PZW Specialist Spotlight - Ciara Aw

Ciara Aw knows composting from every angle. Based in California, Ciara is uniquely equipped to be a Product & Zero Waste Specialist (PZW), a role that perfectly blends her academic background, hands-on experience, and deep commitment to sustainability.

“I wanted to work with people who are as passionate about this work as I am,” she says. “From leadership on down, Eco-Products supports what we do. That kind of encouragement makes you want to work harder, not just for yourself but for your team.”

Ciara describes her job as “bridging the gaps in the value chain.” She works with foodservice operators, composters, local governments, and others to find solutions to any problem. That means understanding the challenges composters face, staying on top of legislation in California, and helping end users choose products that both meet their needs and can be successfully processed.

Her work is as much about education as logistics. “A lot of people don’t realize how much complexity is behind something as simple as a takeout container,” she says. “Being able to answer questions, dispel myths, or share solutions that someone hasn’t considered before is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”

Ciara’s journey to Eco-Products started in an unlikely place: behind the counter at Chipotle. While rolling burritos as a crew member, she applied for a sustainability internship at the company’s headquarters in Newport Beach, Calif.

The internship turned out to be transformative. Ciara supported waste audits, dug into packaging certifications, and evaluated recycling and composting systems. She quickly saw how disconnected different players in the system were and how hard it was for restaurants to stay in compliance when suppliers weren’t aware of compostability standards.

That experience inspired her master’s thesis on food waste and the disconnect between legislation and responsibility in California. “When I saw the Eco-Products’ role, I thought, this is exactly what I’ve been preparing for. Before, I was looking at these issues on a micro scale. Now my whole job is working to improve the infrastructure and advance compostable packaging in my region.”

Ciara has many success stories she’s proud of. She worked with Hardcore Compost, a small operation in Santa Cruz that collects food scraps by bicycle. When an outdoor science school wanted to compost its Eco-Products items, Ciara connected the two. She also helped Hardcore secure a shredder to handle compostable packaging.

“It was such a good fit,” she says. “The school teaches kids about the environment, and now they may soon have their compostables picked up by bike. It shows what’s possible when you connect the right partners.”

One of the biggest misconceptions she encounters is the belief that compostables don’t work or that they harm compost. “That’s just not true,” she says. In fact, compostable packaging can help balance the chemistry of compost piles, especially when food waste is abundant but yard waste is scarce. She points out that certified compostables provide real value for both processors and end users.

Ciara also wants foodservice operators to know that proper waste sorting can reduce fees and headaches. “If everything that touches food is compostable, it makes sorting easier for staff and customers. Contamination raises costs for everyone, so having a consistent set of compostable products really helps.”

Ciara is optimistic about the future of composting. She compares today’s landscape to recycling in its early years: sometimes confusing but steadily gaining traction. “As more people understand the benefits, composting will feel normal,” she says. “It’s already second nature in places like Seattle, where I grew up. I believe it can become that way everywhere.”

For Ciara, the work is about more than waste diversion.

“It’s not just about managing waste,” she says. “It’s about giving back to the soil and supporting nature’s cycle. That’s what keeps me inspired.”