Ellen Struthers

Expertise

Environmental Expert Witness

Ellen is a waste and recycling operations specialist with over 18 years’ experience in the sector. She is a recognised expert, having authored several industry good practice guides relating to operating effective recycling services, and has provided independent opinion in a dispute resolution process between a local authority and its waste contractor concerning the financial impacts of introducing a new waste service.

Ellen completed a three-year secondment to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets as its Deputy Head of Waste Management, with responsibility for the development and delivery of waste and recycling initiatives, giving her first-hand insight into municipal service provision. This has supported her in advising numerous private contractors on bidding for local authority waste, recycling and cleansing services, including developing operational method statements.

Ellen managed the development of the sampling and testing guidance for Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to support operators to comply with the relevant requirements implemented by the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2014. She has also delivered projects that contributed to the evidence base for the Scottish Recycling Code of Practice and Charter, which involved identifying good practice in materials acceptance for different kerbside collection scenarios and service policies and standards.

Ellen has expertise in reviewing and advising on the impacts of regulatory change. This has included support to UK local authorities to help them assess the impact of the proposed introduction of a deposit return scheme and the reform of packaging producer responsibility. She has also supported a European packaging industry group to assess opportunities and risks posed by regulatory change, market factors and reprocessing developments to recommend actions.