The Recycling Partnership has named Greg Saxon its new CEO, effective July 20. He succeeds founder and CEO Keefe Harrison, who announced her plan to step down in April.
Saxon most recently served as COO of PedalPoint Recycling and PedalPoint LifeCycle Solutions, which provide ITAD and electronics recycling services.
Saxon has more than 20 years of leadership experience, including in the electronics recycling, packaging, procurement, supply chain and circular materials systems sectors, TRP said. That combination of experience “reflects the complexity of the recycling system and the breadth of partners needed to strengthen it,” TRP said in a news release announcing his new role.
TRP is backed by major CPGs, retailers, packaging companies and others. The organization is known for its work providing grants for projects that improve curbside recycling access and boost collections and processing. In recent years, TRP has transitioned more of its focus to state and federal recycling policy.
“What drew me to The Recycling Partnership is its unique ability to bring together diverse stakeholders around practical solutions that strengthen recycling and advance a more circular economy,” he said in a statement.
In the announcement, TRP said the leadership change comes “during a period of evolution for the U.S. residential recycling system,” particularly around states adopting extended producer responsibility for packaging laws.
TRP said its board of directors conducted a “rigorous” search to find a candidate that could navigate shifting recycling policies while also working on investment and recycling infrastructure work.
“The modern recycling system requires alignment, readiness, and targeted investment, and The Partnership is exceptionally positioned to turn shared purpose into measurable progress,” Saxon said in the statement. “I’m excited to work alongside its talented team, partners, funders, and communities to build on a strong foundation and help create a future where every community can participate in and benefit from a modern, effective recycling system.”
In April, Harrison announced she would step down from the organization she founded and led for 12 years. In an email to stakeholders at the time, she called the move a “well-timed leadership transition from a position of strength — one that allows ample time, care, and diligence to ensure continued success.”
Harrison, who is expected to stay on in a consulting capacity through August, said Saxon “understands the complexity and urgency of this work, and he brings both the practical experience and people-centered leadership needed for this next chapter.”
Saxon has also worked at Johnson & Johnson, PlanITROI, Aventiv Technologies and has nonprofit experience from serving on the board of the Televerde Foundation.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in quantitative economics from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.
