A Climate Change with Matt Matern Climate Podcast

Nick Lapis is Director of Advocacy at Californians Against Waste (CAW), where he has led policy and advocacy efforts since 2007. Over the course of his career, he has helped shape groundbreaking legislation that has positioned California as a global leader in waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable resource management.

Through coalition-building and strategic advocacy, Nick has played a key role in advancing policies to reduce plastic pollution, combat climate change, recover organic waste, and strengthen markets for recyclable materials. In addition to leading CAW’s advocacy team, he contributes to policy development and research and represents the organization on numerous boards, commissions, task forces, and coalitions.

Nick earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and Management from the University of California, Davis, with minors in Political Science and Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. Prior to joining CAW, he worked on habitat restoration, youth leadership development, clean air advocacy, and public lands conservation. His contributions have been recognized with the California Resource Recovery Association’s Rick Best Environmental Advocacy Award and the Waste360 40 Under 40 Award.