Environmental Technician (Landfill Gas)

WM; Taylorville (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Short-term disability

401(k) plan

Paid vacation

Holidays

Personal days

Stock purchase plan

Job summary

WM is seeking a Gas Operations Technician I to operate and maintain landfill gas collection and control systems (GCCS) at our Taylorville site. You will manage extraction wells, piping, and data collection devices to ensure regulatory compliance and optimal performance.

The role requires on-site work in field conditions, basic mechanical aptitude, and the ability to work independently with occasional on-call duties. Training will include WM Landfill Gas Technician I Training and safety protocols.

Qualifications

• No experience required; valid and unrestricted driver’s license is required.
• Experience in environmental fieldwork, construction, electrical, mechanical or other hands-on work.
• Working knowledge of gas collection systems, pumps, blowers or flare systems.
• Technical or trade school training in environmental science, mechanical systems, instrumentation or related field.
• Experience with PVC or HDPE piping and components.
• Experience using data logging systems.
• Mechanical aptitude or experience maintaining pumps, motors or pneumatic equipment.
• Basic computer data entry and interpretation.
• Ability to work independently in field environments with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain GCCS to comply with regulations and optimize performance.
• Calibrate and operate data collection devices to optimize LFG collection.
• Collect and manage data from wellfield and monitoring locations.
• Implement preventative maintenance plan for GCCS.
• Operate liquid management system pumps and troubleshoot liquid levels.
• Adjust valves, collect data, and interpret results.
• Work with PVC/HDPE piping and related equipment.
• Complete WM Landfill Gas Technician I Training.
• Develop understanding of environmental regulations and safety procedures.
• On‑call response to GCCS malfunctions.

Skills

No experience

Driver's license

Environmental fieldwork

Piping knowledge

Data logging systems

Mechanical maintenance

Computer data entry

Education

Technical or trade school training

Job description

I. Job Summary

This position reports to the Gas Operations Manager and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of landfill gas collection and control systems (GCCS). The GCCS consists of a series of extraction points known as wells, interconnected via piping. The collected gas is transported using gas conveyance equipment (such as a fan or blower). Landfill gas (LFG) collected by this extraction system from the landfill's wellfield is combusted within a flare. Proper operation of the GCCS is required to comply with various State and Federal environmental regulations.

• Properly operate and maintain GCCS in a timely and cost-effective manner to ensure regulatory compliance and optimize performance.
• GCCS operation and maintenance includes:
• Calibrate, operate and maintain sensitive electronic data collection devices necessary to optimize LFG collection from the wellfield.
• Collect and manage data entry from wellfield extraction and environmental monitoring locations.
• Implement the GCCS preventative maintenance plan.
• Operate and maintain liquid management system pneumatic or electric driven pumps (troubleshoot and determine liquid levels within liquid containment structures and or LFG collection wells).
• Perform wellfield valve/vacuum adjustments, data collection and maintenance; interpret data.
• Use Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) piping materials and associated equipment to perform maintenance on piping materials.
• Complete the WM Landfill Gas Technician I Training.
• Develop basic understanding of environmental regulations related to GCCS operations and develop the ability to work within an environmentally regulated industry.
• Follow job related health and safety requirements and procedures.
• Available for on‑call response to GCCS related malfunction event(s).

III. Qualifications

• Required Qualifications
• No experience
• Valid and unrestricted driver’s license
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in environmental fieldwork, construction, electrical, mechanical, or other hands‑on work environments
• Working knowledge of gas collection systems, pumps, blowers, or flare systems
• Technical or trade school training in environmental science, mechanical systems, instrumentation, or a related field
• Experience working with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) or High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) piping and components
• Experience using data logging systems
• Mechanical aptitude or prior experience in mechanical maintenance, including troubleshooting systems with pumps, motors, or pneumatic equipment
• Fundamental knowledge of computer data entry and interpretation
• Ability to work independently in field environments with minimal supervision

IV. Physical Requirements

Listed below are key points regarding physical demands, physical and occupational risks, and the work environment of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Field: This job operates in both inside garage, shop or gas plant conditions as well as in outside conditions that include inclement weather, heat and humidity.

This role is designated as safety sensitive and will require the successful candidate to strictly comply with all safety rules and protocols.

As part of the ongoing employment requirements, the successful candidate may be subject to drug and alcohol testing—including pre‑employment screening, post‑incident evaluations, reasonable suspicion checks, and random testing—in accordance with government regulations and company policies.

Benefits

At WM, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short‑term disability. In addition, we offer a stock purchase plan, company matching on a 401(k), and more. Employees also receive paid vacation, holidays, and personal days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.