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Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
  • Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
  • Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
  • Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
  • Fill out defective equipment reports.
  • Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
  • Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
  • Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

7.0 / 7

Investigative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.8 / 7

Creative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.0 / 7

Helping people

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.3 / 7

Enterprising

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.4 / 7

Organizing

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

4.5 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

2023-08

3.0 / 5

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

2023-08

3.0 / 5

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2023-08

2.9 / 5

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2023-08

2.9 / 5

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

2023-08

2.8 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2023-08

2.8 / 5

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2023-08

2.6 / 5

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

2023-08

2.6 / 5

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

2023-08

2.5 / 5

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

2023-08

2.5 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 2 of 5 · 2026-02. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 53-7081.00 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.