Environmental Services Worker I

Job Description

Responsible for performing light to heavy manual labor work in the collection and disposal of municipal garbage, recycling, yard waste, and refuse from residences and businesses. An employee in this class collects municipal garbage, recycling, yard waste, and refuse from residences and businesses. Work is performed as a member of a sanitation collection crew and includes loading waste into a rear packer garbage truck (consisting of potentially heavy garbage containers and waste bags) and washing and steam cleaning garbage trucks. Work occurs in all weather conditions and may include working holidays and working overtime. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Environmental Services Supervisor and is evaluated for efficiency and work completion according to department and community standards of assigned routes.

Essential Job Functions

• Works as a team on a rear packer garbage truck; inspects garbage to avoid collecting contaminated and hazardous waste; moves or picks up solid waste carts from curb and takes to the back of sanitation truck; returns carts to curb; and cleans area around carts and curbs.
• Assists with disposing of solid waste at transfer sites and landfills.
• Provides labor to other personnel in the removal and transport of brush and limbs, yard waste, recycling, dead animals and household trash collection; and may be assigned to help with chipping operations or other public works duties as assigned.
• Directs traffic and guides truck operators in congested areas as sanitation equipment operator backs up trucks, spots for driver when necessary.
• Performs routine and unskilled preventive maintenance on equipment; cleans garbage collection vehicles including tasks such as washing, steaming, and cleaning interior.
• Pressure washes sidewalks; and pressure washes and disinfect old cans from customers that have moved or want a different size can.
• Trim limbs that scratch or cause low visibility.
• Identify and report on route, equipment, and safety issues.
• Trains new workers and/or new operators on route concepts, hand signals and packing the truck.
• Assists in the preparation of city sponsored special events.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

Qualifications for Environmental Services Worker I Grade 10 - $42,260.45 - $44,373.47

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or GED equivalent. No experience in refuse or solid waste collection is required.

Special Qualifications (Requirements exist at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment)

• Possession of a valid Class C Driver's License to operate a motor vehicle.
• Flagger Training (1 Yr)
• ES1 Worker Training

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic knowledge of garbage truck operation including operation of a packer blade.
• Knowledge of geographical location of city streets.
• Ability to perform continuous heavy manual work at a steady pace in adverse weather conditions; ability to understand and follow specific oral instructions; dependability.
• Ability to lift and dump garbage bags/cans into a rear loading garbage truck (up to nine tons of yard waste per day).
• Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time, perform duties in heavy traffic and under adverse weather conditions, and work as part of a team in a variety of weather conditions.

Physical Demands

Work in this classification is defined as heavy work requiring the physical exertion of up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, handling and repetitive motions. Work requires dexterity in the hands for typing and operation of standard office equipment, and visual acuity is necessary to read handwritten and typewritten materials and to operate a computer terminal. Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection of products, operation of machines, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.

Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in outside environmental conditions including extreme heat and cold. Employees are subject to the noise which may require the worker to shout to be heard above the ambient noise level. Employees are subject to vibration such as oscillating movements of the extremities or the whole body when working with equipment. Employees are subject to hazards including exposure to mechanical equipment and atmospheric conditions due to exposure to fumes, odors, dust, and oils, and potential for biological or human waste. Employees are exposed to moving or parked vehicles, stray or loose animals, insects, broken glass and metal, and other conditions associated with solid waste collections.