Editor – Page 6 – Northern California Recycling Association

Jack Johnson, 2025-2026

Jack Johnson, Waste Management Supervisor, City of San Mateo (Term: 2025-2026)

I am the Waste Management Supervisor for the City of San Mateo. My former roles include Senior Sustainability Specialist with the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability and Public Education and Outreach Coordinator for Aspen/Pitkin County, Colorado.

I have worked on developing beneficial reuse of greywater on a landfill site, a hydroelectric dam, an innovative e-waste recycling program employing the developmentally disabled, and a large rural mass transit system. I worked to create Colorado’s largest rural compost collection system–SCRAPS—a public/private partnership involving the municipally owned compost facility, private haulers, and both residential and commercial customers.

My main interest is in reducing contamination in the organics stream and in the successful implementation of SB1383 statewide. I am a founding member of NCRA’s Zero Food Waste Committee.

For me, collaboration is key. Climate change doesn’t respect geo-political boundaries so if we are going to make progress on our climate goals, we need to work together across those boundaries. I will pursue regional answers and be a strong advocate for zero waste and push for strong, innovative solutions in our region and the state.

Naama Brenner-Abramovitch, 2026-2027

For nine years, Naama has been an impassioned Recycling Specialist at Napa Recycling & Waste Services, where she has honed her expertise engaging with various stakeholders. She also volunteers with Feeding It Forward, a local food recovery organization. Naama has been active in Napa Climate NOW!’s Waste Reduction Committee which has been working passing the Reusable Foodware and Waste Reduction Ordinance in Napa County and other municipalities in that area. This is her third year as a NCRA board member.

Her experience spans working with Napa public and private schools, collaborating with businesses, and conducting widespread public outreach initiatives. Naama’s enthusiasm for her work and dedication to her community are evident in her love for conversing about waste management, as she eagerly educates others on waste reduction best practices and the importance of sorting resources into the correct bins. She has lived in Napa for twelve years with her husband and two children.

Xinci Tan, 2026-2027

Xinci is excited to join the NCRA board and hopes to continue pushing the organization to be more equitable, inclusive, and accessible as it continues to advance progressive waste reduction policy for the state and country. Xinci leads the countywide implementation of state law Short-lived Climate Pollutants (SB 1383) in Sonoma County, is involved in the County’s efforts to permit and site a new composting facility, and manages several grants related to carbon sequestration, among other responsibilities.

She moved to California for her current role in 2018. Before joining the compost industry, she earned a BS in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Minnesota. Her senior research project involved studying the mating behaviors of crickets. She spent a few years working for the USDA studying how environmental variability could affect plant absorption of nitrogen and compared techniques to limit fertilizer runoff. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, tennis, hiking, cooking and reading.

Bailey Hall, 2026-2027

Bailey Hall is an Environmental Programs Specialist/Zero Waste Coordinator in the Environmental Services Department for the City of Sunnyvale. She represents the Solid Waste and Recycling Division as their outreach and communications lead, and engages the Sunnyvale community through public speaking, social media, events, and Youtube videos. She loves debunking recycling myths and teaching others about Zero Waste living, and discusses both in a regular column called “Talkin’ Trash” in the city-wide newsletter.

Prior to this role, Bailey was Program Director for Climate Corps AmeriCorps, a fellowship program that helps young professionals kickstart their career in the environmental field. Over the course of three years, she mentored 84 Fellows. Bailey also has past experience leading outdoor science field trips, educating community members on energy efficiency, and environmental communication in a corporate setting. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies with a Politics minor. Bailey looks forward to a long career ahead in the waste-reduction and recycling realm.

Devin Jackson, 2026-2027

I am an Environmental Sustainability Coordinator and recipient of the 2021 CCC Leadership in Sustainability Award. I am a Recycle SMART Green Educator and contributed to earning a 2018 Bronze California Green Ribbon School Award. I am also a certified Climate Change Educator with National Geographic Explorers, a NASA GLOBE Educator, and a NOAA Ocean Guardian Educator.

Environmental stewardship is central to both my professional work and daily life. As a certified naturalist and citizen scientist, I focus on environmental literacy, water and energy conservation, resource management, and Zero Waste practices aligned with the UN Climate Principles.

I am an active member of the Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) Board of Directors, have been the Co-Vice President for 1 year and am the sole classroom teacher on the board. The Chair of the NCRA California Zero Waste Schools Committee, I also participate in the CRRA K–12 Technical Council, and contribute to the Contra Costa Sustainability Commission.