About UT Resource Recovery:
Resource Recovery is a department within UT Facilities Services that encompasses both Zero Waste and Surplus Property. Resource Recovery is tasked with improving sustainability at UT, specifically with regards to reaching our Zero Waste goal to keep 90% of all materials out of the landfill. Major diversion strategies include reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.
Internship Program:
UT Resource Recovery has 5 postings open on Workday for our student internship program for the 2025-2026 academic year. You would be a member of Resource Recovery’s Student Internship Program; we anticipate 18 interns in this year’s cohort. 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 the 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. This position works on the same project team as our Outreach Intern. See what our project teams have been up to on our Instagram (@utzerowaste). Team members are not expected to have a sustainability background – only an interest in learning! Posting will close July 24, 2025. Apply by 11:59PM on July 24, 2025
1. UT Surplus REuse Store (Thursday) Intern
Purpose
You would be a member of the Surplus Property team supporting the Reuse Store, which sells no-longer-used materials to the public. Students handle item prep, store operations, and special projects like event planning, social media, waste audits, and more. This is located at the Pickle Research Campus (10100 Burnet Rd.) accessible via CapMetro (free with UT ID). Applicants must be available on Thursdays, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Responsibilities
- Possess strong organization skills and attention to detail to prepare for store sales events.
- Encourage store attendance by participating in communications and marketing postings.
- Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability considerations, including understanding the role that surplus plays in achieving UT’s waste diversion goals. Participate in waste audits.
- Provide professional customer service that represents UT and the department well.
- Interpret and analyze data collection.
- Practice project management activities such as planning, coordination, and implementation.
- Attend and participate in weekly meetings.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Currently enrolled UT Student. Show enthusiasm for sustainability practice and value waste reduction. Able to work on Thursdays, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. and travel to Pickle Research Campus. Have an interest in retail sales and design. Convey professionalism through interactions. Have strong written and verbal skills. Able to work independently and participate in team projects. Be a detail-oriented self-starter who is adaptable. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly. Work outdoors and in a warehouse environment.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior sustainability experience. Possess an interest in business management. Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite applications.
Salary Range
$13.00/hour
2. UT Surplus REuse Store (Saturday) Intern
Purpose
You would be a member of the Surplus Property team supporting the Reuse Store, which sells no-longer-used materials to the public. Students handle item prep, store operations, and special projects like event planning, social media, waste audits, and more. This is located at the Pickle Research Campus (10100 Burnet Rd.) accessible via CapMetro (free with UT ID). Applicants must be available on Saturdays, 8:00 a.m.-noon.
Responsibilities
- Possess strong organization skills and attention to detail to prepare for store sales events.
- Encourage store attendance by participating in communications and marketing postings.
- Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability considerations, including understanding the role that surplus plays in achieving UT’s waste diversion goals. Participate in waste audits.
- Provide professional customer service that represents UT and the department well.
- Interpret and analyze data collection.
- Practice project management activities such as planning, coordination, and implementation.
- Attend and participate in weekly meetings.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Currently enrolled UT Student. Show enthusiasm for sustainability practice and value waste reduction. Able to work on Saturdays and travel to Pickle Research Campus. Have an interest in retail sales and design. Convey professionalism through interactions. Have strong written and verbal skills. Able to work independently and participate in team projects. Be a detail-oriented self-starter who is adaptable. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly. Work outdoors and in a warehouse environment.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior sustainability experience. Possess an interest in business management. Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite applications.
Salary Range
$13.00/hour
3. UT Surplus Online Auction Intern
Purpose
You would be a member of the Surplus team focused on supporting our online auctions to sell no-longer-needed University items such as furniture, electronics, and equipment. Typical activities include researching items, writing descriptions, photographing items, uploading this information online, and preparing online advertisements. Additionally, you will work on special projects such as event planning, social media content creation, weight diversion analysis, waste audits, and more.
Responsibilities
- Possess strong organization skills and attention to detail to prepare for online auctions.
