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Recycling Center Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Recycling Center Attendant LOCATION: Santa Barbara/Goleta FLSA EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for interacting with customers to assist in weighing loads ...

Recycling Center Operator

Durango, CO · On-site

$21.81 - $26.18/hr

Recycling Center - 8413 Opening Date: 07/02/2026 Closing Date: Continuous Schedule Details:: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. Description Join the City of Durango in our commitment to ...

We're looking for a Recycling Center Operator to provide excellent customer service at the public drop-off area of the City of Durango's recycling program. In this role, you will operate light, power ...

Essential Functions Monitors compactor/recycling sites at all times during regularly scheduled hours and ensures proper operation including placement of all trash and recyclables in designated ...

Recycling Center Sorter

Mooresville, NC · On-site

$12.75 - $16/hr

The Republic Services Polymer Center is the nation's first integrated plastics recycling facility. This innovative site processes rigid plastics from our recycling centers, producing recycled ...

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Recycling Center information

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How much do recycling center jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for recycling center in the United States is $16.87, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.66 and $19.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recycling center worker?

To thrive as a Recycling Center Worker, you need knowledge of recycling processes, safe handling of materials, and basic physical fitness, usually with a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with sorting machinery, forklifts, and safety equipment is often required, along with relevant certifications like OSHA safety training. Attention to detail, teamwork, and strong communication skills help workers efficiently sort materials and maintain a safe environment. These abilities ensure the effective processing of recyclables, worker safety, and compliance with environmental regulations.

What are some common challenges faced by employees working at a recycling center, and how are they addressed?

Employees at recycling centers often encounter challenges such as sorting contaminated materials, handling heavy or bulky items, and working in noisy or fast-paced environments. To address these, most centers provide thorough training in material identification, safety protocols, and the use of protective equipment like gloves and ear protection. Teamwork is essential, as staff frequently collaborate to keep the workflow efficient and safe. Additionally, ongoing communication with supervisors helps identify areas for process improvement and ensures that any safety concerns are promptly addressed.

What is the difference between Recycling Center vs Recycling Technician?

AspectRecycling CenterRecycling Technician
CredentialsMay require general safety training, certifications varyOften requires specific certifications or training in waste management
Work EnvironmentFacility-based, handling various recyclable materialsField or facility-based, operating machinery and sorting recyclables
Employer & Industry UsageRecycling facilities, waste management companiesRecycling plants, waste management services
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding recycling facilities and their functionsJob roles involved in recycling processes

Recycling centers are facilities where recyclable materials are collected and processed, often managed by waste management companies. Recycling technicians are workers within these centers or plants who handle sorting, operating machinery, and ensuring proper recycling procedures. While both roles are part of the recycling industry, recycling technicians have specific skills and certifications related to waste processing, making them a distinct job function within the recycling center environment.

Is recycling a good career path?

Recycling center jobs can be a stable career option with opportunities for advancement and skill development in waste management and environmental sustainability. These roles often require physical work and knowledge of safety procedures, and some positions may benefit from certifications in waste handling or environmental practices.

What does a recycling center do?

A Recycling Center is a facility where recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal are collected, sorted, and processed so they can be reused in new products. These centers help reduce waste sent to landfills, conserve natural resources, and minimize environmental pollution. Workers at recycling centers often operate machinery, separate materials, and ensure that items are properly prepared for recycling companies or manufacturers.
More about Recycling Center jobs

What cities are hiring for Recycling Center jobs?

Cities with the most Recycling Center job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Recycling Center jobs?

The most popular types of Recycling Center jobs are:

What states have the most Recycling Center jobs?

States with the most job openings for Recycling Center jobs include:

Infographic showing various Recycling Center job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,094 per year, or $16.9 per hour.

Recycling Center Attendant

MarBorg Industries

Goleta, CA • On-site

$19 - $20/hr

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago


Job description


JOB TITLE: Recycling Center Attendant

LOCATION: Santa Barbara/Goleta

FLSA EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY: Responsible for interacting with customers to assist in weighing loads, processing payments, giving instructions at the recycling center while providing excellent customer service and the day-to-day operation of the Recycling Center.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:

  • Greets customers in a professional, courteous, and cooperative manner and answers questions concerning acceptable recyclable items.
  • Visually inspects inbound material and verifies recyclable material according to the CRV categories and commodities. Notifies supervisor in instances where material does not comply with specifications and seeks guidance.
  • Operates weight scales & computer to process payment to customers by identifying material and inputting the correct material code to print receipt for customer redemption. Review ticket at cashier and confirm the correct cash amount being issued.
  • Assists customers with disposal of E-Waste and hazardous material and maintains daily logs of customers disposing of hazardous material.
  • Monitors material bins for build-up and operates forklift to move the bins to the next stage process.
  • Loads Styrofoam into bags and moves to storage area until ready for transportation.
  • Manual sorting of materials before loading into baler. Basic understanding of baling operation.
  • Other duties as assigned.


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Operate computer terminal to enter data, maintain records and generate reports.
  • Basic math and counting skills to assist as a cashier.
  • Excellent communication skills to speak effectively with customers and team members.
  • Ability to work courteously with customers and co-workers that utilize the facility.
  • Ability to operate a forklift.
  • Ability to stand eight plus hours per day.
  • Bilingual (English & Spanish)

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

  • High School diploma or equivalent.
  • One (1) year of customer service and materials handling experience.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

  • Doing Good – (i.e. Code of Conduct).
  • Making Good – (i.e. Accountability, responsibility and ownership for a problem).
  • Treating People Well – (i.e. Works cooperatively and effectively with others).
  • Environmentally Focused (i.e. Employee takes initiative as a LEED building initiative to preserve and improve our local environment for future generations).
  • Observant: (i.e. Employee can identify safety or operational deficiency’s and to quickly implement a correction).
  • Safety Matters: Employee actively participates and promotes a safe and healthy workplace.

NEAT JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

Communication, Flexible, Work Ethic, Work Quickly Under Pressure

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. The ability to speak English and Spanish effectively with customers and employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers. Ability to perform these operations using units of US dollars and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

RESEASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES. LICENSES, REGISTRATION

Forklift certification

PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, climb, or balance, taste and smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision

WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, heat and cold. The noise level in the work environment can be moderately loud.