Recycling & Reclamation Workers

Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.

On the job, you would:

• Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
• Clean recycling yard by sweeping, raking, picking up broken glass and loose paper debris, or moving barrels and bins.
• Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, power lifts, or front-end loaders to load bales, bundles, or other heavy items onto trucks for shipping to smelters or other recycled materials processing facilities.

Education

• high school diploma/GED
• associate's degree

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods

• manufacture and distribution of products

Engineering and Technology

• mechanical

Business

• management
• customer service

Safety and Government

• public safety and security

Basic Skills

• keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
• listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

• noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

• Dependability
• Integrity
• Self Control
• Attention to Detail
• Cooperation
• Adaptability/Flexibility

Hand and Finger Use

• hold or move items with your hands
• keep your arm or hand steady

Controlled Movement

• quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
• use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down