Erica Parker, Policy Associate (she/her)

Erica specializes in organics recycling, food waste reduction, landfill management, and climate policy and regulatory affairs at Californians Against Waste.

Erica had a less conventional start to her role as a Policy Associate at CAW. Her journey into environmental advocacy began with a strong foundation in STEM. Before joining the CAW team, she worked as an environmental chemist and later as a quality assurance specialist—experience that sparked her passion for environmental stewardship and inspired her to effect change through policy.

She has a tabby cat named Marilyn and a variety of hobbies—slacklining, reading sci-fi, baking vegan treats, café hopping, and people-watching, to name a few.

Erica earned an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management with a specialization in Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture from UC Davis, and a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics from CSU Sacramento.

Fun fact: Erica is the Saltine Challenge Champion of the office.

Send Erica an E-mail!