About UT Resource Recovery:
Resource Recovery is a department within UT Facilities Services that encompasses both Zero Waste and Surplus Properties. Resource Recovery is tasked with improving sustainability at UT, specifically with regards to reaching our Zero Waste goal to divert 90% of all materials from the landfill. Major diversion strategies include source reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. As a result, we have the opportunity to partner and observe material processes across campus.
Internship Program:
You would be a member of Resource Recovery’s Student Internship Program. All of our student interns meet weekly as a team to share and learn and create synergy across our work. In addition to assisting with outreach and education events, each Team Member will participate in hands-on waste audits, gaining opportunity to assess campus buildings’ trash and recycling to identify opportunities to improve outreach and education programming. Additionally, Team Members will join a specific Project Team within Resource Recovery’s umbrella of work. See what our project teams have been up to on our Instagram. Team members are not expected to have any sustainability background – only interest in learning!
Please click on the position titles below to learn more about each position and to apply!
Internship Positions:
Resource Recovery Team Member – Social Media & Outreach
This position is focused on developing social media content and outreach opportunities to promote various zero waste programming on campus, including sharing successes from our Zero Waste Events and Zero Waste Workplace project teams. You will learn best practices in community engagement by developing content for and monitoring the Resource Recovery Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as plan and execute outreach events for national and independent campaigns.
Resource Recovery Team Member – Zero Waste
- Zero Waste Workplace: Learn best practices behind implementing successful behavior-change programs, modify infrastructure, and work with building occupants to achieve zero waste goals. Assist with the rollout of campus-wide composting programs.
- Zero Waste Events: Learn best practices and develop resources 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.
Zero Waste Hero Engagement & Outreach Lead
- Create advertising & promotion plan for certification launch
- Plan & execute tabling events to highlight program goals and encourage recruitment
- Develop community building opportunities & events for participants
- Design & prepare for distribution of achievement items and promotional materials
Zero Waste Hero Curriculum Development Lead
Zero Waste Hero is a certification program for students that seeks to educate the UT Austin community on waste diversion and proper sorting and create a zero waste community through on-campus participation. The program is a collaboration between Resource Recovery and University Housing and Dining, and this position is funded by the UT Green Fund.
This position will spearhead the remaining redesign and expansion of Zero Waste Hero to prepare for our re-launch in Spring 2022. Essential functions of the Curriculum Development Lead include:
- Develop & write content for course modules, including researching external articles and videos
- Collaborate with relevant professors, staff, and student organizations to prepare pre-recorded content for course modules
- Work with partners and student organizations to create and consolidate UT volunteer opportunities for ZWH participants
- Set up back end of Canvas course
Resource Recovery Team Member – UT Surplus Reuse Store (Thursday) & Resource Recovery Team Member – UT Surplus Reuse Store (Saturday)
You would be a member of the Reuse Store team. This project supports Surplus Property in selling no longer used materials to the general public through a retail store. Students lead preparation of sales items for the store as well as store operation. Additionally, students will work on special projects such as event planning, student outreach, attendance analysis, waste audits, and more. This position will be based at the Pickle Research Campus (10100 Burnet Road), accessible by CapMetro bus (free with UT ID).