The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, at its Tuesday, March 10 meeting, unanimously concurred with the County Executive’s appointment of Jennifer Claiborne as the County’s new Director of Waste Management and Recycling, effective March 23, 2026.
"Jennifer's appointment reflects exactly the kind of experienced, values-driven leadership our Department of Waste Management and Recycling needs,” said Dave Defanti, Deputy County Executive of Community Services. “Her deep knowledge of operations, her commitment to building strong teams, and her dedication to Sacramento County's organizational culture make her exceptionally well-suited for this role. We are confident she will continue to ensure our customers are well served and that our services are delivered with efficiency and reliability."
Claiborne has more than 15 years of experience working in the waste management field, with eight of those years being with Sacramento County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling. She currently serves as the Chief, Division of Solid Waste Management and has been in this position for one year and eight months. In this role, Claiborne has directed countywide waste collection and transfer operations; established division policies, safety standards and performance metrics; overseen budgets, capital projects and vendor contracts; and has expanded recycling, organics diversion and resource recovery programs in alignment with state mandates and County goals.
Prior to her current position, Claiborne was a Waste Management Superintendent over collections for one year and seven months, a Waste Management Program Manager overseeing Commercial Solid Waste for more than three years, and a Solid Waste Planner II for nearly two years with the County’s Department of Waste Management and Recycling. Before that, Claiborne held the role of Office and Project Manager for one year and six months with Peabody Civil Engineering. She was with CleanWorld for more than five years, where she held the role of Project Manager.
Some of Claiborne’s notable work includes developing strong leaders, improving communication, and advancing the County’s organizational culture initiative within the Department of Waste Management and Recycling.
In addition to her professional experience, Jennifer has a Master’s Degree in Urban Land Development and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from California State University, Sacramento.