Tommy Griffith Recognised as Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year 2016

22/01/2016

Tommy Griffith of PEL Waste Reduction Equipment was announced as the Mayo Association Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year in Dublin on Thursday 21st January 2016.

Tommy Griffith, founder & CEO of PEL Waste Reduction Equipment based in Balla, Co Mayo was honored with the title of the Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year 2016 by the Mayo Association at an awards ceremony in Dublin on Thursday 21st January. The award is recognition of the commitment displayed by Tommy in building the successful PEL Waste Reduction Equipment business and his contribution to the local Balla-Mayo Abbey and the wider Mayo communities.

PEL Waste Reduction Equipment manufactures and exports a range of machines which save on the handling, storage and disposal costs of waste cardboard, plastics and glass for a global customer base mainly in the hospitality industry.  The flagship product is a waste glass bottle crusher, branded ‘Jaws’ and finished in the green and red of Mayo; it allows a bar or hotel owner to reduce their waste glass bottle volumes by a factor of 5:1 and save on handling, storage and disposal costs of this waste glass.

Tommy was nominated for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 in the emerging category. The EY Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) accolade was only one of a number of awards made to PEL Waste Reduction Equipment over the years. Other important awards include Irish Exporters Association’s First Flight Award in 2008, the Shell Live Wire Award for Innovation in 2008 and latterly the Best New Innovation Award – Baby Jaws - Gulfood 2014 Awards at the world’s largest Food and Hospitality show held in Dubai UAE each year.

Tommy Griffith is a very active member in the local Balla and neighboring communities being a board member of Balla Secondary School and local Development organisation and regularly shares his business experiences in schools and colleges around the region. He is an active participant in the Sligo Entrepreneur Exchange and participates in the Mayo Industries Group which promotes the county as a business destination and the best place in Ireland to do business.

Outside of his business and philanthropic interests, Tommy is married and with a young family.  He is a keen cyclist and spends whatever little time is left outside of the working day following the travails of the Mayo Senior football team in the quest for Sam!

Commenting on his motivation and drive in continuing the development of PEL Waste Reduction Equipment Tommy says:

“I know we are putting Balla and indeed the county of Mayo on the international map when a friend or colleague remarks on seeing our bottle crushers, bin compactor or balers in far flung places like Australia or South America. Feedback like this means we are making an impact which means greater opportunity for the company, for those directly connected to PEL and for the wider Mayo region as a whole.”

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About PEL Waste Reduction Equipment

PEL Waste Reduction Equipment is based in Balla, Co Mayo and is a leading manufacturer of products for the waste management business. The company serves a global customer base via offices in Ireland, UK and in Cleveland, USA and via a network of international distributors.  PEL is recognized as leading innovator in the waste reduction industry and offers three main product lines; waste glass bottle crushers, including the patented ‘Jaws’ range, cardboard & plastic balers and refuse bin compactors which compress bin waste by up to a factor of 3:1. All PEL Waste Reduction Equipment products are designed, developed and manufactured in Ireland, are compliant with the ISO9001 Quality Standard and are CE Certified.

About the Mayo Association

The Mayo Association Dublin is one of the best supported and most active County Associations both nationally and internationally. Founded in 1905, the Association has proved to be an effective outlet for the Mayo Diaspora in Dublin through networking and friendship in social and business life.

Contact

Kevin O’Malley,
PEL Waste Reduction Equipment,
Brownhall,
Balla,
Co Mayo.

TEL: 094 936 6923