Baler Operator Jobs in Gaffney, SC (NOW HIRING)

Salary: See Position Description
Location : York County Solid Waste Collection & Recycling, SC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-01123
Department: Public Works
Division: Solid Waste Collection
Opening Date: 08/17/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
FLSA: Non-Exempt
About us
York County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation of our success.
Mission Statement- York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.
Vision Statement- York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed. Core Values -Excellence through Professionalism

• Respect - respect builds bridges, not silos.How we live it? Golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
• Dedicated- strong work ethic.How we live it? Persistence, reliability and commitment to do your best.
• Integrity- do the right thing instead of what is convenient.How we live it? Displaying strong moral principles.
• Knowledgeable- ready and able.How we live it? Having the right competencies necessary for achievement.
• Friendly- service with a smile.How we live it? Being respectful, pleasant and helpful to ALL.

About our opportunity
We are hiring a full-time (40 hours weekly), non-exempt Operations HEO with Solid Waste Collection & Recycling. The purpose of this position is to perform the duties required for the processing of recyclable materials collected from the County's collection and recycling centers or delivered by municipalities and private haulers delivered to the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). These duties primarily include the operations of manufacturing equipment for the sorting of single stream recycling that include: balers, optical sorting, and production conveyor belt sorting. This position works with contract staffing daily and supports the collection, sorting, packaging, and shipment of recyclable materials. The position also includes commercial vehicle operations. For more information on the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) please view the following video link:
Projected Salary Range/Pay Grade 111: $20.60 - $24.72 per hour. Salary is determined based on qualifications.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 am - 3:00 pm (40 hours per week) with occasional Saturdays and holiday shifts; occasional overtime available per operational needs.
Our Total Compensation Package:

• Compensation - competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
• Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Parental Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
• 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
• Longevity Pay
• SC State Retirement Plan Pension
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• Expanded Sick Bank
• Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
• Wellness Screenings
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Professional Development / Trainings / Conferences

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates a commercial vehicle to transport solid waste and/or recyclables from the County C&R Centers to the landfill, Material Recovery Facility (MRF), or other processing/disposal facilities.
• Maintains the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and buildings surrounding, operates and adjusts automated sorting line, PLCs, Baler, vehicles, and heavy equipment.
• Coordinates, trains and assigns tasks to temporary laborers and/or inmate laborers for the operation and maintenance of York County's Material Recovery Facility (MRF), recycling facilities, and county collection and recycling centers.
• Prepares and loads recyclables onto tractor-trailers for shipment.
• Operates heavy equipment for the loading and movement of materials.
• Separates, packages, and delivers recyclables into appropriate categories and deliver as scheduled.
• Performs daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly operator preventive maintenance on automated sorting equipment, baler, and equipment necessary to perform duties.
• Conducts and attends daily and routine safety meetings for staff as required.
• Assists with special events as required.
• Performs related work as assigned.

About you
Minimum Education and Experience:

• High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
• Two (2) years of experience operating heavy equipment or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Valid state Class B, Commercial driver's license. Class A, preferred.
• Heavy Equipment Certification and CPR/First Aid/AED Certification or the ability to obtain.
• Requires Confined Space, Fire Extinguisher, Lock Out Tag Out, Hazard Communications, and Hazardous Materials Training required (Provided by the Department).
• OSHA 10 Hour General Industry Certification preferred.

Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered.
Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer
Physical Demands: Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

• Performs medium work that involves walking, standing, stooping, jumping, dancing, stretching, or lifting all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or exceptional skill, adeptness and speed in the use of the fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving very close tolerances or limits of accuracy.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment): Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken. Involves routine and frequent exposure to:

• Bright/dim light; Dusts and pollen.
• Extreme heat and/or cold; Wet or humid conditions.
• Extreme noise levels, Animals/wildlife.
• Vibration; Fumes and/or noxious odors.
• Traffic; Moving machinery.
• Electrical shock; Heights.
• Radiation; Disease/pathogens.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.
Standard Clauses: May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Full-time employees are allowed to participate in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs offered by York County Government. If employees elect to secure dependent coverage, the employee should pay the additional costs for such coverage. All statements of insurance coverage are subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and other eligibility requirements that are set forth in various insurance plan documents.
Our full-time benefits through PEBA (South Carolina Retirement Systems and State Health Plan) include health insurance, prescription benefits, dental, vision, life insurance, MoneyPlus, Health Savings Accounts, retirement (Membership in the South Carolina Retirement System is mandatory for county employees), and deferred compensation. Making decisions about your insurance and retirement benefits can sometimes be complicated and difficult. The Navigating Your Benefits series provides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your insurance and retirement benefits:
Other full-time benefits include longevity allowance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, Sick Leave Bank, wellness benefits, Employee Assistance Program, etc. Please contact Human Resources at Human.Resources@yorkcountygov.com if you would like more information.
Longevity Allowance
Full-time regular county employees, elected officials, appointed officials, and judges with ten or more years of full time continuous governmental service are eligible to receive a monthly longevity allowance in addition to their regular compensation. Continuous service transferred from employment with another county, municipality, state or a political entity created by the State may contribute toward eligibility for the longevity allowance. Longevity allowances are paid according to the following schedule.
Longevity Allowance
Years of Continuous Service Monthly Longevity Amount
10-14 Years $20.00
15-19 Years $25.00
20-24 Years $30.00
25-29 Years $35.00
30-34 Years $40.00
35-39 Years $45.00
40+ Years $50.00
Parental LeaveEmployees that have been employed at least 12 months with the county may be eligible for up to 30 days of parental leave immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a legal dependent child.Bereavement Leave
Three (3) days of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member, which includes a spouse, parent, grandparent or child.Annual Leave
Probationary and regular full-time county employees that work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave with pay. Employees in their new hire six (6) month probationary period shall not be able to use annual leave until they become regular county employees. Employees who are separating from county service shall be paid for all accrued, unused annual leave up to 360 hours provided they give York County as the employer the proper notice as required. Employees in their six (6) month New Hire probationary period who are terminated or separated from employment shall not be paid for accrued annual leave. The maximum amount of annual leave carried into each calendar year is 360 hours.
Earning Rate for Full-Time Employees
Full-time employees with less than ten years of continuous service earn at the rate of eight hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve month period. Full-time employees with at least ten years, but less than twenty years of continuous service will earn at the rate of ten (10) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve-month period. Full-time employees with twenty or more years of service will earn at the rate of twelve (12) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve (12) months period.
Sick Leave
Full-time county employees may be entitled to earn sick leave with pay. Employees may accrue up to 1,440 hours of sick leave. Upon termination of employment with the County, employees may not be reimbursed for any unused sick leave. When a paid holiday occurs while an employee is on sick leave with pay, the day may not be charged as sick leave.
Earning Rate of Sick Leave
Full time employees will earn eight hours of sick leave per month of service during a twelve month period.
Paid Holiday's
The following days may be observed as paid holidays for York County Employees:
January - December: 3 Optional Holidays per Calendar Year
January: New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Day
May: Memorial Day
June: Juneteenth Day
July: Independence Day
September: Labor Day
November: Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday after Thanksgiving
December: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Training:
Quality training and educational programs are available at various times for county employees in order to support workforce development that is consistent with organizational objectives. Training topics may include driver training, CPR/first aid, communication, supervisor training, workplace violence, substance abuse, and various computer related classes.
01
This position requires a valid state Class B, Commercial driver's license. Class A, preferred. Please list the class of your drivers license, endorsements, and any restrictions.
02
As Operations HEO, you will maintain the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and buildings surrounding, operate and adjust automated sorting line, PLCs, Baler, vehicles, and heavy equipment. Please describe your experience as it relates to this position.
Required Question