Phil Couchee and Julie Alter, Recology South Valley

Phil Couchee

Phil is General Manager of Recology South Valley and South Valley Organics.  He started working in the solid waste field in 1989.  He initially worked for a privately held company that served Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga.  That company was bought by Waste Management in 1999.  Phil continued to work for Waste Management until 2004 when he became manager of Recology South Valley.  In his current role he oversees recycle and garbage collections for the Cities of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Hollister, San Juan Bautista and the County of San Benito. He also manages South Valley Organics where all of our residential organics is made into compost.

Julie Alter
Julie is Waste Zero Specialist of Recology South Valley.  Julie graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Studies from San Jose State, with an emphasis in Integrated Waste Management.  Before being hired in 1999 by Recology, she gained experience in the field with internships and part time employment.  Julie has many responsibilities, but one of her main duties is to increase the number of recycling programs at businesses and multifamily buildings.  Sometimes her job involves sorting through garbage and recycling and her dedication to recycling shows when she assists the Gilroy Garlic Festival by diverting as much recycling and organics as possible during the three day festival.