Recycling Services Driver

Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO), offers primary building maintenance, landscape, fire safety, custodial, recycling, and event support services to Harvard schools and departments on a fee-for-service basis. All services are provided in strict accordance with regulatory requirements and customer-determined standards.

Position Description:

• The Recycling and Waste Pickup Driver is responsible for the safe and efficient collection, transportation, and handling of recycling, compost, solid waste, universal waste, and surplus furniture from designated campus locations.

• This position operates commercial vehicles, including recycling and waste collection trucks and box trucks, services compactors and dumpsters, and supports campus waste diversion and surplus property removal programs.

• The role ensures materials are collected in accordance with established routes, schedules, environmental requirements, and safety procedures while delivering reliable service to campus customers and departments.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

• Operate commercial vehicles in a safe and efficient manner, including rear-load trucks, roll-off trucks, box trucks, and other assigned vehicles.

• Collect and transport recycling, compost, solid waste, and other designated material streams from campus buildings, loading docks, outdoor collection areas, and other service locations.

• Perform campus pickups of universal waste, including lamps, batteries, and electronic waste, and transport materials to designated storage or disposal locations in accordance with departmental procedures and environmental regulations.

• Perform pickups and transportation of surplus furniture and other reusable or surplus materials from campus departments and buildings using a box truck or other assigned vehicle.

• Service dumpsters, compactors, toters, and other waste and recycling containers according to established routes and schedules.

• Load, unload, move, and secure furniture, equipment, containers, pallets, and other materials safely by hand or with material handling equipment.

• Perform daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections of assigned vehicles and complete all required inspection reports and documentation.

• Monitor vehicle and equipment performance and promptly report mechanical issues, damage, safety concerns, or needed repairs.

• Ensure all loads are properly secured and transported in compliance with local, state, federal, and University requirements.

• Maintain cleanliness of collection areas by picking up loose debris and ensuring containers are returned to their proper locations after service.

• Identify contamination issues in recycling and compost streams and report recurring problems to supervisors.

• Handle universal waste materials in accordance with departmental procedures, environmental health and safety requirements, and applicable regulations.

• Communicate professionally with building occupants, campus departments, dispatch, and supervisors regarding service requests, access issues, scheduling, and special pickups.

• Assist with route adjustments, special pickups, move-out support, event waste collection, and weather-related operational changes as needed.

• Follow all Department of Transportation, OSHA, environmental, University, and departmental safety rules, policies, and procedures.

• Operate hydraulic systems, liftgates, compactors, cart tippers, pallet jacks, hand trucks, and other related equipment safely and properly.

• Maintain accurate records of daily work performed, pickups completed, inspections, and service-related issues.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• This position works both outdoors and indoors in service areas, loading docks, campus buildings, storage areas, and campus roadways.

• The employee is regularly exposed to traffic, noise, dust, odors, changing weather conditions, and waste/recycling materials.

• The position requires operating commercial vehicles and material handling equipment and working around waste, universal waste, and surplus materials while following strict safety procedures.

• Critical Operations Personnel: This position is designated as Critical Operations Personnel and is required to provide on-site support during emergency situations as determined by management.

Physical Requirements:

Requires the ability to: 

• sit, stand, walk, bend, lift, push, pull, and climb throughout the workday.

• lift and move materials, furniture, containers, and other items weighing up to 50 pounds on a regular basis, and heavier items with assistance or material handling equipment.

• climb in and out of trucks repeatedly during the shift.

• load and unload furniture, equipment, and containers safely.

• work around moving equipment, traffic, loading docks, and waste/recycling materials.

• work in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow.