Recycling and Waste Minimisation

Circular and Low Carbon Cities Project Lead and Recycling and Waste Minimisation Working Group Chair at ISWA International Solid Waste Association. 

Ian Cooper is a globally experienced sustainability leader with over 30 years in the waste management and renewable energy sectors. With a background in civil engineering and international business, Ian has led major infrastructure and recycling initiatives in the United Kingdom, Mexico, Morocco, and across Central and Eastern Europe.

He has served as Country Manager in Mexico, as well as Commercial Director and Strategic Advisor to both public and private sector clients, specialising in circular economy solutions, waste to energy technologies, and decarbonisation strategies.

Ian was recently appointed as Manager overseeing two private waste management companies in Morocco, where he is responsible for overseeing the contracted obligations, reviewing investment opportunities, and maximising the beneficial use of waste as a commodity.

He is currently involved in a full-scale commercial project in the United States where a variety of waste feedstocks, including municipal waste, plastics, and waste wood, will be utilised in a conversion process to produce renewable synthetic diesel. The project provides a high conversion rate and generates a high-quality fuel that is compliant with ASTM standards. It forms the foundation of a broader business plan to deploy the solution in several countries over the coming years, including the United Kingdom, Morocco, Central America, Ghana, and Zambia, where the principal company has established strategic partnerships.

As Vice Chair of the ISWA Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation, Ian is committed to fostering active collaboration across the group. He aims to draw on the collective experience of all members to unlock the full value of the extensive data and insights available from the many countries represented. By encouraging broad participation and shared analysis, he believes the group can identify scalable strategies and deliver meaningful progress toward a wasteless future.