CalRecycle Names Zoe Heller Director

Sacramento, CA, May 20, 2025-With broad support from local government, environmental and industry groups, on May 12, the California State Senate voted unanimously to confirm Zoe Heller as director of CalRecycle. With expertise in zero-waste and circular economy strategies, Heller brings a proven track record of building consensus to advance common-sense, science-based environmental reforms.

Director Heller’s priorities include addressing California’s climate and environmental goals through system-wide reforms, including:

• Organics Recycling and Unsold Food Recovery-Scales up composting and food recovery to cut landfill pollution and redirect unsold food to Californians.
• Plastic and Packaging Waste Reduction-Cuts plastic and packaging waste by ensuring industry responsibility for using less and reusing the rest.
• Loose Battery and Battery-Embedded Product Reforms-Creates an industry-run stewardship program for loose batteries and adds battery-embedded products to the state’s e-waste recycling program.
• Textiles Takeback-Creates an industry-run stewardship program for apparel and other textiles.
• Beverage Container Recycling Program Expansion-Adds wine and liquor to the redemption program and funds over 200 new recycling locations.
• Wildfire Debris Recovery-Strengthens support to help communities recover by clearing debris from wildfires and other disasters.

Before her appointment as director, Heller served in various roles, leading CalRecycle’s Division of circular economy, materials management and local assistance division, and policy office. Prior to joining CalRecycle, she held senior roles at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Office, including Zero Waste Section Manager and Environmental Justice Specialist.