Waste reduction volunteer

Waste reduction volunteers 

Are you passionate about recycling and reducing waste? Do you want to give back to your community or learn something new? Join us as a waste reduction volunteer to actively support and inspire Central Bedfordshire residents to reduce, reuse and recycle. You'll provide tips, advice, and information to help others 'bin better'.

The waste reduction volunteers are a network of residents across Central Bedfordshire that promotes increased recycling, reduced contamination and prevents avoidable waste to other people in their local community. Our volunteers do this through several means including, but not limited to:

  • attending community events such as fairs or markets
  • delivering talks and workshops to local community groups (in person or online)
  • providing workshops and talks in local schools

You could be talking to residents about how to improve their recycling, reduce their food waste, start home composting or repair and reuse items.

Register your interest

If you have any questions about the role, please email customers@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

How you can make a difference

To increase our recycling rate and reduce the amount of waste thrown away by Central Bedfordshire households each year, we need the help and support of all Central Bedfordshire residents. As a waste reduction volunteer, you'll take a leading role in this mission. You'll help us reach every corner of our area, inspiring others to slim their bin by providing the information, knowledge, and skills to help them manage their waste and improve our local environment.

Events vary from 1-to-2-hour talks to half or full-day market stalls. They can take place during the day, in the evenings or at weekends, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Volunteers are not committed to a specific number of hours and can choose which events, talks, or workshops they would like to attend.

Any Central Bedfordshire resident can be a waste reduction volunteer. All required training and knowledge is provided.

Why volunteer?

Being a waste reduction volunteer is a great opportunity to get out and about in your community, engage with other local people and become part of a network of like-minded people who want to make a positive difference in their neighbourhood.

Other reasons to volunteer

  • tailor-made training and learning opportunities specific to your local area
  • flexibility to choose when and how often you engage with the project and which activities you take part in
  • dedicated support from our volunteer development officer
  • any required mileage covered
  • contribute to our strategic aims and support residents to live more sustainably
  • sign up and volunteer with friends and family or meet new people working with our other waste reduction volunteers

Role requirements

All volunteers must be 18 years or over. No DBS check is required, but applicants must provide their references and complete the half-day training and induction session before their first activity.


Register your interest

If you have any questions about the role, please email env.services@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.