COMPOST AND RECYCLING AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Inspire your community to reduce waste, compost, and recycle!
The City of Long Beach Compost and Recycling Ambassador Program (CRA) is an opportunity to explore, in depth, the fascinating world of waste reduction, recycling, and at-home composting. The seven-week program, offered at no cost to residents, combines lectures, hands-on experiences and collaboration to teach community members about waste reduction strategies, recycling history, systems and practices. It also provides training on two primary methods of home composting: vermicomposting and backyard composting. In addition, residents will learn about the Organics Collection program, which helps households separate yard trimmings and food scraps that are not suitable for home composting. Community members who complete the program by attending at least six of the seven required classes and completing the 25 required volunteer hours will be certified as Compost and Recycling Ambassadors.
The City, with funding from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, is partnering with Puente Latino Association to offer the program in Spanish in 2026. Adding a Spanish session supports the City’s language access goals and expands outreach to more residents.
Who should apply?
Any adult over 18 years of age who lives in Long Beach with an interest in learning more about waste reduction, recycling, composting, and becoming a community resource is welcome. All levels of experience are welcome! Space is limited.
View more details and learn how to apply.
Currently, the program is presented in English and Spanish. We are eager to offer the program in multiple languages. Please email us at cra@longbeach.gov if you would like to express interest in your language.
For questions, email cra@longbeach.gov.
The Spring 2026 English session begins on February 19 and the Spring 2026 Spanish session begins on February 21.
Applications are now open.
Become a Compost and Recycling Ambassador
FAQs
Compost and Recycling Ambassadors, or “CRA’s” for short, are a network of Long Beach community members who are trained on waste reduction, recycling right, composting, and effective communication skills through a seven-week course taught by City staff, industry experts, and community leaders.
After attending the seven-week session, participants commit to completing 25 volunteer hours within the Long Beach community to become certified Compost and Recycling Ambassadors.
Since the launch of the CRA program, our goal has been to bridge the gap between awareness and action with the help of passionate community members who can influence their friends, families, co-workers, peers, neighbors, and community to reduce waste and recycle right in their homes, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
We encourage ambassadors to learn more about the important topics covered in class, so participants feel empowered and want to use their knowledge and experiences to engage and educate their community through exciting volunteer opportunities and events.
Not only are they strengthening the City's ability to reach more people, but passionate CRAs are demonstrating the sustainable behaviors (and creating social norms) that we want to see in Long Beach. There’s no better way to engage fellow Long Beach residents than by having our own family, friends, coworkers, peers, and neighbors be the ones motivating us to reduce waste and recycle right in our homes, workplaces, schools, and community spaces.
Since the start of the CRA program in Fall 2022:
- The City has trained over 100 Long Beach residents to become Compost and Recycling Ambassadors.
- Compost and Recycling Ambassadors have completed over 1465 volunteer hours throughout the city.
This program is for adults 18 and older who live in Long Beach and are interested in learning more about waste reduction, recycling, composting, and becoming a community resource. No prior recycling or composting knowledge is required, and all levels of knowledge and experience are welcome!
Before applying, please ensure that you meet the following requirements:
- You are 18 years of age or older
- You live in Long Beach
- You are available for six out of seven sessions
- You can commit to 25 hours of volunteering within 12 months of completing the in-person session.
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities with the City team and partner organizations.
CRA’s have the flexibility to create and pursue volunteer opportunities that interest them and serve their communities’ unique needs, but we do ask for volunteering to be related to either waste reduction, recycling, or sustainability topics and require pre-approval.
Important reminder that all volunteer hours must be completed within the City of Long Beach.
Examples of volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Participating in tabling events with the City team
- Hosting or co-hosting a workshop in your community
- Volunteering with a partner organization
Once the 25-hour commitment is fulfilled, participants are considered certified Compost and Recycling Ambassadors and are encouraged to continue their volunteer service.
To become a CRA, community members must apply for the upcoming session by filling out the CRA Program application. Space is limited, and community members will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The link to apply for the upcoming session will be posted when it becomes available.
Applicants will be notified via email that the session has reached capacity and will be placed on the waitlist in the order in which the applications were submitted. Please be aware that there is no guarantee that a spot will become available while on the waitlist, but there are cases where confirmed participants drop before the session begins.
If a spot becomes available, the program coordinator will reach out to you via email or by phone to confirm if you are still interested in participating.
If you have a project or event that could use CRA volunteer support, email the event details to the CRA program coordinator at CRA@longbeach.gov or submit your inquiry in the form linked here.
Applicable volunteer opportunities for Compost and Recycling Ambassadors can include:
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Attending tabling events
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Giving educational talks or presentations to all ages
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