Description
Recover and prepare usable materials from discarded products and debris. Identify and remove hazardous substances, dismantle items to reclaim components, and operate reclamation equipment while maintaining a safe, clean worksite.
- • Dismantle appliances, electronics, or machinery to reclaim usable components and metals.
- • Recover refrigerants and other regulated chemicals using approved recovery equipment.
- • Sort reclaimed materials—metals, glass, wood, paper, plastics—into designated containers.
- • Feed recoverable materials into chutes or onto conveyors for processing.
- • Operate balers, compactors, shredders, and similar processing equipment.
- • Run grinders, sorters, or crushers to size and separate materials.
- • Grade and separate metals, including copper, brass, and aluminum.
- • Clean and prepare metals or other materials to meet recycling specifications.
- • Operate forklifts, pallet jacks, or loaders to move bales and heavy items.
- • Load processed materials onto trucks for shipment to downstream facilities.
- • Record logs of reclaimed materials and hazardous substances removed.
- • Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on sorters, belts, and grinders.
- • Maintain clean work areas by sweeping, raking, and removing debris.
- • Assist with material pickups or transfers using roll-off or collection vehicles.
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Energy & Natural Resources
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
