Q. What drew you to your role in Environmental Solutions and what projects are you most proud of?
I’ve always been motivated by doing hard things that matter, and Environmental Solutions embodies that completely. I’m most proud of how our team has grown—through key acquisitions in both the U.S. and Canada, through the development of strong leaders who continue to advance their careers, and through the impressive expertise of our front-line teams who tackle complex customer challenges every day. Most importantly, I’m proud of how our collective mindset has evolved. We’ve embraced the idea that we either win or we learn, which has been essential in navigating a rapidly changing landscape. Bringing together more than a dozen legacy companies under the Republic culture and watching them begin to operate as one team has been incredibly rewarding.
Q. What are you excited about implementing this year?
We’re bringing several new capabilities online this year that will give customers more environmentally responsible and cost‑effective options for their most complex waste streams. These include expanded wastewater treatment and solidification, deep-well injection, hazardous thermal desorption, streamlined containerized waste solutions, and enhanced emergency response services. Each of these investments strengthens our ability to solve challenges that few others can.
Q. What’s one environmental misconception you frequently encounter that you’d like to correct?
A common misconception is that “environmental solutions” is a single, uniform service. In reality, it’s an intricate mosaic of specialized capabilities, each requiring different technologies, expertise, and business approaches. The real value comes from integrating these pieces into a cohesive offering—while still preserving the unique effectiveness of each individual solution.
Q. If you could share just one Earth Day tip that would make the biggest impact if everyone adopted it, what would it be?
Adopt an attitude of stewardship. When people see themselves as responsible for the world around them, it changes how they act. That mindset shift—more than any single habit—creates the foundation for working together to develop solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Q. If you could have any “sustainable superpower,” what would it be and how would you use it?
I’d choose the ability to cut through hype and misinformation so people can see the true facts. With clearer understanding, we could make better plans, take more meaningful action, and focus on solutions that create lasting impact.
Thank you, Gretchen. Happy Earth Day!
