Sustainable Waste Management (Optional Co-op)
Program details
Credential: 1-Year Ontario College Graduate CertificateThis unique one-year graduate certificate program builds on prior education in environmental sciences or related fields to prepare graduates with the skills needed to support community and industry well-being through effective waste reduction and management.
The curriculum focuses on developing and implementing informed solutions for waste management operations and leading project planning including stakeholder engagement. Using a combination of applied research projects and hands-on learning, students develop critical thinking abilities to identify innovative solutions to real-world problems.
Student availability & wage data
Conestoga College facilitates recruitment on an ongoing basis - there are no hard deadlines. Typical time frames for work terms are listed below.
Postings are accepted beginning four months before the start of a term until all students have secured employment provided the minimum 12 consecutive weeks of full-time work is met.
Work/Study Sequence
| Year | Semester | Semester | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Classes | Classes | Work Term*: $N/A |
Students are available for work term each semester beginning with the spring 2025 term: fall (September to the end of December); winter (January to the end of April); and spring (May to the end of August).
Conestoga College collects data on hourly wages of co-operative education students and offers suggested ranges as a service to employers for the purpose of establishing fair and competitive compensation.
Our experience has been that employers increase wages as skills increase, particularly when employing students for more advanced work terms. The Co-operative Education Office can provide assistance to employers in establishing appropriate wage rates.
Work term capabilities
Specific skills and abilities students are typically capable of performing during a given work term are listed below.
Sustainable Waste Operations
- Understand environmental science and sustainability principles to make informed decisions
- Measure and track greenhouse gas emissions using software to assess environmental conditions and performance
- Knowledge of circular waste management strategies as it relates to multiple industries from raw products through to end use and recycling
- Assess the implementation of the circular economy at different scales to recognize strategies for economic waste prevention
- Analyze waste life cycles to identify opportunities for waste prevention
- Apply WHMIS principles and protocols to effectively meet organizational standards and requirements
- Assist in the development of business cases for innovative waste management, clean techs or startup businesses
- Manage all types of hazardous waste in accordance with Ontario Regulation 347 and Ontario Regulation 323/22
- Identify and evaluate organic waste best practices and implement a circular waste management strategy
- Understand how big data, AI and machine learning are improving monitoring, carbon capture and storage
Leadership, Project Planning and Community Engagement
- Engage with the community to promote sustainable practices and increase participation in waste management programs
- Interpret data from environmental reports and waste audits and make recommendations
- Design project plans, understand the project lifecycle, use risk assessments skills and apply effective communication strategies to engage stakeholders
- Develop a communication plan to effectively support the implementation of environmental projects
- Develop and implement environmental education and change management programs
Waste Management Regulations and Practices
- Understand regulations and policies for waste management in Canada to determine jurisdictional roles and social responsibilities
- Analyze waste management issues, identify areas for improvement, and propose sustainable solutions
- Understand landfill standards and the process and criteria necessary for siting new landfills
- Design site monitoring plans for closed and operational landfill sites to address environmental impacts
Sample job titles
- Environmental Compliance Officer
- Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator
- Hazardous Waste Technician
- Project Coordinator, Sustainability
- Recycling Coordinator
- Sustainable Research Coordinator
- Technical Waste Profiling Coordinator
- Waste Management Specialist
- Waste Processing Technician
Post a co-op job now
Setup an account or login to Conestoga's MyCareer to post a job.
Contact information
Do you need help developing a recruitment plan or job posting, accessing wage information, or connecting with a talented co-op student? Contact:
Bailey Binns-Franchetto
Employer Relations Consultant
bbinnsfranchetto@conestogac.on.ca
226-988-0718