What Do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector Do?
Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Example Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
What Do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
- Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
- Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
- Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.
- Organize schedules for refuse collection.
- Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
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What Every Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Should Know
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Types of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector
- Refuse Collector
- Front Loader Residential Driver
- Trash Hauler
- Truck Driver
- Commercial Front Load Operator
Is There Going to be Demand for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 136,000 jobs in the United States for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17,900 new jobs for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 18,900 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector are Utah, Missouri, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Tennessee, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Salary
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make between $22,290 and $66,020 a year.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors who work in Illinois, New York, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $31,080 |
Alaska | $48,000 |
Arizona | $39,960 |
Arkansas | $29,090 |
California | $53,730 |
Colorado | $40,780 |
Connecticut | $44,290 |
Delaware | $40,840 |
Florida | $36,460 |
Georgia | $32,390 |
Hawaii | $37,290 |
Idaho | $35,670 |
Illinois | $57,680 |
Indiana | $33,840 |
Iowa | $33,460 |
Kansas | $32,420 |
Kentucky | $30,200 |
Louisiana | $33,300 |
Maine | $30,800 |
Maryland | $30,890 |
Massachusetts | $44,020 |
Michigan | $41,880 |
Minnesota | $40,240 |
Mississippi | $26,310 |
Missouri | $33,020 |
Montana | $38,840 |
Nebraska | $33,030 |
Nevada | $38,420 |
New Hampshire | $33,110 |
New Jersey | $36,730 |
New Mexico | $32,790 |
New York | $56,710 |
North Carolina | $29,370 |
North Dakota | $33,030 |
Ohio | $37,970 |
Oklahoma | $34,150 |
Oregon | $44,650 |
Pennsylvania | $37,640 |
Rhode Island | $36,620 |
South Carolina | $24,920 |
South Dakota | $26,750 |
Tennessee | $30,060 |
Texas | $34,500 |
Utah | $38,970 |
Vermont | $34,020 |
Virginia | $35,510 |
Washington | $51,780 |
West Virginia | $28,860 |
Wisconsin | $41,330 |
Wyoming | $37,150 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors:
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Payroll software
How do I Become a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector?
What education is needed to be a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector?

What work experience do I need to become a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector?

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Sector

Below are examples of industries where Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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