Name: Rachel Wagoner
Previous title: Director of CalRecycle
New title: Executive director for California at Circular Action Alliance
Rachel Wagoner, who stepped down as CalRecycle director in March, is now serving as the state lead for Circular Action Alliance, the industry-founded nonprofit producer responsibility organization in charge of getting California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging law off the ground. CalRecycle named CAA as the sole PRO for its program in January.
Wagoner joined CalRecycle in 2020. SB 54, whose goals include recycling 65% of single-use plastic packaging and food ware by 2032, passed in 2022. The aim is to raise $5 billion from registered producers over a decade.
CAA praised Wagoner’s statewide leadership experience in an announcement Wednesday, saying she will oversee development and implementation of a program plan in California. This will involve collaborating with government stakeholders, producers and other industry partners “to achieve SB 54's ambitious recycling and waste reduction goals.”
“I am excited to be joining CAA at this pivotal moment for recycling and waste reduction in California,” Wagoner said. “CAA and its founding members share California’s commitment to the successful implementation of packaging extended producer responsibility.”
“It is a great privilege for me to work with this organization and continue to help California lead in environmental innovation. I look forward to collaborating with CalRecycle and all of the dedicated organizations and individuals that are working tirelessly to make Senator Allen's SB 54 successful,” Wagoner said.
Wagoner was well-known in the waste and recycling industry before joining CAA, due to her role overseeing multiple key programs at CalRecycle. Wagoner has previously said she considered collaboration with industry groups and advocates as “absolutely critical” to improving recycling systems.
CalRecycle has been led by Zoe Heller since May.
It’s been a busy year of hiring for CAA, which was founded in 2022 by a group of major producers, including Amazon, PepsiCo and Unilever. This year it picked Jeff Fielkow, whose resume includes time at Tetra Pak and WM, as its CEO. It also added Resource Recycling Systems alum Juri Freeman as executive director for Colorado and former 4R Sustainability consultant Kim Holmes as executive director for Oregon. CAA is still hiring for state-level and other positions.
Prior to her tenure at CalRecycle, Wagoner held key environmental roles in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and in the state Senate. Since leaving CalRecycle, Wagoner has offered legislative, regulatory and public policy advising through her firm RMW Strategies.
CalRecycle is scheduled to adopt regulations for SB 54 next year.
