Zero Waste Ambassadors Program
READY. SET. VOLUNTEER!
Looking to make a difference and help fight climate change?
Help reduce waste as a Zero Waste Ambassador!
What is the Zero Waste Ambassadors Program?
ºÚÁÏÍø’s Office of Sustainability has launched a hands-on volunteer program for members of the community to help the university advance its zero waste efforts.
The mission of ºÚÁÏÍø’s Zero Waste Ambassadors is to increase education and take action to reduce landfill waste on campus. First created for Smorgasport 2023, Zero Waste Ambassadors has since expanded to curate the launch of composting stations in the Walter Pyramid and plans to continue expansion across campus.
Students who sign up to participate in Zero Waste Ambassadors volunteering opportunities will be entered in an opportunity drawing for the chance to win a prize.
Help educate our community and lead The Beach toward a sustainable future!
- As a Zero Waste Ambassador, students will be aiding the Office of Sustainability in expanding compost efforts across our campus. The Fall 2025 semester will focus on the Walter Pyramid – volunteers will supervise compost bins during highly- attended sporting events and aid spectators in properly sorting waste. Volunteers will also analyze collected compost and gather data (in other words, complete a waste audit) at our office, located in Beach Building Services, the following business day after the sporting event.
Ambassadors will complete a brief asynchronous training before attending service.
Our Zero Waste Ambassadors program’s schedule is highly flexible – you may devote as much or as little time as suits your schedule! Check out the Calendar to see the dates of games we will be attending. A sign-up sheet will be sent out via email detailing times we are requesting volunteers.
Keep in mind that the more volunteer sessions you attend, the more entries you get for the opportunity drawing at the end of the semester – so it’s at your advantage to attend as many as you can!
The Office of Sustainability records the names of volunteers present at a given sporting event or waste audit throughout the semester. One name will be randomly selected from the pool following the final waste audit on December 8, 2025. The more events you attend throughout the semester, the more times your name will be entered to win.
The Zero Waste Ambassadors Fall 2025 winner will choose one of three options:
- A student parking pass for Spring 2026 semester
- A student bus pass for Spring 2026 semester
- 2 Knotts Berry Farm day passes
Notes on taxes and processing: International students are subject to a 30% federal tax withholding ($111) to be paid by the Office of Sustainability at no cost to the student.
Upon selection, the winner will be contacted and asked to complete a W-8BEN or W-9 tax form to be reviewed by the Controller’s Office before the parking permit is awarded. In addition to the W-8BEN form, additional documentation will be requested from the ºÚÁÏÍø Tax Department for the international student winner.
Yes! We encourage students in service-learning programs to take part in Zero Waste Ambassadors. We are interested in service-learning students regularly participating in events and audits throughout the semester not only to achieve their hours requirements, but also to serve as a familiar face who may provide guidance to new volunteers.
