Encorp Pacific/Return-It Announces the Appointment of the New President & CEO
Dan Wong, Chair of the Board of Directors of Encorp Pacific (Canada), operators of the Return-It beverage container recycling program in British Columbia, today announced the appointment of Cindy Coutts as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization.
"Cindy is an accomplished business executive with extensive experience leading and managing a major national and international recycling organization," said Mr. Wong. "She is passionate about recycling and calls herself a business leader with circular economy expertise. The world of Extended Producer Responsibility is changing rapidly, and we are fortunate to find a person with Cindy's knowledge and experience to lead our organization".
Cindy Coutts, who will be relocating from Toronto, served from 2009 to 2016 as President of Sims Group Recycling Solutions Canada Ltd., following eighteen years in progressively senior management positions with Noranda Recycling, where she developed industrial recycling operations for metals and waste electronics. Since 2016 Cindy has been a consultant on business leadership and strategy, particularly pertaining to the cleantech industry, circular economy and sustainability. John Nixon has served as the Interim CEO since January 24, 2022, and will remain in that position throughout the transition period.
"The more I looked at the opportunity to lead Encorp, the more excited I got," said Cindy Coutts. "I am looking forward to leading the Return-It system to meet its challenges and opportunities successfully, particularly to increase the recovery rate for beverage containers in the most efficient and effective manner."
Cindy Coutts holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Guelph and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the Schulich School of Business at Toronto's York University. In 1996 she was one of 11 Canadians chosen to participate in a unique global sustainable development program funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy called LEAD (Leadership for the Environment and Development). With participants from 15 countries, she undertook an intensive 2-year study program (concurrent with work) of sustainable development issues domestically and internationally (Japan, Zimbabwe, Costa Rica, Brazil).
She loves sailing and built a boat with her son. As a hobby, she also enjoys beekeeping.
Return-It is the not-for-profit stewardship agency responsible for recycling beverage containers in British Columbia. In the past 27 years, Return-It has prevented more than 23 billion beverage containers from ending up in landfill, instead recycling them into new products.