Waste & Recycling Education Specialist

To apply, please submit: 

• Your current resume. 

• A cover letter explaining why you’re interested in the role and why you’re a good fit. 

Resume review begins Monday, October 6th. This announcement may close earlier or later based on interest in the position. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.

About the Position:

Join our team as a Waste & Recycling Education Specialist and make a direct impact on Salt Lake City’s sustainability efforts! This dynamic role splits time between fieldwork—inspecting waste and recycling containers, ensuring compliance, and engaging with residents—and community outreach, where you’ll develop creative educational materials, lead presentations, and represent the City at events. If you’re passionate about environmental stewardship, enjoy working with people, and thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact role, this is the perfect opportunity to drive meaningful change in your community!

Position Hourly Wage:

$25.00/hr

Key Responsibilities:

• Supports development and delivery of presentations to gather feedback and help educate the public about Salt Lake City’s waste diversion goals, programs, and general best practices. Presentation audiences include community councils, neighborhood groups, community based organizations, school classes, youth programs, and various other city departments.

• Assists in developing creative outreach material to promote recycling initiatives with different audiences in Salt Lake City (Based on neighborhood, language, age, and sector).

• Serves as the primary point person staffing booths at community events to promote recycling initiatives and build public awareness.

• Compiles post-event information and other metrics needed for grant and City reporting.

• Inspects refuse, recycling, and green waste containers, to ensure compliance with City ordinance.

• Issues violation notices for non-compliant containers.

• Completes and maintains accurate records of contamination violation notices.

• Investigates, monitors, and resolves issues and complaints related to contaminated containers in an assigned area.

• Meets with residents to educate around proper container usage, resolve contamination issues, provide clarification on city ordinances related to solid waste, and provide information on waste reduction tips and resources.

• Works directly with Waste & Recycling Equipment Operators to ensure that containers in specific collection routes are properly audited before servicing.

• Assist with auditing waste and recycling containers for special events.

• May be required to operate various equipment including a passenger vehicle, pickup truck, utility vehicle, or bicycle.

• Performs other related duties as directed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma and/or GED equivalent.

• Possession of a valid Utah driver’s license or Utah driving privilege card. 

• Ability to handle pressure and fatigue due to daily exposure to considerable stressful situations and the ability to de-escalate potentially intense situations when interacting with the public.

• Knowledge of modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computer equipment, applicable software programs including Microsoft Office products, mobile devices, and applications.

• Ability to read and write legibly, maintain accurate records and organize work.

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals of varied backgrounds in person, over the phone, and via email.

• Visual demands required to locate addresses, and the ability to operate assigned vehicles and equipment in a safe manner.

• Ideal candidates are passionate and knowledgeable about recycling and driven to help SLC Waste & Recycling promote waste and recycling programs and behaviors to residents and business owners.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Experience in customer-service facing roles.

• Knowledge of and experience in waste diversion and sustainability.

• Interest in writing; creating and delivering presentations to diverse audiences; and producing waste and recycling educational material.

• Degree in Sustainability or related field.

Working Conditions:

• Consistent exposure to stress as a result of human behavior and the demands of the position for public education and enforcement.

• Routine exposure to disagreeable elements such as extreme heat, cold, rain, ice, snow, environmental hazards.

• Requires adequate physical mobility and balance to walk, climb, push, pull and manage heavy object (50 lbs. maximum), as well as stand for prolonged periods.      

• Working hours will regularly include holidays, weekends, and evening shifts to support operations and community outreach in addition to regular weekday hours. The schedule offers some flexibility and may therefore be conducive to those who have other job, educational, or family commitments.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. 

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.