Recycling Center Operator

Durango, CO; Durango (CO); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

PTO and 11 paid holidays

401(a) retirement plan

Life insurance and AD&D

Long-term disability

Job summary

The City of Durango is seeking a Recycling Center Operator to provide excellent customer service at the public drop-off area of the city’s recycling program. You will operate light, power-driven equipment and perform semi-skilled maintenance to support sanitation, recycling collection, and processing.

As part of the team, you’ll help process materials, maintain records, and ensure a safe, clean facility year-round, including snow removal as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two years of maintenance and light equipment operation experience.
• Valid driver’s license during employment.

Responsibilities

• Staff and operate the Recycle Center public drop-off area with customer service.
• Operate maintenance and material handling equipment for site maintenance and recycling operations.
• Process, sort, relocate, and load recycled materials.
• Operate recycling processing equipment and perform routine maintenance and minor repairs.
• Process payments (cash, check, credit card) for recycling transactions.
• Maintain daily production logs and records.
• Maintain cleanliness of the Recycle Center facility, grounds, parking lots, and storage areas.
• Clear snow and ice from roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots.

Skills

Customer service

Maintenance work

Equipment operation

Cash handling

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Skid loaders

Forklifts

Mowers

Weed cutters

Hedgers

Bobcat attachments

Job description

Join the City of Durango in our commitment to sustainability! We're looking for a Recycling Center Operator toprovide excellent customer service at the public drop-off area of the City of Durango’s recycling program. In this role, you will operate light, power-driven equipment used for recycling collection and processing, and your responsibilities will include semi-skilled preventative maintenance tasks and activities that support sanitation, recycle collection, and recycle processing.

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan.

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

What You’ll Do in This Role:

• Staff and operate the Recycle Center public drop-off area, providing excellent customer service.
• Operate maintenance and material handling equipment (e.g., skid loaders, forklifts, mowers, weed cutters, hedgers, Bobcat attachments) for site maintenance, construction, and recycling operations.
• Process, sort, relocate, and load recycled materials.
• Operate all recycling processing equipment and perform routine preventive maintenance and minor repairs, including completing weekly maintenance checks.
• Process payments (cash, check, and credit card) for all public and commercial recycling transactions.
• Maintain accurate daily production logs and records.
• Maintain the overall cleanliness and order of the Recycle Center facility, including grounds, parking lots, and storage areas.
• Clear snow and ice from roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots.

You Have:

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Two years of experience performing maintenance work and operating light, power-driven equipment.
• The ability to maintain a valid driver’s license during employment.

You Will Succeed in This Role if You:

• Are committed to delivering excellent customer service.
• Have experience with basic cash handling.
• Are skilled in performing semi-skilled maintenance, janitorial tasks, and heavy manual labor.

What We Can Offer You:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• Long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area.
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being.
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.

To view the full Solid Waste Operator I job description, click here.