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What is a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector?

Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Example Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

Life as a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector: What Do They Do?

Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items.
Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.

Qualities of a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector

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.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Types of Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Jobs

Recycle Driver
Garbage Worker
Wasteman
Residential Recycle Driver
Driver/Refuse Collector

Is There Job Demand for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?

In the United States, there were 136,000 jobs for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in 2016.

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 13.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17,900 new jobs for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors by 2026. The BLS estimates 18,900 yearly job openings in this field per year.

Forecasted Number of Jobs for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors in U.S.

The states with the most job growth for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors are California, Texas, and New York.

Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Tennessee, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Salary

The salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors ranges between about $22,290 and $66,020 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $37,260.

Salary Ranges for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State
State	Annual Mean Salary
Illinois	$57,680
New York	$56,710
California	$53,730
Washington	$51,780
Alaska	$48,000
Oregon	$44,650
Connecticut	$44,290
Massachusetts	$44,020
Michigan	$41,880
Wisconsin	$41,330
Delaware	$40,840
Colorado	$40,780
Minnesota	$40,240
Arizona	$39,960
Utah	$38,970
Montana	$38,840
Nevada	$38,420
Ohio	$37,970
Pennsylvania	$37,640
Hawaii	$37,290
Wyoming	$37,150
New Jersey	$36,730
Rhode Island	$36,620
Florida	$36,460
Idaho	$35,670
Virginia	$35,510
Texas	$34,500
Oklahoma	$34,150
Vermont	$34,020
Indiana	$33,840
Iowa	$33,460
Louisiana	$33,300
New Hampshire	$33,110
North Dakota	$33,030
Nebraska	$33,030
Missouri	$33,020
New Mexico	$32,790
Kansas	$32,420
Georgia	$32,390
Alabama	$31,080
Maryland	$30,890
Maine	$30,800
Kentucky	$30,200
Tennessee	$30,060
North Carolina	$29,370
Arkansas	$29,090
West Virginia	$28,860
South Dakota	$26,750
Mississippi	$26,310
South Carolina	$24,920

How do I Become a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector?

What kind of Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector requirements are there?

Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Degree Level

How Long Does it Take to Become Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector?

Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Work Experience

Who Employs Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?

Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Sectors

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector may also be interested in:

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

Those who work as Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

Agricultural Equipment Operators

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons

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