You’ve heard about the three R’s: “reduce, reuse, recycle”.
Now help us take action.
Are you interested in learning what happens to materials that we throw away and how we can use materials more sustainably?
The NYS SMM Stewardship Program provides a unique opportunity to explore the concepts of sustainability and waste systems, and then apply this knowledge in your community. This program focuses on prioritizing beneficial uses of materials based on the waste hierarchy (i.e., reduce, reuse, recycle, compost) with the intent of moving towards a circular economy. Managed materials include traditional recyclables, organics and food waste, single-use plastics, textiles, furniture, household items, electronics, and more. The NYS SMM Stewardship Program has been operating since 2015 and was modeled after the successful GREEN-PR program. Many program graduates go on to work in sustainability-related fields, making this an ideal program for those seeking to begin or advance a SMM career.
In the fall, stewards learn about sustainable materials management concepts through interactive virtual trainings. In the spring, stewards complete hands-on, experiential community projects on an SMM topic of their choosing. Finally, stewards present on their projects at an end-of-program Symposium to their peers and SMM professionals.
The stewardship program is an entirely remote, paid college internship opportunity that takes place every year (Fall-Spring semesters), with a one-time stipend received upon completion of the program.
The next round of the NYS SMM Stewardship Program is from Fall 2026-Spring 2027.
Applications are now CLOSED for 2026-2027!
Thank you to all the NYS college students that have applied for our upcoming program. We will be in touch with our decisions. If you have questions about your application, you can email Program Supervisor, Morgan Ingraham, at meingrah@syr.edu
Applications will be opening again in March 2027. Stay tuned!
Qualifications
This program is a paid, remote opportunity that is open to any and all college/university students currently attending a community college, undergraduate, or graduate program in New York State. Students must be enrolled in New York State through Spring 2027. Students with a professional interest in sustainable materials management are preferred.
Program Requirements and Stipend
Stewards commit to approximately 10 hours of virtual training in the fall and 40 hours (~3 hrs/week) of paid project work in the spring. In the spring, stewards will complete a community-based SMM project and present on their project at a Symposium in May 2027.
Participating stewards meeting the program requirements by the end of the stewardship program will receive a one-time stipend of $640 following completion of all program requirements and submission of final materials.
Stipends are disbursed from NYSAR3 by the Center for Sustainable Materials Management.
Timeline and Important Dates
Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 Program Overview:
- Application open: March 2 – March 23, 2026
- Virtual Trainings: August – November, 2026 (see schedule below)
- Community Projects: January – April, 2027 (see schedule below)
- End-of-program Symposium: May 2027 (location TBD)
Fall 2026 Virtual Training Schedule:
Location: Zoom
Dates: See below
Times: 4:00-5:00pm Eastern Time
- Monday, August 17, 2026 – Welcome Meeting
- Monday, August 31, 2026 – Introduction to Sustainable Materials Management
- Monday, September 14, 2026 – Refuse & Reduce
- Monday, September 28, 2026– Reuse & Repair
- Monday, October 12, 2026 – Recycling
- Monday, October 26, 2026 – Compost, Food Waste, & Organics Management
- Monday, November 9, 2026 – Environmental Communication
Spring 2027 Project Meetings Schedule:
Location: Zoom
Dates & Times: See below
- Monday, January 11, 2027 – Community Projects Overview (4:00-5:00pm ET)
- February 2027 – Monthly Meeting with Project Supervisor (by appointment)
- Monday, February 1, 2027 – Open Office Hour(4:00-5:00pm ET)
- March 2027 – Monthly Meeting with Project Supervisor (by appointment)
- Monday, March 1, 2027 – Open Office Hour (4:00-5:00pm ET)
- April 2027 – Monthly Meeting with Project Supervisor (by appointment)
- Monday, April 5, 2027 – Open Office Hour (4:00-5:00pm ET)
- Early May 2027 – Symposium (date and location TBD)
- Friday, May 14, 2027 – All project materials due. End of program!
All stewards are expected to schedule a monthly 1:1 meeting with their assigned Project Supervisor to receive guidance on their projects in Spring 2027. These 1:1 meetings are scheduled by appointment via Calendly.
Open Office Hours are optional and function as a space for stewards to ask questions, share resources & feedback, work on their projects, chat with other stewards, etc.
Note: This is a remote program. All trainings and meetings will be held virtually via Zoom. Community projects are expected to be completed in-person in each steward’s community wherever they are located in New York State.
Learning Objectives & Training Opportunities
Professional Development
Stewards will leave this program with…
- An advanced knowledge of sustainable materials management, the waste hierarchy, and our current linear (take-make-dispose) economy.
- A deeper understanding of key waste issues and opportunities, including but not limited to: landfilling, waste incineration, greenwashing, extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy, circular economy, reuse & repair programs, food waste, compost & organics management, recycling systems, and environmental communication.
- An awareness of the need to shift responsibility away from individual consumers to the industries and policies which manufacture, use, and dispose of materials.
- Networking connections to various SMM professionals and organizations throughout New York State.
- Public speaking experience from presenting at a Symposium at the end of the program to SMM professionals and peers.
- Connections to other like-minded stewards throughout the state!
Community Engagement
Students will engage communities, resulting in…
- First-hand experience with organizing and facilitating a community event focused on sustainable materials management.
- The broader dissemination of SMM knowledge.
- A better understanding of how SMM is experienced by the community and the challenges they face.
- A measurable and meaningful impact (e.g., number of attendees, bags of litter cleaned up, number of items diverted from trash, etc).
- Creative approaches to SMM challenges, fit to the background of the steward and the needs of the community.
Past Stewardship Project Examples
Do you have any questions or are interested in learning more about the NYS SMM Stewardship Program? Please contact Stewardship Program Supervisor, Morgan Ingraham, at meingrah@syr.edu
This program is funded by New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3), the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Syracuse University is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
© 2025 State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Funding provided by the Environmental Protection Fund administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Any opinions, findings and/or interpretations of data contained herein are the responsibility of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and its Center for Sustainable Materials Management and do not necessarily represent the opinions, interpretations, or policy of the State.
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