Job Summary
The Yard Laborer supports daily operations at a Meridian Waste trash transfer station by maintaining a safe, clean, organized, and efficient facility. This position assists with traffic flow, litter control, basic facility upkeep, customer and driver direction, backup scale operations, and general labor duties as assigned. The role requires strong attention to safety, good communication skills, reliability, and the ability to work outdoors in an active solid waste environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Direct incoming and outgoing traffic safely through the transfer station, including customers, commercial haulers, vendors, and internal equipment traffic.
• Provide clear instructions to drivers regarding scale use, unloading areas, traffic patterns, speed limits, and site safety requirements.
• Assist with full-time litter control throughout the facility, including picking up loose paper, plastics, debris, and windblown material from the yard, fence lines, roadways, tipping floor areas, and surrounding grounds.
• Maintain the facility in a clean and orderly condition by sweeping, raking, shoveling, removing debris, emptying trash containers, and keeping walkways and work areas free of hazards.
• Assist with general maintenance tasks, including painting, pressure washing, cleaning buildings, organizing tools and supplies, and supporting minor facility repairs.
• Serve as a backup scale operator when needed by weighing inbound and outbound vehicles, entering accurate transaction information, issuing tickets, and assisting drivers with scale procedures.
• Monitor loads visually for unacceptable, unsafe, or prohibited materials and immediately report concerns to supervision.
• Communicate professionally with customers, drivers, vendors, supervisors, and coworkers while promoting safe and efficient site operations.
• Support safe movement of vehicles and equipment by observing traffic flow, identifying hazards, and reporting unsafe conditions promptly.
• Assist operations personnel as needed with site cleanup, spill cleanup, material handling, snow and ice removal, seasonal groundskeeping, and other labor-related duties.
• Follow all Meridian Waste safety policies, facility rules, personal protective equipment requirements, and applicable environmental and operational procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or management team.
• Traffic Control Responsibilities
• Greet drivers and customers entering the facility and provide safe, courteous direction.
• Help maintain steady traffic flow to reduce congestion at the scale house, entrance, exit, tipping floor, and unloading areas.
• Ensure drivers follow posted traffic signs, facility rules, speed limits, and designated travel lanes.
• Notify supervision of unsafe driving, blocked areas, customer concerns, or operational delays.
• Backup Scale Operator Responsibilities
• Operate the scale system as assigned to weigh trucks and record inbound and outbound loads accurately.
• Collect and verify required information such as company name, truck number, material type, load origin, destination, and other transaction details.
• Issue scale tickets, receipts, or related documentation in accordance with company procedures.
• Answer basic customer and driver questions and refer issues to supervision when needed.
• Maintain the scale house and surrounding area in a clean, organized, and professional condition.
• General Maintenance and Facility Cleanliness
• Assist with painting, touch-up work, cleaning, organizing, and general appearance improvements throughout the facility.
• Keep the yard, buildings, walkways, parking areas, scale area, and fence lines clean and free of loose debris.
• Perform routine housekeeping of assigned work areas, including sweeping floors, removing trash, and keeping supplies properly stored.
• Report maintenance concerns such as damaged signs, lighting issues, broken gates, unsafe walking surfaces, leaks, or needed repairs.
• Assist with seasonal work including snow removal, ice control, mowing, weed trimming, and drainage cleanup as assigne

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous experience in solid waste, transfer station operations, construction, general labor, maintenance, traffic control, customer service, or scale operations preferred.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions and complete assigned duties safely and efficiently.
• Basic computer and data entry skills preferred for backup scale operation duties.
• Ability to communicate professionally with customers, drivers, supervisors, and coworkers.
• Must be dependable, safety-focused, and able to work independently or as part of a team.
• Must be able to comply with all company policies, safety standards, and facility procedures.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, dust, and noise.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb, reach, shovel, sweep, rake, lift, carry, and perform manual labor throughout the shift.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds as needed.
• Ability to work around moving vehicles, heavy equipment, solid waste materials, and active transfer station operations.
• Must wear required personal protective equipment, which may include safety vest, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, hearing protection, and other PPE as assigned.

Schedule and Employment Status

This is a full-time position. Work hours and days may vary based on facility needs, customer volume, weather conditions, and operational requirements. Overtime, weekend work, or schedule adjustments may be required as assigned by management

Safety Expectations

The employee is expected to work in a manner that protects personal safety, coworker safety, customer safety, and the environment. This includes reporting hazards immediately, following lockout/tagout or restricted-area procedures when applicable, maintaining awareness around moving equipment, and stopping work when an unsafe condition is identified.