David O'Donnell

ACE Ireland appoints Ben Powell as Head of External Affairs

24 Jan 2025 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

ACE Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Powell as our new Head of External Affairs. Ben brings a wealth of public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and policy development experience, having held key roles in both the public and private sectors.

Before joining ACE Ireland, Ben held a leadership role in a strategic communications consultancy, working with clients in sectors including energy and housing. He has a background in UK politics, having worked as a political advisor in Westminster and as a local councillor.

The appointment comes at a significant point for the industry in Ireland with the Programme for Government committing to investing in sorting technology in Ireland’s materials recovery facility (MRF) network, the upcoming implementation of EU regulations, and the drafting of a new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy for 2026-2030.

Commenting on his appointment as Head of External Affairs at ACE Ireland, Ben Powell, said: “I am delighted to take on this role at such a pivotal time for ACE Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity to continue the impressive work the Alliance has undertaken in profiling beverage cartons as a recyclable packaging option for Irish households. My focus will be on advancing this work to ensure that beverage cartons can maximise their role in Ireland’s circular economy.

“I look forward to engaging with stakeholders and policymakers across the waste management sector to further build on Ireland’s circular economy ambitions. I am particularly looking forward to supporting the Government with their commitment to invest in sorting technology in MRFs.

“Effective collection and sorting of recyclable materials will be essential in reaching Ireland’s recycling targets and targeted investment in Ireland’s MRFs is key to delivering this to ensure sustainable packaging such as beverage cartons are sorted for full onward recycling.”

ACE Ireland, CEO Mandy Kelly said: “We are delighted to welcome Ben to the team. His extensive background in external affairs and policy engagement will be invaluable as we engage with the incoming Government and work to increase the collection and recycling of beverage cartons across Ireland. Ben’s appointment strengthens our ability to champion cartons as a sustainable and renewable packaging choice.”

ACE Ireland welcomes investment in recycling infrastructure outlined in Programme for Government

17 Jan 2025 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) Ireland has welcomed the inclusion of investment in sorting technology for Ireland’s materials recovery facility (MRF) network as part of the Programme for Government.

ACE Ireland represents Tetra Pak, Elopak, and SIG Combibloc, the leading manufacturers of beverage cartons for the Irish and European markets. As an association ACE Ireland is focused on increasing collection and recycling rates for all recyclable materials placed on the Irish market, including beverage cartons. ACE Ireland believe that targeted investment in Ireland’s MRFs is key to delivering this to ensure recyclable materials collected at kerbside are correctly sorted for full onward recycling.

Commenting ACE Ireland Chief Executive, Mandy Kelly said: “It’s very encouraging to see the commitment to provide investment for sorting technology in MRFs outlined in the Programme for Government. This reflects a key ask from our General Election manifesto and would be a significant step to improving recycling processes and rates in Ireland.

“Beverage cartons are a circular, renewable and recyclable food packaging solution and it’s essential that the necessary infrastructure and investment is in place to maximise their potential in Ireland’s circular economy and to meet EU collection and recycling targets.

“We are looking forward to working with the incoming Government to support the commitments set out in the Programme for Government. We are also committed to working with the Government and other stakeholders to further build on Ireland’s circular economy ambitions through increased public awareness regarding recycling and collating and publishing more detailed data on the collection and recycling of specific material formats.”

Ramped up General Election focus on recycling policy urgently needed

27 Nov 2024 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment – ACE Ireland, has urged General Election candidates to drive investment in critical recycling and waste management infrastructure if elected. The representative body strongly argues this must be a core focus in the next Programme for Government if Ireland is serious about delivering on its circular economy ambitions.

In its manifesto shared with political parties, ACE Ireland has outlined its vision for increasing collection and recycling rates for all recyclable materials placed on the Irish market, including beverage cartons. ACE Ireland argues targeted investment in Ireland materials recovery facilities (MRFs) is key to delivering this to ensure recyclable materials collected at kerbside are correctly sorted for full onward recycling.

Other key asks include the need to:

Increase public awareness of packaging materials that should be placed in the mixed dry recycling bin to increase overall collection and recycling rates.
Collate and publish more detailed data on the collection and recycling of specific material formats to allow industry to monitor performance and adapt accordingly.
Champion national recycling infrastructure that supports recyclable materials like beverage cartons to fully play their role in Ireland’s circular economy.

Commenting ACE Ireland Chief Executive, Mandy Kelly said: “Ireland has made significant strides in recent years in driving its circular economy ambitions, grounded through focused and targeted policy mechanisms. Disappointingly however, it appears that the circular economy and recycling have dropped down the priority list for all political parties in this election campaign.

“It’s imperative that the next Programme for Government ensures that all recyclables, including beverage cartons, placed on the Irish market can be fully recycled to allow resources to continue to circulate within the economy. As an association ACE Ireland is focused on improving recycling processes and increasing recycling rates of beverage cartons and we look forward to working collaboratively with members of the next Oireachtas to ensure policy support the same.

“Beverage cartons are a circular, renewable and recyclable food packaging solution. However, to maximise their potential in Ireland’s circular economy and to meet EU collection and recycling targets, a greater political focus needs to be placed on ensuring infrastructure and sorting targets are developed”, Ms Kelly concluded.

ACE Ireland’s General Election manifesto

21 Oct 2024 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment Ireland appoints Mandy Kelly as new Chief Executive

28 Aug 2024 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment – ACE Ireland has announced the appointment of Mandy Kelly as its new chief executive. In taking the lead of the alliance, Ms Kelly brings over 30 years’ experience in the recycling industry. Prior to ACE Ireland, she was Business Development Director for Palm Recycling Ltd based in the UK and serves as a member of the UK’s Confederation of Paper Industry’s Recovered Paper Committee.

