Tom Egleston promoted to manager of Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Tom Egleston has been promoted to manager of Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling. 

With more than 13 years’ experience in the materials management field, Egleston has spent the last decade in various roles with Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling. He has managed education and outreach programs, provided regulatory support, monitored contract and franchise compliance, developed emergency management plans, and provided technical assistance on sustainability and waste reduction to businesses. 

Egleston has a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon.  

“Tom stood out as the top candidate for this position based on his professional background, industry expertise, and his commitment to advancing racial equity for our community as well as our staff,” said Mjere Simantel, assistant director for Washington County Health and Human Services. “His leadership style focuses on building positive relationships with local and regional community partners, which is crucial to developing and delivering equitable programs.”

Egleston replaces Theresa Koppang, who served as the program manager for 14 years. He had been serving as interim manager since December 2019.

“Our region’s garbage and recycling system is evolving to better serve the needs of our community, with a particular focus on those who have been historically left out,” remarked Egleston. “It is critical that we modernize our systems and take a more holistic and inclusive approach to responsibly manage the materials we use every day.”

Solid Waste & Recycling, a division of Washington County Department of Health and Human Services, helps community members, property managers and businesses sustainably manage materials to prevent waste, recycle, and dispose of garbage properly. The division regulates how garbage and recycling is collected, transported, stored and disposed. Code enforcement officers respond to complaints of potential nuisance, noise, and garbage and recycling service issues in unincorporated Washington County. For more information, call 503-846-3605, email [email protected] or visit www.WashingtonCountyRecycles.com.  

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