Recent BIR World Recycling Convention in Munich (24-25 October 2011)

Paper Division: Papyrus Prize goes to Dr Jim Malone

Awarded for the eighth time since its inception in 2008, the BIR Paper Division’s Papyrus prize has gone to Dr Jim Malone - the man responsible for managing the 2 million tonnes of recovered fibre and other recyclates handled annually by the recycling division of UK-based producer group D S Smith. The award was made at the world recycling organisation’s Paper Round-Table meeting in Munich on October 25.

BIR Paper Division President Ranjit Baxi of UK-based J&H Sales International described Dr Malone as a man with a passionate commitment to paper recycling. Having entered the industry in 1987 when he joined Severnside Recycling, Dr Malone was soon managing the company’s recycling facility in Croydon, south of London. He took up the role of Sales & Purchasing Director of Severnside Recycling a decade ago and supported its recent rebranding as D S Smith Recycling. Throughout his time in the industry, he has been a key player in the development of numerous paper recycling initiatives.

In accepting the Papyrus prize, Dr Malone described it as “a great honour” and spoke of the responsibility shared throughout the industry of keeping recycling “high on the political agenda”. With the world’s population about to surpass 7 billion and with available resources likely to become ever more stretched, “recycling has never been more important”, he insisted.

The Papyrus prize is awarded twice a year - once to a company or organisation and once to an individual - in recognition of their services to paper recycling. Earlier this year at the BIR Spring Convention in Singapore, the recipient was container shipping specialist APL.