Household Waste Specialist

Xxx; Fort Myers (FL); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Public retirement plan

Paid time off

Training opportunities

Job summary

Lee County Solid Waste Department seeks dependable, safety‑focused individuals to join our Household Waste Specialist team. You will help protect our environment by safely collecting, sorting, and preparing household chemical and electronic waste for proper disposal or recycling.

This hands‑on role emphasizes safety and organization, offering a stable public service career that supports community health and well‑being, with a schedule that includes a regular weekday shift and the first Saturday

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED or equivalent.
• Six months of experience in waste management, hazardous materials handling, recycling, sanitation, warehouse operations or similar.
• Ability to work in a safety-sensitive role and comply with DOT drug & alcohol testing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Collect, sort, and prepare household chemical and electronic waste for safe disposal or recycling.
• Safely handle a wide range of materials including paints, solvents, pesticides, batteries, electronics and bulbs.
• Classify and segregate materials based on hazard class (flammable, corrosive, toxic, reactive).
• Package, label, and prepare materials for shipment per regulatory requirements.
• Transport materials to vendors and special collection events using a box truck.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, and shipping manifests per FDEP and DOT regulations.
• Support recycling operations and secure document destruction processes.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Safety-conscious

Regulatory compliance

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary

Lee County is seeking dependable, safety-focused individuals to join our Solid Waste team as Household Waste Specialists. In this role, you will help protect our environment by safely collecting, sorting, and preparing household chemical and electronic waste for proper disposal or recycling.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys hands‑on work, takes pride in safety and organization, and wants a stable career in public service that directly supports the health and well‑being of our community.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Collect, sort, and prepare household chemical and electronic waste for safe disposal or recycling
• Safely handle a wide range of materials, including paints, solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, batteries, electronics, fluorescent bulbs, and more
• Classify and segregate materials based on hazard class, including flammable, corrosive, toxic, and reactive materials
• Package, label, and prepare materials for shipment in accordance with regulatory requirements
• Transport materials to vendors and special collection events using a box truck
• Assist with maintaining accurate records, reports, and shipping manifests in compliance with FDEP and DOT regulations
• Support recycling operations and secure document destruction processes
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Education, Experience, Licensing

What We’re Looking For

• High School Diploma or GED, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience
• Six (6) months of experience in waste management, hazardous materials handling, recycling, sanitation, warehouse operations, public works, or similar environments
• Ability to work in a safety-sensitive role and comply with DOT Drug & Alcohol testing requirements

Licensing Requirements

• Required for employment: Valid Florida Class B Commercial Learner’s Permit
• Must obtain a Florida Class B Commercial Driver’s License within six (6) months of hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience driving box trucks or other large vehicles
• Forklift experience or certification

Safety-Sensitive Position

• This is a safety-sensitive position and is subject to Drug and Alcohol Workplace Testing in accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR Parts 40 and/or 382).

Training & Certifications

• (All provided and paid for by the employer)
• OSHA 24-Hour HAZWOPER (initial 3-day course)
• OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher (annual)
• DOT Hazardous Materials Shipping/Manifesting Training (every 3 years)
• Fleet Forklift Certification (every 3 years)

Supplemental Information

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM. First Saturday of each month (unless on or near a holiday). Occasional additional hours for off‑site collection events or operational needs.

Why Join Us?

This is a hands‑on role where your work makes a direct impact on environmental safety and public health in Lee County. You’ll enjoy competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a strong retirement plan through the State of Florida. Most importantly, you’ll join a dedicated team committed to keeping our community safe, clean, and sustainable.

About The Department

The Lee County Solid Waste Department provides responsible waste collection, recycling, and disposal services to residents and businesses throughout the county. The department is dedicated to environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and exceptional service to the public.

About Lee County

Lee County is located in beautiful Southwest Florida and is home to over 800,000 residents. We are dedicated to serving our community with high-quality services and a focus on sustainability and innovation. Join us in making Lee County a great place to live, work, and visit. Find out more about Lee County at Lee County Government.

Emergency Response/Recovery Activities

All County employees are required to work before, during, or after an emergency as needed. This may include temporarily being assigned to work and performing duties outside of the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.

DISCLAIMER: This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this classification. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his or her supervisor. The job description supersedes prior job descriptions. When duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and subject to changes of business necessity. All positions are subject to a criminal background check. A conviction in and of itself may not necessarily preclude employment. Some positions may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, who claim and meet eligibility requirements of veterans preference, receive preference and priority in employment and are encouraged to apply.

Lee County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive, and affordable benefits package. Our Board works in the best interest of employees and strives to provide the most complete, high-quality benefits package available at the lowest possible cost to the employee. Our Board continues to remain steadfast in maintaining one of the lowest levels of employee costs in our area.

Lee County's benefits package is offered to both regular Full-time positions and Part-time positions that are regularly scheduled to work 60 hours or more bi-weekly. Medical benefits may be offered to On-Call, Temporary, Seasonal, and Intern employees who meet the Affordable Care Act eligibility criteria.

Lee County employees eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) are required to contribute 3% of each paycheck to FRS. If you have retired from the Florida Retirement Pension plan you will not be eligible for renewed membership in either of the FRS retirement plan options. Retirees of the Investment Plan are eligible for renewed membership in the Investment Plan only. FRS reemployment rules apply for both.

Below is a brief breakdown of what's included in the benefits package that is offered to our employees.

For a more detailed look into our benefits package, please visit our webpage at www.leegov.com/hr/Documents/Employee%20Benefits/2024%20Benefits/FULLTIME%20ACTIVE%20LCBOCC%202024%20Plan%20Year%20OE%20Guide%20FINAL%20AON%202023.09.12.pdf.

To view our employee paid premiums, please visit: https://www.leegov.com/hr/Documents/Employee%20Benefits/2024%20Benefits/2024%20Active%20Employee%20Rates.pdf

Health Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Plans include, but are not limited to: routine, preventative, mental health, hospitalization, and prescription drug benefits.
• Vision, Fitness, Weight Management, Natural Products and Services, and Hearing discount programs available.
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Medical Reimbursement Account
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Pharmacy, including Mail-Order Pharmacy
• Informed Health Lines (Nurse Hotline)
• Basic Life Insurance (1x or 2x Annual Salary at no cost to employee)
• Optional Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (60% of pre-disability salary at no cost to employee)
• Short-Term Disability
• Sick Leave Pool
• Flu vaccinations
• Wellness Programs

Financial Benefits

• Florida Retirement System (FRS)
• Two Retirement Plan Options:
• FRS Pension Plan (Defined Benefit)
• FRS Investment Plan (Defined Contribution)
• Deferred Compensation (457) Plans
• Financial Savings/Management Programs
• Eligible for membership with Suncoast Credit Union
• Employee Leave Benefits
• Holiday Pay - 11 Paid Holidays Annually
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Vacation Leave
• Bereavement & Civic Duty Leave
• Family and Medical Leave
• Military Family & Medical Leave
• Educational Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Services available to employees that offers guidance, support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Confidential and provided at no charge to employees and their dependents.

United Way 2-1-1 (Lee County Employee Resource Program)

Lee County BOCC has partnered with United Way 211 to provide an Employee Resource Program which assists BoCC employees who may be experiencing distress due to economic hardship, health or other factors.

Educational Assistance

Reimbursement for coursework taken at an accredited college or university that is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities relating to the official duties that the employees perform.