What does a waste collector do?
Waste collector responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real waste collector resumes:
- Operate automated and semi-automate hoisting devices that rise refuse bins into openings in truck bodies.
- Used pitch forks, shovels and similar hand tools to pick up general refuse and trash from curbside and other areas.
- Return products to Comcast corporate locations
Waste collector skills and personality traits
We calculated that 27% of Waste Collectors are proficient in Waste Containers, Hoisting, and Federal Laws. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Listening skills, and Hand-eye coordination.
We break down the percentage of Waste Collectors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Waste Containers, 27%
Collected trash from residential neighborhoods*Placed waste containers on curb
- Hoisting, 15%
Operate automatic or semi-automatic hydraulic hoisting devices to dump refuse bin contents into truck body.
- Federal Laws, 11%
Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Recyclable Materials, 11%
Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites* Refuel trucks etc.or add other fluids suck as oil, brake fluid.
- Safety Procedures, 9%
Comply with prescribed safety procedures or federal laws regulating waste disposal methods.
- Waste Materials, 5%
Operate machines or equipment to remove, package, store, or transport loads of waste materials.
Common skills that a waste collector uses to do their job include "waste containers," "hoisting," and "federal laws." You can find details on the most important waste collector responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a waste collector to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." Waste collectors often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "drive a garbage truck, pick-up trash, and customer service when necessary. "
Listening skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling waste collector duties is listening skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them." According to a waste collector resume, here's how waste collectors can utilize listening skills in their job responsibilities: "communicated withsupervisor concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns or othermaintenance problems. "
Hand-eye coordination. waste collectors are also known for hand-eye coordination, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to waste collector responsibilities, because "most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions." A waste collector resume example shows how hand-eye coordination is used in the workplace: "maintained all pick up coordination's within a 60 mile radius and 600 containers per week. "
The three companies that hire the most waste collectors are:
- Valet Living256 waste collectors jobs
- PeopleReady19 waste collectors jobs
- Live Nation Entertainment3 waste collectors jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable waste collector resume templates
Build a professional waste collector resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your waste collector resume.
Compare different waste collectors
Waste collector vs. Disposal worker
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between waste collectors and disposal worker. For instance, waste collector responsibilities require skills such as "waste containers," "hoisting," "recyclable materials," and "hazardous waste." Whereas a disposal worker is skilled in "vac," "grounds clean-up," "free flow," and "vehicle operation." This is part of what separates the two careers.
On average, disposal workers reach similar levels of education than waste collectors. Disposal workers are 2.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Waste collector vs. Front loader residential driver
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that waste collector responsibilities requires skills like "waste containers," "hoisting," "recyclable materials," and "safety procedures." But a front loader residential driver might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "dot," "safety hazards," "inspection reports," and "health act."
In general, front loader residential drivers achieve similar levels of education than waste collectors. They're 2.6% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Waste collector vs. Commercial front load driver
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a waste collector is likely to be skilled in "waste containers," "recyclable materials," "safety procedures," and "waste materials," while a typical commercial front load driver is skilled in "safety policies," "dot," "osha," and "automatic controls."
When it comes to education, commercial front load drivers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to waste collectors. In fact, they're 2.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Waste collector vs. Residential recycle driver
Types of waste collector
Updated January 8, 2025
