Garbage and recycling collectors bring home the green for a hard day's work

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April 3, 2009

Garbage and recycling collectors bring home the green for a hard day's work

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Pay: The 930 garbage and recycling collectors working in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area in 2007 earned a median wage of $19.31 an hour or $40,160 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The job: Refuse and recyclable-material collectors gather garbage and recyclables from homes and businesses into their trucks for transport to a dump, landfill or recycling center. They lift and empty garbage cans or recycling bins by hand or, using hydraulic lift trucks, pick up and empty Dumpsters. The job can be physically demanding, and workers are out in all weather.

Demand: Despite the little or no projected growth in employment, job openings should be available because of the need to replace those who quit or retire.

Training: Some employers prefer applicants with a high-school diploma, but most simply require workers to be physically able to perform the work and have the necessary commercial truck license.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.stats.bls.gov/oco