Waste Management Program Manager — Waste Reduction, Compliance & Recycling Programs

🎯 Role Definition

The Waste Management Program Manager owns the end-to-end strategy, execution and continuous improvement for corporate or municipal waste programs — including solid and hazardous waste, universal waste, recycling, composting, and special waste streams. This role blends regulatory compliance, contractor and operations management, budget stewardship and sustainability strategy to reduce risk and cost while increasing diversion and circular-economy outcomes. The Manager develops policies, secures permits, leads audits and training, and partners across facilities, procurement, and external stakeholders to deliver measurable waste reduction, regulatory compliance and ESG reporting.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

EHS Specialist / Environmental Specialist with solid waste responsibilities
Environmental Engineer (entry or early-career) with waste permitting experience
Sustainability Coordinator or Recycling Program Lead

Advancement To:

Senior Waste & Recycling Manager / Regional Waste Manager
Director of Environmental Services or Director of Sustainability
VP of Operations with sustainability portfolio / Head of Corporate Sustainability

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Compliance Manager
Facilities & Operations Manager
Environmental Consultant (waste & circular economy focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement and manage a comprehensive enterprise waste management program covering municipal solid waste, recycling, composting, hazardous waste, universal waste and special wastes; set annual diversion, cost-reduction and compliance targets and drive cross-functional execution to achieve KPIs.
Ensure full regulatory compliance with federal, state and local waste laws and regulations (e.g., RCRA, CERCLA, DOT 49 CFR, EPA guidance, state hazardous waste requirements) including permit applications, renewals and manifesting processes.
Oversee hazardous waste handling, labeling, storage, transportation and disposal programs; maintain accurate manifests, cradle-to-grave tracking, satellite accumulation area controls and ensure contractors meet regulatory and company standards.
Manage contracts and relationships with waste haulers, recyclers, transporters, treatment and disposal facilities; conduct procurement, negotiate service agreements, manage SLA performance, and conduct bid processes and due diligence for third-party vendors.
Design and implement waste minimization and source reduction initiatives (material substitution, process changes, reuse programs) and lead continuous improvement projects to reduce landfill tonnage and waste disposal costs.
Lead facility-level waste assessments and waste audits to identify diversion opportunities, quantify baseline waste streams and prioritize projects with payback and sustainability impact analyses.
Create and maintain waste management policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), emergency response plans and training materials; ensure consistent application across multiple sites and operational functions.
Develop and manage program budgets, capital requests and cost-savings forecasts for waste infrastructure (compactors, balers, compost sites, consolidation centers) and measure ROI for investments.
Drive cross-functional stakeholder engagement with operations, procurement, engineering, health & safety, legal and sustainability teams to align waste strategies with business operations and product lifecycle considerations.
Implement data collection, waste metrics, KPI dashboards and reporting systems (tons diverted, recycling rates, disposal cost per ton, hazardous generators status) to provide transparent performance insights to leadership and for ESG disclosures.
Lead incident investigations and corrective actions related to waste-management nonconformances, DOT shipping incidents, spills or regulatory notices; coordinate with regulators and legal teams as needed.
Oversee training programs for operations, shipping/receiving and laboratory personnel on hazardous waste handling, satellite accumulation, DOT shipping papers, labeling and emergency response requirements.
Manage permitting, regulatory inspections, consent orders and enforcement responses; prepare and submit regulatory reports (biennial hazardous waste reports, TRI, state-specific submissions) and maintain records for audit readiness.
Evaluate and pilot new recycling technologies and circular-economy partnerships (inbound packaging reuse, material reclamation, product take-back) to enhance resource recovery and reduce upstream waste generation.
Coordinate logistics and cost optimization for onsite consolidation, transfer stations, and inter-site movement of waste to maximize volume discounts and reduce transportation emissions and costs.
Ensure compliance with internal EHS policies and international standards where applicable (e.g., ISO 14001) and support integration of waste metrics into corporate sustainability and ESG disclosures.
Manage capital projects related to waste handling and treatment facilities (design specifications, contractor oversight, commissioning) and ensure projects meet safety, environmental and budget targets.
