Environmental Public Health Sustainability Site Attendant (Part-Time/Limited Benefited)

Environmental Sustainability Center Attendant

Under general supervision of the Environmental Public Health (EPH) Supervisor, works at assigned Environmental Sustainability Centers (ESCs) accepting certain recyclables, hard-to-recycle items, food waste, household hazardous waste, and any other accepted materials from individual residents and small businesses qualifying as Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQGs). Screens, classifies, and properly stores incoming materials in coordination with the EPH Senior Site Attendant and EPH Specialist while maintaining safe and organized center operations. Greet, assist, and educate residents on accepted materials and may occasionally volunteer to participate in public outreach events. Communicates supply, material, and facility repair needs to ensure the ESCs operate safely and efficiently.

This is a limited-benefited position, working up to 1,000 hours per year, based out of our Environmental Sustainability (ES) Centers, with locations currently in Holland, Grand Haven, Hudsonville, and Coopersville. Shifts are typically assigned to two sites. Typical working hours will vary based on need and may include weekends. Currently, schedules generally do not include Fridays and include 1 to 2 Saturday mornings, though specific hours are subject to change based on operational needs.

Essential Job Functions

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Opens, closes and staffs the Environmental Sustainability Centers during scheduled operating hours.
2. Operates the Environmental Sustainability Center as the attendant; receives and screens materials from individual residents and small businesses; and assists customers with unloading and placing materials in appropriate receptacles or referring to alternative sites and services for materials that are not accepted.
3. Tracks and records daily site activity, material volumes, and inventory levels to maintain accurate documentation supporting site reporting and Materials Management Plan (MMP) requirements.
4. Maintains effective communication with the entire EPH Sustainability Team through team meetings, various communication platforms, and other established channels.
5. Follows site standard operating procedures (SOPs) to keep ES Center operations safe and may respond to HHW spills that could occur at the Center to ensure proper cleanup and containment.
6. Assists customers in purchasing various Environmental Sustainability Center memberships/services to residential households, receipts payments, and logs customer name and money received.
7. Classifies and segregates hazardous wastes as corrosives, poisons, and flammables, makes sure they are in substance appropriate containers and that containers are properly sealed and labeled, logs source and nature of hazardous materials, and places them in the proper storage area.
8. Responds to customer inquiries and requests for assistance, provides informational brochures and other media maintained at the center, and refers customers to other sites and services.
9. Performs all work in accordance with established standard operating procedures and protocols.
10. Maintains the work area in a neat, clean and safe condition. Removes snow and ice from walkways, stairs, accessways and other areas of the site, to ensure that customers can safely access the site and its services.
11. Other duties as assigned.

Required Education, Training and Experience

High school diploma or GED combined with one year of progressively responsible employment in a position requiring customer service skills. Must successfully complete training for and obtain 24-hour HAZWOPER certification within 90 days of the date of hire.

Preferred: Demonstrated interest in or ongoing professional development related to environmental sustainability, materials management, or recycling.

Additional Requirements and Information

Required Knowledge and Skills:

1. Reading proficiency in order to read and comprehend written instructions, labels on recyclable materials and hazardous waste containers, MSDS data sheets, and other notices.
2. General mathematical skills to record weights and volumes of solid and liquid materials received and to properly record data collected using electronic devices provided.
3. Knowledge of safety practices and procedures for processing hazardous materials into the center.
4. Ability to work as a member of a team and independently.
5. Commitment to providing quality service to customers.
6. Ability to interact positively and constructively with customers, supervisors, waste haulers, and members of the general public with widely diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and varying levels of communication skills.

1. Must be able to successfully obtain and maintain valid 24-hour HAZWOPER certification within 90 days of the date of hire.
2. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

1. Must have sufficient visual acuity, with or without corrective lenses, to read markings on recyclable materials, labels on hazardous waste containers, and Material Safety Data Sheets.
2. Must be able to descend to and ascend from floor and ground level to remove litter and contain small spills.
3. Must be able to pass a fit test to wear at least a full-face and/or half-facepiece and/or N-95 respirator.
4. Must have sufficient strength to remove snow from walkways and other areas with manual shovels as well as with snow blowers.
5. Must be able to move recyclable containers weighing up to 50 lbs. with or without mechanical or other assistance.
6. Must be able to move large containers of hazardous waste with the use of a barrel dolly or pallet jack, which requires vigorous pushing and pulling.
7. Must be able to tolerate exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants, as well as inclement weather.
8. Must be able to wear all required safety clothing and equipment.

While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee is at risk of exposure to hazardous materials, although actual exposure is normally limited to small spills in the center and the employee follows standard safety protocols. The employee is frequently exposed to outdoor environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, humidity, precipitation, dust, dirt, and airborne particulates. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided.

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.