Recycling Ambassador Program
Recycling Ambassadors are Dakota County volunteers who help the community reduce waste and recycle right. The training will help you gain skills to help inspire people in your communities. Participants hear presentations from experts on waste reduction, recycling, composting and solid waste and go on field trips to relevant sites.
After graduating the training, participants agree to volunteer at least 30 hours in Dakota County.
Become a Recycling Ambassador
Recycling Ambassador Program
To bridge the gap between awareness and action by motivating people to reduce waste in their homes and workplaces.
The Recycling Ambassador training is six classes, held once a week for six weeks. Each week will have a mix of presentations, live speakers and hands-on activities.
Topics covered:
- Introduction to solid waste
- Waste reduction and food waste prevention
- Recycling
- Household hazardous waste
- Food scraps drop-off and composting
- Becoming a Recycling Ambassador
- Behavior change
Tour stops:
- Recycling facility
- Recycling Zone
- Compost facilities
- Landfills
After completing the training, Recycling Ambassadors become certified by logging 30 hours of community outreach. Recycling Ambassadors can volunteer with existing organizations (e.g., county, city, nonprofit) or they can create their own project. Recycling Ambassadors will receive volunteer opportunities by direct email and e-newsletters.
Community outreach examples:
- Reduce waste at your workplace or place of worship
- Waste station monitoring
- Container labeling
- Volunteer at a thrift store
- Volunteer with a food shelf
Check out the volunteer opportunities for current Recycling Ambassadors.
- Attend all six classes.
- Volunteer 30 hours of community outreach.
- Log your hours on Better Impact.
Dakota County wants to ensure all can take part. If you need any accommodations to support accessibility, please email access@co.dakota.mn.us at least 48 hours in advance. For transportation options, contact the GoDakota program.
If you have a project or event that could use Recycling Ambassadors, contact Rachel Kennedy.
Volunteer opportunities include staffing informational booths at events, monitoring waste stations at festivals and giving presentations.
Recycling Ambassador Annual Report
Year | Volunteer hours | Hourly cost value | Total value | Number of residents engaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 502.75 | $27.20 | $13,674.80 | 10,229 |
2015 | 637.5 | $27.20 | $17,340.00 | 10,451 |
2016 | 769 | $27.20 | $20,916.80 | 11,134 |
2017 | 716.75 | $27.20 | $19,495.60 | 7,812 |
2018 | 1,087.18 | $27.20 | $29,571.30 | 10,290 |
2019 | 1,244.26 | $27.20 | $33,843.87 | 12,345 |
2020 | 514.08 | $27.20 | $13,982.98 | 7,729 |
2021 | 562.5 | $29.95 | $16,846.88 | 3,140 |
2022 | 710.73 | $31.80 | $22,601.21 | 4,929 |
2023 | 1,110.48 | $33.49 | $37,189.98 | 4,531 |
2024 | 867.37 | $34.79 | $30,175.80 | 5,621 |
2025 | 1,005 | $36.14 | 36,320.70 | 5,008 |
All time | 9,272.60 | - | $291,959.91 | 93,219 |
Hourly cost value is calculated using the Independent Sector's Value of Volunteer time.