Jared Blumenfeld

Jared Blumenfeld is a leader in the global zero waste movement with 20+ years of environmental advocacy. Trained as an environmental lawyer at UC Berkeley, he began at NRDC tracking promises from the Rio Earth Summit. He led a five-year coalition victory to protect gray whale birthing grounds in Baja. Appointed by SF Mayor Willie Brown in 2001, Jared helped make SF the “greenest city” in America by launching the first curbside compost program, banning plastic bags and Styrofoam, and increasing recycling from 46% to 78%. He later served as EPA Region 9 Administrator under Obama, focusing on climate, EJ, and drinking water across 50 million people and 148 tribal nations. Jared helped fund $3B in grants and fought major pollution cases. He co-founded Green Cities California and is a trusted voice in national media. He lives in SF with his wife Alex Nichols, their two kids, and recently hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.