Emily Coven will serve as California executive director for Circular Action Alliance, leading the EPR program plan for the state, the producer responsibility organization announced Thursday.
CAA is the PRO helping to facilitate the extended producer responsibility for packaging program established by California law SB 54.
"I look forward to engaging directly with interest holders and communities across California to build a system that delivers meaningful results for Californians,” Coven said in CAA’s announcement.
Coven’s appointment comes less than a year after CAA tapped former CalRecycle director Rachel Wagoner to lead the organization’s operations in the state. In May this year, CAA announced that Wagoner would “move into an external advisory capacity” for CAA, prompting a new search for an operational executive director.
This followed an anonymous whistleblower’s complaint to California’s Fair Political Practices Commission, which the Los Angeles Times reported on in February. The whistleblower sought an investigation, suggesting that Wagoner “violated a ‘switching sides’ ban that prevents former regulators from receiving compensation to work against the state on matters they once oversaw.”
Coven previously founded and led software company Recyclist, which was acquired by Routeware in 2023. Recyclist was designed to assist with waste and recycling compliance and sustainability programs. CAA said its work has supported implementation of recycling and organics policies in California.
“Emily’s experience in California’s municipal recycling ecosystem and her proven expertise in scaling startups will be instrumental to our work,” said CAA CEO Jeff Fielkow in a statement.
This month, CAA opened registration for California producers, which it’s asking them to complete by Sept. 5. Producer supply reporting will be due by Nov. 15.
CalRecycle is currently accepting comments on revised text for SB 54 rules. That period continues through Oct. 7, when CalRecycle plans to host a hybrid public hearing regarding the permanent regulations.
