Day Shift Equipment Operator (Tacoma, WA)

Recovery 1, a trusted name in environmental services and a proud member of the Waste Connections family, is seeking a skilled and safety-focused Equipment Operator to join our Recycling Center team in Tacoma, WA. This is a hands-on, outdoor role where youll operate heavy equipment to support essential waste and recycling operations that serve the local community. Pay: $26.00$26.50 per hour (DOE) with regular wage increases Schedule: MondayFriday, 6:00 a.m.4:30 p.m. (57 hours of overtime per week as needed) This is a hands-on, outdoor position at our sorting facility. Youll operate front loaders and skid steers, help keep work areas clean and organized, and follow safety standards that protect you and your team. At Waste Connections, we value people who show up, work safely, treat others with respect, and take pride in doing the job right. We know great employees come from diverse industrial backgroundsif your heavy equipment experience is recent and hands-on, we encourage you to apply. What Youll Do Safely operate front loaders and skid steers to support daily site operations Conduct daily equipment inspections, identify issues, and report maintenance needs promptly Maintain clean, organized, hazard-free work areas and workstations Follow company safety policies, procedures, and PPE requirements at all times Communicate clearly with team members and supervisors to meet operational goals Take direction from senior employees and adapt to changing assignments or equipment needs on short notice What Success Looks Like You take safety seriously and follow procedures consistently You can operate heavy equipment independently and stay situationally aware in active yards Youre reliable: strong attendance, on time, and ready to work You communicate clearly, support your teammates, and handle changes calmly You maintain equipment care habits (checks, reporting, basic upkeep) Work Environment & Physical Expectations Outdoor work in all weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, wind) Frequent standing, walking, climbing stairs, and getting in/out of equipment Ability to lift 50+ pounds unassisted regularly Exposure to dust, noise, odors, uneven terrain, and moving equipment traffic Required Qualifications Minimum of 2 years of recent, hands-on heavy equipment experience in an industrial environment (recycling center, transfer station, landfill, construction, quarry, etc.) Verifiable experience operating front loaders and skid steers safely and independently Ability to lift 50 lbs unassisted and perform physical duties throughout the shift Ability to work outdoors year-round with strong situational awareness Proven commitment to safety through consistent PPE use and adherence to procedures Ability to read, speak, and understand English for safety-critical communication (Spanish is a plus) Reliable attendance and ability to work scheduled hours, including 57 hours of overtime as needed Willingness to take direction and adapt to changing tasks or equipment Safety-Sensitive Position: Yes Preferred Qualifications Experience working in a recycling center, transfer station, or landfill Ability to operate additional equipment (excavator, yard goat/hostling, forklift) Experience in safety-sensitive, fast-paced industrial environments Strong communication and teamwork skills Familiarity with daily equipment inspections and timely reporting To be considered for any of our current openings, you must complete an application at www.careers.wasteconnections.com. Once you select your position of interest, you will find application information and additional instructions. We offer excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a flexible spending account, long-term and short-term disability insurance, life insurance, a 401 (k) retirement plan, and unlimited opportunities to "Connect with Your Future." A link to our benefits overview can be found here: https://careers.wasteconnections.com/why-waste-connections Waste Connections is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability or protected veteran status. Waste Connections is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets. Our goal is to create an environment where self-directed, empowered employees strive to consistently fulfill our constituent commitments and seek to create positive impacts through interactions with customers, communities, and fellow employees. OUR PEOPLE MEAN EVERYTHING TO US Waste Connections is always working to protect the health of the communities we serve, and we are grateful for the hard work and dedication that you bring to your job every day. Working here means you are a safety-minded individual who is making important contributions on a daily basis that will make a positive impact on those around you. We appreciate that you are a person of integrity who takes pride in the work you do. Our Opportunities BUILD TALENT FROM WITHIN People who want to gain valuable professional experience will find that Waste Connections is a fantastic place to work. Youll enjoy the opportunity for beneficial training and professional development opportunities that can help enhance your skills and lead the way to a more promising future. LETS REALIZE YOUR GOALS TOGETHER Bring your passion to succeed and youll quickly discover that great opportunities are all around you. At Waste Connections, youll thrive if you are friendly, dedicated, and prefer a work hard/play hard culture that is focused on maintaining our reputation as the premier waste services company in the markets we serve. Bring your passion to succeed and youll quickly discover that great opportunities and people are all around you. We operate a highly decentralized structure, so we look for energetic individuals who can demonstrate individual initiative and creativity and prefer a work hard/play hard team environment and culture. At Waste Connections, diversity and inclusion are essential to our success. We hire and empower great, capable people from a wide variety of backgrounds and lead with our values. For more than 20 years, we have maintained a culture of safety, integrity and service to build a great place to work. Our culture is built on taking care of each other and the communities we serve.