U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 1

Green Jobs: Recycling

Careers in Recycling

Drew Liming

What happens to the things you throw away? 

If you dispose of them in the trash, your old 

stuff will probably end up sitting in a landfill. 

But if you recycle, the materials you got rid of yesterday 

could end up back on a store’s shelf in the future. 

Recycling is the practice of reusing materials in 

existing products to create new ones. This can be accomplished in expected ways—such as using recycled paper 

as packaging material—or unexpected ways—such as 

using recycled glass to make artificial turf. Recycling 

helps to conserve limited resources, and—its proponents 

argue—it has other environmental benefits as well. For 

example, reusing existing materials means that fewer 

new ones have to be produced, which can lower factory 

emissions, reduce the need for new natural resources, 

and lower dependence on landfills.

Many different kinds of materials are recyclable. 

Some materials, including plastic, metal, glass, and 

paper, are commonly recycled. Disposing of these recyclable materials is relatively easy—they can be deposited 

for pickup or dropped off at recycling centers. Specialized electronics, such as laptops or cell phones, are also 

recyclable but require special handling because of the 

potentially dangerous chemicals contained in their batteries. 

Recycling has become an increasingly important 

issue in the United States as both the population and the 

amount of waste each person generates continue to increase. Municipal solid waste (MSW) includes items that 

are normally thrown in the trash, such as food packaging 

or scraps, old furniture, tires, or yard clippings. According to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA), municipal solid waste generation increased from 

2.68 to 4.34 pounds per person per day between 1960 

Drew Liming is an economist in the Office of 

Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 

BLS. Drew is available at (202) 691-5262 or liming.

drew@bls.gov.

U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR ST

BLATSISTICS

September 2011 — Report 5

Many different kinds of materials can be recycled
Green Jobs: Recycling

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2

and 2009. Collectively, Americans generated about 243 

million tons of MSW in 2009.1 (See chart 1.) Over the 

last several years, however, municipal solid waste generation has decreased, apparently a result of the recent 

economic recession in the United States.2

Although overall waste generation has increased, recycling has also become more widely practiced. In 2009, 

about 61 million tons—or 25 percent of the MSW—was 

recovered through recycling.3 In 1960, Americans recycled 6.4 percent of their waste.4

 Recycling has grown 

as more communities, recognizing the environmental 

benefits, have made collecting recyclables commonplace. 

Businesses that use recyclables as raw materials and an 

educated public that values recycled products have also 

contributed to the growth of recycling. 

Recycling is more common in some regions of the 

United States, especially the West Coast and Northeast.5

In addition to recycling, some areas practice other methods of waste management, including composting, putting 

the waste into landfills, or burning waste to produce 

energy.

This report provides information on various career 

opportunities in the recycling industry. The first two 

sections provide an overview of the industry. The third 

section details a number of occupations involved in 

collecting and processing recyclables. For each of these 

occupations, it provides a description of the job duties, 

the credentials required (e.g., education, training and 

licensure), and information on wages. 

How recycling works

It’s no small task to get recyclables back to manufacturers, where they can be reused in new products. The 

recyclables have to be collected from many sources, 

including households, businesses, and construction sites. 

Collectively, these sources are referred to as consumers 

of recycling services. The recyclables that consumers 

produce are collected and transported to a Materials 

Recovery Facility (MRF), where they are sorted and 

processed, before being sent to manufacturers. 

In some areas, people have to sort their own recyclables before they can be collected. For example, 

aluminum cans and newspapers are placed into different bins and collected separately. Increasingly, however, 

recycling is becoming “single-stream,” which means that 

all recyclables are collected together. The different types 

are then sorted later. 

0

60

120

180

240

300

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009

0

2

4

6

8

10

Chart 1. Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation and generation rates, 

selected years, 1960–2009

Total MSW generation Daily MSW generation

Total

MSW

generation, 

million

tons

Daily

MSW

generation,

pounds

per person

4.34

243

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 3

Green Jobs: Recycling

There are several different methods of collection. 

The three most common are curbside pickup, drop-off 

centers, and deposit systems. 

