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Waste Reduction Intern

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Waste Reduction Intern

Salary

$17.70 Hourly

Location

Asheville, NC

Job Type

Temporary / Seasonal

Job Number

2025-01740

Department

Public Works

Division

Sanitation

Opening Date

10/31/2025

Closing Date

11/23/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Summary

About our opportunity:

The City of Asheville is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Waste Reduction Intern - an opportunity offered in the Sanitation Division of the Department of Public Works. This position reports directly to the Waste Reduction Program Manager.

Solid waste management is among the essential core services the Public Works Department provides to Asheville residents and visitors. The dedicated employees of the Public Works Department strive to provide these services equitably to all neighborhoods in a manner that reflects our emphasis on quality customer service, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and transparency.

The Waste Reduction Intern will gain experience in best solid waste management practices while supporting established waste reduction projects and programs primarily through data tracking, community event coordination, presentations, research, and cultivating positive relationships with community partners and City Staff. In addition to office-based activities, other responsibilities of this role might include but not be limited to: delivering compost totes, maintaining the food scraps drop-off sites, and conducting waste audits. The scope of work will, in part, be determined by the number of hours the selected candidate can dedicate to this position.

Although some hybrid work might be authorized, the majority of the work will be conducted in City facilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

+ Perform a variety of tasks to support the City’s waste reduction goal in close collaboration with the Waste Reduction Program Manager and other City Staff

+ Assist with ongoing waste reduction project at Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville

+ Conduct waste audits under the supervision of the Waste Reduction Program Manager

+ Support the Adopt-a-Street Program by preparing public-facing information, processing applications, internally coordinating with Public Works Staff, maintaining litter sweep supply inventory, providing litter sweep supplies upon request, and maintaining accurate records

+ Help maintain Residential Food Scraps Drop-off Program drop-off sites

+ Lead waste reduction trainings for City Staff and community members

+ Attend meetings relevant to waste reduction projects

+ Research City policies and procedures around sustainable procurement, bulky item diversion, and asset retirement

+ Contribute to the City’s Solid Waste Master Plan and Waste Wizard Tool enhancement project

+ Explore and document potential synergies between academic institutions, local businesses, non-profit organizations, and Buncombe County to increase impact of waste reduction projects and programs

+ Communicate with supervisor and other staff to coordinate daily tasks and ensure project completion

+ Operate a variety of hand tools

+ Complete required safety training and follow safety protocols

+ Present key accomplishments, challenges, and recommendations to Waste Reduction Program Manager, Sanitation Division Manager, Sustainability Department, and Academic Advisor (if applicable) based on internship experience

+ Complete academic institution requirements for earning academic credit (if applicable)

Education and Experience

About you:

We know your time is valuable. Applicants who meet the following minimum requirements or have comparable experience and/or education will be considered:

+ High school diploma or GED

+ Minimum of 30 college credits completed if college credit sought for internship (transcript required)

+ Valid driver’s license required

+ Authorized to work in the United States

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Persons of all genders and races are encouraged to apply.

Other things to know:

Work Schedule: Schedule is determined based on the selected candidate’s academic schedule (if applicable) and can vary depending on event and project schedules. Interested persons who are not currently matriculated are also encouraged to apply. Minimum of 10 hours per week. Maximum of 280 hours (approximately 20 hours/week) allotted to complete internship requirements. This position has a tentative start date of January 20, 2026 and tentative end date of May 1, 2026. If academic credit is sought for internship, a minimum of 140 site hours will need to be completed by the agreed upon end date. Must be available on Saturday, Feb. 21st to support the Hard-2-Recycle event in partnership with Asheville GreenWorks.

Please consult your academic institution for specific requirements for earning academic credit.

This posting will consider applications on a rolling basis until the deadline is reached or until a qualified candidate is selected.

Performance Aptitudes:

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable criteria.

ADA compliance:

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (25-75 pounds).

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as temperature extremes, dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, fumes, smoke, water hazards, toxic agents, fire, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, disease, noise extremes, pathogenic substances, animals/wildlife, machinery, or rude/irate customers.

Some positions may require a fingerprint-based SBI background check after a conditional offer and before your start date; HR will provide instructions if applicable.

For benefits-eligible positions, explore our full benefits at AshevilleBenefits.com .

About us:

The City of Asheville is dedicated to providing quality service for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Asheville, NC is a thriving mountain city that has a culture enriched by its diversity.

The City’s policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment. Applicants will be assured of fair treatment in all aspects of recruitment and selection without regard to a person’s age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, genetic information,or disability, except where certain physical and mental requirements are Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFOQ). The City of Asheville is proud to be a second chance employer.

The City of Asheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

No Employee Benefits

01

Select your highest level of education:

+ High School/GED

+ Associates Degree

+ Bachelors Degree

+ Advanced degree

+ Currently in pursuit of College degree

02

Do you have a valid driver's license?

+ I do not have a current driving license of any kind.

+ I do possess a current valid driver's license (Standard License)

03

How does this opportunity align with your academic and/or professional goals?

04

Please describe specific examples of how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.

Required Question

Employer

City of Asheville

Address

City of Asheville PO Box 7148 Asheville, North Carolina, 28802

Phone

828-259-5690 - Apply Online! - EOE

Website

http://www.ashevillenc.gov/jobs