Landfill Operator - Solid Waste

Polk County BoCC; Winter Haven (FL); On-site; USD 29,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Direct Deposit

Medical, Dental, Vision

Life Insurance

FRS Retirement

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement

Education Incentives

Deferred Compensation Plan

Wellness Incentives

EAP

Free Employee Gym

Free Employee Health Clinic

Job summary

Polk County BoCC is seeking a Landfill Operator for the Polk County Landfill in Winter Haven, FL. The role involves operating a range of heavy equipment to process solid waste, ensuring safety, efficiency, and compliance with environmental permits.

The position offers a rotating 40+ hour work week with potential overtime, and a benefit package including health, retirement, and paid time off. Applicants should have 3+ years of landfill equipment experience, a valid driver’s license, and

Qualifications

• Must have 3+ years experience operating landfill equipment.
• Knowledge of safety regulations and environmental permits.
• Ability to read and follow instructions and operate GPS controls.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment safely in a high-paced landfill environment.
• Maintain environmental compliance and site performance.
• Perform daily inspections and basic maintenance on equipment.
• Meet hazardous waste handling and permit requirements.
• Work rotating 4x10 hour schedule with occasional overtime.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

GPS machine control

Safety compliance

Driver's license

Reading & following instructions

Tools

GPS Machine Control Systems

Job description

Pay Range: $20.71/hr. - $30.03/hr.

Rotating, Split Shift Schedule: 40+ Hours Weekly

Job Description

Landfill Operator

(Solid Waste)

Pay Range: $20.71/hr. - $30.03/hr.

Rotating, Split Shift Schedule: 40+ Hours Weekly

Monday – Saturday (occasional Sunday/overtime Hours As REQUIRED)

Location: Polk County Landfill (10 Environmental Loop, Winter Haven, FL 33830)

Employee Benefits

• Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• FRS Retirement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Education Incentives
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Employee Gym
• Free Employee Health Clinic

Major Functions

Must have the physical, developmental and metal ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:

Responsible for safe and effective equipment operations in processing solid waste for the Waste Resource Management Division. Employees in this classification operate a wide variety of heavy equipment that may be complex in nature, requiring considerable dexterity and acute motor skills. Work includes processing both hazardous and non-hazardous refuse and solid waste. Actively participates in maintaining the Waste Resource Management Division’s exceptional performance level by meeting and/or exceeding job requirements and customer’s expectations coupled with a positive attitude, unparalleled ethical behavior and unquestionable work ethic.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Primarily

Operates all pieces of heavy equipment with equal effectiveness in a high paced landfill environment. Utilizes each unit with its specific landfill function while processing over a high volume of tonnage per day and servicing multiple customers on-demand. Operator’s physical requirements for the operation of each piece of equipment are essentially identical. The Landfill Operator’s primary responsibility is the proper operation and usage of the following equipment:

• Compactor Grader Articulated Off-road Vehicles
• Dozer Excavator Pan
• Front End Loader

Secondary

Forklift Mowers Transport

Gradall Fuel Truck Roll-off Truck

Hydraulic Pumps Tanker Field Tractors Leachate Tanker Truck

Hydro-seeder Claw Truck

• Computerized Earthmoving and GPS Machine Control Systems (in various equipment).

Utilizing the above equipment and best management practices, performs day-to-day field operations in a manner consistent with state and local requirements. Assist in the implementation and improvement of the site’s operations plan to ensure compliance with all applicable permit requirements.

Continuously constructs and maintains berms and drainage systems, temporary and permanent, in a first class manner to ensure environmental compliance and prevent storm water from creating leachate.

Responsible for minimizing truck turnaround time, use of airspace for daily cover and refuse compaction. Maintains temporary haul roads. Continuously improves the appearance of the site by assisting with litter prevention, control, and collection.

Applies and maintains initial cover in order to minimize any adverse environmental, safety, or health effects such as those resulting from birds, unauthorized waste, blowing litter, odors, disease vectors, or fires. Applies cover materials such as earthen materials or alternative daily covers (ADC) tarps, foams, etc. daily for Class I and once every week for C&D or Class III. Removes all or part of the daily and intermediate covers before placing additional waste.

