Press release - 18 Aug 2009

SITA UK appoints new manager to take over helm of Tees Valley facility

Recycling and resource management company SITA UK has appointed Julie Craigie to the position of regional manager in the Tees Valley.

The 33-year-old has taken up her new role following a management re-organisation, which now sees her responsible for the Tees Valley energy-from-waste (EfW) facility, the composting plant, Household Waste Recycling Centre, baling facility and ash plant, all located at Haverton Hill.

She took over from former General Manager Graham Ingleson, who is now SITA UK’s Technical Manager (processing), also based in the Tees Valley.

Julie, who is married with a three-year-old son and is expecting her second child at the end of the year, said her arrival at the facility co-incided with the commissioning of the new extension at the EFW facility, which is taking Northumberland’s non-recycled waste, so it had been very busy.

She has worked for SITA UK for five years, formerly based in Newcastle and Tyneside, and is now relishing the opportunity to work at the company’s renewable energy centre in the Tees Valley.

However, after gaining a degree in International Business at the University of Northumbria, her career path took an unexpected turn.

“It’s an industry that I hadn’t expected to work in, but I have found the variety of both my job and the sector really interesting,” she said.

“No two days are the same and it’s challenging, which is great. There are so many new technologies out there, and now everyone is trying to be green and environmentally friendly, I think it is a great industry to be part of. I was very eager to be involved in the power generation side of the business, so I am really enjoying my new role.”

Julie said when she started in the waste industry 12 years ago, it was very heavily male-dominated, but things are beginning to change.

“Being a woman, I think I probably have a different approach to the job to a lot of men, which is beneficial because it creates a good blend of personalities, and there are great opportunities out there for women in the waste industry now.

“We are all working towards the same objective. We will always create waste. The task is finding the best and most environmentally friendly ways to deal with it.”

SITA UK’s General Manager for the north east, John Grainger, said the re-organisation had been seamless.

“The aim of the re-organisation was to further enhance our efficiencies and ensure that the different geographical and business areas of the company operated well together,” he said.

“Interesting times lie ahead as SITA UK continues to play a crucial part in the nation’s plans to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by recycling and via new technologies, and also by using materials as a resource for renewable energy.

“It is a challenge that faces us all, but we believe SITA UK is well-positioned to help local councils and the country, as a whole, to meet those challenges.”