We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Career

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Become a Waste Management Consultant?

By Carol Francois
Updated: Mar 02, 2024
Views: 12,444
Share

Someone with extensive experience in the waste management industry might want to become a waste management consultant. He or she would provide companies and businesses with professional, expert advise on the different methods available for the reduction of waste and waste-related costs. The demand for this type of service steadily increased when interest in reducing waste and saving the environment increased. Many companies do not need this level of expertise on an ongoing basis but just for a short period of time. This often makes hiring a consultant the best way to access the expertise without spending more money than necessary.

The first step necessary to become a waste management consultant is to obtain post-secondary education in business management or environmental sciences. There is no specific program designed to address waste management, but either of these two options will provide a solid background in understanding business challenges and the impact of waste on the environment. These programs are available from most large colleges or universities.

The next step is to gain experience at a senior level in a waste management or environmental assessment company. A waste management consultant usually has between 10 and 15 years of experience in this industry. In many situations, potential employers value experience more than education.

There have been significant changes in this sector that might make some of the older concepts irrelevant or outdated. For example, the primary focus of waste management used to be finding ways to bury or hide waste. Now the primary focus is to create processes that do not produce as much waste and finding effective ways to reuse the waste.

Building a professional reputation and business contacts is essential if you want to become a waste management consultant. You will rely heavily on this network for information about changes in the industry, potential consulting contracts and other valuable information. This process takes time and a significant investment of effort in networking and socializing. Without this network, you run the risk of losing out on potential contracts.

There are two primary employment options for a waste management consultant: working as an employee for a large consulting company or setting up a private business. As an employee, there is a greater degree of income stability and benefits, such as paid vacation and sick days. However, a private business as a consultant can be very lucrative. Most people who want to become a waste management consultant start off as an employee of a consulting company, and they set up a private business only when they have secured a long-term contract.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon88711 — On Jun 06, 2010

In addition to your current primary focuses on handling waste should be transparency. Being completely open about what you're doing, and encouraging others to get interested in learning about their impact is huge. Your compliance and morale and reputation all increase very quickly.

Also, consulting will come naturally as an option to those that are called upon for their advice on the subject, and will ultimately be more successful than anyone that just decides to try being a waste consultant.

Nice write-up. It's nice to see articles written on what I love doing. Cheers! --Tyler W.

Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/how-do-i-become-a-waste-management-consultant.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.