Career Overview
Supervise curbside and drop-off recycling programs for municipal governments or private firms.
Also Known As
- Heavy Equipment Supervisor
- Route Supervisor
- Solid Waste Division Supervisor
- Waste Reduction Coordinator
Alternate Job Titles
- Agency Operator
- Corporate Recycling Manager
- Heavy Equipment Supervisor
- Materials Manager
- Recycle Coordinator
- Recycle Supervisor
- Recycling Center Operator
- Recycling Coordinator
- Recycling Crew Supervisor
- Recycling Manager
- Recycling Operations Manager
- Recycling Operator
- Recycling Program Manager
- Recycling Sorter
- Recycling Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances.
- Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies.
- Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers.
- Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service.
- Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations.
- Identify or investigate new opportunities for materials to be collected and recycled.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Management of Personnel Resources
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Time Management
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Information Ordering
- Problem Sensitivity
- Inductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Relationships
- Independence
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Cardboard balers
- Computer laser printers
- Crushing machines
- Desktop computers
- Forklifts
- Granulators
- Hand trucks
- Handheld calculators
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Pallet jacks
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
- Recyclable material sorters
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Contact With Others
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $38,940
First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: Varies
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $78,300
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,350
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

