GreenWaste appoints CEO

GreenWaste, a San Jose, California-based full-service resource recovery and recycling company, has announced Clete Elms as the company’s new CEO.

Elms joined GreenWaste in 2024 as chief operating officer (COO) and has been serving as interim CEO since March 2025. In both roles, GreenWaste says Elms has driven key initiatives focused on revenue growth, operating profitability, safety and sustainability.

After 18 years of service, previous CEO Tracy Adams stepped down from his role earlier this year and will now serve as a member of GreenWaste’s board of directors. During his tenure at GreenWaste, the company says Adams strengthened GreenWaste’s commitment to recycling in Northern California and led the stewardship of the business throughout the 2021 transition to the Macquarie portfolio.

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“Clete has led the GreenWaste team to achieve success across multiple business functions, including increasing revenue, improving efficiencies and prioritizing internal culture and workforce engagement,” says Manish Anandpara, GreenWaste board member and senior vice president at Macquarie Asset Management. “He has continuously demonstrated commitment to GreenWaste employees and customers and is closely aligned with the company’s sustainability mission. On behalf of the board, I would also thank Tracy for his unwavering commitment and service to GreenWaste for more than 18 years.”

“From investments in cutting-edge technology to world-class resource recovery operations, GreenWaste has been a leader in the waste industry for 40 years,” Elms says. “I am honored to formally step into this role and work with GreenWaste’s outstanding team and partners to deliver excellence to our customers. We will continue to invest in our people, optimize our assets and pioneer new sustainable waste management solutions.”

Prior to joining GreenWaste, Elms served as CEO of Australia-based Wastech Engineering and as head of infrastructure at Cleanaway Waste Management, bringing more than two decades of executive leadership experience in the waste and recycling industry to the role.