 and handles around four million tonnes of ferrous
scrap per year. This summer, Robinovitz announced it was time
to step down from his position to enjoy his retirement, prompt-
ing an outpouring of best wishes on social media. ‘I have had
an amazing career in the materials recycling industry – from the
East Coast to the West then to mid-America and around the
globe. It’s been fascinating
and very rewarding.’ He adds
a few words of encourage-
ment to those knocked down
by bearish markets. ‘When it’s
at the worst of worst, don’t
worry. Momentum will come
back. Just keep going so
you’re ready when the tide
turns.’

Thomas Holberg (Germany)
Holberg leads battery recycling initiatives at SK Tes and oversees
the company’s latest recycling plant at the port of Rotterdam. SK

Tes uses proprietary in-house technology to recover nickel, lithium and
cobalt from car batteries with a 98% recovery rate. In his position as global
vice-president, battery solutions, Holberg was proud to finally open the facil-
ity in the Netherlands in September, following almost two years of delays
due to ‘rules changing at the last minute’. The lithium-ion battery recycling
hub has an initial annual capacity of 10 000 tonnes of battery metals.

Anthony Martignetti (USA)
Martignetti is the ceo of Green-Tech
Recycling, located in Wilmington,

Massachusetts. The pioneer in construction and
demolition waste established a new plant in
Massachusetts in 2023. Martignetti believes it’s a
good time to invest in expanding the business, cit-
ing promising market data. Indeed, the construc-
tion and demolition waste market is projected to
grow from EUR 182 million in 2023 to EUR 195 mil-
lion this year. The site will have direct rail access to
meet demand from areas of high population where
processing capacity is limited, such as in Boston.

Giulio Airaga (South Africa)
The youngest member of the Airaga
family took over the leadership role at

Desco Electronic Recyclers from his father in 2021.
He joined the e-scrap recycler in Johannesburg in
2015 as marketing manager. His mission was clear:
to future-proof the company. This took him to
many TV and radio studios, earning the nickname
‘The Voice of Desco’. Airaga, who effectively grew
up on site, says he owes a lot to his father, Costa,
who has always pushed him to follow his dreams.
The e-scrap recycler is currently focussing on a
new tough waste stream: disposable vapes that
can litter the streets. Desco has also partnered
with retailer Makro to install e-scrap containers
outside its stores to improve the collection infra-
structure in South Africa.

Myles Cohen (USA)
Cohen is the founder of Circular Ventures Consultancy. He is a
hands-on and data-driven recycler eager to share his know-how

with a large global network. Cohen fulfilled many roles at major paper recy-
cler Pratt Industries for over 12 years and was president at Sonoco
Recycling. He observes that around 75 million tonnes of paper is landfilled
in the US every year. He believes the road ahead is paved with good inten-
tions that are actually harmful. For instance, he notes that laminated,
greasy paper cups from fast food places are technically recyclable ‘but no
one wants them.’ Cohen says people see the recycling logo as a justifica-
tion to ‘wish-cycle’ anything they want to get rid of.

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