In areas with curbside pickup, consumers treat their 

recyclables much as they do traditional waste. They 

place recyclables in a bin issued by their local government or a private company. This bin is placed near the 

curb of the street on a designated day or days of the 

week, and recycling workers empty the bins into a truck 

that transports the recyclables to an MRF. Curbside 

pickup has grown more prominent as single-stream 

recycling has become more common. In 2009, more than 

9,000 curbside pickup programs were reported in the 

United States. An American Beverage Association study 

estimated that 74 percent of the United States population 

had access to curbside pickup programs in 2009.6

As an alternative or supplement to curbside pickup 

programs, drop-off recycling centers are also very 

widely used. Consumers are responsible for transporting 

and depositing their own recyclables at drop-off centers. 

These recyclables are collected regularly and taken to 

an MRF. Drop-off centers are popular because they are 

cheaper than providing curbside pickup. The American 

Beverage Association study estimated that 83 percent 

of the United States population had access to drop-off 

recycling centers.7 However, drop-off centers also fail to 

return as many recyclables as curbside pickup programs. 

Many communities have both curbside pickup and dropoff centers. 

Deposit systems, found only in some states, provide 

consumers with a financial reason to recycle. When consumers bring certain recyclables, such as glass bottles 

or aluminum cans, to specified locations for collection, 

they are given a small amount of money in return. Recyclables that can earn money from deposit systems are 

marked with the state’s abbreviation and the amount of 

money it is worth. The money consumers earn through 

deposit systems comes from their own wallets. For 

example, in some states an empty glass bottle might earn 

5 cents. Those 5 cents are added to the cost of a bottle 

when it is purchased. Consumers are depositing money 

when they purchase a recyclable item; they receive their 

money back when they recycle it. 

At construction sites and locations where many 

people recycle, like schools, hospitals, or airports, the 

volume and size of recyclables make normal collection 

impossible. In such circumstances, recyclables are usually pooled together in large dumpsters, where they are 

regularly picked up by large trucks. 

No matter how recyclables are collected, though, 

they need to be taken to an MRF to be sorted and 

processed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

there were 906 MRFs owned by private companies and 

local governments in 2009.8 At MRFs, workers unload 

the recycling trucks, and dump the recyclables onto slow 

moving conveyor belts. As the recyclables move down 

the conveyor belt, they are sorted into different groups 

Drop-off centers are commonly used to collect recyclables
Green Jobs: Recycling

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 4

by their material. For example, all paper products will 

end up in one group, while all glass ends up in another. 

Sorting recyclables might be more labor intensive 

at some MRFs than at others. In older MRFs, sorters 

separate the different types of recyclables by hand. But 

newer MRFs feature technologies that automatically 

separate certain types of recyclables from the others. For 

example, powerful magnets might be used to pull different metal products out of the main stream of recyclables. 

Strong fans are frequently used to blow paper products 

free from other recyclables. 

Once the recyclables have been sorted by material, 

they need to be processed into a useable form. Machines 

at the MRF condense the recyclables into a shape more 

easily shipped. For example, paper is frequently shredded and baled, whereas aluminum cans are crushed 

together and bundled. Sales agents negotiate contracts to 

sell the processed recyclables from the MRFs to manufacturers. These bulk recyclables are sold and transported to manufacturers to use as the raw material for new 

products. 

Who takes the recycling?

Recycling, like general waste management, is handled 

by both the public and private sectors. A local government might be responsible for collecting, processing, and 

selling recyclables, or it might hire private contractors to 

carry out these duties. Recycling 

doesn’t have to be handled entirely by public or private entities, 

however. Municipalities might 

hire contractors for some duties 

but not for others. For example, a 

local government might be responsible for collecting the recyclables 

and delivering them to a privately 

owned and operated MRF. The division of duties between the public 

and private sectors varies among 

communities. 

Contractors might be paid 

with funds from the local government or through the proceeds 

from processed recyclables sold 

to manufacturers. The relationship 

between the community and the 

contractor is generally specified in 

a contract between the two parties. 

Depending on local regulations, construction companies 

might be responsible for hiring contractors to pick up 

recyclable construction materials.

Occupations in recycling

Getting recyclables from waste bins to manufacturers requires different types of workers. Drivers collect 

the recyclables and transport them to a MRF, at which 

sorters, plant managers, and technicians and mechanics 

work. Skilled personnel in support roles, such as sales 

and logistics, are also essential to the recycling industry. 

Larger recycling firms also employ workers in many 

other occupations, including management and human 

resources, but these occupations are not covered in this 

report. 