Dozer and compactor operators work in tandem to optimize compaction of waste, reduce cover soil usage, and conserve airspace. The dozer spreads waste into layers of 2 feet thickness or as thin a layer as practical on the active slope. The compactor moves back and forth over the entire area before the next layer is applied. Process repeats with each load of waste until lifts of 15-20 feet are formed. Ensures bulky materials that are hard to compact are worked into other materials as much as practical to ensure proper compaction and to prevent wastes from protruding through the cover. Constructs side slopes and maintains 3:1 ratio (three feet horizontal to one-foot vertical rise) in accordance with design.

Dozer operators push waste dumped by various refuse trucks to the active face. Keeps tipping area graded for easy customer access. As working face progresses, spreads soils over the compacted refuse ensuring that customer contact with waste is minimized and lift height and 3:1 slopes are maintained. Ensures the working face of the cell should be only wide enough to accommodate vehicles discharging waste, and to minimize exposed wastes and unnecessary use of cover. Must work with Environmental Compliance Worker (spotter) to ensure compliance, safe operation and good customer service. Applies erosion control measures to correct any erosion, which exposes waste or causes malfunction of the storm water management system within three days of the occurrence. Applies daily and intermediate cover to prevent stormwater from pooling or mixing with waste and causing run-off.

Must understand, interpret, and implement information produced by GPS machine control systems (Computerized Earthmoving or other GPS Machine Control System). Performs daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections of assigned equipment and completes documentation forms.

Performs light service and maintenance of vehicles and equipment. Rotating 4 x 10 hr schedule Monday-Saturday (occasional Sunday work and overtime is required.) Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Abilities And Skills

Ability to interpret the rules of the State Department of Environmental Protection that regulate landfills (Chapter 62.701 FAC). Knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and use of assigned equipment. Knowledge of (OSHA), occupational hazards and safety precautions in the operation of assigned equipment. Ability and agility to make routine maintenance checks and minor repairs to equipment. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions. Ability to read. Ability to complete work activity forms. Ability to use independent judgment. Ability to read surveying. Ability to drive from work site to work site.

Knowledge of sub-title D regulations and classifications of wastes. Ability to learn the physical and chemical characteristics of solid waste and how it should be handled and placed in the cell. Ability to learn to recognize hazardous, restricted, and prohibited wastes. Ability to learn safety rules pertaining to the operations of heavy equipment, vehicles, and work zone traffic control for various activities. Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the public and other employees. Ability to learn and apply principles and processes for providing customer service.

Ability to work in all weather, environmental conditions (i.e.: sun, rain, cold, swamp, ditches, dust, and dirt) and all terrains for extended periods of time. Must be able to use proper personal protective equipment (dust masks, ear-plugs, safety harness, respirators, etc.) to safely work with and be exposed to chemicals, hazardous materials, noises and heights. Ability to lift, carry and handle up to 50 pounds; stoop, climb, squat, push, pull, crawl or bend on a frequent basis. Ability to walk, kneel, bend, twist, lift, climb ladders, and work on un-even surfaces, in landfill disposal areas, on 3:1 slopes and in ditches/swales. Must be able to hear sounds at a normal level. Ability to see and recognize colors (associated with hazard placards or other warning signs), talk, ambulate independently, drive, and make written notations. Ability to use multi-hand and/or foot controls that require eye and hand coordination. Ability to perform mathematical tasks.

Ability to research, investigate, experiment, detect, inspect, verify, recognize, and recommend solutions. Ability to use hand tools such as rakes and shovels, and power tools such as weed- eaters and chain saws. Ability to supervise day labors and community service workers. Ability to follow, read and comprehend oral and written instructions and procedures. Ability to perform as a team member and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others. Ability to work independently and comprehend and follow instructions. Must wear required personal protective equipment: hard hat, steel-toed safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses and complete uniform. Note: Operator incurs a significant amount of bouncing and jarring throughout the workday as equipment is operated over rough terrain and on steep inclines and declines.

Minimum Qualifications

Must have a minimum of three (3) years experience in the operation and routine maintenance of landfill operations.

Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment.

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

Special Requirements

Must have and maintain a home telephone or immediate access to communication to and from work place at time of employment. Must understand, interpret, and implement information produced by GPS machine control systems (Computerized Earthmoving or other GPS Machine Control System).

Must obtain and maintain University of Florida TREEO Center Landfill Certification within 12 months of employment. (Passing score on required exam is 70%, continuing education credits required annually to maintain this certification).

Special Preferences

Private Industry Experience – landfills, transfer stations, collections, and recycling

Experience operating a Claw and/or Roll-Off Truck

Class B Commercial Driver’s License

This position shall be required to report for work when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.