Rachel Wagoner

Rachel Machi Wagoner has 27 years of experience in the successful development, negotiation and implementation of California legislation, public policy and government administration.

Most recently, as Director of the Department of Resource Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) Rachel was responsible for overseeing and reforming CalRecycle’s long-standing recycling and waste management programs, building California’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), disaster debris recovery, and organic waste recovery and recycling programs and was the architect for California’s first ever, statewide Zero Waste Plan. Rachel’s leadership poised California to be a world leader in building a successful circular economy.

Prior to leading CalRecycle, Rachel was Deputy Legislative Secretary to Governor Newsom for energy, environmental protection, natural resources, agricultural and communications legislation, advising and negotiating legislation on behalf of the Governor. She was designated by Governor Newsom as Senior Legislative Advisor on his Energy Team, helping California navigate the Pacific Gas and Electric bankruptcy and the impacts of the devastating 2019 wildfires.

Rachel spent more than 20 years working as a committee consultant to the California State Senate. Over 10 years as the Chief Consultant to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, Rachel oversaw the drafting, analysis, negotiation and hearing of thousands of pieces of legislation on air quality, water quality, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), hazardous waste and toxic materials, solid waste and recycling and climate change.