Arielle Bernard

Arielle Bernard first discovered a passion for waste management during classes she took while earning her degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

“Did I think that would turn into a career? Truthfully, no,” Bernard says. “I really thought I was just taking classes and ended up really enjoying it.”

Her first job in the industry was working as a public sector representative for Houston-based WM, where she helped manage municipal contracts. In 2024 Bernard started a new role as strategic manager for organics at Envita Solutions, an Indianapolis-based waste management company that works with manufacturers and industrial companies. There, she works with food waste recycling facilities throughout the country to manage food waste streams ranging from packaged products to raw and bulk ingredients.

“It’s always fun trying to figure out what the challenge is, where to take it and who can manage it appropriately,” Bernard says.

In the following interview with Waste Today, Bernard discusses the challenges she sees in the industry and her work building a supplier network for Envita.

"Working with municipalities and getting involved in different neighborhood solid waste organizations is a great way to see who the key players are in your city.”

Waste Today (WT): What do you see as some of the biggest challenges in waste management across the country and how is Envita tackling those?

Arielle Bernard (AB): I think the biggest challenge is the location of where the product is being manufactured versus the outlets that can take it. Depending on where the manufacturers are in the country, it’s sometimes a little bit more difficult to transport material to a facility, and you have to gauge what outweighs the benefits of recycling versus the transportation of getting it there.

I think building out our supplier network is the most important thing, and Envita has a really strong supplier network all throughout the country. Our strength is being able to rely on our network to find outlets for material everywhere.

WT: What are some of the projects or initiatives that you’ve been most proud of during your time with Envita?

AB: When I first started with Envita, I was focused on building out our supplier network and creating resources for our team so they could see where we have outlets and who they can contact.

So, that’s been a big project of mine that’s been really fun. I get to audit a lot of our new facilities that are coming online, so traveling to see the different technologies that people are using to help depackage food waste—that’s a big one—as well as learning different ways that food can be turned into animal feed.

WT: What do you think is next for you careerwise?

AB: There’s so much you can learn in the waste industry. Right now, I’m focusing specifically on organics, but there’s so much to learn in standard recycling, hazardous waste [and other areas]. So, I really would love to just continue to broaden my horizons in any category within the waste industry—and help keep things out of landfills.

WT: Do you have any advice for professionals looking to get into the solid waste industry?

AB: I would say get involved. I really got my involvement through working for the government. Working with municipalities and getting involved in different neighborhood solid waste organizations is a great way to see who’s involved and who the key players are in your city.