Ms Kelly takes the reins from Richard Hands who has led the alliance’s work across Ireland and the UK since its founding in 2010. Mr Hands will continue to support the work of ACE Ireland as a senior advisor. During his 14 years with the association, Mr Hands has overseen significant advancements in beverage carton collection, sorting and recycling in Ireland. This includes the launch of Ireland’s first AI powered robotic carton sorter last year, sorting over five million cartons for full recycling to date.

The appointment comes at a crucial time for the industry, as ACE Ireland looks to expand new and emerging sorting technologies across the waste management network. This forms a key part of the industry’s international commitment to reach a 90 per cent collection rate and a 70 per cent recycling rate of all cartons placed on the Irish market by 2030.

Commenting on her appointment Ms Kelly said: “As ACE Ireland embarks on the exciting next steps of its ambitious journey to achieving full beverage carton collection and recycling, I’m thrilled to take on the lead role. In championing beverage cartons as a fully recyclable and renewable packaging option, I truly believe that beverage cartons are playing a supportive role in Ireland’s circular economy ambitions. To build on this I’m keen that as an association we continue to focus on improving recycling processes and increase recycling rates, through working collaboratively with our industry partners, targeted investment, and supportive policy.

“Under the tenure of Richard, ACE Ireland has made significant strides in profiling beverage cartons as a recyclable packaging choice used by Irish households as part of everyday life. Securing the initiation of dedicated carton sorting in Ireland for full recycling at a specialised carton recycling facility funded by ACE, has been one of Richard’s key achievements. This has provided the platform to expand carton sorting in the Irish market and increase overall recycling rates.”

Congratulating Ms Kelly on her appointment, outgoing Chief Executive of ACE Ireland, Richard Hands said: “I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved through the alliance over the last 14 years and to pass the leadership into Mandy’s capable hands. Her extensive experience and peerless understanding of the recycling industry will be invaluable as ACE Ireland continues to drive beverage carton recycling.”

Over five million cartons recycled since launch of dedicated sorting at Ireland’s largest MRF

17 Jul 2024 by David O'Donnell Leave a Comment

Industry collaboration between ACE Ireland and Panda is paving the way for increased beverage carton recycling in Ireland using AI powered robotic sorting technology

More than five million beverage cartons have been sorted and fully recycled since AI powered robotic sorting was launched at Panda’s materials recovery facility (MRF) in Ballymount, Dublin. Installed last year in partnership with the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment – ACE Ireland, the automated system is the first of its kind in Ireland – providing a highly efficient solution for identifying, picking, and sorting cartons at the MRF for onward recycling.

To mark the first year of dedicated carton sorting, ACE Ireland and Panda have today (17.07.24) launched a new consumer campaign to drive increased awareness of beverage carton recycling. Titled #RecycleYourCartons, the campaign calls on households to place used beverage cartons in their household recycling bin – clean, dry, and loose to kick start the carton recycling journey.

Commenting, ACE Ireland’s Senior Recycling Manager, Mandy Kelly said: “The initiation of robotic sorting at Ballymount is proving hugely successful in showcasing how beverage cartons can and should be recycled in Ireland. It’s very encouraging to see over five million cartons sorted and sent for full recycling at ACE’s specialised carton facility within the first year of our partnership with Panda. However, there is huge potential for a further increase in carton recycling rates in Ireland and improved recycling practices through targeted investment and working with industry partners”

“Building on the carton industry’s relationship with Panda we’re focused on actively exploring new opportunities to further increase the volume of cartons sorted in Ballymount. To achieve this, as a first step it’s critical used cartons enter the recycling system. Our simple message to consumers is to start the recycling journey of cartons by placing them in the green or blue bin for collection – we’ll manage the rest.”

Mrs Kelly added: “Households across Ireland rely on beverage cartons as an everyday packaging choice. We want to ensure that consumers are aware of the sustainable nature of cartons, that they are fully recyclable, and that they are included on Ireland’s national household recycling list.”

The Ballymount facility receives over 90,000 tonnes of mixed dry recycling materials from over 400,000 homes and businesses each year. The automated sorting technology, which was developed by Recycleye and Fanuc, has the capacity to deliver 33,000 picks over a ten-hour shift. Sorted cartons are then sent to ACE’s specialised carton recycling facility where they are pulped and turned into high quality paper and core board. Fibres from beverage cartons can be recycled many times making them an ideal raw material for paper-based products.

CEO of Beauparc, the parent company of Panda, Brian McCabe said: “Robotics and automation are playing a pivotal role in increasing the efficiency and accuracy of our sorting processes. Through ongoing investment in the latest generation of robotic sorting technology, we’ve been able to significantly improve the quality of sorted materials. Importantly, this is being achieved with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure in the MRF. The initiation of dedicated carton sorting at our Ballymount MRF is an excellent example of this.

“Working with industry partners is a key part of our role in delivering and supporting innovation to enhance recycling and waste management in Ireland. As such, in partnership with ACE Ireland we are committed to increasing the volume of beverage cartons collected, sorted, and sent for full recycling through our Ballymount MRF. At Panda, we place significant focus on educating and communicating with our customers on how they can play their part in the recycling process. I’m very pleased that this latest joint campaign with ACE Ireland encourages our customers to engage with the recycling journey of beverage cartons.”

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