Karen Kayfetz is Branch Chief of CalRecycle’s Product Stewardship Branch, where she leads statewide efforts to reduce waste and hold producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products and packaging. Her team focuses on policies and regulatory tools that shift economic incentives to support source reduction and build a circular economy. With nearly 20 years of experience in environmental policy, science, and public sector management, Karen has shaped initiatives spanning plastic pollution, environmental protection and restoration, and collaborative governance. She brings broad expertise in extended producer responsibility and is known for translating complex policy goals into practical, forward-looking solutions for California’s evolving environmental challenges.
