Austin Resource Recovery Operator (Underpass/Clean Creeks)

Unmanned Safety Institute, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 33,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) is seeking an Operator to perform litter removal, drive refuse trucks, and support daily cleanup of encampment sites and rights-of-way. The work is outdoors, weather dependent, with early starts and weekend coverage.

You will conduct pre- and post-trip inspections, follow maps, assist training, and ensure safety regulations are followed. A current CDL, Class B with required endorsements, and ability to lift heavy objects are necessary.

Qualifications

• CDL with required endorsements; Class B minimum.
• Ability to perform heavy lifting and operate refuse trucks.
• Strong safety awareness and ability to follow procedures.

Responsibilities

• Picks up, processes, or disposes of trash and recyclables, and handles bulky items.
• Pre-trips vehicles and maintains equipment records as required.
• Operates ARR vehicles and performs basic vehicle inspections.
• Reads maps and follows routes; assists in training others as needed.
• Cleans up illegal dump sites and works outdoors in varying weather.

Skills

CDL knowledge

Safety awareness

English proficiency

Teamwork

Tools

Heavy equipment operation

Job description

About This Position

Job Description:

Austin Resource Recovery Operator

Purpose:

Under general supervision, this position operates vehicles and equipment and performs general labor in the collection and disposal of trash and recyclables or the recovery and processing of resources.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Picks up, processes, or disposes of trash, brush, litter, recyclables, bulky items, re-use items, or compostable items and dumps collected materials at designated dump sites/landfill. Maintains dedicated bus lanes and bikeways on residential and major streets in City of Austin.
• Pre-trips all vehicles and heavy equipment, as required by management; maintains detailed vehicle and equipment records; and completes paperwork, forms, and reports related to collection activities.
• Learns and follows routes, reads street maps, and micro-routes to locate route destinations.
• Assists in training others in the proper use of equipment and vehicles, as required by management.
• Operates Water Truck, Rear-Loading Refuse Truck, Dump Truck, and other Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) vehicles and equipment as needed.
• Performs basic vehicle inspections and maintenance and maintains vehicle records.
• Uses hand tools such as backpack blower, rake, shovel, and sweep to stack, load, and unload smaller debris and litter.
• Decides whether to pick up trash that is set out improperly. Provides information to customers when appropriate. Places customer notices, door hangers, and public information literature.
• Cleans up illegal dump sites, parkland, targeted encampment sites and other sites with high volume of trash-related complaints or concerns throughout the City of Austin.
• Follows safety rules. Observes and reports accidents, burglaries, and hazardous situations.
• Assists other ARR crews as directed and performs other duties as assigned and performs the tasks of ARR Associates and Operator Trainees as needed.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised

• None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of equipment and vehicles used in waste services.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with others.
• Skill in operating power tools.
• Skill in using small hand tools.
• Skill in learning simple tasks.
• Skill in lifting and carrying equipment or materials applicable to the work being performed.
• Skill in reading and writing English necessary to the level of tasks performed.
• Ability to understand oral and written instructions in English.
• Ability to operate required vehicles safely.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to train or assist in the training of employees as required by management.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow maps and mapping directions.

Minimum Qualifications:

• One (1) year of driving experience with a current Commercial Driver License (CDL) in any field.

Licenses and Certifications Required

• Current Commercial Driver License, Minimum Class B License.
• Must obtain required endorsements within 120 days of employment, as required by position.
• To be considered for employment in this position, applicants must comply with Department of Transportation Federal Regulations and the City of Austin Drug Policy.

Position Overview:

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) is a department of the City of Austin with over 530 employees. We provide essential services that protect people and our planet. We collect recycling, composting, trash, large brush, bulk items, household hazardous waste and dead animals. We also sweep the streets, offer Austin and Travis County residents a service to recycle and safely dispose of household hazardous waste and provide community outreach and education. ARR is driving the global transformation of traditional waste management to sustainable resource recovery. Learn more about ARR at AustinRecycles.com.

