Jennifer West joined StopWaste as a board member in 2009 after she was elected to the Emeryville City Council. In 2017, she rejoined StopWaste as a program manager on the Energy Team. She received her undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Wesleyan University with a concentration in Japanese, and a master's degree from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. 

What do you do at StopWaste? 

I work on a number of disparate things. When I was hired, my main focus was on energy efficiency and decarbonization in buildings, primarily supporting BayREN, our regional energy network. I led an effort to design a heat pump water heater incentive program for contractors, which I’m still involved in. I also support our member agency sustainability staff around the work of the Energy Council through our Technical Advisory Group. 

I also work on landscape efficiency and sustainability projects, supporting our member agencies with implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO). More recently, I've been supporting jurisdictions to comply with the enormous compost and mulch procurement requirements under SB 1383 – an effort to reduce methane emissions statewide. I support our efforts and relationships in Sacramento and at the California Public Utilities Commission, staying informed on issues that are priorities for the agency – from recycling and waste to extended producer responsibility and electrification.  

You have a unique perspective, having served on StopWaste’s board and as an elected official yourself. You have even been a teacher. In what ways have these experiences influenced your outlook? 

All of my prior experiences help me to see the value of relationships, good facilitation, and engaging conversations.  No matter how well you do technical or specialized work, if you can’t reach out and collaborate with other people and tell your story, it’s not as meaningful or impactful. Having learned about StopWaste from the board’s point of view initially was fascinating and helped me to appreciate the agency from both the outside and the inside, and particularly the role we can play in Alameda County and beyond. I’ve always been impressed with StopWaste’s work and feel personally aligned with what is happening at the agency. It is government doing what it should be doing, both in terms of reducing environmental impacts for the greater good, and even more  working to address the negative impacts of years of inequitable policies. 

What is your favorite thing about working here? 

I like the non-hierarchical structure and the ability to change and shift what you’re working on so that you can grow within the agency. I really appreciate the passion of my co-workers; we're all doing the best we can, and that drive and interest is really apparent at StopWaste. 

Do you have a life motto that you live by?  

My grandparents said to me, “it’s not what we say, it’s what we do.” This is hard because we like to say the right things, and while that can be important, the measure of your character is really in your actions. I think about that a lot even if I’m not sure I am always living up to my own ideals.   

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?  

I garden with my mom who is an excellent gardener, and I have a lot to learn still – I'm putting in a rain barrel and try to get that compost delivery at least once per year. I love to hike – I'm a new dog owner as of about 2 years ago. I love reading books, right now I’m reading a book that is a selection of my grandfather’s writings, as he founded Heifer International. I enjoy cooking and I love spending time with my family and friends, so the pandemic has been a real drag – or a chance to get in touch with my introverted side. I enjoy meeting strangers on the bus or on BART, or at the grocery store, which has also been harder with the pandemic.  

What about you might surprise us?  

It would probably be surprising to hear that I sang in a bluegrass band in Japan where I lived for two years.