After more than 30 years in the local solid waste industry, including nearly three years as the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (“IWMA”), Peter Cron has announced that he will retire in April of this year.

Under Mr. Cron’s leadership, the IWMA has increased public education and outreach efforts, implemented programs for the community to stay compliant with mandated state laws regarding resource management, and become a trusted partner for local governments and solid waste industry professionals. During this same period, the IWMA also reduced its solid waste management fee by nearly 50%. As Mr. Cron concludes his tenure, the IWMA board of directors is poised to make this fee reduction permanent for all ratepayers in the coming year while remaining fully compliant with the state’s wide-reaching solid waste mandates.

In 2023, the IWMA secured a $1.4 million local assistance grant from CalRecycle to support local businesses, residents, and local governments in implementing SB 1383. The IWMA also launched the Compost Rebate Program, which has successfully incentivized the procurement of over 23,500 tons of compost, supporting local agriculture and exceeding the state’s circular economy goals. Critically, after leaving in 2021, the County of San Luis Obispo rejoined as a participating agency of the IWMA in 2023.

“Peter has been a transformative leader for our organization. He has revitalized the agency and enhanced our commitment to effective waste management,” said Robert Robert, current IWMA President and Mayor Pro Tem of the Grover Beach City Council. “He rebuilt trust with member agencies across the county and put us back on a cost-effective path to compliance. We are grateful for his service and look forward to building on his successes.”

“Under Peter’s leadership, the IWMA has achieved the gold standard for running a public agency: stability, competence, and efficiency,” said Charles Bourbeau, Past President of the IWMA and Mayor of the City of Atascadero. “He led us through implementation of complex new waste management requirements imposed by the state, ultimately with a smaller staff and lower costs to ratepayers than originally anticipated. I cannot say enough to express my gratitude to Peter for his outstanding work.”

“The IWMA and indeed the whole of San Luis Obispo County is better because of Peter,” said Jan Marx, Immediate Past President of the IWMA and member of the San Luis Obispo City Council. “Peter’s in-depth experience and passion for waste management were always evident. His outstanding achievements will continue to keep the agency on solid footing far into the future.”

Mr. Cron came to the IWMA with more than 30 years of experience in the local solid waste industry. He is considered a subject matter expert on solid waste management and is a regular speaker at Cal Poly, Leadership South County, and community meetings throughout the county. He has also presented at statewide conferences of the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA). In 2000, he helped set up the first recycling facility in San Luis Obispo at the Cold Canyon Landfill. As a Staff Analyst for the IWMA from 2001 to 2012, Mr. Cron’s efforts were critical to securing over $5M in grant funding to increase beverage container recycling and getting San Luis Obispo County to the highest per capita glass recovery rate in the State of California. He has also worked for the City of San Luis Obispo, the San Luis Hauling Division of Waste Connections, and San Luis Obispo County.

“It has been an honor to serve the IWMA and the people of San Luis Obispo County. This little-known agency which is responsible for something we don’t always think about – how we manage our solid waste. But the work that our small team does, in partnership with our public and private partners, is critical to maintaining the economic, social, and environmental quality of life for generations to come in San Luis Obispo County.”

Mr. Cron continued, “At some point you have to let go of what you thought should happen and live in what is happening. While I love the work I do, other callings, including my own health, are taking a priority now.”

In the coming weeks, the IWMA board of directors will begin the process of recruiting for Peter’s replacement as Executive Director.