NYSERDA Climate Justice Fellowship at Big Reuse
About Big Reuse
Big Reuse is a Brooklyn-based environmental nonprofit focused on diverting waste from the landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our day-to-day work is grounded in making New York City a just and sustainable urban environment by building zero-waste practices into the everyday lives of New Yorkers that will strengthen our environment against climate change and its growing challenges. We do this through our social enterprise reuse store, Big Reuse Center, and our partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) on city-wide composting programs, NYC Compost Project Hosted by Big Reuse and Curbside Composting Outreach.
NYSERDA Climate Justice Fellowship at Big Reuse
The overarching goals for the Climate Justice Fellowship at Big Reuse will revolve around:
- Community engagement, education and advocacy around urban green renewal and strengthening through compost and reuse, actions that divert waste from the landfills, significantly reducing GHG emissions.
- Researching and developing policy positions for community scale composting in New York
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Researching and developing policy positions for reuse and recycling for construction and demolition waste in New York State where none currently exists.
Specific day-to-day activities will include:
- Researching and developing content for the “information wall” to be located at the front of the Big Reuse Center store that will share out local recycling services information (who, where, how, when), a list of our recycling services, a calendar of local environmental events, topical environmental news, both local and global, including facts & figures.
- Working alongside the Compost Application team one day a week on community compost application events, like street tree care. We work through and liaise with our funding New York City Council members to organize and execute these events.
- Prepare an advocacy plan for maintaining a strong community-based composting presence in NYC and for promoting the implementation of improved composting systems that will process organic waste using the most equitable and ecological approaches and techniques
- Conduct research and draft policy for reuse of construction and demolition waste in New York State.
- Familiarity based on academic training, as well as practical experience in the issues around sustainability, and in particular around waste diversion in an urban environment
- Desire to make environmentalism accessible to the public
- Possess excellent analytical skills and expert research chops
- Demonstrate strong communications skills. Work reliably and effectively, both independently and as part of a team of staff, interns, and volunteers.
- Recent graduates of STEM/Environmental programs encouraged to apply
- Interest in local advocacy, policy and government
- Currently reside in NYS and be to able work in NYS full-time for 12-months
- Commit to the entire 12-month fellowship and the goal of assisting the employer in advancing climate justice and clean energy priorities for disadvantaged communities.
- Currently be from a Priority Population as defined on NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Workforce Development Definition page.
- Total award amounts are capped at $40,000 per Fellow
- This includes $37,000 toward an annual salary for the Fellow and $3,000 for training/professional development and/or wrap-around services for the Fellow during the 12-month period.
- Health, Dental, Vision and Accident Insurance
- Two weeks PTO
- Schedule: 40 hours a week