Trash Collectors

Trash collectors collect garbage and transport it to dumps or landfills.

Trash collectors drive a regularly scheduled route for picking up materials. They gather trash and recyclables from homes, schools, and businesses.

Trash Collectors are in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources career cluster and the Environmental Service Systems pathway.

Quick Facts

Source: Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and CareerOneStop.

Wages & Outlook

Wages

Wages vary by area of the country and the collector's duties.

Full-time trash collectors usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include paid vacation, health insurance, and sick leave. Some employers also offer a retirement plan.

View the Regional Wage Comparison Chart for:

• Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

 

Employment

In Minnesota, about 2,015 trash collectors work in this small occupation.

Major employers:

• Local government agencies (sanitation department)
• Trash collection companies
• Temporary worker agencies
• Waste treatment and disposal companies

Outlook

As the population grows, more waste will be created. Some of this will be recycled and some will be trash. Collectors will be needed to pick up both items. However, trash companies are trying to reduce their costs, so they may not hire many new employees. Instead, current employees may work longer hours. In addition, some companies have distributed trash cans with special handles. These cans can be lifted by a mechanical arm on a truck instead of by the trash collector. Collectors can work much faster on routes that have these cans. Some jobs will also be available as current workers retire or switch jobs.

Employment Outlook for Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

	Employment		Employment Change
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
U S	139,900	168,100	28,200	20.2%
Minnesota	2,314	3,019	705	30.5%
	2010	2020	Number	Percent
Central Minnesota	376	543	167	44.4%
Northeast Minnesota	182	249	67	36.8%
Northwest Minnesota	167	244	77	46.1%
Southeast Minnesota	144	200	56	38.9%
Southwest Minnesota	211	266	55	26.1%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	1,198	1,496	298	24.9%

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.

On the Job

Overview

Trash collectors collect garbage and transport it to dumps or landfills.


Each year, Americans throw away over 400 million tons of waste. Researchers estimate that each person in the U.S. throws away about 4.5 pounds of garbage each day. At the same time, Americans are getting better and better at recycling. This means less waste in landfills, which reduces harmful gases released into the air. Regardless of the size (and contents) of your trash can and recycle bins, nobody wants to hold on to their garbage and old cereal boxes for long. That's where trash collectors come in.Trash collectors drive a regularly scheduled route for picking up materials. They gather trash and recyclables from homes, schools, and businesses. Trash collectors lift and empty small garbage cans by hand. They operate lifts to pick up and empty dumpsters and heavy cans. They unload these materials at dumps. Some trash collectors work alone and drive the truck as well as pick up garbage.

Some collectors pick up recyclable materials, such as glass bottles and newspapers. They sort these items and put them in the proper bins on the trucks. They transport these materials to processing centers. They make special pickups of certain recyclable items. These include computers, containers of used oil, and old paint.

Work Activities

The following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.

• Inspect trucks before operating to ensure safety.
• Refuel trucks and check fluids, such as oil.
• Transport garbage to dump and recyclables to processing centers.
• Drive trucks along specific routes.
• Fill out reports when maintenance is needed.
• Control hydraulic truck lifts to pick up heavy containers of trash.
• Lift and empty garbage cans and recycling bins by hand.
• Communicate with dispatchers.
• Keep informed of road and weather conditions.
• Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems.
• Sort items set out for recycling.
• Clean trucks after routes.
• Organize schedules for garbage collection.
• Provide quotes for garbage collection contracts.
• Make special pickups of recyclable materials like electronics or used oil.

People in this career perform the following list of tasks, but the tasks are common to many occupations.

• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment.
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials.
• Perform activities that use the whole body.
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates.
• Handle and move objects.
• Control machines and processes.
• Identify objects, actions, and events.
• Get information needed to do the job.
• Work with the public.
• Make decisions and solve problems.
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment.
• Evaluate information against standards.
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings.

Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

Interpersonal Relationships

• Have a very medium level of job-related social interaction.
• Are responsible for other's health and safety.
• Sometimes deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous customers.
• Communicate with coworkers and customers daily by telephone.
• Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical Work Conditions

• Always work outdoors.
• Always wear protective attire, such as gloves.
• Are exposed to contaminants on a daily basis.
• Are always exposed to distracting and uncomfortable noise levels.
• Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outside.
• Are often exposed to hazardous equipment.
• Are often exposed to hazardous situations that may produce cuts or minor burns.
• Often are exposed to diseases and infections.
• Work in equipment that is enclosed on a daily basis.
• Work with other people, but are usually many feet apart from them.

Work Performance

• Must be very exact in their work. Errors could cost the company money.
• Repeat the same physical activities.
• Must keep pace with the speed of equipment.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact customers. They are able to make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.
• Are able to set some tasks and goals for the day without talking to a supervisor.
• Must meet strict deadlines on a weekly basis.

Hours/Travel

• Generally have a set schedule each week.
• Usually work more than 40 hours a week.
• Usually start work at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m.

Physical Demands

In a typical work setting, people in this career:

People in this career frequently:

• Repeat the same motions.
• Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Sit while driving trucks.
• Stand and walk while gathering trash cans.

It is important for people in this career to be able to:

• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• See details of objects whether they are nearby or far away.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for people in this career to be able to:

• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• See objects in very bright or very low light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Education & Training

Preparation

To work as a trash collector, you typically need to:

• complete short-term on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Trash collectors who drive heavy trucks often need a commercial driver's license. Some states require you to complete a basic truck-driving training program. This often is a requirement for a commercial driver's license. These programs usually take a few months to complete.

On-the-job training

Trash collectors learn their skills on the job. You usually work with an experienced collector who teaches you the job. Training generally lasts up to one month.

Fields of Study (What to study to prepare for this career)

Click on any of the Fields of Study listed below to find out more about preparing for this career.

• Heavy Equipment Operations

Helpful High School Courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include:

• Diesel Mechanics and Repair
• Driver Education
• Introduction to Mechanics
• Physical Education

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Skills

People in this career need to:

Communicate

• Listen to others, understand, and ask questions.
• Express ideas clearly when speaking.
• Read and understand written information.

Reason and Problem Solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Develop rules or follow guidelines for arranging items.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.

Manage Oneself, People, Time and Things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with People

• Be aware of others' reactions and change behavior in relation to them.
• Teach others how to do something using several methods.

Work with Things

• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.

Perceive and Visualize

• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.

Knowledge

People in this career need knowledge in the following areas:

• Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of providing special services to customers based on their needs.
• Transportation: Knowledge of ways to move people, goods, or materials. This may be by air, rail, sea, or road.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of protecting people, data, and property.

Interests

People in this career are people who tend to:

• Consider support from their employer important. They like to be treated fairly and have supervisors who will back them up. They prefer jobs where they are trained well.
• Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
• Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
• Have conventional interests. They like work activities that follow set procedures, routines, and standards. They like to work with data and detail. They prefer working where there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education.

Licensing / Certification

Trash collectors must have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Requirements for the CDL vary by state.

Certification Details

Certifications are examinations that test or enhance your knowledge, experience or skills in an occupation or profession.

There are 3 certifications related to this career.

Licensing Details

No State of Minnesota license requirements are found for this career.

Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and CareerOneStop.

Jobs

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Hiring Practices

Some employers require trash collectors to have a high school diploma or GED. Most employers require trash collectors to be 18 years old and physically fit. They also require drivers to have a clean driving record. Trash collectors may have to pass a civil service test in order to work for a town or city.

Employers look for trash collectors who are dependable and hardworking.

Advancement Opportunities

Experienced trash collectors can advance from trash loaders to truck drivers. Once they are truck drivers, advancement often is in the form of pay raises. Some trash collectors develop special knowledge. This knowledge allows them to supervise activities such as recyclable material collection.

Job Title Examples

Front Load Trash Truck Driver,  Front Loader Residential Driver,  Garbage Collector,  Recycle Driver,  Residential Recycle Driver,  Solid Waste Collector,  Swamper,  Garbage Person,  Sanitation Laborer,  Rolloff Truck Driver 

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Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and Minnesota Department of Education.