Landscape Recycling Center Equipment Operator

Assists in the daily operation of a large-scale landscape trimmings recycling center by delivering finished compost and mulch to customers with a dump truck; providing customer service to site customers; conduct retail sales through use of electronic point of sale machine; keeping the site free of refuse; monitoring, organizing, and helping site operators process a wide range of landscaping and forestry byproducts;

testing and monitoring composted material throughout composting process per Illinois EPA regulations; using a front-end loader and skid-steer loader to load LRC product material into various-sized trucks; property maintenance including mowing, grading, and drainage improvements; assisting with maintenance of heavy equipment; and assisting with the training of seasonal personnel. Assists with removal of snow from streets, sidewalks and parking lots.

This job class performs general equipment operating tasks while learning the more skilled tasks. Incumbents in this classification receive on-the-job training, specific day-to-day direction, under supervision. Positions at this level are not expected to function with the same amount of knowledge or skills as positions allocated to the Equipment Operator II level and exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.

Under supervision and through training and experience, employees in this classification are assigned increasingly responsible duties.

• Demonstrates active listening and precise and direct communication.
• Ability to work hands‑on, self‑motivated, safety focused, physically resilient.
• Team oriented, positive attitude embraces continuous learning, respect for nature, and respect for others.

• As LRC Equipment Operator:
  Monitors, organizes and processes a wide range of incoming debris materials at the Landscape Recycling Center. Tests and monitors compost material throughout composting process as per Illinois EPA regulations. Inspects and approves incoming and outgoing material, estimates volumes, collects fees and issues receipts. Make deliveries to residential homes and businesses with dump truck. Loads product material into various sized trucks with heavy equipment loaders such as End Loader, Crawler Loader and Skid steer Loader.
  
  Maintains heavy equipment and keeps the site free of refuse; assists with training seasonal and part‑time personnel.
• Estimates volumes of materials received, operates cash register to issue receipts, and collects fee associated with the distribution of processed materials.
• Operates various equipment such as end loader, skid steer loader, crawler loader, wood chipper, compost turner, tub grinder, log splitter and chain saws to process and transfer landscape and tree debris material.
• Monitors the type of material entering the Center and determines acceptability.
• Maintains the Site in a clean and orderly manner to provide safe working conditions.
• Monitors processed materials stockpiles in order to maintain adequate supplies for customer sales.
• Cuts, splits and stacks firewood with an advanced six‑way hydraulic log splitter and new equipment as acquired.
• May be responsible for monitoring acceptability of materials and accurately estimating volumes of materials admitted to Center.
• May be responsible for proper accounting and records associated with receipt of debris materials and distribution of processed materials.
• May be responsible for monitoring and recording oxygen, moisture and temperature levels of compost material throughout ten‑month composting process.
• May be responsible for handling daily cash, check, and charge revenue.
• May be responsible for appropriately securing Center entrances, buildings, and equipment in absence of supervisory personnel.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Knowledge and abilities typically acquired through graduation from high school or equivalent.
• One (1) year of civil construction experience involving operation of heavy equipment.
• Ability to operate heavy equipment (rubber tired and track driven) including but not limited to street sweeper, crawler loader, front endloader, skid steer loader, wood chipper compost turner, tub grinder, hydraulic log splitter, large chain saws, backhoe, and road grader
• Ability to lift objects weighing up to 75 pounds.

• Possession of a State of Illinois Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Air Brake Endorsement at the time of hire is preferred.

For a complete list of duties and qualifications, please refer to the job description.