On-Pack Recycling Label Ltd. (OPRL), a non-profit scheme with over 400 members, has appointed professor Margaret Bates as its first full-time executive director. 

Bates is tasked to make the voluntary recycling labelling scheme ‘match fit for mandatory’, lead the development of services to support members in preparing for extended producer responsibility and continue to expand OPRL membership.

A widely known, highly respected independent figure in the waste and resources world, Bates was appointed professor of sustainable wastes management at the University of Northampton in 2012 and has most recently served as the chair of the executive committee of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

She also remains chair of the CIWM Scientific and Technical Committee and is on the board of Wamitab, a body that qualifies waste management professionals.

Bates has led projects establishing sustainable e-waste services and sustainability capacity building in Palestine and a number of African and Latin American countries, as well as reviewing research programmes at EU and UK levels. 

She replaces Stuart Lendrum, who took up the role of head of packaging at Iceland Foods in March. Lendrum was the executive director at OPRL on a part-time basis since February 2018. 

The appointment comes as OPRL prepares to launch the latest revision of its Recycling Labelling Rules adopting ISO 14021 methodology and strengthening compliance audits to ISO 19011 standards.

“Her [Bates’] track record as a highly respected and independent researcher and commentator on key issues affecting our sector makes her the ideal person to lead OPRL through the big changes we are navigating currently,” said Jane Bevis, chair of OPRL Ltd.

Bates’ deep and broad knowledge of the strategic issues faced by the sector as well as her extensive networks within both the industry and academia were among the key reasons behind her appointment.

"Margaret’s recent time as Chair of CIWM’s Executive Committee means she’s no stranger to leading institutional reform, invaluable experience as OPRL Ltd strengthens its organisational capacity to meet the challenges of EPR and to further our aspiration to become the UK’s mandatory recycling labelling scheme,” Bevis added.