Garbage collectors collect waste and recyclables from residential areas, parks, and shopping centers. They operate hydraulic lifting equipment and drive garbage trucks to disposal sites. They need physical fitness, common sense, and on-the-job training. Advancement opportunities include managerial positions.
A garbage collector performs waste collection and removal services in residential neighborhoods, public parks and shopping centers. He controls hydraulic lifting equipment to dump the garbage into the back of a garbage truck and then drives it to the appropriate disposal site. A garbage collector can also collect recyclable goods or debris from people’s backyards. Most garbage collectors are employed by municipal government organizations, although some professionals work for private waste management companies contracted by municipal governments.
Garbage collectors who collect trash and recycling in neighborhoods often work in pairs. The driver navigates the neighborhood and operates the hydraulic lift, while the other worker gets out at each stop and attaches trash receptacles to the lift arms. Some garbage trucks are capable of picking up large dumpsters and other waste disposal containers without the intervention of an outside helper. Instead, the driver pulls up to a dumpster, lowers the elevator, and manipulates levers to pick up and dump the load. At the end of a route, a garbage collector unloads his truck at a landfill, recycling plant, composting plant, or other designated city location.
To do the job well, a garbage collector usually needs to be in good physical shape and able to use common sense. He or she may need to manually pick up and dump furniture, dead trees, or other unwanted objects left by the curb. Before a collector picks up a recycling bin, he or she quickly scans the contents and removes inappropriate objects. The collector also evaluates the weight of the container to ensure it is below the limit the lift can support.
Requirements to become a garbage collector can vary between employers, but most workers have high school diplomas and receive on-the-job training from experienced workers to build basic skills. To operate a garbage truck, a professional may be required to obtain a commercial driver’s license by completing a practical training course and passing a regional exam. Some garbage collectors, especially those who remove waste from medical facilities and industrial plants, are required to complete additional training programs to earn hazardous material handling credentials.
An experienced and successful garbage collector is usually rewarded with opportunities for advancement in a municipal organization or private enterprise. Many professionals are able to obtain office jobs, where they manage work schedules, sign paychecks, and perform other important administrative tasks. In a managerial position, an individual can also help devise more efficient waste management strategies and determine the need for new equipment, trucks or manpower.
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