Gareth Rollings, Head of Waste at West Sussex County Council, has been appointed as the new Chair of LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee).
Rollings will formally begin his term on 1 January 2026. His appointment was confirmed at LARAC’s Annual General Meeting, held on 8 October 2025 during the LARAC UK Conference in Birmingham.
He succeeds Cathy Cook, Senior Advisor at ReLondon, who has completed four years in the role. Cook will remain on the Executive as a National Representative.
LARAC represents 80% of all local authorities across the UK and supports over 1,400 waste and recycling officers.
Rollings commented: “Stepping into the Chair’s role at a point where government reforms are shifting from idea to implementation is a real honour. Local authorities are carrying the weight of Simpler Recycling roll-out, navigating evolving pEPR payments, and still waiting for clarity on DRS, ETS and long-term funding.”
“LARAC’s strength has always been the practical experience and shared challenges across our membership. My focus will be to amplify that collective voice as we move into 2026 and the reality of delivery.”
Cook became LARAC Chair in 2021 after joining the Executive as a National Representative just over 12 months prior, in July 2020.
Reflecting on her tenure, Cook said: “The scale of change we have faced has been immense, and LARAC has worked tirelessly to give councils the clarity, support and representation they need.”
“Stepping back into a National Representative role means I can continue championing local authorities while supporting Gareth as he takes LARAC forward.”
Toni McNamara, LARAC’s Executive Director, commented: “Between 2021 and now, the waste and recycling sector has basically lived through a four-year policy avalanche that felt like trying to empty a wheelie bin during a hurricane.”
“One minute government was promising shiny new reforms; the next minute, every deadline had slipped off the calendar like a bin sticker in the rain. Cathy has somehow managed to steer LARAC with ease, professionalism and a level of calm confidence that frankly defies physics.”