Summer Intern

About the Product Stewardship Institute: 

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) is a national non-profit environmental institute located in Boston, Massachusetts, with membership from 47 state governments, over 200 local governments, and more than 70 corporate, organizational, academic, and non-U.S. government partners. PSI pursues initiatives to ensure that all those involved in the lifecycle of a product share responsibility for reducing its health and environmental impacts, with producers bearing primary financial responsibility. Current products include mattresses, pharmaceuticals, packaging, electronics, paint, fluorescent lamps, thermostats, phone books, batteries, and medical sharps.

About the City of Hartford Department of Public Works:

The Department of Public Works is responsible for and is committed to maintaining the city's physical infrastructure and providing quality services to the citizens of Hartford. Public Works provides a number of important services to the public including waste and recycling collection. In addition, the Department of Public Works is working closely with the Mayor's Office on a greening initiative for the City of Hartford.

Position Overview:

The Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) and the City of Hartford, Connecticut, seek an intern to work on a Mattress Stewardship Initiative. PSI is working with state and local governments, the mattress industry, recyclers, and other interested stakeholders to develop an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) financing system to alleviate the significant costs governments face to manage unwanted mattresses.

The First National Mattress Stewardship Meeting, held in Hartford in April, 2011, convened stakeholders who agreed to develop model legislation and pilot projects to promote mattress recycling. This multi-dimensional issue encompasses economic, environmental and social challenges and opportunities.

PSI seeks an intern who has energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and is interested in working on zero waste initiatives focused on the difficulty in managing bulky wastes. For more information please visit the Mattress Stewardship Initiative.

Intern opportunities:

• Learn how a city addresses an issue in the solid waste stream
• Learn how product stewardship initiatives are negotiated and funded
• Work to address environmental justice concerns
• Learn problem-solving techniques

Responsibilities:

• Conduct research to support the mattress stewardship initiative as part of an ongoing effort to change the current paradigm of waste management.
• Work closely with PSI, the City of Hartford, and other stakeholders on developing model legislation and mattress recycling pilot projects.
• Develop and assist in writing and editing technical documents, and collecting data.

Qualifications:

Interns should have excellent organization and communication skills, both written and oral, and be passionate about moving toward a more sustainable future. Ideal candidates will have academic or professional experience or knowledge related to environmental advocacy and/or a sufficient background in environmental and public health issues.

Ideal candidates may have an undergraduate or graduate degree in policy, political science, natural science, environmental science, law, business administration, or a related field. Alternatively, interns may be a degree candidate in one of these areas. The intern's thoughts and ideas will be considered seriously as a contribution to improving the organization as a whole, as well as forwarding its mission.

Location: The internship is based in Hartford, CT, at the Department of Public Works.
Time Commitment: Approximately 15- 20 hours/week with a possibility of full-time. 

Compensation: Unpaid. PSI and the City of Hartford are able to provide supporting information for a student who can work with their institution to receive academic credit for this internship.

To Apply:

Please send a resume, cover letter, and 2 writing samples (preferably 1 short and 1 long) electronically. Please address all of the following within your cover letter:

• Are you able to reliably meet the minimum time requirement?
• Why are you interested in working on this mattress stewardship and recycling initiative?
• Why are you interested in working for the City of Hartford and the Product Stewardship Institute?
• What in your academic or professional experience makes you uniquely qualified for this position?
• What do you hope to gain from this experience?