Solid waste operator
Also known as: solid waste disposal technician, landfill site worker, solid waste processing technician, waste treatment equipment worker, solid waste collection technician, waste disposal site compliance technician
About this occupation
Solid waste operators operate and maintain solid waste treatment and distribution equipment, and test samples to monitor pollution. They assist in the collection and disposal of solid waste, such as construction and demolition debris, and ensure treatment is compliant to safety regulations. They ensure community waste containers are emptied, ensure proper differentiation between waste which needs to be recycled or disposed of, and monitor equipment.
Essential skills and knowledge
- ensure equipment availability
- troubleshoot
- control delivered waste
- waste management
- maintain recycling records
- assess waste type
- waste and scrap products
- operate recycling processing equipment
- ensure compliance with environmental legislation
- dispose of non-hazardous waste
- communicate with waste collectors
- ensure compliance with waste legislative regulations
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Hazardous Materials Removal Workers (O*NET 47-4041.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Remove asbestos or lead from surfaces, using hand or power tools such as scrapers, vacuums, or high-pressure sprayers.
- Build containment areas prior to beginning abatement or decontamination work.
- Prepare hazardous material for removal or storage.
- Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Record numbers of containers stored at disposal sites, specifying amounts or types of equipment or waste disposed.
- Clean contaminated equipment or areas for reuse, using detergents or solvents, sandblasters, filter pumps, or steam cleaners.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Coordination
US median pay: US$49,450 a year (2025), 51,710 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.3)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryImportant (3.2)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.2)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.1)
- WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
- Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall
- Construction Laborers
- Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters
- Recycling Coordinators
- Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.