Zoe Heller has been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to serve as Director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle), succeeding Rachel Machi-Wagoner in the role. The announcement came two months after Machi-Wagoner announced her departure from the department, which left myriad questions about the direction of CalRecycle and who would assume leadership amid the active implementation of several crucial programs, including recycling of organics and single-use packaging.
Heller, who is set to assume the role on May 13, 2024, has served as Deputy Director of the Division of the Circular Economy at CalRecycle for the past year after serving in numerous other positions at the department since 2017. Heller previously worked at U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office where she served in various roles, including manager for the Zero Waste section. In her time at CalRecycle, Heller has often worked with RCRC’s affiliate Rural Counties Environmental Services Joint Powers Authority.