Recycling and Reclamation Workers

Overview

Recycling and Reclamation Workers

Introduction

Recycling and reclamation workers sort recyclable materials such as aluminum, glass, and paper from households and businesses. They prepare these materials for recycling by identifying and removing hazardous substances. These workers may also dismantle components in recyclable appliances and other types of products.

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$36,362

Employment Prospects

Good

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma


Experience

One to two years experience


Skills

Interpersonal|Mechanical/Manual Dexterity|Organizational


Personality Traits

Conventional|Hands On|Realistic

Earnings

Salaries vary for recycling and reclamation workers depending on their level of experience and the region in which the job is located. Positions in areas with a higher cost of living, such as California, Arizona, New York, and Washington, D.C., for example, tend to pay higher salaries to recycling and reclamation workers.

Recycling and reclamation workers earned average annual salaries o...

Work Environment

Recycling and reclamation workers typically work 40 or more hours per week. They may work inside in a warehouse and spend some time outdoors working in a recycling yard. The work can be hazardous, especially when working near recycling equipment and large, heavy bundles and bales of materials and products. They may encounter hazards such as glass shards, used syringes, or fumes from oil residue...

Outlook

Recycling and reclamation workers will continue to have employment opportunities in the coming years. Many states will continue to focus on meeting waste-reduction and recycling goals.

The recycling industry is subject to business fluctuations as well as political and social trends, but demand and new technologies have created a viable market for recycled materials. The waste management ...