Meet the Board Leadership

Mark E. Leary, Executive Director

Mark E. Leary has served as the Executive Director of the California Integrated Waste Management Board since September 2001. He has over 25 years experience in environmental protection within both public and private sectors.

Prior to accepting the position of Executive Director, Mr. Leary served as deputy director of the Board's Special Waste Division. In this capacity, Mr. Leary was responsible for all programmatic efforts related to waste tires, used oil, and household hazardous waste. This included permitting, enforcement, market development, and hazard mitigation of waste tires and used oil facilities.

Mr. Leary also held the position of branch chief of the Board's Office of Local Assistance. In this position, he was responsible for directing the Board’s efforts to measure the compliance of over 500 local jurisdictions as outlined in the Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB 939).

With over 20 years with the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), Mr. Leary has also held positions with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). While at DTSC (1982–1994), Mr. Leary was a branch chief, managing more than 50 scientists, engineers, and geologists engaged in various aspects of environmental regulatory work including the cleanup and management of high priority Superfund sites.

In addition to his many years of public service, Mr. Leary worked in the private sector for Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) as Area Director of Governmental Affairs from 1994 to 1999. In this role, he directed BFI’s participation in all legislative, regulatory, and political activities, and worked on policies ranging from energy deregulation, medical waste regulations, environmental justice, and municipal solid waste flow-control. His territory included ten western states and the western Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

Mr. Leary received a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1980 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Bradley University, Illinois in 1978.