Veteran plastics recycling expert John Simmons, who was twice chief executive of Recoup, died earlier this month at the age of 72.
Following several senior positions in the plastics packaging industry, John Simmons founded PPS Recovery Systems Ltd in 1990 and was involved in planning, design and project management of recycling programs and materials reclamation facilities in the UK.
While the business was carried out on the ground floor of a building in Peterborough, upstairs he developed Recoup, the organisation for the recycling of used plastic containers which today takes a leading role within the sector.
He first held the chief executive role in 1990 to 2001. In 2001 one of his sons, Andrew, became chief executive and following Andrew’s emigration to Australia, John became chief executive again until 2011. Then he was succeeded by current chief executive Stuart Foster.
John Simmons, the founder of Recoup, has died age 72
John sold the PPS Recovery Systems business in 2014 on his retirement to Mr Foster and colleagues Ian Smith and Maureen Goodyear.
Post-consumer
During his time in a national role he was keen to work with both the private and public sector in developing post-consumer plastics recycling in the UK. In 2007, he said: “The team here at Recoup are preparing for an even busier year in 2007 with a continued drive to facilitate and develop plastic recycling opportunities from both domestic and commercial sources, alongside the development and sharing of knowledge within an increasingly diverse industry.”
Two years later, in 2009, he was to highlight the need to design for recycling, publishing refreshed guidance on improving the design of plastics packaging for collection, sorting and reprocessing.
Stuart Foster, chief executive of Recoup, said that Mr Simmons would be sadly missed and he paid tribute to his “efforts and enthusiasm in the field of recycling”.
Funeral: October 16
John Simmons is survived by his wife Margaret and sons Andrew and Ian. His funeral will be held at 12:30pm on Tuesday 16 October at All Saints Church, Polebrook, Northamptonshire PE8 5LN.
The post Obituary: John Simmons appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
