What You'll Do

  • Extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment.
  • Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
  • Collect recyclable materials from curbside for delivery to designated facilities.
  • Deposit recoverable materials into chutes or place materials on conveyor belts.
  • Operate automated refuse or manual recycling collection vehicles.
  • Operate balers to compress recyclable materials into bundles or bales.
  • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, power lifts, or front-end loaders to load bales, bundles, or other heavy items onto trucks for shipping to smelters or other recycled materials processing facilities.
  • Operate processing equipment, such as fiber-sorters and grinders, to sort, crush, or grind recyclable materials.
  • Record logs of recycled materials or waste chemicals removed from products.
  • Sort metals to separate high-grade metals, such as copper, brass, and aluminum, for recycling.

Essential Skills

Operation and Control 3.25/5
Active Listening 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Operations Monitoring 3.12/5
Speaking 2.75/5
Critical Thinking 2.75/5
Quality Control Analysis 2.75/5
Reading Comprehension 2.62/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.62/5
Coordination 2.62/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.62/5
Time Management 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Integrity, Self-Control, Attention to Detail, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Manual Dexterity 3.75/5
Control Precision 3.62/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.5/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.5/5
Near Vision 3.5/5
Category Flexibility 3.25/5
Finger Dexterity 3.25/5
Trunk Strength 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Word Work scheduling software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.11/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.96/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.82/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 3.74/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.71/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Auto Dismantler Bobcat Driver Box Sorter Computer Recycling Worker Convenience Recycle Center Technician (Convenience Recycle Center Tech) Deconstruction and Decontamination Waste Operations Specialist (D and D Waste Operations Specialist) Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Worker Materials Sorter Non-Ferrous Material Handler Pallet Sorter Reclamation Worker Recyclable Materials Sorter Recycling and Reclamation Worker Recycling Sorter Recycling Technician Recycling Worker Refuse and Recycling Worker Refuse Laborer Scrap Metal Processing Worker Shredding Specialist Sort Line Worker Sorter Transfer Station Operator Waste Management Recycling Technician