For each of the occupations discussed in this section, the job duties, necessary credentials, and wage data 

are presented. Unless otherwise specified, the wages for 

each occupation are median annual wages within the 

remediation and other waste services industry group, 

which includes recycling. 

Drivers

Recycling companies or local governments offering home pickup services employ drivers, also called 

recyclable material collectors, to pick up and transport 

recyclables to an MRF.

Drivers may use trucks with hydraulic lifting mechanisms
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 5

Green Jobs: Recycling

Job duties

Several drivers usually work together as a team to collect 

recyclables. One drives the truck, stopping alongside 

each recycling bin, while the other workers ride inside 

the cabin or hold onto the side of the truck. At each stop, 

at least one worker exits the vehicle, grabs the curbside 

recycling bin, and empties it into the bed of the truck. 

When the truck finishes its assigned route, the workers 

return to the MRF where the recyclables are unloaded. 

Depending on the type of truck used, workers might 

have to lift and empty the recyclables from the bin 

themselves. Other vehicles have hydraulic lifting mechanisms—in either the rear or front of the truck—that 

can be used to empty the bins automatically. To protect 

themselves from accidents around the trucks and lift 

systems, drivers follow detailed safety procedures. 

Drivers are required to collect recyclables year-round 

and in all weather conditions. And, in order to pick up 

recyclables along long routes, some workers begin shifts 

as early as 5 or 6 a.m. 

Recycling companies that offer services to construction firms pick up recyclable materials from construction 

sites. Because of the high volume and large size of construction waste, these workers might drive roll-off trucks, 

which can haul the large dumpsters used on construction 

sites back to special construction and demolition debris 

facilities. 

Drivers are responsible for inspecting their vehicles 

at both the beginning and end of every workday. They 

inspect the tire pressure, fluid levels, safety equipment, 

and all gauges and controls. 

Credentials

Drivers should have at least a high school education or a 

G.E.D. To be certified to handle large recycling trucks, 

drivers must have a Class A or B Commercial Driver’s 

License with airbrake endorsement. Recycling companies prefer drivers who have several years of experience 

with large commercial trucks.

 Drivers need to pass drug screening and background 

checks. They should have clean driving records. Drivers 

must also be physically capable of lifting, pushing, and 

pulling full recycling bins repeatedly throughout the day.

Wages

BLS does not have data specifically for drivers of recycling trucks; however, these workers are included in the 

occupation refuse and recyclable material collectors. The 

median annual wage for refuse and recyclable material 

collectors in the remediation and other waste management services industry group was $29,610 in May 2010. 

The wage is the median annual wage for the entire 

United States. Wages vary by employer and location. 

Sorters

In single-stream recycling systems, many different kinds 

of recyclables are collected together. Sorters separate the 

various types of recyclables so they can be processed.

Job duties

Sorters work along conveyer belts in MRFs. As waste 

materials come down the conveyer belt, sorters pull out 

any items that cannot be recycled and should be disposed 

of. They sometimes work as quality control inspectors 

and remove unwanted materials from a single stream. 

For example, they might remove paper products from a 

stream of plastic containers. 

At older MRFs, sorters are also responsible for separating all the different types of recyclables by material 

type. MRFs are increasingly relying on automated equipment as a faster way to sort recyclables. Even in these 

plants, however, sorters are necessary to ensure that no 

stray recyclables fall into the wrong group. Sorters also 

monitor the waste stream before it reaches the automated 

equipment to pull items that could damage the machinery, such as garden hoses, from the conveyer belt. 

Credentials

There are no specific education requirements for sorters. Many companies conduct drug tests and background 

checks on prospective employees. Sorters need to be 

Sorters remove separate unwanted materials from recyclables
Green Jobs: Recycling

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 6

physically capable of working on their feet for the entire 

day. They also need strong backs to handle repeatedly 

bending over to pick items off the conveyor belts. Sorters 

must have excellent vision to spot items as they come 

down the conveyer belt. 

Wages

BLS does not have data specifically for recycling sorters at MRFs; however, these workers are included in 

the occupation laborers and freight, stock, and material 

movers, hand. The median annual wage for laborers and 

freight, stock, and material movers, hand in the remediation and other waste management services industry group was $23,570 in May 2010. The wage is the 

median annual wage for the entire United States. Wages 

vary by employer and location.

