The Recycling Partnership is delighted to welcome Kate Davenport to the team as their Chief Policy Officer. With a wealth of practical, hands-on experience and a passion for environmental sustainability, Kate is driving impactful change in recycling policy, advancing a more circular economy. Before joining the team, Kate co-led Eureka Recycling, a Minnesota based nonprofit recycler and zero-waste advocacy organization. Her extensive background in environmental sustainability includes roles at EcoVentures International, Envirelation (one of the first commercial compost collectors in the US) and contributions to UN Environmental Program negotiations on sustainability and climate issues at SustainUS (a youth advocacy organization).
Kate’s primary responsibilities involve leading efforts to adopt Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other enabling policies at the state and national level while ensuring effective policy implementation includes environmental justice, expanded access, education practices, and impactful value chain advancements. “The past few years have brought significant change to recycling and the overall circular economy with the passage of critically important public policy. Today, we are at an inflection point where we can create a new paradigm for circularity, continue the momentum we all contribute to, and build common ground across sectors and stakeholders to accelerate our impact. I could not be more excited to join the talented, innovative, and passionate individuals at The Recycling Partnership and continue the impactful policy work this organization has been doing for the past decade,” said Kate Davenport
Kate’s passion for recycling stems from the crucial role recycling plays in building a more sustainable future. She believes recycling is an important action individuals take daily – or want to be able to take – to contribute to a regenerative economy, supporting healthy communities and preserving natural resources. When she’s not busy advocating for a circular economy, you can find Kate biking, skiing, or building Legos with her two kids and wife in Minneapolis.
Kate holds a B.A. from Tufts University and has been recognized as a fellow of the ASPEN Civil Society Fellowship, the Rockwood Leadership Fellowship, and a Bush Foundation Fellowship. She serves on various boards and committees, including the Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and Two Bettys Green Cleaning. Join The Recycling Partnership in welcoming Kate as we embark on this exciting journey toward greener, more sustainable public policy.