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Waste Diversion Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Zero Waste Operator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$18 - $19/hr

Waste Diversion Supplies: Ensure stations have the correct supplies (stickers, posters, bins) for proper waste diversion. * Green Station Maintenance: Coordinate with the cleaning team to keep the ...

Waste Diversion Supplies: Ensure stations have the correct supplies (stickers, posters, bins) for proper waste diversion. * Green Station Maintenance: Coordinate with the cleaning team to keep the ...

Waste Diversion Supplies: Ensure stations have the correct supplies (stickers, posters, bins) for proper waste diversion. * Green Station Maintenance: Coordinate with the cleaning team to keep the ...

Responsibilities include operational performance monitoring, waste diversion and material recovery initiatives, data management and reporting, special event waste services, and continuous improvement ...

Waste Zero Intern

Seattle, WA · Hybrid

$17 - $22.75/hr

Assists with simple waste audits for customers and contributes to diversion strategies to outline customers' areas for opportunity. May help to implement service changes and follow-up items to ensure ...

Waste Zero Intern

Seattle, WA · On-site

$17 - $22.75/hr

Assists with simple waste audits for customers and contributes to diversion strategies to outline customers' areas for opportunity. May help to implement service changes and follow-up items to ensure ...

This is technical and administrative work coordinating implementing Zero waste programs including curbside, commercial, and multifamily recycling, food waste diversion, and yard trash programs. This ...

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Waste Diversion information

See salary details

$42.5K

$122.6K

$138.5K

How much do waste diversion jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for waste diversion in the United States is $122,624.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,500.00 and $138,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Waste Diversion vs Waste Management Technician?

AspectWaste DiversionWaste Management Technician
CertificationsRecycling and waste reduction certificationsOSHA, CDL, or waste handling certifications
Work EnvironmentRecycling centers, waste reduction programsLandfills, waste collection sites, treatment facilities
Industry UsageFocus on reducing waste through recycling and reuseFocus on collection, disposal, and treatment of waste

Waste Diversion professionals primarily focus on reducing waste through recycling and reuse initiatives, while Waste Management Technicians handle waste collection, disposal, and treatment. Both roles are essential in the waste industry but differ in their core responsibilities and work environments.

More about Waste Diversion jobs
What cities are hiring for Waste Diversion jobs? Cities with the most Waste Diversion job openings:
What states have the most Waste Diversion jobs? States with the most job openings for Waste Diversion jobs include:
Infographic showing various Waste Diversion job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,624 per year, or $59 per hour.

Zero Waste Operator

CookUnity

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$18 - $19/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