Mechanics, technicians, and machinery 

maintenance workers 

Recycling operations rely on various kinds of mechanics, technicians, and machinery maintenance workers 

to inspect and repair the automated equipment in MRFs 

and to maintain recycling trucks. 

Job duties

Mechanics and technicians monitor and operate the 

machines in MRFs, including balers (compactors) that 

shape the recyclables into a form to simplify shipping to 

and use by manufacturers. They also regularly inspect 

the machinery and diagnose and repair any problems 

with the electrical or hydraulic systems of the compactors. They record their work in detailed logs. 

Other mechanics, technicians, and maintenance 

workers are needed to repair and maintain the recycling 

trucks. They run inspections and diagnostic tests and 

perform preventative maintenance and vehicular repairs. Truck technicians also document vehicular part 

usage and repair times. They may be required to make 

emergency roadside calls if recycling trucks experience 

problems while out on collection.

Credentials

Whether they work on machinery or recycling trucks, 

mechanics and technicians should have at least a high 

school education or a G.E.D. They should also have at 

least a year of formal education and experience performing repairs on machines or vehicles. Workers can 

learn these technical skills through vocational training 

programs or apprenticeships. While mechanics used to 

specialize in one area, many now have knowledge of 

multiple disciplines, including electricity, electronics, 

hydraulics, and computer programming. Machinery 

maintenance workers usually receive on-the-job training 

that lasts for a few months or a year. 

Mechanics and technicians are required to pass drug 

tests and background checks. 

They should have clean driving 

records and need to be able to 

move equipment that weighs up 

to 50 pounds. 

Wages

BLS does not have data specific 

to mechanics, technicians, and 

machinery maintenance workers at MRFs. However, these 

workers are included in the occupations industrial mechanics; 

maintenance workers, machinery; and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists. 

Table 1 shows wages for these 

occupations in the remediation 

and other waste management 

services industry group. The 

Well-maintained recycling trucks are critical for an MRF’s operations 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 7

Green Jobs: Recycling

wage is the median annual wage for the entire United 

States. Wages vary by employer and location.

Table 1. Selected mechanics and 

maintenance occupations

Median annual 

wages, 20101

Industrial machinery mechanics $47,280

Maintenance workers, machinery2 41,870

Bus and truck mechanics and diesel 

engine specialists

 38,780

1 Occupational Employment Statistics data are available at 

www.bls.gov/oes. The data do not include benefits.

2

 Wage data for this occupation are not available in the 

remediation and other waste management services industry 

group, so the dollar amount shown is the wage in the waste 

management and remediation services industry subsector.

Material recovery facility managers

Keeping a constant flow of recyclables collected, sorted, 

processed, and sold requires a proficient staff—and experienced MRF managers to supervise it. 

Job duties

MRF managers keep the recycling facilities working efficiently and safely. They have a broad range of responsibilities, including overseeing site improvements, submitting budgets, and developing long-term goals for the 

facility. MRF managers might also work with the sales 

team to identify new clients who might be interested in 

purchasing recyclables. When it is necessary to deal with 

the public or press, MRF managers are the face 

of the recycling operation. 

MRF managers are also responsible for 

recruiting, hiring, and training employees. They 

evaluate employees’ performances and offer 

feedback to senior managers on how to reward 

and compensate employees. Finally, because 

heavy machinery and large vehicles at an MRF 

can pose a risk to employees, a substantial part of 

MRF managers’ jobs concerns workplace safety, 

such as providing employees with regular safety 

briefings and reviewing technicians’ inspection 

and maintenance reports.

Credentials

Positions for MRF managers may require education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Many MRF 

managers have earned a master’s degree in business 

administration (MBA) or a master’s degree in industrial 

engineering. Management experience, especially in the 

waste industry, can sometimes be substituted for education. A combination of a graduate degree and several 

years of experience is ideal.

Wages

BLS does not have data specifically for MRF managers; 

however, these workers are included in the occupation 

general and operations managers. The median annual 

wage for general and operations managers in the remediation and other waste management services industry group was $90,790 in May 2010. The wage is the 

median annual wage for the United States as a whole; 

wages vary by employer and location. 

Route managers

To collect recyclables in the most efficient way possible, 

route managers plan routes and schedules for recycling 

trucks to follow.

