CIRQLR bolsters recycling operations with key executive appointments

ENGLAND – Business recycling group CIRQLR has appointed Gareth Lewis as chief operating officer and Tristan Drinkwater as IT director to enhance its management structure. 

The moves come amid rapid expansion in the UK commercial waste sector, where the company now operates 19 facilities and employs 600 staff across the East of England and beyond.

Lewis brings over 15 years of hands-on experience in recycling and waste management. 

He previously served as managing director of Enva’s recycling segregation and collections unit in Nottingham. 

Before that, he held the role of group sales and marketing director at Orbis and spent four years on the executive board at Safetykleen. 

In a statement, Lewis noted that businesses face ongoing shifts toward a circular economy driven by government policies.

He added that CIRQLR’s role involves assisting customers in tracking resources throughout supply chains, from outbound shipments to incoming returns.

Drinkwater contributes more than 20 years of expertise in technology and data-led transformations for complex organizations. 

He arrives from Jersey Post, where he spent over five years as global head of IT service delivery. 

According to Drinkwater, his background in logistics equips him to drive tech upgrades in recycling, an industry adapting to new demands on resource handling. 

He emphasized that CIRQLR’s systems can now deliver real-time visibility into material flows, meeting client needs at both local and national scales.

These hires follow a series of strategic acquisitions that have propelled CIRQLR’s growth. 

In a report by industry analysts, the group reached an annual turnover of US$190 million after acquiring eight regional operators over two years, including Chambers Waste Management in Surrey on March 31, 2025. 

This deal expanded coverage in the South-East and Home Counties, enabling the processing of 600,000 tonnes of materials yearly. 

The network now integrates brands like Wilrose Environmental, acquired in May 2025, and Cox Skips, allowing southern customers access to broader services.

CIRQLR’s CEO David Palmer-Jones highlighted the company’s preparation for regulatory changes, such as the Simpler Recycling rules implemented in April 2025. 

These require businesses to separate waste streams more effectively, increasing the capture of high-quality materials for reuse. 

Palmer-Jones stated that the group expects a substantial rise in recycled volumes entering supply chains, supported by shared data tools across facilities. 

The appointments aim to streamline operations as CIRQLR serves over 15,000 customers, focusing on cost-effective compliance and resource recovery.

With upcoming policies like Extended Producer Responsibility and a national Deposit Return Scheme on the horizon, CIRQLR continues to invest in workforce training and site upgrades.

The company’s integrated approach has already reduced landfill reliance in partner networks, channeling more waste into productive cycles.

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