We are excited to highlight Recology’s 2025 ROCStar of the Year, Yvette Madera, for her outstanding work at Recology San Mateo County. Her passion for sustainability shines in her role as a Senior Waste Zero Specialist. Yvette has been a dedicated employee-owner for 15 years. She consistently steps up to lead projects, trains new team members, finds meaningful ways to support her team, other departments, customers, and the local community.
For the past 10 years, Yvette has led RSMC’s annual Coats for Kids program, coordinating with Operations, the Waste Zero Team, local jurisdictions, and key community organizations to promote the curbside collection of new and gently used coats. She established a partnership with St. Anthony’s Padua Dining Room in Menlo Park and organizes other Recology employee-owners to volunteer their time to help hand out the collected items to St. Anthony’s clients and others in need during the holidays.
“Yvette is a true representative of Recology and our ownership culture. She cares about all her colleagues, shows up with a smile to all company events, is hard-working and reliable, and is passionate about sustainability,” says Marcus Mirt, General Manager for Recology San Mateo County.
For over a decade, our ROCStar program has been a key part of our tradition and culture, empowering employee-owners to celebrate their peers. Whether through exceptional customer service, innovative problem-solving, or exemplary teamwork, these individuals make a positive impact in our communities every day.