Zoe Heller

Director, CalRecycle

Zoe Heller is the Director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), where she leads California’s efforts to advance circular economy strategies, waste reduction, recycling innovation, and environmental sustainability. Appointed director in 2024 and unanimously confirmed by the California State Senate in 2025, Heller is recognized for her expertise in zero-waste systems, environmental policy, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Prior to serving as Director, Heller held several leadership roles within CalRecycle, including First Deputy Director of the Division of Circular Economy, Deputy Director of the Materials Management and Local Assistance Division, and Deputy Director of Policy Development. Before joining CalRecycle in 2017, she spent more than a decade with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Office, where she served as Manager of the Zero Waste Section, Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator, and Environmental Protection Specialist focused on environmental justice initiatives. Heller’s work centers on advancing California’s climate and waste-reduction goals through policies related to plastic and packaging reduction, organics recycling, food recovery, textile stewardship, and circular economy infrastructure. She is known for promoting science-based environmental reform, systems thinking, and cross-sector collaboration among government, industry, and community stakeholders. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Eckerd College and a Master of Public Administration from Roosevelt University.