Job duties

Using maps and customer data, route managers choose 

the best schedule and routes for collecting recyclables 

from customers. They determine the most efficient 

routes and assign them to drivers. Route managers 

monitor drivers’ routes and might solicit their feedback 

before making changes. They record statistics, including the length of each route, the time it takes to run each 

route, number of homes serviced, and the amount of 

Route managers choose the most efficient schedules for recyclable collection
Green Jobs: Recycling

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 8

recyclables collected. If the recycling service changes its 

collection plan—such as the day on which recyclables 

are collected—route managers inform customers of this 

change through the customer service department. 

At some MRFs, route managers may also supervise 

recycling truck workers. If so, they monitor the hours 

that the drivers work to keep them below regulatory 

limits. Route managers also ensure that drivers receive 

regular training and drug and alcohol tests.

Credentials

Route managers need at least a high school diploma or a 

G.E.D. Many have associate’s degrees and several years 

of experience in transportation, logistics, or waste management. They also use communication skills to interact 

with recycling truck workers. 

Wages

BLS does not have data specifically for recycling route 

managers; however, these workers are included in the occupation logisticians. The median annual wage for logisticians in the remediation and other waste management 

services industry group was $67,720 in May 2010. The 

wage is the median annual wage for the United States 

as a whole; wages vary by employer and location. 

Sales representatives

Sales representatives, also called account managers, 

are responsible for finding purchasers for both recycling services and processed recyclables.

Job duties

Companies selling recycling services use sales representatives to sell their services to either an entire 

municipality or individual consumers. The sales 

representatives need to know what services their company offers: collection services, sorting and processing services at an MRF, or both. Sales workers are 

the point of contact between the community and the 

recycling company. If there are any changes or problems with the recycling service, sales workers need to 

explain these issues to their clients. 

Sales workers also sell recyclables—after they 

have been sorted and processed at an MRF—to 

manufacturers to be used as the raw material in new 

products. To find new clients, sales representatives 

might have to make sales pitches over the phone or 

perform in-person presentations. They research their 

potential clients and devise ways to convince them to 

use recycled materials in their products. Depending on 

the recycling contractor, these sales workers might be 

the same as or different from the sales workers who sell 

recycling services. 

Credentials

Sales representatives are usually required to have at 

least a bachelor’s degree. Experience in sales, especially 

waste management sales, is very useful. Communication 

skills are also extremely important for sales workers. 

They must be able to find clients and negotiate with them 

effectively. 

Wages

BLS does not have data specifically for sales representatives working in recycling. However, these workers are 

included in the occupations sales representatives, services, all other; and sales representatives, wholesale manufacturing, except technical and scientific products. Table 

2 shows wages for these occupations in the remediation 

and other waste services industry group. The wage is the 

Sales representatives might sell collection services or sorted recyclables
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 9

Green Jobs: Recycling

Notes

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The author would like to thank Richard 

Abramowitz (WM Recycle Services), Larry Leith (BLS), and Leslie 

Joyner (BLS) for reviewing a draft of this report.

1 Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the 

United States: Facts and Figures for 2009 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 2010), pp. 1–2, http://www.epa.gov/osw/

nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2009-fs.pdf.

2 Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2009 Facts and Figures 

(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 2010), p. 4, 

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2009rpt.pdf.

3 Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the 

United States: Facts and Figures for 2009, p. 2.

4 Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2009 Facts and Figures,

p. 171.

5 Ibid., p. 156.

6 Ibid., p. 157.

7 2008 ABA Community Survey (RW Beck, 2009), p. ES-2, http://

www.recycletogether.com/sites/default/files/ABA%20Final%20

Report09-28-09.pdf.

8 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. https://www.bls.gov/

cew.

median annual wage for the United States as a whole; 

wages vary by employer and location.

Table 2. Selected sales occupations Median annual 

wages, 20101

Sales representatives, services, all 

other

$52,540

Sales representatives, wholesale 

manufacturing, except technical 

and scientific products

 56,150

1 Occupational Employment Statistics data are available at 

www.bls.gov/oes. The data do not include benefits.

Conclusion

As recycling continues to grow, more workers will be 

needed to collect, sort, and process recyclables. Recycling jobs require people with a broad range of skill 

levels. For example, becoming a sorter has few specific 

skill requirements, but mechanics and technicians in the 

recycling industry are highly skilled. MRF and route 

managers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree. But 

whether driving large vehicles or operating an MRF, 

prior work experience—particularly in other areas of 

waste management—is helpful for those seeking to make 

a career in the recycling industry.