After splitting two decades between the Legislature and the executive branch working on  waste management and recycling issues, Caroll Mortensen was appointed director of CalRecyle by Governor Jerry Brown in October 2011. She was replaced by Scott Smithline in July 2015.

She earned her bachelor of science degree in environmental science from California State University, Sacramento in 1992 before spending 13 years at CalRecycle’s forerunner, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). She held a variety of positions there, including four years as legislative director.

She left the board in 2005 and for the rest of the decade was a senior environmental policy consultant to the Legislature. Mortensen was chief consultant for the State Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials for two years, working on issues related to hazardous waste, green chemistry, pesticides, brownfields and other related policy areas. Her boss was Northcoast Democratic Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, himself a founding board member of the CIWMB in 1990.

From 2007-2011, Mortensen served as consultant to the State Senate Committee on Environmental Quality where she analyzed legislation and provided policy guidance related to solid and hazardous waste, and air and water quality.

As CalRecycle director, Mortensen will direct implementation of AB 341, a bill authored by Chesbro and signed by Governor Brown in October 2011 that aims to create green jobs by expanding recycling to all multi-family dwellings and businesses. CalRecycle was also given a 2020 goal for getting the state to recycle 75% of its garbage. 

Meet the Executive Team (CalRecycle website)

CalRecycle Director Appointed (California Manufacturers & Technology Association)

Caroll Mortensen (LinkedIn)

Governor Brown Announces Appointments (Press release)