As Plymouth prepares to launch food waste recycling in 2026, Plymouth City Council are seeking Food Waste Volunteers to help lead the way and inspire action.
A food waste volunteer is someone who will support incoming food waste recycling services by raising awareness of the impact of food waste and helping to increase participation rates by engaging the community.
Food waste is a global problem-food waste that is not recycled is responsible for the creation of 8-10 % of the harmful greenhouse gas emissions that are responsible for climate change. The role of food waste volunteers is crucial in helping the city of Plymouth to understand why recycling food waste is important.
What a volunteer might do
In this role you might:
- Promote food waste reduction initiatives at events and through outreach
- Support educational activities such as workshops or talks
- Encourage community participation and feedback
- Participate in doorstepping campaigns
- Assist at public engagement events, such as roadshows, cookery classes, and workshops
- Speaking directly with residents to encourage food waste recycling.
- Support initiatives like Love Food Hate Waste, Recycling Week, etc
- Distributing materials
- Encouraging participation on social media, etc
- Help gather feedback and report on engagement outcomes to improve future
People suited for this role
No formal qualifications are needed but to enjoy the role you’ll need to:
- Be aged 18 or over with a warm and friendly disposition and a positive outlook
- Have a passion for sustainability or a willingness to learn about sustainability and reducing food waste
- Possess good communication and interpersonal skills
- Be able to work independently and as part of a team
- Be reliable and punctual
- Have a basic understanding of food hygiene (training provided)
Reasons to be a food waste volunteer
- To make a positive impact in your community
- To gain experience in sustainability and food waste recycling
- To meet like-minded people and be part of a supportive team
- To have access to volunteer recognition events and certificates
Training and support
Full induction and training are given at the start of your role. This may include: training on food waste issues, recycling procedures, and effective community engagement techniques. You will also have ongoing support throughout your role from our volunteer coordinator.
DBS checks
If required, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against all volunteers will be conducted at no cost to you.
Expenses
You may claim reimbursement for pre agreed out of pocket expenses such as travel to your place of volunteering
Time commitment
Flexible, depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of specific campaigns or events. You are free to stop volunteering at any time.
Apply
Click here to apply to be a food waste volunteer here via the Plymouth City Council website.
Featured image by Lenka Dzurendova on Unsplash.
