Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zero Waste Captain

🎯 Role Definition

The Zero Waste Captain is a hands-on sustainability leader who develops and runs high-impact diversion programs that reduce waste to landfill, optimize materials recovery, and embed circular-economy practices into daily operations and events. This role combines field execution (site audits, bin signage, contamination remediation), program management (vendor negotiation, procurement of compostable materials, budget oversight), and change management (staff and public education, volunteer coordination, behavior-change campaigns). The ideal candidate consistently meets diversion targets, produces transparent metrics and reports, and drives continuous improvement while aligning with regulatory and corporate sustainability goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Sustainability Coordinator or Specialist
Facilities or Operations Supervisor with sustainability responsibilities
Events or Waste Operations Technician

Advancement To:

Zero Waste Manager or Program Manager
Director of Sustainability / Head of Sustainability Operations
Regional Operations Manager with environmental remit

Lateral Moves:

Facilities Manager (with sustainability portfolio)
Events Operations Manager
Environmental Compliance or EHS Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of site-level zero waste programs (recycling, composting, reuse, donation, and recycling streams), defining clear diversion targets and timelines and ensuring measurable progress toward corporate sustainability goals.
Conduct comprehensive waste stream and materials flow audits at facilities and events, analyze tonnage and contamination data, and develop prioritized remediation plans to increase diversion rates and reduce contamination.
Develop and maintain detailed diversion metrics dashboards (diversion rate, contamination rate, pounds diverted by stream, cost per diversion) and deliver monthly/quarterly reports to senior leadership, funders, and stakeholders.
Manage vendor relationships and contracts for recycling, organics/compost hauling, reuse logistics, and material processors; negotiate pricing, service levels, and contamination handling agreements to optimize cost and performance.
Create and implement procurement standards and specification guidelines for compostable, recyclable, and reusable materials (e.g., serviceware, packaging), working with procurement and suppliers to drive product changes and supplier compliance.
Design and execute behavior-change campaigns and staff training programs (toolkits, micro-trainings, signage strategies, incentive programs) to shift operational practices and reduce contamination at the point of discard.
Coordinate zero waste operations for events and large gatherings, developing site maps, station layouts, staffing plans, volunteer roles, and contingency plans to achieve event diversion objectives.
Oversee daily site operations including bin placement, station setup, contamination monitoring, and on-the-ground troubleshooting; deploy or train staff and volunteers to maintain consistent program execution.
Create clear station and container signage, labels, and visual cues aligned with best practices for contamination reduction and accessibility, and manage regular updates to printed and digital communications.
Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for waste sorting, storage, spill management, odor control, and safety to ensure compliance with local regulations and operational best practices.
Build and manage volunteer programs and conditional staffing rosters for zero waste initiatives, including recruiting, training, scheduling, and recognizing volunteers to expand operational capacity at events and sites.
Partner with procurement, catering, and operations teams to phase out single-use problematic materials, test reusable systems (dishwashing logistics, deposit-return models), and pilot circular procurement strategies.
Lead education and outreach initiatives for staff, tenants, vendors, and the public; prepare presentations, workshops, and marketing collateral to promote zero waste behavior and program milestones.
Implement pilot projects (on-site composting, anaerobic digestion partnerships, textile recovery, repair/redistribution programs) and run controlled evaluations to scale successful interventions system-wide.
Ensure regulatory compliance with local and state waste management rules, sanitary codes, extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements, and reporting obligations; liaise with municipal agencies as needed.
Monitor and control program budgets, prepare cost-benefit analyses for program changes, pursue grant funding or sponsorships to expand services, and track cost savings from diversion initiatives.
Maintain incoming and outgoing material tracking systems (weigh station, manifests, hauler tickets) and reconcile data for audits, vendor invoicing, and greenhouse gas reporting tied to waste reduction.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with local recyclers, composters, repair shops, donation centers, and resale networks to create reuse and diversion pathways for hard-to-recycle items.
Troubleshoot and reduce contamination through root-cause analysis, targeted interventions at high-contamination sites, and iterative signage/education improvements informed by on-site observation.
Lead cross-functional zero waste working groups and steering committees, coordinate stakeholders across facilities, legal, procurement, marketing, and operations, and secure buy-in for program changes and capital needs.
Prepare case studies, internal communications, and external sustainability reports to showcase program impact, support certifications (Zero Waste, LEED, ISO), and assist marketing and community relations efforts.
Train and mentor junior staff and site leads on best practices for diversion, safety, data collection, and stakeholder communications to build organizational capacity for zero waste operations.
Develop contingency and continuity plans for critical supply disruptions (e.g., composting service interruptions) and maintain relationships with backup processors and emergency service providers.
Evaluate and recommend capital investments (e.g., sorting stations, compactors, on-site composters) using lifecycle cost analysis to ensure strategic deployment of limited capital for maximum diversion impact.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis of diversion performance to inform program adjustments and stakeholder updates.
Collaborate with sustainability, facilities, events, and procurement teams to translate operational needs into procurement specifications and capital planning.
Participate in planning cycles, project meetings, and cross-functional initiatives to align zero waste objectives with broader organizational strategies.
Represent the organization at industry conferences, municipal working groups, and community coalitions to stay current on best practices and regulatory developments.
Assist in grant writing, funding proposals, and partnership development to secure resources for program pilots and expansion.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Waste audit and materials flow analysis expertise, including designing audits, sampling protocols, and interpreting tonnage and composition data for program design.
Knowledge of composting operations (collection, contamination reduction, bulking agents), organics hauling contracts, and industrial composting requirements.
Recycling systems knowledge, including common recovery pathways, MRF operations, and commodity markets that influence material acceptance and pricing.
Ability to create and manage diversion tracking systems and dashboards using Excel, Google Sheets, or data platforms; competency with pivot tables, formulas, and data visualization.
Experience managing vendor contracts and service-level agreements (SLAs) for haulers, processors, and third-party service providers.
Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks (GRI, CDP, internal CSR reporting) and experience compiling data for external reporting and certifications.
Practical knowledge of procurement practices and writing specifications for compostable, recyclable, and reusable products.
Event zero waste planning experience, including site layouts, station design, staffing, and logistics for temporary operations.
Regulatory knowledge of local and state waste management requirements, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and health/sanitary codes relevant to waste handling.
Basic facilities & safety knowledge relevant to waste handling (PPE requirements, spill response, storage requirements) and ability to enforce SOPs.
Experience with behavior-change methodologies and training design, including adult learning principles and evaluation of training effectiveness.
Familiarity with lifecycle assessments, cost-benefit analyses, and basic carbon accounting related to waste diversion and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance.

