Baling Machine Operator

Architect of the Capitol; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Architect of the Capitol is seeking a dependable Baling Machine Operator in Washington, DC to sort recyclable materials and operate baling equipment, a forklift, and a crane. The role involves loading materials, forming and wrapping bales, and preparing shipments for transport, with overtime and night shift considerations.

Responsibilities include ensuring bale quality, meeting grade specifications, and coordinating with contractors and transport teams.

Qualifications

• No formal education is required.
• Ability to perform heavy physical tasks and work in varied conditions.

Responsibilities

• Sort materials by recyclable grades and operate baling equipment.
• Load materials into the feed hopper and compression chamber.
• Wrap and band compressed materials and ensure bale integrity.
• Move bales using a forklift or crane and load onto transport.
• Prepare shipping documents and coordinate with transport vendors.

Skills

Physical stamina

Material sorting

Tools

Forklift operation

Crane operation

Baling machine

Job description

• Location: Washington, District of Columbia
• Schedule: This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status

The Architect of the Capitol; Senate Office Buildings; Client Services Division; Labor and Custodial Branch. Seeking a reliable Baling Machine Operator to sort materials by recyclable grades and operates baling machines with capacities of one half to one ton bales and uses a forklift and/or crane to move completed bales from baling machines and places bales on flatbed trucks for transport.

Key Responsibilities

Tour of duty: 9:00 p.m. - 5:30 a.m. (Monday-Saturday) Work schedule may require some occasionally mandatory overtime on holidays AND weekends. Baling Machine Operator: Executes all aspects of standard baling equipment operation tasks that require numerous procedures and techniques. Installs wrapping materials and bale banding wires into the pressure chamber. Loads sorted materials into the feed hopper and into sealed compression chambers.

Activates the sensors and compresses materials and wraps and bands compressed materials together. Works conveyor belt switches to start, stop, and speed conveyor belt with materials. Bales compressed materials by recyclable grades to specified sizes and weights. Separates materials as they move along the conveyor belt to the feed hopper, by removing bottles, cans, plastics, and other non-recyclable material by recyclable category grades to meet specifications.

Uses a forklift and/or crane to move completed bales from baling machines and places bales on flatbed trucks for transport. Transports full recycling trucks weighing more than 80 pounds into cart dumper and operates lever that dumps recyclable materials into conveyor belt to the feed hopper. Transports full recycling trucks weighing more than 80 pounds from buildings such as the Hart, Dirksen, Russell corridors/hallways to the Hart loading dock for sorting.

And Transports trash trucks weighing more than 80 pounds into trash cart dumper and operates lever that dumps trash into trash compactor. Completes shipping documents indicating recyclable grades. Coordinates with contractors for disposition of materials at specified levels. Assists contractors with loading and disposition of bales of materials.

performs other duties as assigned Physical Conditions: This position requires heavy physical effort, bending, stooping, working in uncomfortable positions. lifting and carrying items weighing up to 80 pounds and lifting and emptying trash trucks weighting more than 80 pounds. Working Conditions: The work is performed inside or outside in areas that may be hot, damp, cold, dusty, dirty, and drafty.

There is constant exposure to dust, trash, and debris when loading and sorting materials requiring the use of a dust mask.

Requirements & Education

No education is required.

A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc. The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.

Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted.

As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Architect of the Capitol, Legislative Branch.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $24.5 – $28.58/hr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Other security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-10.

What is the work schedule?

This is a This is an Excepted Service position and does not require or confer civil service Competitive Status position.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.