Environmental Technician II

Fairfax County•Fairfax (Ej17), VA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Environmental Technician IIs support the Fairfax County Household Hazardous Waste Program by collecting, segregating, stabilizing, packaging, labeling, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste received from county residents. The work includes responding to questions and calls from residents and county-based businesses; conducting analytical testing to characterize waste; preparing chemical shipments; assisting with hazardous-material pickup coordination, recycling initiatives, and business hazardous waste disposal events; and maintaining accurate records. Employees apply applicable federal, state, and local requirements to the acceptance, storage, and disposal of household hazardous waste and follow Solid Waste safety programs and guidelines. Duties are performed under general supervision. The position works at both the I-95 Landfill Complex in Lorton and the I-66 Transfer Station in Fairfax, as needed or scheduled, and may require attendance at meetings or trainings at the Fairfax County Government Center. Working hours include weekends and holidays. Fairfax County Government describes its benefits as including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life, and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; reasonable accommodations; and access to its LiveWell employee wellness program. The position requires a high school diploma or GED with coursework in chemistry or other physical or biological sciences, or equivalent education, experience, and training, plus three years of relevant environmental or laboratory experience. Various licenses, certificates, physical capabilities, and pre-employment checks are also required.

Requirements

Education, experience, and training equivalent to high school graduation or a state-issued GED, with coursework in chemistry or other physical or biological sciences.
At least three years of environmental work experience, such as regulatory inspections, chemical or household hazardous-waste processing, or acceptable laboratory experience.
Knowledge of hazardous-waste materials and chemicals and their packaging and disposal.
Knowledge of EPA Subtitle D and C regulations and Virginia Regulation 9 VAC 20-60-10 et seq. concerning hazardous-waste collection, storage, treatment, and transportation.
Knowledge of hazardous-waste testing methods and safety regulations for handling hazardous-waste chemicals.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including respirators and protective clothing, and meet minimum OSHA standards for respirator fit testing.
Ability to collect samples for laboratory and quality-control analysis and identify organic compounds and toxic chemicals using established techniques.
Ability to operate a forklift and light, medium, and heavy equipment or vehicles.
Ability to prepare accurate, complete documentation required by regulatory agencies; follow written and oral instructions; and work independently.
Valid motor vehicle driver’s license.
DOT Medical Card upon hire.
Forklift Safety Training Certificate within three months of hire.
Bulb Eater Certificate within three months of hire.
First Aid, CPR, and AED certifications within six months of hire.
OSHA Hazardous Waste Operations certification within six months of hire.
DOT Hazmat Ground Shipper Certificate and EPA RCRA certification within six months of hire.
Class B Commercial Driver’s License or higher within 12 months of hire.
Hazmat Endorsement H or X and TSA Assessment within 12 months of hire.
Complete a criminal background check, pre-employment physical examination, and driving-record check to the employer’s satisfaction.
Adequate color perception to identify chemical changes.
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds without assistance and 25 to 50 pounds with or without assistance.
Ability to perform chemical segregation and waste determinations, including analytical testing.
Ability to tolerate exposure to dangerous machinery, moving equipment, continuous loud noise, adverse weather and temperatures, hazardous chemicals, odors, and infectious diseases.
Ability to walk, stand, climb, stoop, reach, and work in positions for lengthy periods; manual strength and dexterity to handle equipment, machinery, or materials; and visual acuity to read and operate electronic and field-monitoring equipment.

Nice To Haves

Proficient knowledge of RCRA hazardous waste, non-RCRA hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, and universal waste.
Knowledge of OSHA HAZCOM, GHS, and SDS instructions.
Experience with waste-sampling determination methods.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Proficient knowledge of RCRA, DOT, and HAZWOPER.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act certification.
DOT Hazardous Material Employee Certification.
40-hour HAZWOPER certification.
Bilingual ability in English and another language is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Respond to questions and telephone calls from residents and Fairfax County-based businesses.
Conduct analytical testing to ensure proper waste characterization.
Identify and quantify household hazardous waste by chemical name or physical testing.
Separate chemicals into categories such as corrosives, flammables, toxics, and reactive materials.
Analyze waste for corrosivity, oxidation, PCBs, and trace metals using test kits, pH meters, or physical properties.
Sort, package, and label products according to applicable DOT, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and EPA requirements.
Prepare drums for storage of collected chemicals in accordance with regulations and facility permit requirements.
Perform lab packing for chemical disposal and coordinate hazardous-waste shipments to permitted disposal facilities through contractors.
Assist in coordinating monthly hazardous-material pickups by the county-approved disposal vendor.
Assist with recycling waste streams and county waste-minimization initiatives.
Assist with business hazardous-waste disposal events for CESQGs.
Transport household hazardous waste between facilities and occasionally from off-site locations.
Maintain site and chemical inventories and detailed, accurate waste-disposal records.
Coordinate supply orders and maintain supplies with the program supervisor.
Apply applicable federal, state, and local regulations to household hazardous-waste acceptance, storage, and disposal.
Follow safety practices, Solid Waste safety programs, and DPWES Safety Competencies.
Work at the I-95 Landfill Complex and I-66 Transfer Station as needed or scheduled, and attend meetings or training at the Fairfax County Government Center when required.