Recycling and Reclamation Workers - 51-9199.01

Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.

Sample of reported job titles: Bobcat Driver/Labor, Box Sorter, Convenience Recycle Center Tech, Crane Operator, Deconstruction and Decontamination Waste Operations Specialist, Equipment Operator, Non-Ferrous Material Handler, Sort Line Worker, Sorter, Transfer Station Operator

Tasks

• Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
• Clean recycling yard by sweeping, raking, picking up broken glass and loose paper debris, or moving barrels and bins.
• 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.
• Sort metals to separate high-grade metals, such as copper, brass, and aluminum, for recycling.
• Clean, inspect, or lubricate recyclable collection equipment or perform routine maintenance or minor repairs on recycling equipment, such as star gears, finger sorters, destoners, belts, and grinders.
• Collect and sort recyclable construction materials, such as concrete, drywall, plastics, or wood, into containers.
• Extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment.
• Deposit recoverable materials into chutes or place materials on conveyor belts.
• Operate balers to compress recyclable materials into bundles or bales.
• Clean materials, such as metals, according to recycling requirements.
• Record logs of recycled materials or waste chemicals removed from products.
• Operate processing equipment, such as fiber-sorters and grinders, to sort, crush, or grind recyclable materials.
• Cut discarded products, such as appliances and automobiles, into small pieces using saws, blow torches, or other hand or power tools.
• Collect recyclable materials from curbside for delivery to designated facilities.
• Operate automated refuse or manual recycling collection vehicles.

Technology Skills

• Calendar and scheduling software - Work scheduling software
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Adjustable wrenches - Adjustable hand wrenches
• Belt conveyors - Belt conveyor systems
• Blow torch - Blow torches
• Cargo trucks - Recycling collection trucks; Tractor-trailer trucks
• Claw hammer - Claw hammers
• Crushers - Crushing machines
• Desktop computers
• Ear muffs - Protective ear muffs
• Forklifts
• Front end loaders - Utility work machines; Wheeled front end loaders
• Grinding or polishing machines - Grinders
• Hex keys - Hex wrenches
• Hoists - Material hoists
• Ladders - Extension ladders
• Laser fax machine - Laser facsimile machines
• Lifts - Power lifts
• Locking pliers - Channel lock pliers
• Minivans or vans - Work vans
• Packaging compactors - Cardboard balers; Horizontal balers; Material compactors
• Pallet trucks - Pallet jacks
• Paper shredding machines or accessories - Paper shredders
• Personal computers
• Photocopiers - Photocopying equipment
• Pocket calculator - Handheld calculators
• Power drills - Cordless drills
• Power saws
• Refrigerant compressors - Refrigerant reclamation equipment
• Safety glasses
• Screwdrivers - Phillips head screwdrivers; Straight screwdrivers
• Skid steer loaders
• Sorters - Fiber sorters; Magnetized can sorters
• Special purpose telephones - Multi-line telephone systems
• Two way radios - Mobile radios
• Utility knives
• Wire cutters

Knowledge

• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Skills

• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Abilities

• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
• Speed of Limb Movement - The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.

Interests

• Interest code: RC
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Context

• Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - 93% responded “Every day.”
• Exposed to Contaminants - 78% responded “Every day.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 69% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - 70% responded “Every day.”
• Spend Time Standing - 59% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 60% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Contact With Others - 52% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 51% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 47% responded “Every day.”
• Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - 37% responded “Every day.”
• Outdoors, Under Cover - 50% responded “Every day.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 37% responded “Extremely important.”
• In an Open Vehicle or Equipment - 53% responded “Every day.”
• Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - 40% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 61% responded “Every day.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 31% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 30% responded “High responsibility.”
• Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - 39% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Spend Time Walking and Running - 39% responded “About half the time.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 34% responded “A lot of freedom.”
• Time Pressure - 33% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled - 49% responded “Every day.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 26% responded “Extremely important.”
• Physical Proximity - 44% responded “Moderately close (at arm's length).”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 28% responded “Important results.”
• In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - 40% responded “Every day.”
• Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - 42% responded “Every day.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 41% responded “Every day.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 42% responded “Important.”
• Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment - 26% responded “Very important.”
• Exposed to Hazardous Equipment - 43% responded “Every day.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
74%	High school diploma or equivalent
15%	Associate's degree
8%	Doctoral degree

Work Styles

• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Work Values

• Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
• Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $13.89 hourly, $28,890 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 264,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Slower than average (2% to 4%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 31,400