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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Medium40.81%
Found in Industries:
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$30,050
Median$45,760
High (90th %)$67,970

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Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

The occupation "Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors" has an automation risk of 40.8%, which is closely aligned with its base risk of 41.1%. This moderate risk level can be attributed to the mix of automatable and resistant tasks involved in the job. For example, tasks such as inspecting trucks before routes, driving trucks along established collection paths, and refueling or maintaining vehicles are among the top three most automatable aspects of the role. Advances in vehicle diagnostics, autonomous driving technologies, and automated fueling systems increase the feasibility of replacing these routine manual duties with machines or software solutions. However, the automation risk does not reach higher levels due to several more complex and variable tasks inherent in this occupation. The top three most automation-resistant responsibilities include organizing collection schedules, making special pickups of atypical recyclable materials, and tagging customer containers to relay specific problems like overloading or the inclusion of prohibited items. These tasks require on-the-spot decision-making, communication with customers, and adapting to unpredictable scenarios, all of which challenge current automation capabilities. Such duties often demand a nuanced understanding of local regulations, personalized customer service, and adaptability to irregular occurrences, keeping the risk of full automation relatively modest. Additionally, bottleneck skills for this occupation, such as Originality, exhibit very low representation—only at 1.5% and 1.0%. While these percentages are small, they point to situational requirements for creative problem-solving and unique judgment, for example, when addressing unexpected issues at a pick-up site or devising solutions for sudden schedule changes. The infrequent need for such skills nonetheless limits how thoroughly automation can penetrate the role. As a result, although automation is likely to improve efficiency in routine operations, "Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors" retain a significant human element in tasks that require responsiveness, flexibility, and direct interaction.

Filter by Automatable Status
Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
Partially Automatable
Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
Partially Automatable
Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
Non-Automatable
Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
Partially Automatable
Fill out defective equipment reports.
Automatable
Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
Non-Automatable
Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.
Partially Automatable
Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.
Partially Automatable
Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected.
Automatable
Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
Non-Automatable
Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items.
Non-Automatable
Organize schedules for refuse collection.
Automatable
Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted.
Non-Automatable
Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
Partially Automatable

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsGetting InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsAnalyzing Data or InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Pile Driver Operators
Low24.77%
Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Medium39.01%
Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
Medium36.40%
Identify, remove, pack, transport, or dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead-based paint, waste oil, fuel, transmission fluid, radioactive materials, or contaminated soil. Specialized training and certification in hazardous materials handling or a confined entry permit are generally required. May operate earth-moving equipment or trucks.
Highway Maintenance Workers
Low20.84%
Maintain highways, municipal and rural roads, airport runways, and rights-of-way. Duties include patching broken or eroded pavement and repairing guard rails, highway markers, and snow fences. May also mow or clear brush from along road, or plow snow from roadway.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
Low25.86%
Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Medium34.02%
Operate or tend machinery at surface mining site, equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to excavate and load loose materials.
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Medium39.66%
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
Helpers--Extraction Workers
Low24.71%
Help extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers, blasters and explosives workers, derrick operators, and mining machine operators, by performing duties requiring less skill. Duties include supplying equipment or cleaning work area.
Recycling Coordinators
Medium53.65%
Supervise curbside and drop-off recycling programs for municipal governments or private firms.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Medium46.13%
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
Light Truck Drivers
Medium51.40%
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.
Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
Medium49.50%
Inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Conveyor Operators and Tenders
Medium44.52%
Control or tend conveyors or conveyor systems that move materials or products to and from stockpiles, processing stations, departments, or vehicles. May control speed and routing of materials or products.
Crane and Tower Operators
Medium38.20%
Operate mechanical boom and cable or tower and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines, or products in many directions.
Hoist and Winch Operators
Low24.71%
Operate or tend hoists or winches to lift and pull loads using power-operated cable equipment.
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Medium46.81%
Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
Medium33.55%
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Medium36.17%
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.
Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Medium40.67%
Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Medium44.23%
Load and unload chemicals and bulk solids, such as coal, sand, and grain, into or from tank cars, trucks, or ships, using material moving equipment. May perform a variety of other tasks relating to shipment of products. May gauge or sample shipping tanks and test them for leaks.

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