Recycling specialist David Laing has announced he is retiring from the Board of the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA).
David was a pioneer of waste wood recycling in Scotland in the 1990s, installing a wood processing plant at Petterden in 1992. He joined the WRA shortly after it formed in 2001.
The family business has 25 years’ experience in wood recycling and processing of wood products, achieving many innovative processes and awards over the years, including the WRA Energy Development of the Year Award in 2011.
David has now decided to reduce his work commitments in order to spend more time with his family and pursue his hobbies.
He said: “I have enjoyed being on the WRA Board very much and feel we have made a major impact to the waste wood industry generally. I will miss working with my fellow WRA colleagues but am looking forward to spending a bit more time with my family and on the golf course!”
David started his company, D J Laing (Contracts) Limited in 1975 as a civil engineering business and over the past 42 years expanded it into three companies: D J Laing (Contracts) Limited; D J Laing Homes Limited; D J Laing Recycling Solutions Limited.
In 2015 he sold his skip hire business to the Scottish waste management company NWH Group. In June this year NWH Group also bought the wood processing arm of DJ Laing Recycling Solutions.
Andy Hill, Chair of the WRA, said: “We are extremely sorry to see David go. He has been a prominent and very important member of the WRA Board for many years, bringing real life wood recycling experience to the Association. David is also a great person to work with and we will all miss him very much, but wish him well for the future.”
DJ Laing Recycling Solutions intends to remain a member of the WRA and David will continue to attend its quarterly member meetings as often as he can.
David’s position on the WRA Board will be open for election at the organisation’s next AGM in March 2018. Anyone interested in standing or wanting more information should contact Julia Turner by emailing julia.turner@woodrecyclers.org.