You Can Make a Difference
Learn about Careers in Waste Management
So You Want to Pursue an Environmental Career?
Almost any career field that interests you—from computers to science to
law to communications—can be applied to environmental fields. These
careers are open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of race or
gender or any disabilities. You don't have to wait until you find a job,
however, to start your career in solid waste management. You can
begin today by finding volunteer positions, student jobs, internships,
and academic programs that can give you educational, real-world
experiences.
Community Service
You can start learning about careers
in waste management by joining a
community group or another service
organization that does environmental
work. Whether as a paid employee or a
volunteer, you can learn firsthand what
communities and individuals can do to
manage their waste and what it would
be like to pursue this type of environ-
mental career. EPA's booklet Service
Learning: Education Beyond the
Classroom (available by calling 800
424-9346 or visiting )
(continued on reverse)
A Day in the Life...
Have you ever wondered what if
would be like to manage your
community's recycling program,
or create new policies that help
people manage their waste?
Visit OSW's Careers Web site
(www.epa.gov/osw/careers) for
more information. This site offers
detailed profiles of employees in
several diverse fields within the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and in non-government organizations.
Environmental engineer, lawyer, computer
specialist, and professor are some of the jobs
profiled. Each profile gives you a glimpse of the
employees' daily activities, as well as their diverse
career experiences and educational backgrounds.
In addition, these jobs illustrate how environment-
alists in any career field can help support waste
reduction and resource conservation.
If you are interested in working for EPA, you
can access the Agency's automated recruitment
and job application system at the EPA EZhire
Web site (www.epa.gov/ezhire). Also visit the
Partnership for Public Service Web site
(www.calltoserve.com) for additional informa-
tion on federal service (see "Answering the Call"
on the left side of the home page).
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contains information, case
studies, and a comprehen-
sive list of resources on envi-
ronmental service programs.
You can also contact your
school guidance counselor to
find out about opportunities
in your area.
Student Employment
If you are interested in work-
ing for EPA or another feder-
al agency, you can apply for
student employment to gain
valuable work experience
while you are still in school.
Students enrolled at least
part-time in high school
through graduate school are
eligible to apply. Your work
experience can range from
summer jobs to positions
that last as long as you are a
student, and can be directly
related to your academic
field of study. For more infor-
mation, visit the U.S. Office
of Personnel Management
Web site at .
Internships
Undergraduate and gradu-
ate students can also apply
for internships, fellowships,
and other student jobs at
EPA headquarters and
regional offices across the
nation. Opportunities exist
within several different EPA
regional offices covering a
wide range of environmental
issues, and participation in
many of these programs can
lead to full-time employ-
ment. For more information,
visit EPA's Office of Human
Resources and Organiza-
tional Services Web site at
.
Advanced Education
In a competitive economy,
higher education is an
important step in a success-
ful career. Hundreds of uni-
versities across the United
States offer environmental
degree programs covering
topics such as ecology, envi-
ronmental studies, natural
resources, geosciences,
marine biology, technical
writing and communica-
tions, information technolo-
gy, administration, and
environmental policy and
law. The following resources
can help you identify which
institutions have the pro-
grams that interest you most
and how to apply:
Advanced Technology
Environmental
Education Center
Contains information
on environmental pro-
grams in high schools,
2-year colleges, 4-year
universities, as well as
broad descriptions of
typical environmental
technology jobs.
Brown Center for
Environmental Studies
Provides links to environ-
mental studies programs
at more than 100 uni-
versities across the
United States.
Society for Conservation
Biology
Includes a database
directory of almost 200
higher education envi-
ronmental programs that
can be searched by sub-
ject, state, type of
degree, and school.
What Is EPA's Office of Solid
Waste (OSW)?
OSW helps protect human health and the
environment by overseeing a national
program for the responsible management
of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
OSW works closely with states and tribes,
industry, environmental groups, and the
public to set national environmental goals
and policies, assume leadership roles in
environmental education, and write flexi-
ble regulations. One way OSW can
accomplish its goal is to encourage peo-
ple like you to pursue a career in waste
management.
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5305W)
EPA530-F-02-011
www.epa.gov/osw
February 2003
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