Turmec is a preeminent and well-respected Ireland-based recycling solutions provider. Its world-class engineers work towards the shared vision of a world without landfill, a carbon neutral global economy supported by the endless recycling and reusing of waste. Its mission is led by CEO Geoff Bailey, who is proud to do his part to support Turmec’s betterment of global waste management solutions. Here, we speak with Geoff to understand the company, his vision as its faithful steward, and demonstrate why he deserves the title of Most Influential CEO 2024 – ROI (Recycling & Engineering).
Turmec engineers sustainable waste management solutions, drawing upon over 50 years of industry experience to design, manufacture, and install best-in-class systems. Its focus is on creating usable and sustainable resources from waste products so that, in CEO Geoff Bailey’s words, “all waste is processed and the embedded resources re-presented to industry as a substitute raw material for virgin.” The company currently stands at the forefront of worldwide sustainability efforts, finding creative means of redesigning current systems and building world leading waste management plants.
As a titan of the waste management industry, Turmec’s run of design and installation projects represent incredible success and contribute to millions of tonnes of repurposed waste per annum. These completed projects span multiple countries across the Irish, UK, and Australian markets, built in close collaboration with clients to meet their needs using specialised project management and modelling software. Whether its solutions are required for municipal solid waste, mixed dry recycling, construction and demolition waste, or beyond, its engineers leverage cutting-edge technology to craft a bespoke system.
This focus on client needs drives the company’s full-service offering from design through to support, servicing, and aftercare. Its process involves analysis of the space and resources available to clients, their goals, and budgetary restrictions. It then designs, puts together, and installs the finished product. The company’s rapid response to breakdowns and in-depth support following installation matches the quality of production, completing the bespoke Turmec service package.
The focus at Turmec is on redesigning products and processes to reduce waste and pollution, emphasising re-use and recycling to combat landfill usage and harmful industry habits. Geoff explains, “this shift requires a mindset change in how we manufacture, deliver, and dispose of products. Crucial to this is ‘closing the loop’ of product lifecycles via changes in design and increased waste prevention, re-use, and recycling.” In Australia, Turmec has been commissioned to build unprecedented skip and waste recycling facilities, including the world’s largest integrated skip waste, construction and demolition waste, and non-destructible digging waste recycling facility.
“In an effort to accelerate this shift, various countries have set targets to achieve a minimum 80% diversion from landfill of all waste streams by 2030. In particular, Australia expressed that goal openly and in addition has set a goal to reduce the per capita waste generation rate by 10%. It also plans to ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres altogether.”
As CEO, Geoff explains that he steers the strategic direction of the company, “setting the tempo and culture of the organisation” as well as ensuring Turmec has “the right people with the right skillset to deliver on our plan.” According to strict principles of fairness, working hard, being available to his team and receptive to new ideas, he drives the company forward with profitability and revenue metrics in mind. The strategy, however, is not rigid, and he instead ensures adaptability for its health and the benefit of clients in an ever-evolving industry. “The plan is not one which is ‘set in concrete,’” he says, “never to be re-examined until the 3-year period is up, but remains open to new ideas and initiatives which can then be incorporated.”
He places particular importance on aligning the company with its core values of safety, partnership, trust, respect, professionalism, and quality. He is keen to ensure that employees’ physical and mental wellbeing is taken care of and that a sense of partnership permeates the whole business throughout interactions with suppliers, customers, and internal teams. To inspire the best in Turmec’s products and services, Geoff understands the need to promote staff wellbeing and offer internal opportunities, meaning the company’s promise is not solely waste management excellence but a dedicated and empowered team.
“Turmec is only as good as its staff and how they relate together and with external stakeholders such as our customers, suppliers, sub-contractors, bankers, and professional support teams. Developing our staff through training, personal coaching, and team building is essential to ensure we improve our capability to grow the business.”
Geoff’s journey began with the relentless pursuit of education lasting beyond school and university throughout finance and operating roles spanning multiple industries. Having studied Management Science and Industrial Systems Studies at Trinity College Dublin, he went on become a chartered accountant with Arthur Andersen. His time with the company imparted knowledge of many disparate businesses and how they operate and facilitated his move to Johannesburg, where he enjoyed taking in the world beyond Ireland.
Throughout the following years, his diverse career involved boutique investment banking and corporate finance, and he eventually became CFO for a waste business, Greenstar. “This was a start-up business, which grew rapidly and organically, and in 2007, I switched from CFO to Managing Director of Greenstar’s material recycling, landfill, and renewable energy division. This was a key moment in my career development.” Opportunities arose, following the 2008 financial crisis and the “overly aggressive implementation of anti-landfill policies,” for Geoff to take ownership of its landfill portfolio. Today, Geoff leverages this cross-industry experience and background in waste management to lead with an authority backed by vital experience and a multi-faceted skillset.
Now back in Ireland, Geoff is pleased to promote the country’s workforce, drawing staff from towns and regions local to the company’s home in the Gaelteacht townland, Rathcairn. He is proud to support them with personal skills and management training and team building opportunities, developing Turmec’s people alongside its systems and infrastructure. As it takes strides into the industry’s future, Geoff is keen to remain at the forefront of recycling and material recovery technologies and to “become AI literate,” as he foresees it having “a major impact on the company in the near future. He is eyeing up expansion into the US market: the company has attended annual Waste Expos and networked with potential clients to out the needs of that market.
As a hands-on CEO in charge of commercial decisions and negotiations, board relations, and talent management, Geoff distils a lucrative and diverse career to steward Turmec through its most profitable and innovative years. For budding CEOs, his advice is to grow your company responsibly, look after staff, and to surround yourself with the right people to support that growth.
“Believe in yourself but be humble enough to invite opinion and criticism. Seek counsel from your team, but for big decisions, balance that with outside trusted networks where there are no vested interests. Be ambitious but grow at a pace that your business and staff can adapt to and thrive. You can’t do everything yourself, so surround yourself with strong, bright, and reliable people that share in your vision and core values.”
Turmec is one of the most prominent names in waste management and recycling solutions. Under Geoff Bailey, it is clear to see why. His leadership has brought out the best in its staff, operations, and market presence, and he has overseen the company through its most ambitious projects to date. As the world acclimatises to forward-thinking waste systems, between his stewardship, an expert team, and the shared goal between them, the company stands in excellent stead to lead that charge.
