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Careers in the Field
- Recycled Materials Artist
- Recovered Materials Entrepreneur
- Professor of Solid Waste Management
- Nonprofit Organization Recycling Manager
- City Recycling Coordinator
- Solid Waste Manager
Recycled Materials Artist
Hi, my name is Luci. I run my own art studio out of my home in a large West Coast city. All my pieces are created from recovered and remanufactured materials, with a special focus on mosaics made from old corrugated cardboard. I find materials by rummaging through recycling centers and salvage yards, purchasing them from scrap dealers, and cruising neighborhoods on trash collection days. In addition, I have arrangements with several retailers in my area who donate their discarded cardboard boxes for my work. Used plexiglass, scraps of cloth, metal shavings, used electrical components, and unwanted books are only some of the materials I have reclaimed from my various sources.
Deciding what to make and finding the materials I need are only the first stages of my work. The next step is creating a piece, which involves a blend of technical and artistic skills. I use a fair amount of the trigonometry and geometry I learned in high school to design my mosaic patterns, but I have to use imagination and experimentation to make it art. I then find buyers by participating in area trade shows and craft fairs. Sometimes I also take part in environmental craft exhibitions to promote recycling.
The importance of solid waste management has been a strong focus in my life since I was a Girl Scout collecting paper for recycling. Solid waste is an issue that affects people on practical, ethical, and aesthetic levels, and it will take many different kinds of approaches to control it. I enjoy my work because I have found a way to help people see trash in a new perspective so that hopefully they will think twice before throwing something useful away. What I do is essentially a modern form of alchemy, only instead of turning lead into gold, I am turning peoples’ waste into beautiful and useful objects. I also like having the freedom to create my own work environment and the resources to make both popular pieces for craft fairs and more time-consuming, unique creations for individuals.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Youth Agency Administration, Technical School degree in Drafting
Previous Experience: After graduating from a technical institute, I spent 15 years in various positions as a mechanical engineer, including a job with a major airline company. When engineering wore me out, I managed a recreational vehicle (RV) park and conducted RV sales and maintenance. Soon after, I began making things out of cardboard and became fascinated with its artistic properties, so I bought a house and built my own art studio. I would advise anyone seeking a career as an artist to start out in a more technical field as I did and keep art as a hobby. Then, when you have enough resources available, you can quit the technical world and make art your living.
Recovered Materials Entrepreneur
Hi, I’m Ken. I run my own business building furniture out of used materials and unwanted supplies I collect from construction and demolition sites and buy from scrap dealers. Sometimes I have to clean, renovate, or reshape materials to make them usable, so I usually have to do a lot of sanding and cutting before I can start building. I then remanufacture what I have into products such as tables, bookshelves, and chairs that I sell at craft shows or custom build for individual buyers.
I like my job because I am a pioneer in a mostly untouched market, but also because it provides me with a creative outlet and sets a good, eco-conscious example for my kids. Although I started out using reclaimed materials for my business because it was more cost-effective, I am a longtime organic gardener and I have always had an interest in environmental issues.
The more I work at building recycled furniture, the more I learn about what people can do to protect our resources. For example, I know pollution has become a part of our daily lives, and I believe we have ruined our planet’s ability to filter pollutants by cutting down so many forests. Currently, about 95 percent of the wood I use to make my products is recovered from another source so that fewer trees have to be cut down for manufacturing.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English
Advice: My advice for starting your own business is to stay with it, be willing to make sacrifices, and find a market for what you’re selling. I originally wanted to be a writer, but, to pay the bills, I started working with a friend making outdoor furniture. When my friend left the business, I continued building furniture using reclaimed material to save money and also worked part-time as a waiter. I went through some lean times before I discovered the antiques and collectibles market, where I found a niche for my recycled-content furniture. Then my business took off.
I believe that everyone is concerned about the environment on some level. Once people are aware of the issues and how a product can help, manufacturers will find a great demand.
Professor of Solid Waste Management
Hello, my name is Joe. I am an associate professor of waste management for a university in the Midwest. I teach classes on solid waste issues and advise my students on shaping their careers. As a member of the university’s Community Development Unit, I manage intervention programs in communities nationwide designed to gather data from community members about their attitudes toward controversial environmental issues. Sometimes I also use these programs to help angry or upset groups initiate discussion on an issue. In addition, I teach informal teaching and learning exchange theory in US and international communities.
Being a professor requires excellent written and oral communication skills, and the field of solid waste education, in particular, requires a strong base in policy and economics. Most importantly, this job requires well-developed decision-making and problem-solving skills, diplomacy, and the ability to work well under pressure. Becoming a professor usually requires a higher degree in a specific area of study. I chose to get a doctorate degree in Education Theory because I believe one of the most important attributes educators need in any field is an understanding of learning patterns.
