Trade and technical positions in waste and recycling are growing and can provide meaningful careers without requiring a college degree. The waste and recycling industry expects over 21,000 new jobs to be created between 2012 and 2022, a 16% growth rate. These jobs pay well, with experienced drivers earning over $100,000 with overtime. Opportunities exist for drivers, mechanics, and welders in an industry with job security and on-the-job training opportunities.

1. (NU) - Trade and technical
positions are the bright, shining
stars of the economy these days.
They don’t require a college de-
gree, do provide the opportunity
for a meaningful career, and they
often pay very well.
One industry, in particular,
shines brightest among those hir-
ing these positions: America’s
waste and recycling business.
“These are great careers,”
says Sharon H. Kneiss, president
and CEO of the National Waste
& RecyclingAssociation. “We do
a real service for residents and
business owners alike. And busi-
ness is growing!”
According to the Bureau of La-
bor Statistics, the number of waste
and recycling collectors is ex-
pected to grow significantly over
the next seven years. Between
2012 and 2022, more than 21,000
jobs are expected to be created --
a 16-percent growth rate.
In 2012, the median annual
pay for truck drivers was about
$38,000. With overtime, experi-
enced waste and recycling dri-
vers can earn much, much more.
Some workers in various cities
make upwards of $100,000 when
you factor in overtime. And,
most jobs in the field offer gen-
erous benefits and possibilities
for upwards mobility.
Driving a refuse truck gener-
ally requires a commercial dri-
ver’s license; however, companies
are happy to train new recruits.
“The advantages of driving a
waste or recycling vehicle are sig-
nificant: the hours are regular and
predictable, the job is local, and
it pays well,” Kneiss said. “Plus
there’s job security: We’re always
going to need good drivers.”
But the opportunities in the
waste and recycling industry don’t
end there. Mechanics and welders
who work on the industry’s fleet
are also in significant demand.
For example, the BLS reports
that the 2012 median pay for a
diesel mechanic was more than
$42,000 per year and that the total
number of jobs across all industries
was expected to grow by 9 percent
from 2012 to 2022 -- more than
21,000 additional positions.
There are both formal and in-
formal diesel mechanic training
programs. In some cases, the
company will train you. But
there are also a number of pro-
grams offered by vocational
schools, community colleges
and adult education programs.
In addition, mechanics quali-
fied to work on compressed nat-
ural gas engines would do well to
investigate the waste and recycling
industry: It has one of the largest
CNG truck fleets in the U.S.
To learn more about oppor-
tunities in the waste and recy-
cling industry, go to http://be-
ginwiththebin.org/jobs.
Waste and Recycling Jobs:
OpportunitiesAre Plentiful
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