The City of Asheville is pleased to announce that Jes Foster has been named Solid Waste Manager.
Foster will oversee the City’s Sanitation Division, which has 34 employees. The Sanitation Division is responsible for collecting approximately 22,400 tons of refuse and 8,700 tons of recyclables annually from roughly 30,000 collection points.
Foster has worked in the waste management and sustainability field for 22 years.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Duke University and is currently pursuing a master of science in Sustainability Studies at the Lenoir-Rhyne University Center for Graduate Studies in Asheville.
Foster began her career in waste management as a freshman at Duke University, where she combined her academic pursuits in environmental policy with work on university’s recycling team, collecting and processing recyclables and educating the community about waste reduction. She served as the Community Education Coordinator for Duke Recycles for one year before moving to Asheville to work at Warren Wilson College.
In the past 18 years at Warren Wilson College, Foster built a nationally recognized and award-winning waste reduction program noted for its composting program and commitment to Zero Waste. In her work at Warren Wilson, she served as the environmental compliance leader, sustainability operations coordinator, and most recently, as the Senior Supervisor for Facility Operations.
“I’m so happy to welcome Jes to our team,” said Asheville Public Works Director Greg Shuler. “Her commitment to sustainability, customer service and her fellow employees are inspiring.”
Foster starts her job with the City of Asheville on Aug. 31.