Soft Skills

Strong communication and presentation skills to influence stakeholders at all levels and deliver clear training and educational materials.
Project management capabilities: planning multi-site rollouts, managing timelines, budgets, and deliverables with attention to detail.
Leadership and coaching aptitude to build teams, mentor volunteers and staff, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills to align vendors, suppliers, internal teams, and community partners behind diversion goals.
Problem-solving and analytical mindset to investigate contamination sources, optimize routes, and adapt programs based on performance data.
Empathy and cultural sensitivity to design inclusive programs that work across diverse sites, populations, and vendor networks.
Resilience and adaptability to operate in fast-paced, event-driven contexts and handle changing regulatory or market conditions.
Creativity and initiative to design pilot programs (reuse, repair, circular procurement) that solve complex waste challenges.
Time management and prioritization to balance daily operational needs with strategic program development.
Attention to detail for accurate data collection, manifest reconciliation, and compliance documentation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED plus relevant experience in sustainability, waste operations, or facilities management.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Public Policy, Urban Planning, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Sustainability
Waste Management / Environmental Engineering
Public Policy / Environmental Policy
Urban Planning / Community Development
Business Administration with sustainability focus

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of hands-on experience in waste management, sustainability program implementation, event operations, or facilities operations with demonstrated success in diversion programs.

Preferred: 5+ years leading zero waste or waste diversion initiatives, experience managing vendors and budgets, and a proven track record of increasing diversion rates, reducing contamination, and managing multi-site or large-event programs. Certifications or training in sustainability, composting operations, or Zero Waste practices (e.g., Zero Waste International Alliance, SWANA, or equivalent) are a plus.