The Circular Matters Team
Circular Matters, LLC works to support sustainable materials management and the circular economy. The principals of Circular Matters each has over 25 years of experience, including extensive experience in recycling policy, recycling market development, and extended producer responsibility. Our associates are experienced, trusted partners with whom we have developed strong working relationships. They bring skills and expertise to our projects on an as-needed basis, enabling us to serve our clients effectively and efficiently.
Having worked for a broad array of public and private sector clients, we understand the diverse issues and perspectives that exist in the industry, and can effectively address the interests and concerns of all interest holders.
Tim Buwalda
Tim Buwalda, a principal with Circular Matters, has 35 years of comprehensive recycling and solid waste management consulting experience. Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering, with additional specialization in plastics. Tim has expertise in advising his clients on governmental recycling policies, laws, and regulations, including extended producer responsibilty policies. He also focuses on improving the recyclability and recycling of clients’ products and packaging, working for consumer packaged goods companies and trade associations.
Susan Bush
Susan Bush, a principal with Circular Matters, has over 25 years of consulting experience in sustainable materials management, including analyzing and optimizing recycling programs, and advising clients on recycling policies including extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Susan has worked for an array of public and private sector clients, and has helped industry organizations expand recycling access, develop tool kits to boost recycling, and develop policy position statements. She has also worked to help a variety of clients understand how EPR for packaging may impact them, and to strategize for success in the EPR environment. Susan earned a B.S. in Economics from Wake Forest University and an M.S. in Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island.
Ed Boisson
Ed Boisson has over 35 years of experience focused on recycling market development, working with government, private and non-profit clients in several U.S. states. He has led numerous recycling market, infrastructure and policy studies and has administered a variety of state market development programs and initiatives. In the early 1990s Ed managed the Policy Office and Recycling Loan Program for the California Integrated Waste Management Board (now CalRecycle) and in the late 1990s he was Executive Director of the Northeast Recycling Council for four years. His academic background includes a B.A. degree in Physics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.S. degree in Environmental Systems from Humboldt State University. He currently lives with his wife Karen in his hometown of San Rafael, California.
Betsy Dorn
Betsy Dorn has over 35 years of professional experience managing, designing, and implementing recycling and solid waste management projects. For 30 years, Betsy has been a consultant assisting public and private sector clients develop plans, evaluate policies and operations, and launch new programs, including a variety of recycling market development projects. In recent years, Betsy’s work has focused on the end-of-life management of packaging materials and packaging policy analysis. Prior to becoming a consultant, Betsy managed Mecklenburg County (Charlotte), N.C.’s Recycling Division for 6 years. Betsy has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Public Health degree in Environmental Sciences and Engineering.
Isabelle Faucher
Isabelle Faucher has 20 years of direct experience in product stewardship on both the policy analysis and operational levels. Based in Canada, Isabelle has a wide breath of international experience. She has worked in Latin America in the areas of waste policy and inclusive recycling through the AVINA Foundation and the Regional Initiative for Inclusive Recycling (IRR), among others. She serves as a managing director of a packaging association in Canada. She is fluent in French and Spanish, in addition to English. Isabelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies, with a focus on Environmental Science and her Master’s degree, a Collaborative Program in Environmental Studies, from the University of Toronto.