NSXNational Skills ExchangeSign in
Back to Framework

Recycling Coordinators

SOC 53-1042.01Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers municipal and community recycling coordination roles across collection, compliance, personnel supervision, training, and materials management in public-sector and waste management service environments.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Recycling pick-up logs — record daily material weights and collection totals under supervisor direction at a municipal recycling facility.
  2. Community ordinances — identify and review basic compliance requirements for curbside recycling programs with guidance from senior staff.
  3. Customer service requests — receive and document resident inquiries about recycling services using office suite software and standard intake forms.
  4. Recycling materials — sort and categorize incoming recyclables into designated streams following posted facility protocols.
  5. Electronic mail software — draft and send routine correspondence to customers and processing companies under coordinator oversight.
  6. Safety procedures — follow established safety protocols during recycling collection and drop-off operations at community sites.
  7. Spreadsheet software — enter recycling tonnage and shipment data into pre-built templates with supervisor review.
  8. Recycling technician tasks — assist experienced staff with daily operational duties at a transfer station or drop-off center.
  9. Basic recycling terminology — recognize and use correct material classification terms when communicating with team members on a collection route.
  10. Scheduling software — input assigned pick-up routes and volunteer shifts into a calendar tool following coordinator instructions.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Recycling pick-up programs — oversee daily collection schedules and verify driver compliance with community ordinance requirements on assigned routes.
  2. Material logs — maintain accurate records of recyclables received and shipped to processing companies using spreadsheet and database software with minimal supervision.
  3. Customer service requests — review resident and business service requests, determine appropriate resource deployment, and follow up to confirm resolution.
  4. Recycling technicians — monitor team performance during shift operations and provide real-time guidance to correct unsafe or non-compliant practices.
  5. Safety training sessions — deliver standardized training to new recycling technicians and community service volunteers on solid waste handling procedures.
  6. Drop-off compliance — conduct routine site inspections and document any deviations from municipal recycling ordinances using standardized checklists.
  7. Processing company coordination — communicate shipment schedules and material specifications to external vendors via email and ERP software.
  8. Route efficiency — identify and report recurring delays or resource gaps in recycling pick-up operations to program management.
  9. Written reports — prepare weekly recycling activity summaries using word processing software for review by department supervisors.
  10. Recycling materials data — query database records to track material volumes, identify trends, and flag discrepancies in collection metrics.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Recycling compliance programs — autonomously oversee pick-up and drop-off operations across multiple service zones, ensuring full adherence to community ordinances.
  2. Material tracking systems — manage end-to-end logging of recyclables from collection through shipment, auditing database records for accuracy and completeness.
  3. Personnel supervision — independently supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, and volunteers, resolving performance issues and coordinating staffing needs.
  4. Service request resolution — analyze complex or non-routine customer service requests, apply critical thinking to allocate resources, and implement corrective actions facility-wide.
  5. Staff training programs — design and deliver comprehensive training curricula covering safety, solid waste processing regulations, and recycling operations for all facility personnel.
  6. New recycling opportunities — research and investigate emerging materials streams or collection partnerships, presenting feasibility findings to program leadership.
  7. ERP and data systems — utilize enterprise resource planning tools to optimize operational workflows, track program costs, and generate performance reports.
  8. Regulatory interpretation — read and apply updated public safety and environmental regulations to current recycling program practices without supervisory input.
  9. Stakeholder communication — communicate program changes, compliance requirements, and service updates clearly to residents, contractors, and municipal partners.
  10. Operational problem solving — diagnose and resolve equipment, staffing, or logistics failures that disrupt recycling operations with minimal service interruption.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Recycling program strategy — set long-term direction for community-wide recycling initiatives, aligning operational goals with municipal sustainability mandates and budget constraints.
  2. Organizational compliance framework — develop and implement policies that ensure consistent ordinance compliance across all recycling pick-up and drop-off programs in the service area.
  3. Workforce development — establish training standards, mentorship pathways, and performance evaluation systems for recycling coordinators and technicians across the organization.
  4. Materials recovery expansion — lead identification and negotiation of new recyclable materials streams, forging partnerships with processors and community organizations to grow program capacity.
  5. Cross-departmental coordination — collaborate with transportation, public works, and communications leaders to integrate recycling operations into broader municipal service delivery plans.
  6. Program performance accountability — define key performance indicators, analyze ERP and database outputs at scale, and present data-driven recommendations to elected officials or executive leadership.
  7. Budget and resource planning — oversee procurement of vehicles, equipment, and staffing resources for recycling operations, ensuring cost-effective allocation aligned with service demand.
  8. Community engagement strategy — design and lead public outreach campaigns using presentation and communication tools to increase recycling participation rates across diverse neighborhoods.
  9. Regulatory advocacy — represent the organization in interactions with regulatory agencies, contributing expertise to shape public safety and recycling policy at a regional level.
  10. Continuous improvement leadership — drive adoption of new technologies and process innovations across recycling operations, benchmarking performance against industry standards to advance organizational excellence.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

A 4-level framework describing how a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline. Subscribe for $19.99/mo to read the full framework — or sign in if you have a subscription.

  1. Emerging
  2. Developing
  3. Proficient
  4. Advanced
Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library

Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency levels for this occupation. Subscribe to unlock the full Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework across all 1,016 occupations.

Monthly subscription · Stripe-hosted · unlocks AI-at-Work and Pathsmith™ Durable Skills across the full library
Show O*NET source anchors52 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

Suggest an O*NET correction

Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Agency Operator · Corporate Recycling Manager · Heavy Equipment Supervisor · Materials Manager · Recycle Coordinator · Recycle Supervisor · Recycling Center Operator · Recycling Coordinator · Recycling Crew Supervisor · Recycling Manager · Recycling Operations Manager · Recycling Operator
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
SpeakingManagement of Personnel ResourcesActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical ThinkingCoordinationMonitoringReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingSocial PerceptivenessActive LearningPersuasionWritingService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingLearning Strategies
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementAdministrativeEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingMathematicsEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesComputers and ElectronicsTransportation
Abilities
Oral ComprehensionOral ExpressionSpeech RecognitionSpeech ClarityDeductive ReasoningInformation OrderingNear VisionWritten ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInductive Reasoning
Work styles
—
Technology
Electronic mail softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareInternet browser softwareCalendar and scheduling software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances.
  2. Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies.
  3. Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers.
  4. Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service.
  5. Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations.
  6. Identify or investigate new opportunities for materials to be collected and recycled.
CIP education codes
49.020849.010649.010249.010849.010551.0810

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.