Life As a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector
Position Description Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
Life As a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector
- Fill out defective equipment reports.
- Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
- Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items.
- Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.
- Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
- Provide quotes for refuse collection contracts.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as 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.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
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.
Types of Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector Jobs
- Rolloff Truck Driver
- Front Loader Residential Driver
- Limb Driver
- Automation Driver
- Driver/Refuse Collector
Are There Job Opportunities for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?
There were about 136,000 jobs for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 18,900 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
What is the Average Salary of a Refuse & Recyclable Material Collector
The typical yearly salary for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors is somewhere between $22,290 and $66,020.

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors who work in Illinois, New York, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors 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 |
What Tools & Technology do Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors Use?
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 to 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?

Who Employs Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors?

Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors work in the following industries:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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