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.”