About CookUnity:
Food has lost its soul to modern convenience. And with it, it has lost the power to nourish, inspire, and connect us. So in 2018, CookUnity was founded as the first-of-its-kind platform that connects the world with the source of truly great food: chefs. Today, CookUnity delivers 50 million meals a year from the industry's best chefs to homes all over the country. Fresh. Ready-to-eat. And crafted with the passion that nourishes body and soul.
Unwilling to stop there, CookUnity is expanding beyond delivery to become an ever-innovating marketplace focused on our singular mission: empower Chefs to nourish the world.
If that mission has you hungry in more ways than one, you've found the right job posting.
About the Role
The Sustainability Operator plays a key role in ensuring that daily waste-management procedures are executed correctly across the LA facility. This role supports the operational execution of recycling, compost, waste audits, and donation processes, helping maintain clean, compliant, and efficient waste-diversion systems.
The Sustainability Operator is responsible for carrying out daily walkthroughs, completing waste-audit forms, preparing and coordinating donations, and ensuring correct sorting and disposal of materials in all kitchens and work areas. This role provides essential operational support to the facility by monitoring compliance, identifying contamination, and reinforcing correct waste-handling behaviors among staff.
Key responsibilities include executing daily waste audits, preparing food waste for donation or internal use, coordinating donation pick-ups with partner organizations, maintaining Green Stations, and ensuring all supplies needed for proper waste diversion are available and correctly used. This role ensures that Zero Waste procedures are followed consistently and effectively, contributing to CookUnity's environmental goals and operational priorities.
Responsibilities
  • Daily Waste Audits: Perform daily trash audits across workstations and document findings.
  • Correct Waste Disposal: Ensure proper waste disposal procedures are followed in all kitchens.
  • Food Waste Handling: Classify, weigh, and dispose of food waste, including donations, compost, garbage, and family meals.
  • Facility Walkthroughs: Conduct daily walkthroughs of kitchens, green stations, fulfillment, and market areas; complete the DAILY AUDIT BIN FORM to identify contamination.
  • Contamination Control: Check recycling and compost streams to ensure they are free of incorrect materials.
  • Material Sorting: Separate and move recyclable and compostable materials according to facility standards.
  • Donation Management: Collect, weigh, record, and pack donations; receive partners and hand off prepared products.
  • Food Waste Preparation: Condition and prepare food waste for donation or internal reuse (back to market).
  • Donation Coordination: Coordinate donation pick-ups with partnered non-profit organizations.
  • Daily Reporting: Complete daily trackers for recycling, compost, and donation volumes.
  • Zero Waste Compliance: Follow all safety, cleanliness, and Zero Waste process standards.
  • Operational Feedback: Provide daily feedback to staff to reinforce correct waste-sorting behaviors.
  • Green Leader Support: Support team members as a Green Leader, promoting "Go Green" practices.
  • Waste Diversion Supplies: Ensure stations have the correct supplies (stickers, posters, bins) for proper waste diversion.
  • Green Station Maintenance: Coordinate with the cleaning team to keep the Green Stations clean and in order.

General Schedule and Workdays
  • Full Time (5 days a week - 36 to 40 hs weekly).
  • AM: 7:30 to 4:00 pm.
  • PM: 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
  • Available to work on the weekends.

Qualifications
  • Operational Experience: Previous experience in warehouse, food production, cleaning, or other hands-on operational roles. Comfortable working in kitchens, warehouse areas, and food production spaces.
  • Physical Requirements: Ability to safely lift and move 20 lbs or more throughout the shift.
  • Basic Reporting Skills : Ability to complete daily trackers and simple audit forms.
  • Communication Skills: Ability to give clear feedback to staff and communicate deviations or contamination findings. Spanish and English.
  • Interest in Waste Reduction: Genuine interest in recycling, composting, waste diversion, or environmental practices (no prior experience required).
  • Language: Basic English required; Spanish is a strong plus.

Job Requirement
  • Bilingual: Spanish and English (mainly spoken).
  • Basic knowledge of Google Docs.
  • Experience operating both: Forklift and Pallet Jack

Compensation
All final pay rates will be determined by candidates experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.
Pay Range for this position
$18-$19 USD
If you're interested in this role, please submit your application, and if we think you might be a fit, we'll get in touch with you. Thank you for your time!
CookUnity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to creating a community of inclusion and an environment free from discrimination or harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.
A quick note for all candidates
We've recently seen an increase in recruitment scams across the industry, and we want to make sure you (and your data) stay safe while applying to CookUnity. We also want you to know that we take this seriously - sometimes, as part of our process, we may ask for a brief "proof of humanity" to confirm that we're connecting with a real person, not an impersonator. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself and know what to expect from us:
  • Apply only through our official channels. All open roles are listed on our official careers page: careers.cookunity.com
  • Our recruiters are real people - and easy to verify. You can always find them on LinkedIn with verified profiles. If you're unsure, feel free to reach out to us on our official LinkedIn Company Page.
  • We only communicate through official CookUnity channels. That means emails ending in @cookunity.com and interviews held through official company platforms (Google Meet or Zoom) - never WhatsApp, Telegram, or SMS.
  • We'll never ask for payment or personal financial details. If anyone does, please don't share any information and let us know right away.

If something ever feels off or you're unsure about a message, we'd much rather you double-check with us. You can always contact us directly through any of our social media channels. We appreciate your interest in joining CookUnity - and we care about keeping your experience (and safety) as genuine as possible.