The Austin Resource Recovery Underpass and Clean Creek Operators are responsible for general litter removal from creeks and other watersheds, as well as daily cleaning of illegal dumpsites, rights-of-way, underpasses, and homeless encampment sites.

As part of the Underpass and Clean Creek teams, these positions operate Crew Cabs, Skid Steers, and Rear Loader vehicles, and perform required pre- and post-trip equipment inspections. Operators collect hand-picked litter and bulk items from active and inactive encampment locations.

This role requires the ability to safely board and exit the cab of a refuse collection truck, step on and off the rear step using hand and foot holds while supporting one’s own body weight, and perform frequent stretching, bending, and stooping. Work is conducted outdoors in varying weather conditions.

The scheduled work hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including weekends, holidays, and special events.

Days/Hours:

Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Employee will be required to work holidays, after hours, weekends, seasonal shift changes and other areas due to business needs.

Salary: $24.19 – $27.94 per hour

Location: 4108 Todd Lane, Austin, Texas 78744

Criminal Background Investigation: This position does not require a Criminal Background Investigation.

Additional Information: A competency assessment may be required to verify your skill set.

90-Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other similar positions within Austin Resource Recovery outside of the division listed above.

Benefits:

Working with the City of Austin at Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more! Learn more about City of Austin benefits.

This position is considered an essential position, which means it is expected that an employee comes to work during any City Closure or emergency to include bad weather and any other unexpected events or shutdowns.

Physical requirements for Operational Positions:

The employee is required to perform the following tasks during the normal course of an approximately eight (8) to ten (10) hour day, four (4) to six (6) days a week.

• This position involves sitting while driving a commercial refuse vehicle as well as entering or exiting the cab and the rear step of the truck using hand and foot holds pulling body weight about 18-36 inches around 1250 times per day. The employee will apply up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and less force frequently to move objects. The position requires constant standing and grasping of hand holds roughly 32-54 inches from step to handle while riding on the back of the truck with frequent stops. This will involve continuous use of arms, shoulders, legs and feet to operate drive/steering inputs. Additionally, the employee will frequently be expected to perform tasks involving stretching, bending, twisting, squatting, kneeling, pushing/pulling, lifting and stooping while inspecting vehicle, while pushing/pulling 50+ pound refuse containers or throwing items into a refuse truck at approximately 5 feet high.

• This position walks from house to house to retrieve carts, brush, bulk, and bags for approximately 8-10 hours during a normal workday and works in extreme heat, cold, rain and other bad weather. Additional hazards include working close to mechanical parts, oils, fumes/odors/gases, noise, repetitive motions and vibration which expose joints and muscles to vibration and shock produced by the truck as well as walking near traffic, uneven surfaces, mud, snow, ice or rain daily. Employees may come in contact with blood and/or other potentially infectious materials.

• Employees must have sufficiently good eyesight to drive and inspect trucks and other equipment. Additionally, listening while driving is necessary to hear emergency vehicles and other issues with traffic or operational equipment. Employees must also be able to hear and speak to communicate with supervisors, dispatchers, and citizens.

Veterans:

Veteran candidates will be required to provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of interview.

Driving Requirement:

This position requires a current Commercial Driver License, Minimum Class B License and/or required endorsements within 120 days of employment. City of Austin employees that promote or transfer into driving required positions cannot have more than eight City Driver Points (CDP) within a period of thirty-six (36) months and must meet the City of Austin's Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. The City of Austin Driver Eligibility Standards require that External New Hires meet the City's Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

This position requires a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL). Applicants must possess and maintain the CDL required for the position in accordance with applicable Texas and federal requirements. Federal eligibility requirements for certain non-domiciled CDLs changed effective March 16, 2026. Applicants holding a non-domiciled CDL should review current Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements and Texas Department of Public Safety CDL License requirements.

NOTE: All Austin Resource Recovery locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any ARR worksite – including parking lot or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer— we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles— Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity— that anchor our delivery of services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.

• Value and Innovation: Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives.

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation