Recycling and Reclamation Workers
Transportation and Material Moving
Work happens in a recycling yard: you sort metals, glass, wood, paper, and plastics into the right bins, pull copper, brass, and aluminum aside for their grade, and take appliances apart after removing hazardous substances. The yard itself needs regular cleanup: sweeping, raking, picking up broken glass and loose paper, and moving barrels and bins. Forklifts, pallet jacks, and loaders move bales and bundles onto trucks headed to smelters or other processors, and equipment such as belts, grinders, and sorters needs routine cleaning, lubrication, and minor repair. Suits people who like hands-on sorting, noticing differences between materials, and mixing physical work with basic machine care.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$40'240
Median Wage Market Position
$40'240
What you might do
- Sort metals, glass, paper, and plastics
- Spot and remove hazardous substances from loads
- Take apart appliances for recyclable parts
- Load bales onto trucks with forklifts
- Sweep the yard and pick up debris
- Inspect, oil, and repair recycling equipment
Skills that matter
- Forklift loading of recycle bales
- Listen for sorting and safety calls
- Keep count of what each bin holds
- Watch belts, grinders, and yard conditions
- Decide which metals belong together
- Spot mixed or hazardous items in loads
AI & the future of this role
Vision systems might sort cleaner, more uniform streams faster over time. Contaminated loads, hazard checks, and tearing down mixed products still lean on judgment and careful hands.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details