- Boost auction interest by developing communications and marketing postings.
- Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability considerations, including understanding the role that surplus plays in achieving UT’s waste diversion goals. Participate in waste audits.
- Provide professional customer service when interacting, either verbally or in written communications, with customers, staff, faculty, and students.
- Interpret and analyze data collection.
- Practice project management activities such as planning, coordination, and implementation.
- Attend and participate in weekly meetings.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Currently enrolled UT Student. Show enthusiasm for sustainability practice and value waste reduction. Able to travel to Pickle Research Campus. Have an interest in retail sales and design. Convey professionalism through interactions. Have strong written and verbal skills. Able to work independently and participate in team projects. Be a detail-oriented self-starter who is adaptable. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly. Work outdoors and in a warehouse environment.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior sustainability experience. Possess an interest in retail sales and business management. Advanced skills with Microsoft Office Suite applications.
Salary Range
$13.00/hour
4. Resource Recovery Intern
Purpose
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. Additionally, Team Members will join a specific Project Team. See what our project teams have been up to on our Instagram (@utzerowaste). Team members are not expected to have any sustainability background – only interest in learning! Practice transferrable career-readiness learning outcomes.
• Zero Waste Workplace (2 students): Learn best practices behind implementing and communicating successful behavior-change programs, and work with building occupants to achieve zero waste goals. 2 hours waste audits/week during first month.
• Zero Waste Events (3 students): 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. 2 hours waste audits/week during first month.
• Outreach (1 student): Learn best practices in community engagement by planning and executing outreach events and supporting our Zero Waste Hero certification program. This position is on the same project team as the Social Media & Graphic design intern. 2 hours waste audits/week during first month.
• Zero Waste Quality Control (5 students): Learn best practices for physical waste sorting and documentation of a building’s trash, recycling, and compost dumpsters. 6 hours waste audits/week during first month. Remaining time will be spent collecting data through quality control checks of campus compost programs and optimizing waste bin placement for buildings across campus.
Responsibilities
- Possess experience in sustainability and/or willingness to learn about the inner workings of recycling, composting, solid waste, and surplus.
- Communicate professionally and represent the department in a positive way when interacting with faculty, staff, and students. Consult with faculty and staff before waste events to provide guidance and support.
- Participate in waste audits. Collect waste data through quality control checks of campus compost programs. Optimize waste bin placement for buildings across campus.
- Be comfortable working independently but also enjoy being part of a team. Engage and educate peers and staff to motivate positive sustainability practices.
- Attend and participate in team meetings, both in-person and remotely.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Currently enrolled UT Student. Show enthusiasm for sustainability practice and value waste reduction. Punctual, organized, and adaptable. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly and work outdoors.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Prior sustainability experience.
Salary Range
$13.00/hour
5. Resource Recovery Intern – Graphic Design & Social Media
Purpose
We are looking for a student with strong graphic design skills and an interest in sharing the successes of our programs and the importance of waste reduction. Practice transferrable career-readiness learning outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Use our department’s brand kit to brainstorm and develop content for the Resource Recovery Instagram and Facebook accounts.
- Assist with other graphic design projects as needed.
- Serve as the primary photographer at outreach events and other in-person activities.
- Monitor and calculate analytics on engagement and post metrics.
- Participate in hands-on waste audits to identify opportunities to improve outreach and program education.
- Attend and participate in team meetings, both in-person and remotely.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Current UT Austin student. Possess strong graphic design skills. Exhibit a commitment to sustainability and a willingness to learn about the University’s recycling, composting, solid waste, and surplus efforts. Academic or prior work experience relevant to design, marketing, and/or communications. Experience with developing static and video social media content. Able to analyze social media metrics. Communicate professionally. Work independently and in a group environment. Punctual, organized, and adaptable. Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly and work outdoors.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced graphic design proficiency. Intermediate to advanced knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite. Prior sustainability experience. Canva platform knowledge.
Salary Range
$13.00/hour
