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Garbage Collection Jobs in North Carolina (NOW HIRING)

$22.87 - $28.58/hr

... collection trucks, resurfacing cuts in streets, ditch maintenance, and other tasks. Work is ... garbage, picking up litter, discarding yard waste, and trimming trees and bushes Makes routine ...

Food Service Worker

Winston Salem, NC · On-site

$13 - $15.75/hr

Maintain garbage collection site and kitchen floor areas in a neat and sanitary fashion * Perform other duties as assigned including other areas in the kitchen * This role may have physical demands ...

Food Service Worker - Montreat College

Asheville, NC · On-site

$14.25 - $17.25/hr

Maintain garbage collection site and kitchen floor areas in a neat and sanitary fashion * Perform other duties as assigned including other areas in the kitchen * This role may have physical demands ...

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Garbage Collection information

See North Carolina salary details

$4

$14

$26

How much do garbage collection jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for garbage collection in North Carolina is $14.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.59 and $13.32 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a garbage collector?

Garbage collectors, also known as sanitation workers or waste collectors, are responsible for collecting, transporting, and disposing of residential and commercial waste and recyclables. They operate garbage trucks, pick up trash and recycling bins, and ensure that waste is properly sorted and delivered to landfills, recycling centers, or other disposal facilities. This job plays a crucial role in keeping communities clean, preventing the spread of disease, and supporting environmental health.

What are some common challenges faced by garbage collectors, and how can new employees prepare for them?

Garbage collectors often face challenges such as physically demanding work, exposure to varying weather conditions, and strict time schedules. New employees can prepare by maintaining good physical fitness, wearing appropriate protective gear, and familiarizing themselves with safety procedures. It’s also helpful to develop strong teamwork skills since the job typically requires close collaboration with a partner or crew to efficiently and safely complete routes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a garbage collector, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Garbage Collector, you need physical stamina, attention to safety, and often a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with waste management vehicles, hydraulic lift systems, and sometimes a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are typical technical requirements. Reliability, teamwork, and a strong work ethic are important soft skills for excelling in this role. These skills are crucial to efficiently and safely maintaining public health and cleanliness in communities.

What is the difference between Garbage Collection vs Waste Management Worker?

AspectGarbage CollectionWaste Management Worker
CredentialsHigh school diploma, CDL license often preferredHigh school diploma, safety training
Work EnvironmentUrban and suburban streets, residential and commercial areasLandfills, recycling centers, waste processing facilities
Industry UsagePublic sanitation services, municipal governmentPrivate waste disposal companies, public agencies

Garbage Collection primarily involves collecting waste from residential and commercial areas using specialized trucks, often requiring a commercial driver's license. Waste Management Worker encompasses a broader role, including handling waste at landfills, recycling centers, and processing facilities. While both roles focus on waste disposal, Garbage Collection is more about curbside pickup, whereas Waste Management Worker involves the entire waste processing cycle.

How do you become a garbage collector?

To become a garbage collector, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver's license, and the ability to operate collection trucks. Some positions may require physical stamina and knowledge of safety procedures; on-the-job training is common. Certification is not usually required but can improve job prospects.

What are popular job titles related to Garbage Collection jobs in North Carolina?

For Garbage Collection jobs in North Carolina, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Garbage Collection jobs in North Carolina look for?

The top searched job categories for Garbage Collection jobs in North Carolina are:

What cities in North Carolina are hiring for Garbage Collection jobs?

Cities in North Carolina with the most Garbage Collection job openings:

Infographic showing various Garbage Collection job openings in North Carolina as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 57% Full Time, and 43% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $30,834 per year, or $14.8 per hour.

