October 21, 2008
After 12 years as President and CEO, Damian Bassett has retired from CSR (Corporations Sharing Responsibility) as of October 15.
Damian leaves a legacy at CSR that includes providing direction for the organization’s endeavours in two key areas of waste management: reducing the impact of industry members’ products on the solid waste stream and supporting the evolution of municipal integrated waste management systems.
Damian was at the helm of CSR when industry members gave it a mandate to expand nationally in 2001. Under his leadership, CSR worked with industry funding organizations and other stakeholders to find economically and environmentally sustainable solutions to solid waste management problems. His vision was to harmonize extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs as much as possible throughout Canada and provide businesses with a "single window" approach to execute their financial and reporting obligations to various governments and under various programs.
During this time, CSR also helped to develop the "shared responsibility" model that became the basis of the Blue Box Program Plan which sets out the packaging and printed paper industry’s obligation under the Ontario Waste Diversion Act to fund a 50% share of the net cost of the blue box recycling program.
Gemma Zecchini, former Senior Vice President, Public Policy, Food and Consumer Products Canada will step in to serve as CSR’s interim CEO.
It has been my privilege to work with Damian over the last few years as a member and Chair of CSR’s board, witnessing his dedication to a stewardship vision and the support of CSR’s highly committed organization. On behalf of CSR’s Board members, past and present, I wish Damian the best in all his new endeavours.
Gord Meyer
Chair
CSR Board of Director
