Landfill Laborer

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange invites applications for a Landfill Laborer at OC Waste & Recycling. Work is heavy manual labor as part of a crew, performing tasks like traffic direction, litter pickup, vegetation control, and equipment operation in county landfills.

Qualified applicants will have at least six months of open-space maintenance experience and a California Class C driver license. Work shifts include 4/10 schedules across Olinda, FRB, and Prima landfills.

Qualifications

• Six (6) months of experience performing maintenance and repair work in open spaces or facilities.
• Possession of a California Class C Driver License is Required.
• Ability to operate a variety of hand and power tools safely.

Responsibilities

• Direct traffic in unloading areas and around job sites.
• Perform vegetation control and litter pick-up activities, including hoeing and cutting weeds; removing debris from ditches, culverts, drains and channels and other drainage structures.
• Wash and fuel light-duty vehicles.
• Assist Landfill Maintenance Workers with skilled maintenance projects.
• Perform composting and materials-handling activities.
• Install culverts, fences, road signs and guardrails.
• Safely use a variety of hand and power tools.
• Install chain-link, wirefencing and guardrails.

Skills

Traffic control

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Verbal communication

Tools

Hedge pruners

Pole pruners

Chain saws

Leaf blowers

Cement mixers

Paint sprayers

Generators

Job description

LANDFILL LABORER

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Landfill Laborer positions. The eligible list will be used to fill current and/or future Landfill Laborer positions within OC Waste & Recycling.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PST).

OC WASTE & RECYCLING

OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) serves the County’s solid waste disposal needs by providing waste management services, operating public landfills, protecting the local environment, investing in renewable energy enterprises and promoting recycling in order to ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations. The department manages one of the nation's premier solid waste disposal systems, serving residents and businesses in the County’s 34 cities and unincorporated areas. Our three active landfills reflect environmental engineering at its best. They are among the largest in the state and annually receive more than 4 million tons of solid waste. These state-of-the-art facilities—Olinda AlphaLandfill near Brea, Frank R Bowerman Landfill near Irvine and Prima Deshecha Landfill next to San Juan Capistrano—take pride in being good neighbors. The landfills use sanitary and environmentally friendly operational methods and have earned many awards for their modern management techniques, regulatory compliance and environmental practices.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OCWR is seeking enthusiastic and highly motivated individuals who demonstrate initiative and maintain a positive attitude. Ideal candidates will communicate professionally, work cooperatively with co‑workers, supervisors, contractors, and the public, and actively promote safety awareness for themselves and others. Landfill Laborers perform routine unskilled heavy manual labor as members of a work crew.

• Direct traffic in unloading areas and around job sites
• Perform vegetation control and litter pick‑up activities, including hoeing and cutting weeds; removing debris from ditches, culverts, drains and channels and other drainage structures
• Assist traffic paint crews by moving stencils and collecting warning cones and signs
• Wash and fuel light‑duty vehicles
• Assist Landfill Maintenance Workers with skilled maintenance projects
• Perform composting and materials‑handling activities
• Install culverts, fences, road signs and guardrails
• Safely use a variety of hand and power tools
• Install chain‑link, wirefencing and guardrails
• Place straw matting and netting; install gravel bags and flumes
• Assist with spreading and compacting asphalt; setting forms; and mixing, transporting and pouring concrete
• Perform other duties as assigned

Landfill Laborers may be assigned to any of the of the County's three active Regional Landfills located in Brea, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano or to a closed landfill facility.

The incumbent will work one of the following 4/10 shifts:

• Olinda Landfill (Brea, Ca) - Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 7:00 am - 5:30 pm
• FRB Landfill (Irvine, Ca) - Thursday, Friday, Saturday 7:30 am -6:00 pm, Sunday 6:00 am -4:30 pm
• Prima Landfill (San Juan Capistrano, Ca) - Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 am -6:00 pm

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES

Although highly desirable but not required, the ideal candidate will possess some experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Concrete grinding and patching
• Minor asphalt patching
• Traffic sign installation, repairs, and replacement
• Reading plan specifications and traffic control plans
• Operation of light commercial vehicles and stake bed trucks
• Using small hand and power tools for set‑up, maintenance and repairs
• Using gas powered tools for trimming and cutting trees and vegetation
• Using high‑pressure spray equipment to pressure wash various surfaces

Technical Expertise

• Knowledge of and ability to operate power tools, including hedge pruners, pole pruners, pole saws, chain saws,leaf blowers,generators, cement mixers and paint sprayers.

Safety Savvy

• Knowledge of safe work practices and the proper use of tools and equipment.
• Proper use of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety glasses or goggles, gloves, vest, and task‑specific PPE.
• Knowledge of traffic safety regulations, and worksite safety procedures.

Interpersonal Skills (Teamwork / Customer Service)

• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and assist others as needed.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude and establish effective working relationships.
• Ability to express disagreement professionally and work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to present a positive, professional demeanor when interacting with coworkers and the public.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Six (6) months of experience performing maintenance and repair work in open spaces or facilities.

REQUIRED LICENSE

Possession of a California Class C Driver License is Required.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Online Examination | Multiple Choice Test (Weighted 100%)

Applicants who meet desirable qualifications will be invited to participate in one or more job related assessments. Applicants will be notified of their test date and access code, if applicable. Only the most qualified candidates will move forward to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List

Once the online assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies. Based on the County's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Veterans Employment Preference Policy (VEPP)

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:

The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION:

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE:

• User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.