The Exec

LARAC Exec members are all serving local authority recycling professionals and represent all types of authorities. 

They attend 4 Exec meetings a year and other industry meetings which they report back on, for members’ benefit. 

Since 1st January 2022 to date they have been led by the Chair's team below. 

Leading the LARAC Team

Image
trio of head and shoulder photos - left to right: Cathy Cook, James Ward and Vicki Burrell

National Representatives

National Rep/Policy Team/Treasurer
Andrew Bird
Service Director - Sustainable Environment
Authority
Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council
National Rep/Policy Team
Gareth Rollings
Head of Waste
Authority
West Sussex County Council
National Rep/Chair
Cathy Cook
Senior Advisor
Authority
ReLondon
National Rep/Policy Team/Conference Team
Edward R Yendluri
Contracts Manager (Operations and Fleet)
Authority
Westminster City Council
National Rep/H&S Lead
Ashley Wild
Waste & Recycling Manager
Authority
Hart District and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Councils
LARAC National Rep
Rachel Melvin
Waste Management and Customer Support Team Manager
Authority
South Staffordshire Council

Regional Representatives

Eastern Representative
Hilary Garlick
Senior Support Officer, Waste Services
Authority
Suffolk County Council
East Midlands Rep/Conference Team
Eloise Attwood
Waste and Cleansing Manager
Authority
West Northamptonshire Council
London Representative
Cindy Gardener
Assistant Director (Waste and Street Cleansing)
Authority
Wandsworth and Richmond upon Thames Councils
Northern Ireland Representative
Lynsey Daly
Head of Waste Strategy and Sustainability
Authority
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
North East Rep/Vice Chair/Policy Team/Conference Team
Victoria Burrell
Waste Strategy Team Manager
Authority
Durham County Council
North West Representative
Jo Oliver
Head of Waste Management and Fleet Services
Authority
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Scotland Representative
Solomon Ede
Senior Enforcement Officer
Authority
West Lothian Council
South East Representative
Ian Upstone
Waste Resource Manager
Authority
Cherwell District Council
South West Representative
Ruth Edwards
Waste Client Officer
Authority
SWISCO (a Torbay Council company)
Yorkshire and the Humber Rep/Vice Chair/Policy Team
James Ward
Strategic Development Manager
Authority
Kingston-upon-Hull City Council
LARAC Wales Rep
Robert Lewis
Assistant Team Leader
Authority
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
West Midlands Representative
Alison Wainwright
Sustainable Environment Officer
Authority
Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council

Co-optees Appointed by Exec

Co-optee (Recycling Team of the Year 2024 winner)
Nicola Percival
Waste Services Manager
Authority
Herefordshire Council
Co-Optee
Anthony Morris
Commissioning Officer (waste and street care)
Authority
Staffordshire Moorlands DC & High Peak BC
Outstanding Contribution to Recycling 2021
Dr Wendy Fail
Senior Waste Management Officer
Authority
Northumberland County Council

Support Services

LARAC Executive Director
Toni McNamara
LARAC Executive Director
01982 382 650
LARAC Policy Officer
Tom McBeth
LARAC Policy Officer
01982 382 650
LARAC Business Support Lead
Lucy Bennett
LARAC Business Support Lead
01982 382 650
LARAC Support Officer
Mariana McManus
LARAC Support Officer
01982 382 650
Partners