Erica is the Environmental Services Manager for the Village of Oak Park, where she manages residential garbage, recycling, and compost programs, and coordinates forward-thinking projects and policies related to solid waste. Her previous roles at the Village include Farmers’ Market Manager and Sustainability Fellow. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from UNCW and a master’s degree in Environmental Planning and Policy from UIC. Erica began working in the solid waste sector as an intern at a small recycling company in 2009 and continued to manage waste diversion and cleanup programs at music festivals and other large outdoor events for 11 years. Highly driven and solution-oriented by nature, Erica has strong passions for community engagement, environmental stewardship, urban agriculture, and geology. Her favorite hobbies include reading, traveling, and beach combing, and she hopes to learn something new every day.