Alain Vassart, outgoing secretary general of the European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA), will be succeeded by Julie-Ann Adams, the association announced last week. Mr Vassart, who has worked for the EBRA board since 2010, announced last year that he intended to retire at the end of 2023.
Ms Adams, whose appointment was confirmed by EBRA's members on 27 March, brings more than 20 years’ experience in the waste management and local government sector to the new position as secretary general. EBRA described her as a "leading technical adviser on producer responsibility-led regulations and standards and in the general treatment and recycling technology and waste management arena". The association noted that she has been an active member of a number of Cenelec committees since 2009, as well as in other European and global industry organisations.
Ms Adams was said to be is excited to join EBRA and its members for the challenging times ahead including the new Battery Regulations, and complimentary legislation and EU objectives in waste shipments, CRMs, POPs, and the circular economy.
The incominig secretarg general is managing director of Really Green Credentials, which provides consultancy services in the areas of producer environmental compliance, specialising in environmental management systems and international standards. She has likewise served as CEO of the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA) since January 2022. She plans to stay on in that role with the "full backing" of EERA.
EBRA highlighted the synergies between EERA and the interests of the businesses it represents in the battery collection, recovery, recycling, and reprocessing industries.
The association also thanked Mr Vassart for all his hard work. "His detailed knowledge and experience of the battery industry across Europe is second to none", said EBRA chairman Johan Van Peperzeel. "Alain has all the best wishes of everyone for a long and happy retirement," he added.
