Reshuffle pickups as bins fill
When bins start filling faster than expected, rethink which pickups come first and reset the crew's schedule.
Career profile
Recycling Coordinator
Recycling coordinators keep a recycling program running by scheduling pickups and supervising collection crews.
Once a pickup plan stops working, you help rework it, then explain the changes to the crew and everyone using the bins.
A day in the life
Confirm how much got collected
Type pickup numbers into a spreadsheet, cross-check the totals, then use them to build a recycling report.
Coach a worker on sorting
Before the upcoming pickup, show one crew member each sorting and pickup step, then answer their questions.
Prep a talk for residents
Prepare a short talk for a community meeting and answer residents' questions about how the program works.
Quick facts
Some preparation; requirements vary
United States
Not available
A national median and pay range are not reported for this title.
Not available
National growth and annual openings are not reported separately for recycling coordinators.
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Some preparation; requirements varySome collection-focused jobs accept high school completion; program jobs may require college and related experience.
Pay
Not availableA national median and pay range are not reported for this title.
Outlook
Not availableNational growth and annual openings are not reported separately for recycling coordinators.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You like arranging who does what and when.
- You want records to match what actually happened.
- You can explain a routine patiently when someone is learning it.
Things to weigh
- Collection-focused jobs can include lifting, outdoor work, dust, and unpleasant odors.
- You may handle upset customers while remaining responsible for other workers' results.
Where AI may help
Spreadsheets and computer records help you compare collections and prepare reports.
What people still lead
You decide whether a proposed collection change fits the crew and explain it to the people affected.
What we can’t predict yet
How much scheduling and reporting becomes automated will depend on the tools employers adopt and whether they work well with local collection systems.
Pay in context
Earnings
National pay figures are not reported specifically for recycling coordinators. Use the broader benchmark cautiously and compare actual job offers.
A broader national benchmark
The 2025 median was $62,890 a year, or $30.23 an hour, for first-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors. This covers much more than recycling coordination.
Hours matter alongside the rate
Brea, California advertised $32.72–$37.94 an hour in April 2026 for a grant-funded, limited-term job averaging 20–26 hours weekly. That was a local advertised range, not national pay. Compare weekly hours and appointment length before comparing earnings.
Getting started
Prepare for campus collection work
- What the route involves
- Finish high school or an equivalent and build proficiency with office software. Some campus coordinator jobs use that preparation without specifying a college degree.
- What it can lead to
- You can pursue collection-focused roles that include organizing pickups and supervising student workers.
- What to check
- Requirements remain employer-specific: East Tennessee State University's classification also requires a valid Tennessee driver's license, moving at least 50 pounds, and working in adverse conditions.
Combine college with environmental administration
- What the route involves
- Build environmental coursework and administrative experience. Brea's typical combination is an associate degree or equivalent with relevant classes, plus one year of environmental conservation or protection administration.
- What it can lead to
- That preparation supports entry-level municipal program work involving outreach, project records, and reporting, with technical and policy direction from a supervisor.
- What to check
- Brea accepts qualifying combinations of education and experience and requires a valid driver's license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee selection, and its 2026 recruitment has closed.
Choose whether you want to coordinate collections or develop community programs; the preparation can differ substantially.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Learn your collection system
Get familiar with accepted materials, pickup procedures, and the records your workplace keeps.
Improve a collection routine
Take responsibility for schedules and recommend changes when a collection process needs improvement.
Lead a larger program
Work toward responsibility for a broader recycling program, including staff, budgets, and evaluating new equipment or methods.
Where you can work
Campus recycling operations
You may collect materials yourself while scheduling student workers and running a recycling center. The work can be physical and continue in poor weather.
- Indoors
- Outdoors
- Physical demands
Municipal program offices
Some city roles are mainly office-based, with trips to meetings. You work with vendors and community leaders and help plan services across the city.
- Office
- Travel
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Sketch a recycling pickup plan for three imaginary school buildings. Give one building twice as many bins, then remove one worker from your plan. Revise the schedule and write a short message explaining the change. Notice whether you enjoy coordinating the work and making instructions clear.
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; you do not need to handle waste or operate equipment.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Recycling Coordinators — 53-1042.01. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics; supplied pinned occupation-facts gaps. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- University of New Mexico. Coord, Recycling — Position Classification Description. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- East Tennessee State University. Technical Clerk (Recycling Coord) — Position Description. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- City of Brea. Recycling Coordinator — 2026-00011. Accessed 2026-10-10.
- Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Recycling Coordinator — Class 07116. Accessed 2026-10-10.