Hazardous Waste Technicians, Variable Hour

Oregon Metro•Metro South Transfer Station, OR

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Metro is seeking a Hazardous Waste Technician to join their team. This role involves using applied science to protect the environment while working in a busy workplace with a strong team spirit. The technician will be comfortable working carefully and safely with and around chemicals and hazardous materials while wearing personal protective equipment, and excel at customer and public service. The position is located at Metro South Transfer Station in Oregon City and at community collection events throughout the region. This job is an essential part of Metro’s work to manage the region’s solid waste and is guided by the 2030 Regional Waste Plan with a commitment to leading with equity. The Hazardous Waste Technician will serve the community by collecting hazardous materials from residents and small businesses, working as a team to safely and properly identify, accept, receive, sort, inspect, process, package, manifest, and dispose of hazardous waste in compliance with all state and federal regulations. They will correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, and keep PPE clean and in good working condition. The role may involve testing unknown hazardous waste in the lab, providing information and answering customer questions, participating in collection events and outreach activities, and keeping routine records. Additionally, the technician will prepare inventory counts, reports, and labpack documents, and inspect, maintain, and safely operate facility equipment. They may also support staff in responding to emergencies, chemical releases, or spills.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED
One year of specialized training or experience in a field related to hazardous waste management, or Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

More than one year of experience sorting, identifying, and processing hazardous waste.
Experience with chemical analysis, lab work, chemistry and/or working with radiation.
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification.
Knowledge of hazardous material regulations set by the Department of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
An Associate degree and/or coursework in chemistry, environmental science, or natural science.
Current Oregon Commercial Driver License (CDL).
Incident Command System (ICS) training and/or emergency response experience.

Responsibilities

Serve the community, protect people and the environment by collecting hazardous materials from residents and small businesses.
Work as a team to safely and properly identify, accept, receive, sort, inspect, process, package, manifest and dispose of hazardous waste by all state and federal regulations.
Correctly use personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, and keep PPE clean and in good working condition.
May be involved in testing unknown hazardous waste in the lab to classify it for safe disposal.
Provide information and answer customers’ hazardous waste questions in person, by phone or email.
Participate in neighborhood hazardous waste collection events and outreach activities.
Keep routine records such as incident reports and daily operational forms.
Prepare inventory counts, reports, and labpack documents.
Inspect, maintain and safely operate facility equipment including, but not limited to: material handling equipment, waste processing equipment, monitoring equipment, pallet jacks and hand tools.
May support staff in responding to emergencies, chemical releases or spills in the facility or transfer station.