How to become A Trash Collector

Trash Collectors help society manage the waste it allows to build up, so it doesn’t cause enormous health and environmental issues. They are a critical part of the solution to the pollution that others have generated.

• Sanitation Laborer 
• Waste Collector 
• Refuse Collector 
• Garbage Hauler
• Waste Operative
• Recycling Collector
• Bin Collector

What do Trash Collector do?

A Trash Collector would typically need to:

• Pick up and remove waste material from residential, commercial, and industrial areas and public parks to keep the environment pleasant, clean, and healthy
• Work as part of a team to collect trash from a different location each day of the week for disposal or recycling
• Work in pairs to transport waste, recyclable material, or yard debris to a recycling centre, tip, or incinerator
• Step out of the lorry at each stop and attach the trash containers to a hydraulic lift, if working as a loader
• Use the lifting mechanism to tip the waste from bins into the lorry; return empy bins to the kerbside
• Sort recyclable material at the kerbside; throw cartons and plastic bags into the back of the lorry
• Collect bulk waste such as yard waste, construction debris, old furniture, appliances, and carpets
• Collect large volumes of recyclable material from businesses and commercial establishments, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and factories
• Empty public litter bins or skips; remove hazardous material such as chemicals and hospital waste in accordance with health and safety regulations
• Guide the driver safely around the locality; report relevant issues with trash collection
• Help to unload the waste at designated facilities; record the amount of waste collected
• Operate heavy trucks and lorries to collect and transport solid waste material, if employed as a driver
• Navigate the refuse lorry slowly and safely down designated streets; operate the hydraulic lift to empty the waste bins
• Ensure people are clear of the lorry before operating the waste compactor to crush the trash per health and safety rules
• Drive full loads to the refuse tip, transfer station, recycling centre or incinerator for weighting and unloading; drive a vehicle at the refuse tip, if required
• Conduct routine maintenance of the lorry, such as checking oil, water, fuel, and tyres

Whether driving the garbage truck, operating the hydraulic system, or physically depositing the trash into the truck, the job entails intense manual activity. Come rain or shine, snow or sleet, the trash must be picked up on designated days. 

Occasional interaction with the public is necessary. Trash collectors must wear reflective clothing and heavy-duty gloves. They may need to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) if employed by hospitals to dispose of chemical or clinical waste.

Full-time Trash Collectors typically work between 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, five days a week. You may need to work on public holidays. Weekend overtime may be available.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Trash Collectors can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Part-time work is rare but may be available.

Trash Collectors are generally employed by:

• Private Waste Disposal Companies
• City Public Works Departments
• Private Contractors

Professional associations and organisations, such as The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), are crucial for Trash Collectors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Professional associations provide members with continuing education, networking opportunities, and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Objects falling overloaded containers, broken glass, syringes, needles, and caustic chemicals
• Health hazards from inhaling asbestos, smoke, and dust particles
• Diseases from exposure to solid waste
• Injuries due to dog attacks
• Poor weather conditions leading to traffic accidents
• The need to work on one’s feet in all kinds of weather while handling dirty and smelly trash
• Shifts involving early mornings and late nights

Aspiring Trash Collectors can get the job through an intermediate waste resource operative apprenticeship. Candidates will undertake a year-long programme that entails learning in the workplace and off-the-job training.

Trash Collectors will benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. One may hear countless stories and obtain valuable hands-on experience from more experienced professionals who can turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Applicants with higher grades in English, science, and mathematics have a better chance of landing an apprenticeship in sustainable resource management.

Previous jobs with a local council, a private waste management company under contract to a council, or a commercial recycling company offer a taste of the work, help build valuable contacts, and improve one’s prospects of getting a permanent job.

The experience may also help you determine whether the public, private, or voluntary sector is best suited to realise one’s ambitions. Your educational provider’s career service department can provide information about viable opportunities for work placements, internships and voluntary work in diverse sectors.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow experts working in waste management to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

A high school diploma or its equivalent will suffice to become a Trash Collector. Some employers prefer candidates with an associate or bachelor’s degree in waste management or environmental science.

Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Be that as it may, professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.

Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check what you need.

As a rule, Trash Collectors will need a current commercial driving licence and an LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) licence to prove that they have been trained to drive a truck or loader. In addition, they may need to pass an employer-administered driving exam.

Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. It typically requires passing an examination after meeting eligibility requirements, such as a minimum level of education, work experience, and training.

Employers may also need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card and a digital tachograph driver smart card (digicard). Certification from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market.

A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ across regions. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

Trash Collectors may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.

Your medical examination must prove that you are fit and healthy enough to lift, carry, bend and walk as the job demands. You should not be allergic to dust or suffer from asthma. 

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Trash Collectors, some of who may become Drivers. Others may eventually move into management or supervisory positions in the organisation.

It is also possible to become the Head of a refuse depot or an Inspector. Starting one’s own trash collection business or moving into related fields such as recycling, waste management, or hazardous waste disposal are viable options.

The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.

Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and interesting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills.

Physically fit, reliable candidates with the ability to collaborate and solve problems, an associate degree in waste management or environmental science, an understanding of health and safety, and requisite licences have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Trash Collector build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, 

formal education, or self-directed learning. It will also help with the regular renewal of desirable licences.

Attending events organised by legitimate waste industry trade organisations can help interested individuals network their way into the profession.

Newly hired Trash Collectors receive on-the-job training from experienced colleagues on health and safety. You will also learn how to use the company’s equipment, properly empty trash cans, transport trash bags, operate the vehicle, and safely dispose of hazardous materials.

You may acquire an LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) licence, sometimes employer-sponsored, to become a trash collection driver.

Forward-looking Trash Collectors can earn varying vocational qualifications and diplomas in sustainable resource operations, general recycling, and sustainable waste management.

Incumbents with expertise in recycling, composting and landfill disposal are better equipped for career advancement. Familiarity with the different recyclable materials and their proper disposal is an asset.

In addition, supervisors and team leaders who can use GPS systems to track trucks, use software to manage trucks, and use apps to communicate with customers can help improve organisational efficiency while reducing costs.

What Does it Take to be a Successful Trash Collector?

Trash Collectors must be strong and willing to perform heavy work in diverse weather conditions. In addition to being able to stand bad smells, dirt and vermin, they must communicate and work well with others.

Responsibility and reliability are essential. Being proactive when necessary and following instructions at other times are just as important. Patience, time management, a polite and professional public manner, and physical skills such as movement, coordination, and agility are highly sought after.

Garbage collectors in Manatee County in Florida are trained to spot and report suspicious activity to law enforcement officials.

The work isn’t as simple as it seems, the tasks are occasionally hazardous, and the work day begins early and involves cleaning up other people’s messes. However, the pay is good, and the satisfaction they gain from knowing that they play a critical role in keeping the community clean will keep Trash Collectors going strong.

You have to be in shape and pick the cans up the right way without hurting your back.