Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Waste Recycling Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a proactive Waste Recycling Specialist to design, implement, and optimize recycling and diversion programs across municipal, commercial, and industrial sites. The ideal candidate will manage day-to-day recycling operations, ensure regulatory compliance (RCRA, local environmental codes), drive contamination reduction and diversion rate improvements, coordinate with vendors and haulers, analyze program data, and lead community and internal outreach to increase participation and tonnage recovered. This role requires a mix of field operations experience, contract/vendor management, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder communication.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Recycling Technician or MRF Operator
Environmental Technician or Sustainability Coordinator
Solid Waste Collections Supervisor

Advancement To:

Recycling Program Manager / Recycling Operations Manager
Solid Waste & Recycling Supervisor
Environmental Compliance Manager / Sustainability Manager

Lateral Moves:

Waste Reduction & Outreach Specialist
Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Supervisor
Zero Waste Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and continuously improve municipal and commercial recycling programs to increase diversion rates and reduce landfill tonnage; set quarterly and annual targets (e.g., +5–15% diversion year-over-year) and track progress against KPIs such as tons diverted per month, contamination rate, and cost per ton.
Manage daily operations of recycling collection routes, drop-off sites, and/or Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), including oversight of equipment (balers, conveyors, optical sorters, shredders) and preventative maintenance schedules to minimize downtime and safety incidents.
Conduct regular, documented quality control inspections of inbound materials and MRF output to identify contamination streams, develop corrective action plans, and reduce reject/residue rates; present findings in monthly operational reports.
Prepare, review, and maintain permits, manifests, and regulatory documentation for recycling and waste streams; ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations including RCRA, EPA guidance, and local waste ordinances.
Oversee hazardous and special waste segregation, handling, packaging, and shipment procedures to ensure compliance with hazardous waste regulations and HAZWOPER best practices; coordinate with licensed hazardous waste contractors when required.
Lead contract negotiation and management for third-party haulers, processors, brokers, and end-markets; monitor vendor performance through SLAs and KPIs, and execute corrective actions when vendor metrics fall short.
Design and execute contamination reduction and outreach campaigns targeted to residential, commercial, and institutional audiences; create training materials, signage, and hands-on workshops, and measure campaign ROI via participation rates and contamination reduction.
Perform inbound and outbound load inspections, weigh master reconciliation, and reconcile scale house data with manifests and ERP/CMMS records to ensure accurate billing and revenue capture.
Develop and maintain robust data systems for recycling program metrics, including Excel dashboards, BI visualizations (Power BI, Tableau), and ERP integrations to provide weekly/monthly reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Conduct market analysis of recyclable commodities, monitor pricing trends, and adapt material marketing strategies to maximize revenue and minimize processing costs; establish and maintain relationships with commodity buyers.
Plan and manage scheduled and emergency responses to operational incidents (equipment failure, contamination events, permit issues); implement corrective action plans, root-cause analysis, and post-incident reporting.
Supervise, coach, and train front-line staff, seasonal hires, and contractors on safe handling, sorting protocols, machine operation, and continuous improvement initiatives; maintain training records and competency assessments.
Coordinate cross-functional projects with sustainability, procurement, public works, and finance teams to align recycling goals with broader organizational sustainability plans, budgets, and capital projects.
Administer recycling incentive and rebate programs for businesses and institutions; evaluate effectiveness, manage enrollments, and produce case studies that demonstrate diversion and cost savings.
Plan and execute large-scale community events (e.g., hazardous waste collection, e-waste drives, bulky item recycling), including logistics, volunteer coordination, vendor staging, and post-event metrics collection.
Maintain and update operational SOPs, health & safety protocols, and emergency response plans; ensure OSHA compliance and promote a culture of safety in all recycling operations.
Perform route and facility audits, waste characterization studies, and composition analyses to prioritize program changes and capital investments that yield the greatest diversion and cost benefits.
Lead pilot programs to evaluate new recycling streams (textiles, organics/composting, glass beneficiation, construction/demolition materials) and new technologies (AI sorters, optical near-infrared separation), measuring outcomes and scaling successful pilots.
Prepare grant applications, budgets, and capital requests for recycling equipment upgrades, educational initiatives, and program expansion; manage awarded funds and provide required reporting to funders.
Maintain accurate inventory control of recyclables, parts, PPE, and consumables; optimize procurement to reduce operating costs and prevent stockouts that disrupt operations.
Represent the organization at multi-stakeholder meetings, public hearings, and regulatory engagements; prepare briefs and technical materials for elected officials and community boards to support policy and program decisions.
Conduct routine environmental and safety audits and lead remediation or corrective projects for non-conformances identified during internal or external audits.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to diversion, cost, and program participation from internal teams and external consultants.
Contribute to the organization’s sustainability strategy and long-term waste reduction roadmap by providing operational insights and feasibility analysis.
Collaborate with procurement and finance to translate operational needs into capital requests and vendor contracts; participate in RFP development for processing and hauling services.
Assist communications and outreach teams with content development (press releases, social media, newsletters) to promote recycling initiatives and program successes.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives such as 5S, Kaizen events, and Lean projects to improve flow through MRFs and drop-off centers.
Provide on-call support during periods of high-volume events or contamination surges and act as the operational incident commander when required.
Mentor junior staff and interns, offering hands-on site experience and technical training in MRF operations, safety, and community engagement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Waste program management: program design, implementation, KPI tracking, and continuous improvement.
Regulatory compliance: working knowledge of RCRA, local environmental codes, EPA recycling guidance, and hazardous waste handling requirements.
Hazardous waste & safety: HAZWOPER familiarity (preferred: 40-hour), OSHA safety practices, PPE selection, lockout/tagout, and confined space awareness.
MRF operations: hands-on experience with balers, conveyors, optical sorters, trommels, screens, shredders, and residue handling best practices.
Materials identification and quality control: ability to perform waste characterization studies, contamination audits, and composition analysis.
Data analysis & reporting: Excel (advanced), Power BI or Tableau, experience building dashboards and interpreting diversion metrics and cost-per-ton analytics.
Contract & vendor management: RFP development, SLA monitoring, KPI-based vendor performance tracking, and contract negotiation.
Commodity marketing: understanding of fiber, plastics, metal, glass markets and experience securing end-markets and buyers.
Equipment maintenance planning: familiarity with CMMS or maintenance scheduling tools and spare parts inventory management.
Project management: experience managing capital projects, pilots, and grant-funded initiatives; familiarity with project scoping, timelines, and budget control.
E-waste and special stream handling: knowledge of electronic waste processing flows, data security considerations, and certified recycling/disposal pathways.
GIS & routing tools: experience using routing optimization or GIS tools for collection and drop-off planning (preferred).
ERP/scales integration: experience reconciling scale house data, manifests, and financial systems for accurate billing and reporting.

