EPR Finance & Economic Development Intern

Circular Action Alliance

2d • Remote

About The Position

CAA is seeking a talented and motivated graduate student to join our team for a summer research internship focused on a high-priority strategic question: How can EPR program funds be leveraged — alongside other public and private capital — to catalyze economic development in the waste and recycling sector?

As EPR programs go live and begin generating meaningful revenue streams, there is a unique and time-sensitive opportunity to think creatively about how those funds, combined with grants, bonds, impact capital, and other financing mechanisms, can drive investment in public and private recycling infrastructure, organics processing (such as composting and AD capacity), and bolstering end markets for recovered materials.

The primary deliverable is a substantive white paper that will directly inform CAA’s program design and stakeholder engagement in its emerging EPR states.

This is not a passive research role. The intern will work closely with CAA’s program and policy teams, engage with state-specific context, and develop actionable recommendations that could shape how EPR-funded economic development is structured for years to come.

Requirements

• Current enrollment in a graduate program in public policy, environmental policy, urban planning, public administration, business, economics, finance, sustainability, law, or a related field
• Strong research and writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information and produce clear, well-structured policy documents
• Demonstrated interest in sustainability, circular economy, waste management, environmental justice, or economic development
• Ability to work independently, manage a research project across a summer timeline, and deliver a publication-quality written product

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Extended Producer Responsibility policy, recycling systems, or solid waste management
• Experience with economic development finance, infrastructure financing, or public-private partnerships
• Knowledge of cooperative or employee ownership models, CDFIs, or community development finance
• Familiarity with one or more of the focus states: Maryland, Minnesota, Maine, or Washington
• Experience conducting policy research in an applied or professional setting

Responsibilities

• The intern will research, draft, and finalize a white paper examining financing mechanisms and economic development strategies applicable to CAA’s EPR programs.
• CAA Program and State Landscape Assessment
• Mapping State Economic Development Resources
• Financing Mechanisms and Capital Pathways
• Community and Employee Ownership Models
• Innovative Program Design Recommendations

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern