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Career Exploration

Recycling and Reclamation Workers

Also called: Non-Ferrous Material Handler, Sort Line Worker, Sorter, Transfer Station Operator

What they do:

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.
On the job, you'll need:

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

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

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

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Office suite software

  • Microsoft Office software

Word processing software

  • Microsoft Word

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will grow rapidly in the next few years and will have large numbers of openings.

Median Annual Salary: $36,110

Education

High school diploma/GED or associate's degree is usually needed.