Recycling and Reclamation Workers

Recycling and reclamation workers will continue to have employment opportunities in the coming years. Many states will continue to focus on meeting waste-reduction and recycling goals.

The recycling industry is subject to business fluctuations as well as political and social trends, but demand and new technologies have created a viable market for recycled materials. The waste management and recycling industries will continue to need people to work in and run recovery facilities and do related work. Private businesses will also need recycling and reclamation workers, including coordinators, for their in-house programs.

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for refuse and recyclable material collectors is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2033. Job openings will arise when workers move on to other jobs or retire from the field or as recycling efforts increase. Those who have an associate's or bachelor's degree and several years of experience at a recycling facility will have the advantage in the job market.