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication: able to present technical findings to non-technical stakeholders and craft clear outreach materials.
Stakeholder management: proven ability to collaborate with municipal leaders, haulers, vendors, regulators, and community groups.
Analytical mindset: data-driven decision making with attention to detail and ability to translate data into operational improvements.
Problem solving: rapid troubleshooting in field conditions and structured root-cause analysis for recurring issues.
Leadership and team development: ability to train, motivate, and supervise frontline staff and contractors.
Customer-service orientation: tactful community engagement and conflict resolution when addressing contamination and service complaints.
Time and priority management: capacity to manage competing projects and operational demands simultaneously.
Negotiation skills: vendor negotiation and consensus-building with internal stakeholders.
Adaptability: comfort working in dynamic environments, including site conditions, changing markets, and regulatory updates.
Safety-first mindset: champions safety protocols and leads by example to reduce incidents and near-misses.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in Environmental Science, Waste Management, Engineering Technology, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, Civil/Environmental Engineering, or Business Administration with environmental emphasis.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Sustainability / Circular Economy
Civil or Environmental Engineering
Waste Management or Solid Waste Technology
Business Administration (procurement/operations focus)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of progressively responsible experience in recycling operations, MRF supervision, municipal recycling program management, or related solid waste roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct experience managing recycling programs, MRF operations, or municipal solid waste programs.
Demonstrated success improving diversion rates, reducing contamination, and managing vendor relationships.
Preferred certifications: HAZWOPER 40-hour (or relevant HAZWOPER refresher), OSHA 10/30, RCRA training, or equivalent industry safety/compliance credentials. LEED AP or sustainability-related certifications are a plus.

Keywords: Waste Recycling Specialist, recycling operations, diversion rate, contamination reduction, materials recovery facility, MRF, hazardous waste, HAZWOPER, RCRA compliance, recycling program manager, sustainability, waste management, e‑waste, composting, vendor management, commodity marketing, recycling outreach, circular economy.