Solid Waste Collection Operator

If you are a current City of Olathe employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account.

Employment Type

Job Summary

Solid Waste Collection Operator – Residential Work Group

The City of Olathe is seeking a dependable and safety-focused Solid Waste Collection Operator to join our Residential/Bulk Pickup Team. This position plays an important role in keeping the community clean and safe by providing reliable residential trash and bulk item collection services. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates with a Kansas Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) who are looking for stable work, competitive pay, and the chance to make a meaningful impact every day.

Essential Duties

• Operate solid waste collection vehicles on assigned routes
• Collect residential refuse and/or bulk items in accordance with department procedures
• Perform daily vehicle inspections and report maintenance or safety concerns
• Complete routes safely, efficiently, and in compliance with traffic laws and City policies
• Assist with special collections, missed pickups, and route adjustments as assigned
• Maintain effective communication with supervisors, dispatch staff, and residents
• Respond to residents in a courteous and professional manner
• Follow all safety practices, including DOT and departmental requirements

Why Join Us?

The City of Olathe’s Solid Waste Division is nationally recognized for excellence in customer service and operational performance. Our culture is grounded in Customer Service, Teamwork, Learning, Communication, and Leadership Through Service. We foster a supportive workplace and invest in employees through paid training and professional development, ensuring every team member plays an essential role in our success.

Competitive Pay and Incentives

• Pay Range: Starting at $23.75 per hour, up to $31.79 per hour, based on qualifications

• Incentive-Based Pay Structure: Rewards efficiency—employees receive a full day’s pay even when routes are completed early

• Overtime Eligibility: Overtime is paid for hours worked over 40 in a workweek

$4,000 New Hire Bonus paid in three installments:

• $1,000 after 30 days of employment

• $1,000 after six months of employment

• $2,000 after one year of employment

To receive each installment, employees must be actively employed at the time of payout and be successfully meeting introductory period requirements. Current City of Olathe employees are not eligible.

Additional Perks

• Paid Parental Leave

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Employee Wellbeing Program

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• To learn more about our benefits, click here.

Work Schedule and Holidays

• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or until all routes are completed
• Holidays Off: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
  If one of these holidays falls on a weekday, employees are required to work the following Saturday.
• Other Holidays: Employees are required to work all other holidays.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Background Check
• Driving Record Review
• Drug Screen
• DOT Physical
• Functional Capacity or Agility Assessment
• Employment/Reference Verification

For more details, review the full job details and requirements below.

The Solid Waste Collection Operator performs the activities and operations of the assigned solid waste collection work group by the collection of residential, commercial, curbside recycling and bulky item refuse. The pick-up of material may be by automated, semi-automated or manual. This position performs skilled refuse equipment operation and routine maintenance of equipment and adheres to all safe work practices, safety procedures and safety regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepares refuse collection equipment for daily operations by conducting pre-operations inspection, routine maintenance and cleaning of the equipment, ensuring proper working condition; ensures that the equipment and vehicles associated with the division are operated in compliance with Federal, State and local codes, ordinances and regulations.

• Completes daily route assignments and transports refuse to the Solid Waste Transfer Station or approved disposal, recycling, or composting facility as directed.

• Completes daily reports and related documentation and correspondence for operations within the area of responsibility.

• Cooperates with immediate supervisors to ensure customer service requests are resolved, responding to public inquiries in a courteous manner, providing information within the area of assignment and resolving complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

• Takes a role in implementing the safety culture of the division; ensures adherence to safe work practices, procedures and compliance with Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.

Qualifications

Experience: One year of related experience is preferred.

Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is required.

Licenses & Certifications: A class B commercial driver’s license with air-brake endorsement and favorable driving record are required.