Occupation · SOC 53-1042.01
Recycling Coordinators
Supervise curbside and drop-off recycling programs for municipal governments or private firms.
Median wage
—
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 2
Typical preparation
Some preparation
Stackable credential programs
10 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingCoordinationMonitoringReading Comprehension
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeEducation and TrainingProduction and Processing
Technology & tools
Electronic mail softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
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.Assign truck drivers or recycling technicians to routes.Create or manage recycling operations budgets.Prepare bills of lading, statements of shipping records, or customer receipts related to recycling or hazardous material services.Inspect physical condition of recycling or hazardous waste facility for compliance with safety, quality, and service standards.Negotiate contracts with waste management or other firms.Coordinate shipments of recycling materials with shipping brokers or processing companies.Operate recycling processing equipment, such as sorters, balers, crushers, and granulators to sort and process materials.Operate fork lifts, skid loaders, or trucks to move or store recyclable materials.Schedule movement of recycling materials into and out of storage areas.Oversee campaigns to promote recycling or waste reduction programs in communities or private companies.Coordinate recycling collection schedules to optimize service and efficiency.Develop community or corporate recycling plans and goals to minimize waste and conform to resource constraints.Prepare grant applications to fund recycling programs or program enhancements.Investigate violations of solid waste or recycling ordinances.Implement grant-funded projects, monitoring and reporting progress in accordance with sponsoring agency requirements.Make presentations to educate the public on how to recycle or on the environmental advantages of recycling.Design community solid and hazardous waste management programs.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Recycling pick-up logs — record daily material weights and collection totals under supervisor direction at a municipal recycling facility.Community ordinances — identify and review basic compliance requirements for curbside recycling programs with guidance from senior staff.Customer service requests — receive and document resident inquiries about recycling services using office suite software and standard intake forms.Recycling materials — sort and categorize incoming recyclables into designated streams following posted facility protocols.Electronic mail software — draft and send routine correspondence to customers and processing companies under coordinator oversight.Safety procedures — follow established safety protocols during recycling collection and drop-off operations at community sites.Spreadsheet software — enter recycling tonnage and shipment data into pre-built templates with supervisor review.Recycling technician tasks — assist experienced staff with daily operational duties at a transfer station or drop-off center.Basic recycling terminology — recognize and use correct material classification terms when communicating with team members on a collection route.Scheduling software — input assigned pick-up routes and volunteer shifts into a calendar tool following coordinator instructions.
developing
Recycling pick-up programs — oversee daily collection schedules and verify driver compliance with community ordinance requirements on assigned routes.Material logs — maintain accurate records of recyclables received and shipped to processing companies using spreadsheet and database software with minimal supervision.Customer service requests — review resident and business service requests, determine appropriate resource deployment, and follow up to confirm resolution.Recycling technicians — monitor team performance during shift operations and provide real-time guidance to correct unsafe or non-compliant practices.Safety training sessions — deliver standardized training to new recycling technicians and community service volunteers on solid waste handling procedures.Drop-off compliance — conduct routine site inspections and document any deviations from municipal recycling ordinances using standardized checklists.Processing company coordination — communicate shipment schedules and material specifications to external vendors via email and ERP software.Route efficiency — identify and report recurring delays or resource gaps in recycling pick-up operations to program management.Written reports — prepare weekly recycling activity summaries using word processing software for review by department supervisors.Recycling materials data — query database records to track material volumes, identify trends, and flag discrepancies in collection metrics.
proficient
Recycling compliance programs — autonomously oversee pick-up and drop-off operations across multiple service zones, ensuring full adherence to community ordinances.Material tracking systems — manage end-to-end logging of recyclables from collection through shipment, auditing database records for accuracy and completeness.Personnel supervision — independently supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, and volunteers, resolving performance issues and coordinating staffing needs.Service request resolution — analyze complex or non-routine customer service requests, apply critical thinking to allocate resources, and implement corrective actions facility-wide.Staff training programs — design and deliver comprehensive training curricula covering safety, solid waste processing regulations, and recycling operations for all facility personnel.New recycling opportunities — research and investigate emerging materials streams or collection partnerships, presenting feasibility findings to program leadership.ERP and data systems — utilize enterprise resource planning tools to optimize operational workflows, track program costs, and generate performance reports.Regulatory interpretation — read and apply updated public safety and environmental regulations to current recycling program practices without supervisory input.Stakeholder communication — communicate program changes, compliance requirements, and service updates clearly to residents, contractors, and municipal partners.Operational problem solving — diagnose and resolve equipment, staffing, or logistics failures that disrupt recycling operations with minimal service interruption.
advanced
Recycling program strategy — set long-term direction for community-wide recycling initiatives, aligning operational goals with municipal sustainability mandates and budget constraints.Organizational compliance framework — develop and implement policies that ensure consistent ordinance compliance across all recycling pick-up and drop-off programs in the service area.Workforce development — establish training standards, mentorship pathways, and performance evaluation systems for recycling coordinators and technicians across the organization.Materials recovery expansion — lead identification and negotiation of new recyclable materials streams, forging partnerships with processors and community organizations to grow program capacity.Cross-departmental coordination — collaborate with transportation, public works, and communications leaders to integrate recycling operations into broader municipal service delivery plans.Program performance accountability — define key performance indicators, analyze ERP and database outputs at scale, and present data-driven recommendations to elected officials or executive leadership.Budget and resource planning — oversee procurement of vehicles, equipment, and staffing resources for recycling operations, ensuring cost-effective allocation aligned with service demand.Community engagement strategy — design and lead public outreach campaigns using presentation and communication tools to increase recycling participation rates across diverse neighborhoods.Regulatory advocacy — represent the organization in interactions with regulatory agencies, contributing expertise to shape public safety and recycling policy at a regional level.Continuous improvement leadership — drive adoption of new technologies and process innovations across recycling operations, benchmarking performance against industry standards to advance organizational excellence.
Also known as
25 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Recycling Center OperatorCorporate Recycling ManagerRecycling SorterRecycling CoordinatorRecycling WorkerRecycling Operations ManagerRecycle CoordinatorSuperintendent, SanitationSolid Waste Program ManagerMaterials ManagerAgency OperatorWaste Reduction CoordinatorRecycling SpecialistRecycling Crew SupervisorRecycle SupervisorRecycling TechnicianRecycling ManagerRoute SupervisorRoute Rider SupervisorRecycling Program ManagerRecycling OperatorSolid Waste Division SupervisorRecycling SupervisorHeavy Equipment SupervisorHazardous Material/Hazardous Waste (HM/HW) Staff Noncommissioned Officer/Noncommissioned Officer (Marine Corps 8056)