The City of Gastonia Public Works Department is seeking dedicated individuals to join our team as Trash/Refuse Collectors. As a Trash/Refuse Collector, you will play a critical role in maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of our city streets and neighborhoods by collecting and disposing of refuse and recyclable materials in a safe and efficient manner.  Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Trash/Refuse Collection Equipment Operator and the Crew Chief.The following job functions are typical for a position of this nature. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each function satisfactorily. Other job functions and duties may be required as assigned. 
Minimally qualified starting pay: $16.27 hr. 

• Manually collects carts and dumps into the rear loader trucks
• Rakes, vacuums & removes leaves and brushes on City streets and curbs
• Loads refuse onto trucks; Cleans area around cans
• Cleans refuse truck and equipment; Cleans, repairs, dismantles, washes & assembles solid waste carts
• Guides truck operator in congested areas; Cautiously watches for on-coming traffic and politely uses hand signals to request vehicles to slow down or stop
• Ensures all litter from the collection of the cart is removed from curb

• Ability to perform continuous heavy manual work at a steady pace
• Ability to understand and follow oral instructions. Maintains courtesy and respect to crew and other staff members
• Provides and promotes positive customer service

Education/Experience:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent 
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Requirements/Additional Information

• Possession of a valid driver's license

Physical Demands:
1. The physical activity of this position includes:

• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceed those required for ordinary locomotion.
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when walking, standing or couching on narrow, slippery or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount and kind of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, drag, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires the substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal spoken word levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make fine discriminations in sound, such as when making fine adjustments on machined parts.
• Repetitive Motions: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

2. The physical requirements of this position:

• Very Heavy Work: Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

3. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform one or more of the following:
• The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform one or more of the following: operate machines such as lathes, drill presses, power saws and mills where seeing job is at or within arm's reach; performs mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a non-repetitive nature such as carpenters, technicians, service people, plumbers, painters, mechanics, etc.

4. The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position are:

• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions: There is no effective protection from weather.
• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• The worker is subject to vibration: Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.
• The worker is subject to hazards: that include a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions: One or more of the following conditions affect the respiratory system of the skin: Fumes, odors dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.
• The worker is subject to oils: There is air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids.

Drug screening, criminal background, and verification of references 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions 

The City of Gastonia is committed to creating and maintaining a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. We value diversity and promise to honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity

The City of Gastonia is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/H).