Paul Breen – waste management specialist

Sometimes things are meant to be, just like it was for one of our waste management specialist and newest team members Paul.   Paul started out his career in the accounts department for a logistics company before moving to work for a large independent packaging business in the waste management division from 1995 to 2020. He […]

Sometimes things are meant to be, just like it was for one of our waste management specialist and newest team members Paul.  

Paul started out his career in the accounts department for a logistics company before moving to work for a large independent packaging business in the waste management division from 1995 to 2020. He volunteered to work as cover in the weighbridge office and was given the freedom to visit the sites that the business collected from. The MD was impressed with his ideas and enthusiasm led to him being given a permanent role, gradually moving on to the commercial side dealing with both purchasing and sales.

Paul led the development of business with printers etc and offered commercial and technical support to all the direct source suppliers as well as manging their margin contributions and the development of further business.

Paul often had dealings with our Managing Director Rick who would buy the waste off him to recycle, and he is well known in the recycling sales market.

waste management specialist

Did you know?

Paul is licensed to run a waste transfer station, with an environment agency licence (WAMITAB). He also has a transport manager/operator’s licence which makes him a competent person responsible for the logistics of wagons and related legislation.

How he helps Genus

As Genus Recycling is looking to develop more direct from source supply Paul is perfectly qualified to assist in this area. His wide network of source suppliers, operators and end users will be a vital asset for Genus Recycling. Additionally, given the experience he has both commercially and technically Paul can be considered a real ‘all-rounder’ who also helps out with quality inspections at all our Trading supplier sites.

One of the biggest challenges we have here at Genus is ensuring that the stock of wastepaper that we buy and sell is closely matched with our customers’ requirements. Aside from the obvious cost benefits in achieving accurate pricing, it’s also important to ensure that stock meets the appropriate quality standards with regards to contaminants or impurities. 

Ensuring a low level of contamination is obviously important for the quality of the product, but it is also important from an environmental point of view. The result of trying to process contaminated stock is increased energy usage and ultimately waste. 

At Genus we aim to audit waste stock properly so that we can support the reduction of the environmental impact for ourselves and our customers. 

Auditing experience

One of the key components of being able to perform an auditing role is experience. Being able to observe and know by sight what level of quality the waste is, is something that comes with time in the industry and Paul has a good deal of that under his belt. 

Paul was invited to join the Genus team and has helped to strengthen that side of the business. 

Typical day as a waste management specialist

Paul’s job can take him all over the country, traveling to sites to carry out staff training at printers, quality audits and visiting potential new customers and suppliers. He aims to build strong relationships with them which are the key to everything we do here at Genus.

Site inspections can include anything from watching a “live load” of recycled material going onto the recyclers to inspecting material with moisture meters, breaking into a bale, weighing it, and determining any level of contamination before issuing PRNs or Packaging Waste Recovery Notes that are used as evidence that the amount of waste generated is correct. 

The Genus Difference

We asked Paul what he thought the Genus Difference was and he had said, “customers need outlets for their waste and working with Genus gives them lots of options. Thanks to the experience of Pat and Rick, we are able to provide broad market access and find them the best outlet for their waste, reducing the risk of backlog at their facility.”

Paul’s experience adds huge value to the Genus team, and he is an integral part of our continued expansion into the European networks. To speak to him or a member of our team about how we can help you streamline your wastepaper recycling, please contact us on 0161 762 1390.