Municipal Recycling Truck Driver

Municipal recycling truck drivers pick up special types of recyclable materials along designated routes. They may operate regular trucks or specially designed trucks. Specially designed trucks may have dual drive cabs or automated side loaders.

Specific duties vary from one employer to another but, in general, municipal recycling truck drivers:

• conduct vehicle and equipment inspections before they start driving to ensure that their vehicles are in safe driving condition
• follow a regular pick-up route or route card instructions
• load blue bags into collection units or sort materials in collection boxes into truck compartments
• answer questions about recycling and deal respectfully with the public
• communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns and other maintenance problems
• return to recycling depots or warehouses to dump truck contents
• refuel trucks at depots
• keep work areas and truck clean and remove snow as required
• review policies and procedures regularly and complete neccessary paperwork.

In some municipalities, truck operators collect both refuse and recyclable materials (for more information, see the Refuse Collector occupational profile).

Municipal recycling truck drivers usually work shifts. They may be required to work split shifts, afternoons and weekends.

Drivers work in all types of weather and with waste materials that may be dirty or smelly. They routinely lift items that may weigh up to 20 kilograms.

Municipal recycling truck drivers need the following characteristics:

• the ability to work steadily and quickly for a full shift 
• the ability to follow directions
• the ability to work independently.

They should enjoy routine, repetitive work and driving.

Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Recycling truck drivers may be employed by:

• municipalities (cities or towns)
• not-for-profit recycling organizations
• privately owned recycling collection services.

Experienced drivers may move into other driving occupations (for more information, see the Bus Driver and Truck Driver occupational profiles). Advancement opportunities generally require at least a high school diploma.

Municipal recycling truck drivers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7511: Transport truck drivers. In Alberta, 79% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Transportation and Warehousing (PDF)
• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
• Wholesale Trade (PDF)
• Construction (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 3,500 Albertans are employed in the Public works maintenance equipment operators occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.6% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 21 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As municipal recycling truck drivers form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for rmunicipal recycling truck drivers.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.