How to hire a sanitary landfill operator

How to hire a sanitary landfill operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step sanitary landfill operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a sanitary landfill operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sanitary landfill operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the sanitary landfill operator you need to hire. Certain sanitary landfill operator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A sanitary landfill operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sanitary landfill operators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of sanitary landfill operators.

   Type of Sanitary Landfill Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Sanitary Landfill Operator	Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.	$15-26
   Engineering Equipment Operator	An engineering equipment operator runs heavy construction machinery. Engineering equipment operators drive and control any construction equipment... Show more	$14-28
   Equipment Operator/Labour	Heavy equipment operators control and drive construction equipment. The operators operate heavy equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, and lift... Show more	$12-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Equipment Operation
   • CDL
   • Landfill Operations
   • Loaders
   • Water Truck
   • Waste Materials
   • Customer Service

   Responsibilities:

   • Run heavy equipment including compactor and ATD.
   • Follow all power equipment rules and regulation including any regulatory agency policies to include OSHA.
   • Operate knuckle boom as necessary.
   • Perform preventive maintenance checks and services on designate equipment.
   • Operate heavy equipment and supply mechanical assistance when need.
   • Execute daily operations of finish grading and various equipment operation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your sanitary landfill operator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A sanitary landfill operator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, sanitary landfill operators' average salary in north carolina is 55% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level sanitary landfill operators earn 40% less than senior-level sanitary landfill operators.
   • Certifications. A sanitary landfill operator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a sanitary landfill operator's salary.

   Average sanitary landfill operator salary

   $42,639yearly

   $20.50 hourly rate

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   Entry-level sanitary landfill operator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a sanitary landfill operator job description

   A sanitary landfill operator job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a sanitary landfill operator job description:

   Sanitary landfill operator job description example

   As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.
   Performs a variety of general manual labor tasks under direct supervision.
   
   II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other minor duties may be assigned.
   
   * Performs general manual labor tasks including, but not limited to,
   * lifting and moving materials,
   * loading and unloading vehicles,
   * digging and refilling holes,
   * and other activities in a helping or assisting mode.
   
   * Conducts other duties and tasks as assigned.
   
   III. Supervisory Responsibilities
   
   This job has no supervisory duties.
   
   IV. Qualifications
   
   The requirements listed below are representative of the qualifications necessary to perform the job.
   
   A. Education and Experience
   
   * Education: None required.
   
   * Experience: No prior work experience required.
   
   B. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations or Other Requirements
   
   * Licenses as required by Local, State, Federal, Environmental and/or Health/Safety Regulatory agencies.
   
   C. Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required
   
   * None required.
   
   V. Work Environment
   
   Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
   
   * Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.) occasionally;
   * Required to exert physical effort in handling objects less than __ pounds most of the work day;
   * Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals, etc.) occasionally;
   * Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements occasionally;
   * Normal setting for this job is: manual labor.
   
   Benefits
   
   At Waste Management, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.
   
   If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click "Apply."

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right sanitary landfill operator for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your sanitary landfill operator job on Zippia to find and recruit sanitary landfill operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as constructionjobs.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with sanitary landfill operator candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sanitary landfill operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the sanitary landfill operator position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new sanitary landfill operator. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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