Refuse/Recycle Collector

City of Olympia

3d•$70,512 - $85,707•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for collecting refuse and recyclables on a regularly scheduled route for the City of Olympia. The work includes operating trucks and hydraulic machinery, conducting safety and equipment checks, performing minor maintenance and repairs, coordinating route scheduling, and delivering collected materials to appropriate destinations. Collectors serve residential, multifamily, and commercial customers and maintain continuous service during inclement weather, emergencies, and natural disasters. The role is highly visible to the public and requires courteous communication when responding to questions, comments, and complaints. Collectors document contamination issues and work orders, maintain required vehicle logs, and follow safety, Department of Transportation, and City procedures. Work is primarily outdoors in varied and sometimes hazardous conditions and involves strenuous physical activity, heavy equipment operation, and exposure risks. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED, or a combination of experience, certification, education, and training that demonstrates expertise in related areas.
Valid Washington State driver’s license.
Commercial driver’s license (CDL), Class B.
Knowledge of occupational hazards and appropriate safety precautions related to refuse and recyclable collection.
Knowledge of proper and safe hydraulic machinery operation.
Knowledge of Washington State motor vehicle laws.
Skill using Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel) and applicable department and organization-specific software, with the ability to learn specialized software.
Skill operating various types of heavy equipment.
Ability to work as a member of a service-provision team.
Ability to drive and operate two- and three-axle trucks and use complex hydraulic machinery.
Ability to identify and repair minor problems on refuse and recycling trucks and other section equipment.
Ability to perform basic routine truck maintenance, such as changing oil.
Ability to recognize hazardous materials and manage exposure according to policy and training.
Mathematical skills required for the work.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to use reasoning skills to minimize duplication of effort, including comparing, classifying, analyzing, and coordinating.
Ability to handle difficult and stressful situations professionally, defuse potentially confrontational situations, and resolve disputes.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people across diverse backgrounds.
Ability to repeatedly lift cans weighing up to 70 pounds, repeatedly climb into and exit a large truck, and perform repetitive shoulder and arm movements while supporting weight.
Ability to concentrate while driving and operating heavy equipment and machinery and to respond quickly using appropriate judgment when safety is at risk.
Complete an extensive driver training program for each type of truck: at least 80 hours for side-load, 160 hours for front-load, and 80 hours for rear-load.

Nice To Haves

Some experience operating two- and three-axle trucks is preferred.

Responsibilities

Collect refuse and recyclables on regularly scheduled or special routes and deliver materials to the appropriate destinations.
Operate hydraulic machinery, including winches, container lifts, and packers.
Complete equipment checks before each shift to ensure equipment is safe and properly serviced.
Perform minor equipment repairs and maintenance, or notify fleet services when more extensive repairs are needed; fuel, lubricate, and examine trucks.
Provide continuous refuse, recycling, and organics collection for residential, multifamily, and commercial customers during inclement weather, natural disasters, and emergencies.
Identify and coordinate potential exposure to chemicals or other hazardous materials.
Assist other departments with emergency waste-management response, including encampment cleanups, upon request.
Complete monthly safety training and ongoing driving training as needed.
Respond to public inquiries and resolve difficult or sensitive inquiries, issues, and complaints according to established standards and protocols.
Create work orders and monitor them through completion.
Document contamination issues on electronic tablets by taking pictures and entering data.
Update logbooks from drivers’ daily log sheets and ensure compliance with DOT requirements, including pre- and post-vehicle inspections.
Work shifts outside normal business hours and on holidays and weekends as required by the essential functions.
Follow City and public safety guidelines, perform work safely, and report safety hazards according to established policies and procedures.
Maintain punctual, regular, and reliable attendance.
Operate two- and three-axle trucks and heavy equipment safely.
Perform basic routine truck maintenance, such as changing oil.
Manage hazardous-material exposure according to policy and training.
Maintain courteous public interactions and refer questions or complaints requiring more than a brief routine response to a Lead Worker or the Waste Management Supervisor.