What are the responsibilities and job description for the Zero Waste and Recycling Internship position at SCHUPAN & SONS INC?
Job Details
Description
Title
Zero Waste and Recycling Internship
Classification
Non-Exempt
Reports to
Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability
Position Type and Expected Work Hours
Part-time / Seasonal - See Time Period section below
Pay Rate: $16/hour
ABOUT SCHUPAN
We've been creating sustainable material solutions since 1968.
At Schupan, we want to positively impact our people, community, and planet every day.
We believe our core values foster a culture of excellence through growth. Schupan expects all employees to perform their job duties and consistently follow the code of conduct, by exhibiting behaviors that reflect: Integrity, Empowerment, Sustainability, and Compassion.
WHO WE ARE - SUSTAINABILITY
Schupan Sustainability is a leading event recycling and sustainability company, providing solutions to live events across Michigan, the Midwest and the country. As a national leader, we have supported our live event clients in diverting more than 2,700 tons of material from the landfill since 2008, mitigated over 3,400 metric tons of carbon emissions and reached over 30 million people through our engagement platforms.
SUMMARY
We are looking for students and recent graduates who want to learn about zero waste and recycling through hands-on experiences with real-time waste reduction programs at Live Events around Michigan and the Midwest. We are looking for people who have an interest in recycling, sustainability, composting and zero waste solutions who aren’t afraid to get a little dirty, work hard, collaborate amongst a team of like-minded individuals and provide exceptional customer service.
Our Zero Waste and Recycling Interns will work onsite at live events to support our customers waste reduction programs and receive companywide learning experiences throughout Schupan. This position is part-time and based on event schedules with hours varying based on business needs. Continued learning experiences will be crafted per individual to ensure educational requirements and professional interests are met.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Support waste reduction programs at Live Events from May 2025 – August 2025.
- Must have introductory knowledge of how the recycling industry operates, with specific areas of interest including waste diversion, carbon, and climate impact.
- Execute event recycling programming on-site at live events.
- Assist in managing customer accounts, business operations, and creating waste reduction strategies for clients.
- Must have effective communication skills in order to: interact across teams at Schupan and within customer relations, to understand and follow written and verbal work instruction and safety standards, to follow timelines and execute event plans, and be able to work independently and with a team in a collaborative environment.
- Collaborate in a fast-paced environment.
- Must be able to interact in-person with peers and the public.
- Must be able to handle high stress situations.
- Must be able to travel as needed to attend events.
- Perform all job duties in a friendly, courteous manner, and adhere to all safety
requirements.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance. See Time Period section below for current required events and schedules.
Time Period:
- Live Events Required to Participate:
- May 29 – June 2 – Must be able to travel and work in Detroit, MI for the duration of this time period
- June 11-16 – Must be able to travel and work in Grand Rapids, MI for duration of this time period OR June 13 – 16 – Must be able to travel to Metro Detroit for the duration of this time period
- June 24 - 30 – Must be able to travel and work in Midland, MI for the duration of this time period
- Optional Opportunities:
- August 22-24 – Must be able to travel and work in Flint, MI for the duration of this time period
- September 27-28 – Must be able to travel and work in Metro Detroit for the duration of this time period
- October 3 – 5 - Must be able to travel and work in Detroit, MI for the duration of this time period
- October 18-19 - Must be able to travel and work in Detroit, MI for the duration of this time period
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Qualifications
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED), or equivalent
- 1 year of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Event management experience or sustainability industry knowledge is not required. Interest and willingness to learn about the recycling and sustainability industries is preferred.
- Previous customer service experience is preferred
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Occasionally lift, move, or position objects weighing up to 50 pounds
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to work outside in all weather conditions including, but not limited: heat, humidity, cold, snow and rain.
- Can work long hours for consecutive days.
The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.
Salary : $16
