Eilidh O’Connor, our Senior Waste Management Consultant, has passed an important professional milestone – Chartership of CIWM, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management.  

Soon after her interview, she got this message: 

“Congratulations, you have been awarded the status of Chartered Resource and Waste Manager!  

“You are now part of an exclusive network of Chartered Professionals, having proven you are a leader in the resources and waste sector.” 

We are so proud of her achievement and had every confidence she would be welcomed into this prestigious professional body.  

Over a decade driving access to composting 

Eilidh (previously Brunton, now O’Connor) started with Vegware back in 2011, as a recent graduate with a distinction in her Environmental Sustainability MSc from Edinburgh University. She was the first full-time person at Vegware to focus solely on waste sector partnerships and helping clients compost. 

Back in 2011, we started our composting journey with one UK city… Aberdeen! Now our team of three Waste Management Consultants introduce clients to a far wider range of options for composting used Vegware: 

• 69% of the UK population live in regions with a regular wheelie bin collection for businesses  

• These commercial collections cover 46 of the UK’s largest towns and cities, plus surrounding areas 
• 100% of the UK is covered by post-back or pallet box services  

Over the years Eilidh has achieved many accolades including Let’s Recycle’s 35 under 35, and twice been chosen as Rising Star – at the FPA Awards and the Scottish Resources Awards. She has spoken at conferences in the US, hoiked wheelie bins around festivals, led effective stakeholder engagement programmes, and donned her steel toecap boots to visit countless composting facilities over the years. 

Chartership

To be considered for Chartership, Eilidh needed at least four years’ experience working in waste, as well as a relevant degree. The application process culminated in an hour-long interview with a panel of three industry experts, which (of course) she aced.  

Eilidh demonstrated her knowledge of wastes and resources management industry, and current issues facing the sector. She talked through her decade of experience in collaboration and operational problem-solving to help drive foodservice business’ uptake of commercial composting. 

CIWM is UK’s the leading professional membership organisation for individuals in the sustainability, resources and waste management sector. Its mission is to unite, equip and mobilise its professional community to lead, influence and deliver the science, strategies, businesses and policies for the sustainable management of resources and waste.  

We send Eilidh our warmest congratulations for this brilliant achievement.