CONCORD, CA (Aug. 18, 2025) — I have watched my three Gen Z children grow up increasingly aware of the impacts of climate change, which drives their interest in sustainability and desire to push for improvements to our environment.

As the CEO at Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery (MDRR), my actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create new life for reclaimed materials, and keep more material out of landfills are inspired by this generation’s concern for the future and their environmental impacts. Plus, it just makes good business sense.

Every day, we prove that we can maximize recycling and diversion, make the cities we serve better, and improve the financial health of our company. Waste management is no longer about emptying garbage bins and carting waste to the landfill. If you want to be successful in today’s market, you must innovate in how to reduce waste to help our customers meet their individual and collective environmental quality goals.

Recycling and composting are important components of diversion, and we are committed to educating our customers on the proper and effective use of these curbside programs. Every year, MDRR collects and manages 160 million pounds of recyclable materials and 120 million pounds of organic waste.

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But At MDRR, we aren’t limiting ourselves to traditional material collection and processing. Our mission is to apply our capabilities in innovative ways to maximize the value of all discarded materials in our region. Ten years ago, we partnered with RecycleSmart (Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority) to collect and find good homes for re-usable cast-offs. We have a dedicated warehouse in Pittsburg where all curbside-collected reusable items from our customers are taken. From there, we partner with dozens of community organizations to distribute items to families in need. Over the years, this has included redistributing student desks to local schools and helping to furnish apartments for those previously unhoused or aging out of the foster care system. In total, we have collected and donated more than 22 million pounds of reusable items – items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. And we are just getting started.

To build on this success, we are expanding our local partnerships to increase our reach. We’ve partnered with The First Tee of Contra Costa’s Executive Director Brandon Garcelon and Play it Again Sports on a program where donated sporting goods produce a contribution to the First Tee’s youth development programs. And we are growing our local Back to School supplies donation project that will donate at least 500 fully stocked backpacks to local children in need. To learn more or to help, please visit mdrr.com/school-supply-giveaway-2025/

These programs focused on supporting our local youth are a fulfillment of the promise that I have made to our customers, our community, my teammates at MDRR, and to my own kids: that we will never stop working to make a real difference for generations to come. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and even more excited for the road ahead.

Kish Rajan is CEO of Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery and previously served as an aide to Gov. Jerry Brown and as a member of the Walnut Creek City Council.