Career Awareness Program for Northeast Colleges
Connecting Students to Careers in Sustainable Materials Management
The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) Career Awareness Program introduces college students to career pathways in sustainable materials management (SMM) and recycling—a rapidly growing field that plays a key role in climate action and the circular economy. Through career exploration events and professional development opportunities, students gain industry exposure, build foundational knowledge, and develop a clearer path from the classroom to a career.
Program Goals
Increase student interest in SMM and recycling careers
Build foundational knowledge of waste diversion, market dynamics, and policy
Strengthen workforce readiness across the Northeast
Program Components
Career Exploration Event – Fall 2026 (Recycling Jobs Day)
- Facility tour
- Lunch and peer discussion
- Industry career panel with Q&A
Foundations of Sustainable Materials and Recycling Course (Virtual)
Professional development covering market dynamics, policy, and the evolution of recycling in the U.S.
Supplemental Resources
Recycling Jobs Day materials provided by ReMA
Why It Matters
Producing, transporting, and disposing of materials accounts for more than 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. As organizations expand climate commitments, demand for green jobs is growing globally at approximately 8% per year. Yet employers report a shortage of qualified talent with the necessary green and cross-sector skill sets. The NERC Career Awareness Program helps close this gap by exposing two- and four-year college students to the diverse, high-impact careers available across the SMM industry.
Become a College Partner
To participate as a College Partner, fill out the below:
Contact Us
Career Awareness Program Funding Partners
The Need
Producing, transporting, and disposing of materials represents over 40% of US GHG emissions. As more organizations take climate action, there is a growing demand for green jobs, which are growing globally at a rate of 8 percent per year. LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report shows a deficiency in the supply of qualified talent with the green skills needed to fill these roles. Some of the reasons for this talent gap are inadequate training and a lack of mixed-skill sets. The NERC Career Awareness Program addresses these barriers by increasing awareness among two- and four- year college students of the wide spectrum of careers in sustainable materials management (SMM).
Your support enables students to envision themselves in green jobs and illuminate career pathways. Additionally, your support develops a robust network of colleges and universities, companies, and government agencies to create onramps for students to impactful careers.
Partner Benefits
There are four levels of partnership. Benefits vary depending on the level you join but may include:
- Recognition in NERC’s Monthly Newsletter and Logo on NERC’s Partner Page (with link to website)
- Recognition at NERC’s Annual Rethink Resource Use Conference
- Volunteer opportunities as career ambassadors for students
- Placement of logo on Program page on nerc.org
- Recognition on all NERC program communications and materials
To learn more about becoming a Career Awareness Partner, please contact Sophie Leone at sophie@nerc.org.
