Keefe Harrison, CEO
(she/her/hers)Keefe Harrison is a founder and the CEO of The Recycling Partnership, a mission-driven NGO committed to protecting the planet by fixing recycling and activating a circular economy in the U.S.
An international speaker, media pundit, and environmental author, Keefe is a 25-year veteran of the space, fiercely committed to her organization’s mission of delivering lasting change. Under her leadership since 2014, The Partnership has grown from an idea to a national movement that’s leveraging more than $170 million of investment, partnering with more than 3,000 U.S. communities, and delivering more than 1 billion new pounds of recyclables… and they’re just getting started. Before recycling, Keefe worked on a logging crew in North Carolina, researched sea turtles in Costa Rica, and studied reindeer husbandry in Finland.
Why I Care About Recycling and a Circular Economy
“Growing up in a family of environmentalists, I have long believed in the importance of protecting biodiversity by conserving natural resources. I am committed to advancing meaningful, measurable change, and I am proud to be part of this team of passionate experts. Together, we’re making a difference.”
Personal Passions and Interests
Keefe enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, and spending time outdoors with her family. She lives in Provincetown, Massachusetts with her husband and children, rescue dogs, and a few feisty backyard hens.
Recent Publications and Events
- Authorship: The Recycling Partnership’s 2023 “State of Recycling: Present and Future of Residential Recycling in the U.S.“
- Authorship: We’ll All Breathe Easier if Business Shares Recycling Costs with Taxpayers, MarketWatch; November 2023
- Speaker: “Galvanizing Global Action on Plastic Pollution,” U.S. Department of State; May 2023.
- Keynote Speaker, World Wildlife Fund’s Plastic Policy Summit; March 2023.
- Roundtable Facilitator: UNEP INC-1 Multi-Stakeholder Forum, “Circularity in Practice;” November 2022.
- Speaker: United Nations Stockholm +50 Leadership Dialogue 2, “Achieving a Sustainable and Inclusive Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic;” June 2022.
- Honoree: GreenBiz Badass Women Shaping Climate Action; March 2022.
- Speaker: US House of Representatives Research and Technology Subcommittee hearing; “Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Research: Moving from Staggering Statistics to Sustainable Systems;” June 2021.
- Judge: Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Global Prosperity with MIT, Global Maker Challenge Pitch Event; June 2020.
- Speaker: TEDx; “The Voice We Need for the Environment” November
- Cover Story & Photo: Chronicle of Philanthropy; September 2018.
- Authorship: The Recycling Partnership’s 2021 Paying It Forward Report: How Investment in Recycling will Pay Dividends, 2020 State of Curbside Report, 2019 Bridge to Circularity Report.
- Blog and Video: Living our Core Values
Contact
Want to interview Keefe for your publication or invite her to speak at your event? Contact Keefe’s assistant Mary Suozzi at msuozzi@recyclingpartnership.org