Position Title: Resource Recovery Team Member
Supervisor’s Name: Lindsey Hutchison, Zero Waste Coordinator
To Apply: Email a cover letter (include project team(s) of interest) & resume to lindsey.hutchison@austin.utexas.edu
Compensation: $8.50/hr
Resource Recovery is a department within UT Facilities Services which encompasses both Zero Waste and Surplus Properties. Resource Recovery is tasked with improving sustainability at UT, specifically with regards to reaching our 2020 Zero Waste goal to divert 90% of all materials from the landfill. Major diversion strategies include source reduction, recycling, and composting. As a result, we have the opportunity to partner and observe material processes across campus.
All of our student interns meet weekly as a team to share and learn and create synergy across our work and will participate in tabling at least once a semester to increase student awareness and knowledge with regards to reaching Zero Waste. Additionally, Team Members will join a specific Project Team within Resource Recovery’s umbrella of work. Team Members are not expected to have any sustainability background – only interest in learning! Anticipated Project Teams for 2019-2020:
- Waste Audit: Gain hands-on experience through the assessment of a day’s worth of trash and recycling from a different campus building each week. Must be able to lift 50 pounds and comfortable working outdoors (6 team members)
- Graphic design: Support campus outreach through social media development and develop signage and other graphics needs for zero waste programs. (1 team member)
- Zero Waste Workplace: Learn best practices behind implementing successful behavior-change programs, modify infrastructure, and work with building occupants to achieve zero waste goals. (4 team members)
- Zero Waste Events: Learn best practices for reducing the amount of trash created at campus events. Consult with faculty or staff event planners before the event to provide guidance and attend events to provide support. Provide support for the Zero Waste Hero Certification program. (2 team members)
- Surplus Reuse Store: Operate the Surplus Property public storefront, including stocking, cleaning, and sales. Work is based at the Pickle Research Campus (which is served by the 803 bus). (3 team members)
What our former BDP students had to say about their experience:
- “It is difficult at such a large school to find a community that you click with. I wish I had found Resource Recovery sooner. Everyone is admirably different. It’s definitely been fun.”
- “I didn’t think there was so much to learn about trash, but I discovered otherwise my first waste audit. The waste audit team had to put up with all my questions about where plastic bags went or where to put Styrofoam cups, but it didn’t take long for us to become friends. I definitely learned a lot and since have not looked at trash the same way.”
- “Being a part of the Zero Waste Workplace team has given me the opportunity to understand the different aspects of approaching diversion from landfills. In this experience, I learned about both the developmental and operational sides of sustainable projects. This internship helped me quantify the amount of waste that is generated on campus every day, and gave me perspective on the importance of managing our resources. This connecting experience made me realize the value of representing environmental issues in a visually appealing and simple manner, which helped me find my professional aspirations in the intersection of design, technology and sustainability. “
Qualifications:
- Interest and/or experience in sustainability and willingness to learn about the inner workings of recycling, solid waste, and surplus
- Ability to maintain professionalism and represent the department well when communicating with faculty, staff, and students
- Timely and effective communication
- Punctual
- Ability to produce quality work individually and in teams
- Organized and adaptable