Professional Overview
Casey Fritz, MSc, is a Senior Planner specializing in Waste Management currently employed by the County of Marin in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of San Francisco (2021–2023) and a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science with a concentration in Earth and Planetary Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2013–2017). Fluent in English with limited working proficiency in Spanish, Casey has over seven years of progressive experience in zero waste program design, implementation, and community engagement across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Current Role and Responsibilities
Since November 2022, Casey has served as a Senior Planner for the Zero Waste Marin Joint Powers Authority (JPA), a collaboration of Marin County’s 11 cities and towns. Her role encompasses multifaceted leadership and program management duties, with an emphasis on waste reduction, regulatory compliance, and community outreach. Key responsibilities include:
- Leadership and management of the Zero Waste Marin Schools Program, which supports over 40 schools in Marin County to enhance recycling and composting efforts, achieve compliance with California state waste laws (AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383), and reduce landfill waste.
- Development, supervision, and management of community outreach materials, including digital media (social media platforms, newsletters, website content) and physical outreach tools (flyers, letters).
- Budget oversight and contract management, supervising partnerships with nonprofit organizations to deliver educational programming.
- Implementation and management of SB 1383 requirements, focusing on reducing methane emissions through organics diversion and edible food recovery programs aimed at feeding food-insecure populations.
- Coordination and management of innovative community pilot programs designed to reduce waste including:
- Free Repair Fairs to promote product longevity and reduce disposal.
- Campaigns to replace single-use foodware with reusable alternatives.
- Initiatives testing food dehydrators to increase compost program participation.
- Presentation and reporting of program impacts in official forums, including the compilation and communication of Zero Waste Marin’s annual program accomplishments and regulatory compliance status.
Previous Experience
Casey’s professional trajectory reflects a consistent focus on zero waste and sustainability initiatives:
- Recology (Jan 2021 – Nov 2022), Recycling Programs Specialist:
Managed zero waste contracts for the San Francisco Unified School District, tracking diversion goals and compliance with the City's Mandatory Sorting Ordinance. Supported volunteer engagement through the Zero Waste Champion program and orchestrated community event logistics for large public events. Engaged in social media content strategy and regulatory tracking related to SB 1383.
- Marin Sanitary Service (Jun 2019 – Dec 2020), Schools & Community Recycling Coordinator:
Monitored school and community compliance with California waste laws, prepared for SB 1383, conducted trainings, waste audits, and service assessments. Coordinated with the broader Zero Waste Marin Schools Program to advance waste diversion in schools countywide. Managed public engagement events and social media communications for MSS.
- Strategic Energy Innovations (Jul 2017 – Mar 2019), Associate Project Coordinator & Nonprofit Leadership Fellow:
Led the Zero Waste Marin Schools Program serving 18 schools and a similar initiative in San Pablo, CA, focused on green teams and infrastructure improvement. Responsibilities included grant writing and management, curriculum development in sustainability education, and campaign planning such as Earth Day contests for K-12 students.
- Berkeley Lab (Oct 2016 – May 2017), Research Assistant:
Supported marine science research with a focus on ocean trace metal geochemistry, handling sample processing and analytical tasks.
Education and Professional Development
- Master of Science, Environmental Management
University of San Francisco (2021–2023)
Master’s Project: Focus on embedded emissions in food systems and food waste mitigation strategies.
- Bachelor of Arts, Marine Science (Earth and Planetary Science focus)
University of California, Berkeley (2013–2017)
- Additional leadership and communication skill development through active roles in:
- Gamma Phi Beta Sorority – Membership Vice President (2015), organizing large recruitment and leadership training events.
- Toastmasters International – Vice President of Membership (2021-2022), focusing on public speaking and member engagement.
Volunteer and Board Memberships
- Board Member, Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) since 2019, participating actively on committees addressing Zero Food Waste and Zero Waste Schools.
- Volunteer Grant Writer, Bloom Marin (Dec 2019 – Jun 2021), supporting social services funding efforts.
- Ocean Policy Associate and Team Lead, Earth Law Center (Jul 2017 – May 2019), contributed research on Rights of Nature laws used in marine conservation legal frameworks.
- Mentor in science education for elementary students via the Sage Mentorship Project (2014–2017).
Key Achievements and Contributions
- Lead figure in managing and expanding the Zero Waste Marin Schools Program, which supports over 40 educational institutions in meeting state waste diversion standards.
- Supervisor of grant-funded community outreach and education projects advancing Marin County’s zero waste and methane reduction goals under SB 1383.
- Contributor to pilot programs fostering sustainable community behaviors such as repair and reuse initiatives, which align with county sustainability agendas and respond to evolving regulatory landscapes.
- Recognized by colleagues for exceptional grant writing, program management, and zero waste expertise, serving as a key resource on waste-related questions across multiple organizations.
- Presenter and author of measurable program impact reports for fiscal years including FY2022-23 and FY2024-25 to Marin County’s Zero Waste Marin Board and related stakeholders.
Professional Network and Influence
- Maintains over 639 LinkedIn followers and extensive connections within zero waste, environmental management, and sustainability sectors.
- Collaborates with governmental bodies, private waste haulers, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions across the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Engaged in continuous community outreach efforts facilitating behavior change toward sustainable waste practices.
This profile identifies Casey Fritz as a highly specialized Senior Planner with deep operational knowledge of zero waste policy implementation, community education, and program leadership in the public sector. Her expertise in regulatory compliance (notably SB 1383), stakeholder engagement, and innovative waste reduction pilot projects positions her as a critical influencer in Marin County’s sustainability initiatives.
