CRRA2021

President & CEO

Richard Valle has served as an Alameda County Supervisor since June 2012.  He is the Founder and President of Tri-CED Community Recycling, California's largest non-profit recycling company that employs at-risk youth and provides union jobs. Tri-CED provides recycling collection services in the Cities of Union City and Hayward, and makes contributions to the community in the form of grants to other non-profit groups. Valle is the Vice Chair of the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling and has actively worked to curb exports of plastics to countries that cannot properly manage them. Valle is a Vietnam Veteran.

Leading the way to real solutions to the recycling crisis

Mr. Valle will outline why he applied to be a member of the Commission and what he hoped to achieve, and his view of the progress being made by the Commission and the future of the Commission.

Director of Advocacy

Since joining the organization in 2007, Nick has led campaigns to enact some of the country’s strongest waste reduction laws and regulations, many of which have been subsequently adopted around the country. In addition to coordinating CAW's overall advocacy strategy, Nick has built successful coalitions to reduce the impacts of climate change, recover organic wastes, minimize plastic pollution, and grow markets for recyclable materials. He also engages in policy development and coalition-building, representing CAW on a variety of boards, commissions, taskforces, and coalitions.

Implementing the Commission's Recommendations and Next Steps

Nick will discuss the implementation of the Commission's Policy Reccomendations, including legislative and regulatory action, and other next steps for the commission.

Executive Director

Tedd is a leader in waste prevention and recycling policy in California for decades and serves as an expert in rural county issues. The Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority is a JPA formed by the City of Crescent City and the County of Del Norte in 1992 to administer and manage all solid waste, recycling, composting, and HHW facilities, services, and programs throughout Del Norte County, California.  Tedd serves as a leader of the Regional Council of Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority and is a primary co-author of the Commission's Report to the State.

Policies Needing Implementation to Address Rural Issues

Mr. Ward will discuss why he applied to be a Commissioner and what he hoped the effort would achieve.  He will discusss how the policy recommendations are structured to put priority back on waste prevention and ensuring rural county issues are understood which are much different than the problems in urban areas so policies must be flexible enough to support both.

Executive Director, NSAC/Chair Commission on Recycling Markets & Curbside Recycling

Heidi is the Executive Director of the National Stewardship Action Council, a 501(c)4 non-profit organization formed in 2015 to advocate for a circular economy in the United States. Heidi has been a leader in the solid waste industry for over 30 years, focused on source reduction and cost-effective projects that support a circular economy. Heidi speaks throughout the world and has won many awards and appointments including currently serving as Chair of the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Solid Waste Association of North America representing “Materials Recovery”.