Consumption and Waste Career Outlook

As human global population increases, so does the amount of waste that is produced. The world reached a population of about 7.2 billion people according to the United States Census Bureau¹ and it is becoming evident that our planet cannot support these numbers indefinitely without a sustainable waste reduction, recycling and management plan.
 
The amount of waste created per capita in the U.S. is also increasing,² and while some of the material is recycled, most ends up in landfills, burned, or disposed of improperly. According to the EPA, each person in the U.S. produces about 4.38 pounds of waste a day, and only recycles and composts 1.51 pounds. To put this in a global perspective, 12% of the people living in North America and Western Europe account for 60% of worldwide consumption, while 33% of people living in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa account for less than 4% of worldwide consumption.³
 
EcoLeaders will be needed to lead future generations into more sustainable ways of living and a career in waste management could help do just that by protecting our planet, livelihood and wildlife.

Luckily, many people are now aware of our consumption issues and are getting serious about reducing waste. Many cities now have bans on plastic bags, and campuses around the country have banned the sale of plastic bottles. San Francisco is on board, implementing an ambitious goal of "zero waste" by 2020.⁴ While strides are being made locally and beyond to reduce, reuse, and recycle, we will need to do even more to lower our ecological footprint. For example, the State of Connecticut is investing in building anaerobic digesters to divert food wastes from landfills and recycle these wastes into valuable compost.

Also, our partners at The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), offers additional information, tools, and resources for current students to explore and get started with a career in responsible waste management. Check out their Online Community, Mentor Match Program, Career Listings, and Scholarships for more information and to start your career!
 

Sizing Consumption and Waste Reduction Jobs:

The fields of consumption and waste reduction are great and varied. While most sustainable jobs in waste management involve reducing waste, increasing recycling and ensuring safer treatment and disposal of waste, several companies have identified the need for skilled workers to aid in the development of sustainable waste management practices.

Large companies, such as Apple, are changing the way they acquire materials, and they finding ways to create products made of fewer materials that last longer and can be reused and safely recycled.⁵ Many electronic companies have buyback programs to ensure that there is less e-waste. For example, Sprint’s buyback program allows users to return any electronic devices, regardless of the carrier or manufacturer and even if they are not functional, in exchange for account credit.⁶ They also have the option for paperless billing, creating less paper waste. While large companies are hiring innovative workers to create ways to reduce waste, smaller companies are adapting and filling gaps, such as Boston’s Bootstrap Compost, which “diverts thousands of pounds of organic material from landfills every week” by collecting food scraps from residences and businesses, composting the scraps, and then delivering the compost to local farms and their customers.⁷ Overall, workers specializing in waste collection and management are also on the rise. According to the Brookings Institution, nearly 400,000 workers in the United States are employed in waste management and treatment – the largest single segment of the clean economy.⁸

There are a wide array of specific positions in the consumption and waste management career sector. Here are some additional options to consider:
 

Salaries for Consumption and Waste Jobs

The average salary for an entry level job for waste management can be $42,760 per year, however, plant and system operators can make up to $53,820 per year. Working for the EPA as an Environmental Engineer can earn you between $43,362.00 to $68,950.00 per year.⁹ The opportunities are countless, and working for a major corporation such as Google as a Quality Engineer can earn an individual up to $146, 893 per year.¹⁰

Required Education and Certifications:

Jobs in waste reduction and management require a high school diploma, and some treatment plants can require a few more years of education such as an associate’s degree or technical certificate. Other jobs may require a higher degree such as a bachelor’s. For example, the EPA requires their applicants for their environmental engineering position to have a bachelor’s in engineering with some hours of hands on experience.

Interesting Academic and Certification Programs Related to Consumption and Waste:

University of California, Los Angeles | Recycling and Waste management certificate  Columbia Southern University | Environmental Management (B.S.)
Roosevelt University | Sustainability Studies (B.A.)
University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point | Soil and Waste Resources (Waste Management) (B.S.)
University of Missouri-Kansas City | Graduate Certificate in Waste Management
Vanderbilt University | Environmental Risk, Assessments, Waste Management and Remediation 
University of Denver | Environmental Policy (certificate) 
DIS – Danish Institute for Study Abroad | Waste Management Systems 
European Practices for Resource Recovery and Environmental | Sustainable Waste Management 
University of Vermont Extension | Vermont Master Composter Course

Consumption and Waste Project Examples from the NWF Sustainability Database:

Consumption and Waste EcoTopic Page - Start here to find lots of resources for you to start and share your own Campus or Community Waste EcoProject in the EcoLeaders community! Or find inspiration from the following projects that other EcoLeaders have done:

• Texas State University – Texas students’ Bobcat Blend project diverted post-consumer food waste from the dining hall to be composted along with local tree waste and poultry litter from Tyson and returned to the campus to better support the landscape and wildlife community.
• Clemson University – South Carolina students steered clear of the dumpsters and instead donated 11,500 pounds of food, clothing, wood and household items to local charities, bringing “recycling” to a whole new level.
• University of Massachusetts, Boston - Massachusetts introduces compostable dinnerware on campus, moving toward zero-waste dining.
• Colby College - Maine students rescued waste and donated hundreds of items to non-profit agencies.
• Mercyhurst College – Pennsylvania Trash to Treasure Program collects unopened food, gently used clothing, and quality used furniture and appliances during the move-out at the end of the year and transports them to local charity organizations.
• Macalester College - Minnesota implements an online program known as Mac Free Swap for campus members to advertise, dispose of, and obtain items.
   

RESOURCES:

1. United States Census Bureau." Population Clock. Accessed April 28, 2015. http://www.census.gov/popclock/.
2. Municipal Solid Waste." EPA. Accessed April 28, 2015. http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/.
3. State of the World 2004: Richer, Fatter, and Not Much Happier.” The Worldwatch Institute. Accessed on May 28, 2015. http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1785.
4. Global Waste on Pace to Triple by 2100.” The World Bank. Accessed on May 28, 2015. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/10/30/global-waste-on-pace-to-triple
5. Apple. “Environmental Responsibility.” Retrieved on September 10, 2015, from http://www.apple.com/environment/
6. Sprint. “Sprint Buyback Program.” Retrieved on September 10, 2015, from https://secure.sprintbuyback.com/cns/faq
7. Bootstrap Compost. “About.” Retrieved on September 10, 2015 from http://bootstrapcompost.com/about/
8. Brookings Institution. “Sizing the Clean Economy.” Retrieved on August 19, 2015.
9. Current Job Openings at EPA - US EPA Careers. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/careers/openings.html.
10. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.glassdoor.com/overview/working-at-google-ei_ie9079.11,17.html.

By: Pamela Millan, NWF EcoLeaders Fellow, 2015