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Volunteering opportunities with the West Sussex Waste Prevention Advisor Scheme

The West Sussex Waste Prevention Team is looking for friendly and enthusiastic new volunteers to join them to encourage local residents to think about reducing, reusing, and recycling their waste.

The volunteer advisors will engage with a diverse range of people and will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to protecting the environment regarding waste prevention.

Volunteering with the Waste Prevention Team can involve:

  • Working with the Waste Prevention Team to deliver initiatives across the county
  • Assisting at local events, fairs, festivals, promotions, or writing blogs or newsletter articles
  • Speaking to members of the public about waste prevention initiatives and recycling right
  • Taking on the challenge of becoming a ‘master composter’ and sharing your skills and knowledge
  • Educating primary and secondary school children by delivering the ‘Wastebuster’ programme

Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “I would encourage anyone who is interested in protecting our environment to look into the Waste Prevention Advisor Scheme. The volunteers do a great job of encouraging residents to reduce, reuse and recycle better. They also provide a crucial link to communities and households and their expertise is a huge asset. A few hours a month from a volunteer can really help to make a difference to what we see going into household bins.”

New volunteers will be provided with complete training on countywide and local recycling and waste services. All that’s asked is that candidates are willing to spread message about ‘the three Rs’ (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) and commit to two hours of volunteering each month.

A current volunteer has described their time with the Waste Prevention team as: “A thoroughly enjoyable experience.”  Another volunteer commented: “Everyone is encouraged to bring their own particular interests and skills to the role… the other volunteers are an extraordinary group of people…who have become close friends.”

How to apply

Recruitment is currently open for those interested in becoming either a Waste Prevention Advisor or an Advanced Waste Prevention Advisor Volunteer. More information on the two roles can be found here: www.westsussex.gov.uk/wp_volunteer.

If you are interested, please email your details to waste.prevention@westsussex.gov.uk and include which position you would be interested in applying for. If selected, you will be invited to an informal online chat to discuss the role.

The closing date for applications is midnight 24 February 2023.