CRRA2021

Co-Founder

Rachel is the Co-Founder of Women in Solid Waste & Recycling (WISR) and has helped build the organization in an effort to give women the tools and support they need to be successful leaders in the industry. She is known for being forward-thinking and well rounded. As Principal of Diversion Strategies, Rachel specializes in designing and advancing her client's market growth strategies through market assessment, policy development, relationship building, and project management. 

When Rachel is not supporting women and the future of recycling, she can be found hiking with her family, cooking, or enjoying a peaceful sunset yoga session.

Good Words and Meaningful Job Creation

Do you notice yourself or others in your workplace calling different occupations by their gender title? Are the drivers "the boys" and the customer service reps "the girls?" If so, you might ask yourself how that habit might be discouraging anyone in the company from applying or interviewing for a job that doesn't fit their gender identity. Let’s learn how simple language changes can help create a more equitable environment for everyone.

Future of Work Program Lead

Justine Burt is the Founder + CEO of Appraccel, an environmental sustainability consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area. She specializes in sustainability behavior change in energy efficiency, alternative transportation, and waste prevention. Clients include NASA Ames Research Center, the U.S. House of Representatives, Alameda County StopWaste, businesses in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, and retail, various universities, the Clean Coalition and the Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition. She holds degrees in Economics and Environmental Policy. The Great Pivot, available from Chelsea Green Publishing, is her first book.

Meaningful job creation to expand regional circular economies

In January 2021, the San Francisco Chronicle published an editorial entitled “Why California’s recycling is a dumpster fire” that explained how far the state had strayed from its legislative goal of reducing, recycling, or composting 75% of its waste by 2020. Despite a herculean effort on the ground by solid waste professionals, statewide diversion averaged 37% in 2020.

What would it take to regroup and redirect efforts to reach our 75% goal? Focus on job creation as a driver for achieving regional circular economies.

Now is the time to facilitate creation of new circular economy jobs that cannot be outsourced or automated. We could strengthen domestic recycling markets for paper, cardboard, and plastic by supporting new product manufacturing using recycled content. We could work together to create jobs expanding building deconstruction, tool lending libraries, artistic upcycling and salvage, reverse catering, and ugly produce distribution. Each of these projects will not only expand regional circular economies, they will give these workers a sense of meaning and purpose.

Laura has over eight years of solid waste and recycling industry experience. She is the owner and principal of Waste Alternatives, an industry consulting firm. In addition to providing governmental advocacy for the Resource Recovery Coalition of California, Laura serves on the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling, and is the current President of the California Capitol Region Chapter of Women in Solid-Waste and Recycling (WISR), an organization built to give women the tools and support they need to be successful leaders in the industry. 

How is California Funding the Future of Work in Recycling?

California has doubled down on the investment of State funds into recycling by carving out specific monies for recycling infrastructure in Administration backed programs like the Governor’s Climate Catalyst Fund. How can we be sure that these programs add green jobs that contribute to a local circular economy? Laura Ferrante, member of the Statewide Commission on Curbside Recycling will guide us through which policy recommendations and programs can lead us toward a new recycling economy.

Senior Associate

As a Senior Associate at HF&H Consultants, Felisia brings her decade of experience in the recycling industry to support local jurisdictions with SB 1383 compliance, strategic planning, and program implementation.

Previously, Felisia has worked for Recology and the San Francisco Department of the Environment providing zero waste technical assistance to businesses, industry groups, schools, and individuals through the development of educational collateral, public speaking engagements, and facility tours.

Felisia currently serves as the Co-Chair on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Northern California Recycling Association.

DEI – Moving beyond the talking points

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, often shortened to DEI, are terms recently restored to the modern business lexicon. But, how do you put these words into practice and what are the real world implications of investing in DEI initiatives and programs? Felisia will share insights and challenges from the ongoing work of the NCRA DEI Committee and provide a business case for building a more inclusive waste and recycling industry.

Senior Associate

As a Senior Associate at HF&H Consultants, Felisia brings her decade of experience in the recycling industry to support local jurisdictions with SB 1383 compliance, strategic planning, and program implementation.

Previously, Felisia has worked for Recology and the San Francisco Department of the Environment providing zero waste technical assistance to businesses, industry groups, schools, and individuals through the development of educational collateral, public speaking engagements, and facility tours.

Felisia currently serves as the Co-Chair on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Northern California Recycling Association.