Environmental Services Worker I

City of Hendersonville

Hendersonville, NC • On-site

$14.25 - $18/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Responsible for performing light to heavy manual labor work in the collection and disposal of municipal garbage, recycling, yard waste, and refuse from residences and businesses.  An employee in this class collects municipal garbage, recycling, yard waste, and refuse from residences and businesses. Work is performed as a member of a sanitation collection crew and includes loading waste into a rear packer garbage truck (consisting of potentially heavy garbage containers and waste bags) and washing and steam cleaning garbage trucks. Work occurs in all weather conditions and may include working holidays and working overtime. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Environmental Services Supervisor and is evaluated for efficiency and work completion according to department and community standards of assigned routes. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

  • Works as a team on a rear packer garbage truck; inspects garbage to avoid collecting contaminated and hazardous waste; moves or picks up solid waste carts from curb and takes to the back of sanitation truck; returns carts to curb; and cleans area around carts and curbs. 
  • Assists with disposing of solid waste at transfer sites and landfills. 
  • Provides labor to other personnel in the removal and transport of brush and limbs, yard waste, recycling, dead animals and household trash collection; and may be assigned to help with chipping operations or other public works duties as assigned. 
  • Directs traffic and guides truck operators in congested areas as sanitation equipment operator backs up trucks, spots for driver when necessary. 
  • Performs routine and unskilled preventive maintenance on equipment; cleans garbage collection vehicles including tasks such as washing, steaming, and cleaning interior. 
  • Pressure washes sidewalks; and pressure washes and disinfect old cans from customers that have moved or want a different size can. 
  • Trim limbs that scratch or cause low visibility. 
  • Identify and report on route, equipment, and safety issues. 
  • Trains new workers and/or new operators on route concepts, hand signals and packing the truck. 
  • Assists in the preparation of city sponsored special events. 
  • Performs other related job duties as assigned.  

Qualifications for Environmental Services Worker I - Grade 10 - $42,260.45 - $44,373.47

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or GED equivalent. No experience in refuse or solid waste collection is required.  

Special Qualifications (Requirements exist at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment)

  • Possession of a valid Class C Driver's License to operate a motor vehicle.   
  • Flagger Training (1 Yr) 
  • ES1 - Worker Training  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

  • Basic knowledge of garbage truck operation including operation of a packer blade. 
  • Knowledge of geographical location of city streets. 
  • Ability to perform continuous heavy manual work at a steady pace in adverse weather conditions; ability to understand and follow specific oral instructions; dependability. 
  • Ability to lift and dump garbage bags/cans into a rear loading garbage truck (up to nine tons of yard waste per day). 
  • Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time, perform duties in heavy traffic and under adverse weather conditions, and work as part of a team in a variety of weather conditions. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Work in this classification is defined as heavy work requiring the physical exertion of up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, handling and repetitive motions. Work requires dexterity in the hands for typing and operation of standard office equipment, and visual acuity is necessary to read handwritten and typewritten materials and to operate a computer terminal. Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection of products, operation of machines, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Work is primarily performed in outside environmental conditions including extreme heat and cold. Employees are subject to the noise which may require the worker to shout to be heard above the ambient noise level. Employees are subject to vibration such as oscillating movements of the extremities or the whole body when working with equipment. Employees are subject to hazards including exposure to mechanical equipment and atmospheric conditions due to exposure to fumes, odors, dust, and oils, and potential for biological or human waste. Employees are exposed to moving or parked vehicles, stray or loose animals, insects, broken glass and metal, and other conditions associated with solid waste collections. 

The City of Hendersonville is located in Henderson County, North Carolina. Hendersonville consisting of six square miles and multiple historic districts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and sits between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains, 22 miles south of Asheville, NC. With an altitude of 2200 feet above sea level, the region provides wonderful year-round recreational opportunities. The City is home to over 14,000 residents and operates under a Council- Manager form of government. A thriving Hendersonville Historic Downtown district, and member of the NC Main Street Program, Hendersonville is host to a variety of businesses, festivals and activities throughout the year. This beautiful mountain community strives to maintain its quality of life for year-round residents as well as the seasonal influx of tourists in Fall and Summer.

The responsibilities of the Public Works departmentinclude c oordinating street maintenance, maintaining traffic signals and lights, garbage and trash collection, maintaining public buildings, grounds and cemetery, recycling program, snow and ice removal, leaf collection, removal of dead animals within the street right of way, beautification of downtown Hendersonville and Seventh Avenue Historical District and the City Garage.