meet the team
Driven by his passion for impact, Circular Environmental Solutions LLC was founded to help businesses, schools and municipalities/communities integrate circularity into their operations, fostering resilient and sustainable systems.
Ayodeji (Ayo) Oluwalana has over 10 years circularity experience working on various zero waste projects in higher education, municipalities and with businesses, focusing on how to improve the bottom-line using sustainable materials management and circular economy concepts. He is a practical-oriented individual who uses a “systems thinking” approach to address waste and equity issues.
Ayo has designed and implemented projects that promote upcycling and sustainable materials management, particularly in struggling suburban and rural communities with limited waste management infrastructure. Notably, he developed a project that repurposed plastic bottles destined for the landfill to build a greenhouse, aiding local farmers in extending their growing season during winter in Gunnison, Colorado.
He contributed to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Sustainable Materials Management Vision for Iowa Think Tank group’s white paper, which outlines a sustainable materials management vision for the state. His key area of focus includes sustainable materials management analysis, circularity, zero waste training, zero waste plans, stakeholder mapping and engagement, GHG inventory, life cycle assessments, material flow analysis, and industrial metabolism.
Ayo is currently a board member of the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), an advisory board member for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and an Advisory Council Member for Green Business
Driven by a commitment to data-driven decision-making, Bright specializes in techno-economic assessments (TEA), life-cycle analysis (LCA), systems analysis, environmental policy consulting, and AI-driven solutions to advance sustainable materials management and circular economy principles. At Circular Environmental Solutions LLC, Bright helps businesses, municipalities, and organizations integrate risk-averse sustainability strategies into their operations, optimizing processes while ensuring regulatory compliance and financial feasibility.
Bright holds multiple certifications in life-cycle assessment, recycling systems management, and circular economy principles, including:
• Professional Certificate in Life Cycle Assessment (MIT)
• Recycling Practitioner & Expert Certification (REMADE Institute Academy)
• Recycling Systems Manager Certification (SWANA)
• Certified Lifecycle Executive (American Center for Life Cycle Assessment)
• Circular Economy Trained Professional (Circular Economy Institute)
• Member, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) & the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
With expertise in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), material flow analysis, and AI-driven waste management optimization, he works on developing high-impact sustainability strategies that enhance resource efficiency, reduce carbon footprints, and improve recycling systems, including Material Recovery Facilities (MRF). He integrates systems thinking with AI and data analytics to optimize sorting, waste reduction, and sustainable business operations.
Beyond technical analysis, Bright is dedicated to guiding policy frameworks that support circularity and sustainability. By leveraging advanced data analytics, economic feasibility assessments, and regulatory insights, he continues to contribute to shaping scalable, long-term solutions for resilient waste management and sustainability systems.
Sustainability Systems Analyst