Jacqueline O’Donovan receives OBE

Industry champion recognized for services to recycling and health and safety  

JACQUELINE O’Donovan, managing director of O’Donovan Waste Disposal, has been awarded an OBE for her services to recycling and health and safety in The King’s 2023 Birthday Honours list.  

Ms O’Donovan has been one of the leading figures in the UK waste-management and recycling industry for more than 36 years and continues to be pivotal in transforming the sector’s safety and sustainability practices. She is  recognized  as an industry disruptor and trailblazing female business leader as well as being an advocate of safe, green, and sustainable operations. 

‘I  cannot express how honoured I am at being recognized with this OBE for my work within recycling, waste, sustainability and safety,’ commented Ms O’Donovan. ‘To come from such humble beginnings, and to leave school with little to no qualifications and do a job that I absolutely love in an amazing transforming industry is such a surreal feeling.’ 

Ms O’Donovan’s profile is well-recognized in the UK and Ireland business community where she has received various accolades for her work, including the PwC UK Private Businesswoman of the Year, Growing Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, Building Awards Female Leader, and Woman of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership by the Women’s Economic Forum.