Board Member

Gavin Adams retired from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in March of 2022 following a 30 year career in many aspects of environmental protection and environmental regulatory and non-regulatory program leadership.

He began his career with ADEM in 1992 as an Environmental Scientist in the Pollution Prevention (P2) Program, and was responsible for grant management and reporting, project development and technical assistance to industry concerning recycling and source reduction issues. During this time, he served as Departmental Liaison to the Alabama Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer (WRATT) Foundation and was instrumental in the development of incorporation for the organization. He also served as Chair of the P2 Task Force of the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) and on the Training and Information Subcommittee for the organization. Duties also included industrial waste reduction and energy efficiency assessments to industry in the areas of source reduction, recycling and sustainability. He was also involved in the formation of Legacy and worked on its incorporation and early development.

From 1996 to 2004, he continued his work in those areas in the Department’s Office of Education and Outreach, and served as the Chair of the Legacy Programs Environmental Education Committee and on the organizations Board of Directors. During this time, Mr. Adams assisted in the initiation of the Alabama Scrap Tire Program at ADEM and served as its Chief directing program development and the implementation of large scale environmental remediation projects.

He continued with the addition of the State Recycling Program following legislation passed in 2008 serving as the State Recycling Coordinator and leader of ADEM materials management programs. Included was the management of annual recycling grants, recycling compliance and data management programs, the development of regulations, and management of registration and permitting. During this period Mr. Adams also served as President of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC).

In 2019, Mr. Adams was named Chief of the ADEM Redevelopment Section, leading the state Brownfield and Voluntary Cleanup Programs. These programs assisted property owners, local governments, developers and others in restoring properties to productive use and facilitating economic development efforts. Successful examples of projects involving residential, industrial and commercial development may be found statewide. It was during this time that Mr. Adams also began a new term of service to Legacy, in a volunteer position on the Board of Directors.

Mr. Adams has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology from Auburn University at Montgomery. He has also served as an ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Certified Lead Auditor and is certified in Hazardous Waste and Emergency Operations.

He resides in Wetumpka, Alabama with his wife Meredith and son Tyler, who has given new meaning to the importance and dedication to environmental protection.