I love teaching and I love learning, especially in an environment with highly motivated students who want to answer deeper inquiries about solid waste issues. I try to help my students realize that other people have different beliefs and values, and it’s their job to help people understand and think about their actions as consumers. I teach my students that recycling is important, but it’s not effective at reducing waste unless they also buy recycled products. In addition, I want them to consciously observe and evaluate current recycling practices to find the most effective way of reducing the total amount of waste generated.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Theater, Masters in Public Policy, Doctorate in Education Theory/Adult Learning
Previous Experience: Before becoming a professor, I spent nine years as a waste management coordinator for a variety of communities nationwide. I developed materials, resources, seminars, and symposia on the management of many different kinds of waste. I also conducted training and educational programs on these topics. Prior to that I was a corporate communications trainer for a consulting firm.
Nonprofit Organization Recycling Manager
Hi, my name is Christine. I am the manager of fiber recovery and utilization for a national nonprofit paper association. It’s my job to keep both the general public and people within the industry educated about paper recycling. I attend conferences, hold workshops, make presentations, and write technical publications about paper recycling. I also keep the media informed about key events in the paper recycling industry by writing press releases, fielding questions, and writing articles about the latest paper recycling news for trade publications.
One of the most important qualifications for this job is the ability to coordinate and work well with people from all levels. I work with the whole spectrum of parties interested in recycling, from grassroots activists to high-powered industry professionals.
Working with so many different kinds of people is one of the main reasons I like what I do. I also think the issue of recycling is extremely important, and I like to feel that my efforts are making a difference.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Geography, Masters in Geography with a focus on Environmental Management and Planning and Third World Development
Advice: Don’t be afraid to work as an environmentalist from inside an industry; that’s where most of the real changes happen.
Previous Experience: I have had a general interest in protecting the environment since I was a child. When I was working as a Peace Corp volunteer in the Caribbean, I witnessed some appalling waste management practices that inspired me to write a graduate thesis on the topic and to build a career in the field. After graduate school, I worked for my hometown county branch of Keep America Beautiful as a program coordinator. I also worked for an environmental consulting group in the Washington, DC, area and for the National Recycling Coalition.
City Recycling Coordinator
Hi, my name is Jen, and I am the recycling coordinator for a large US city. My job involves preparing outreach and education programs on the importance of recycling for elementary school kids, presenting recycling information to community groups, and promoting national environmental events such as America Recycles Day and Earth Day within my community. I also work with groups such as charities, church groups, and nonprofit organizations to coordinate local recycling drives. On the more technical side, I manage contract negotiations for recyclables collection and do periodic check-ins with involved facilities to evaluate factors such as contamination levels, recycling rates, and monthly collection amounts.
Being a recycling coordinator requires an ability to work well with people of different ages, ethnic groups, and social standings who might live in the same community. An understanding of their different viewpoints helps to communicate effectively and involve them in recycling efforts. A good coordinator should also present information with an enthusiastic, creative approach that will combat any prejudices or misunderstandings people might have about recycling.
For me, the best part of my job is working where I live. The feeling that I am making a difference in my own community is very personally rewarding.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Environmental Systems Technology
Advice: Anyone can succeed at this type of job from any educational background. The only real requirements are personal dedication to the issue and a willingness to learn.
Previous Experience: Before coming to this position, I was a recycling coordinator for the US Conference of Mayors. Some of my duties included managing educational and technical programs for the Conference’s Recycling at Work Campaign and conducting technical research projects on topics such as recycled-content product quality and recycling collection effectiveness in urban multi-tenant buildings. Prior to that, I was a researcher/writer for an environmental consulting firm, which is where I first got involved in recycling education and outreach.
Solid Waste Manager
Hello, my name is Ted, and I have worked in the solid waste management field for over 30 years. I started my career in the mid-1970s as an environmental planner. My primary duty was preparing multi-county, long-range waste management plans for state and regional planning commissions in the Northeast.
Eventually my work as a planner gave me enough experience to take positions implementing and managing solid waste plans and programs. I have had many different duties and responsibilities as a solid waste manager, including financing, rate-setting, compliance monitoring, and site remediation. I also oversaw community education, assured program quality, and directed the engineers, construction workers, and contractors who built and maintained the various facilities needed for each plan or program.
Good communication and “people” skills are essential to do any job in the field of solid waste management. Familiarity with current and emerging technologies, regulations, and statutes is also very important. In general, good management means keeping customers satisfied and carefully monitoring the facilities under your charge.
Few people see jobs in waste management as interesting or exciting, so I’m not always the most popular guy on the block. I love my job, however, because I enjoy accomplishing things most people think can’t be done. Also, the tasks are different every day, and my skills are always being stretched, so my work never gets boring.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Geography, Masters in Regional Planning
Previous Experience: I spent a number of years as a solid waste policy analyst. I conducted research into various management options, such as incineration and recycling, and evaluated materials recycling facilities, state policies, and grants programs. I then made recommendations to state or federal agencies based on my findings. I also took part in the peer review process to help create new policies and regulations. In addition, I have held positions in solid waste public relations and legislation.
Advice: Solid waste management is a challenging business that people either love or hate. It can entail fighting to get attention from policy-makers and the community, and sometimes it can take years to see results. Be prepared for criticism, delays, high costs, and negative reactions from the public. People can succeed in this field, however, if they are flexible and able to look at the issues from many different perspectives.