Lead vendor audits for treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs) and recyclers to validate compliance, chain-of-custody, traceability and recycling claims; escalate and remediate any deficiencies.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of emerging regulations, extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, and market changes in commodity pricing that affect recycling viability; adapt program strategy accordingly.
Prepare executive summaries, board-level reports and cost-benefit analyses that translate technical waste metrics into business implications and strategic recommendations.
Coordinate hazardous materials transportation compliance, including generator status management, EPA ID number maintenance, motor carrier compliance and Class/Division segregation for shipping hazardous wastes.
Support community outreach and internal communications for recycling and sustainability campaigns, building employee engagement and improving waste sorting accuracy and program participation.
Implement data governance and ERP integrations for waste and recycling data capture (SAP, Oracle, waste tracking software) to automate reporting and reduce manual reconciliation.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc vendor performance reviews, waste contract renewals and RFP processes to maintain competitive pricing and service levels.
Provide subject-matter expertise for capital project design reviews to ensure waste handling and segregation are integrated into new facility builds and process changes.
Develop job aids, quick reference guides and e-learning modules for frontline staff to improve hazardous waste handling and reduce noncompliance events.
Participate in cross-functional sustainability working groups to align waste strategies with product stewardship, procurement and corporate ESG goals.
Support internal and external audits and third-party verification processes for waste and recycling claims, helping to prepare documentation and drive corrective action plans.
Maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, trade associations and industry networks to remain current on best practices and regulatory changes.
Coordinate pilot programs for new recycling streams (e-waste, batteries, organics) including vendor selection, logistics planning and pilot performance measurement.
Assist in the development of supplier sustainability requirements and packaging optimization efforts to reduce packaging waste across the supply chain.
Provide technical support for spill response and emergency management related to waste operations and hazardous material handling.
Mentor and train junior environmental staff and site waste coordinators; support career development and succession planning for the waste management team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Expertise with federal and state waste regulations: RCRA, DOT 49 CFR, OSHA hazmat requirements, CERCLA, SARA reporting and EPA hazardous waste rules.
Hazardous waste generator management including satellite accumulation area control, LQG/SQG requirements, manifesting and cradle-to-grave tracking.
Experience managing waste vendors, TSDF audits, and contractual service agreements for hauling, treatment and disposal.
Proficiency with waste tracking and EHS software platforms and ERP integration (examples: Enablon, Sphera, Intelex, SAP EHS, Oracle EHS).
Permit writing and permitting process management for storage, treatment and transfer facilities; familiarity with state permitting processes and local landfill/transfer station operations.
Strong data analytics capabilities: creating KPIs, diversion rate calculations, cost-per-ton analyses and dashboarding using Excel, Power BI, Tableau or similar tools.
Knowledge of recycling markets, commodity flows, MRF operations, material quality specifications and commodity pricing impacts on program viability.
Solid understanding of circular economy concepts: product take-back, packaging optimization, reuse systems, and supplier engagement strategies.
Experience with on-site waste infrastructure design: compactors, balers, baling specs, storage containment, secondary containment and ventilation requirements.
Emergency response and incident management for hazardous material releases, including familiarity with HAZWOPER requirements and spill response protocols.
Familiarity with ISO 14001 environmental management systems and environmental auditing best practices.
Budget management, cost modeling and financial analysis for capital investments and operational cost reduction initiatives.

Soft Skills

Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration with operations, procurement, legal and sustainability teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication; able to translate technical regulatory requirements into actionable operational guidance.
Program and project management skills with an ability to prioritize, manage timelines, and deliver measurable outcomes.
Negotiation skills for vendor contracts and service-level agreements to ensure favorable commercial and compliance terms.
Problem solving and analytical thinking to diagnose root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Change management and employee engagement skills to drive culture shifts toward waste reduction and accurate waste segregation.
Leadership and people development skills, including coaching site coordinators and building high-performing teams.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills to maintain regulatory records, manifests and audit trails.
Resilience and adaptability to manage regulatory changes, market volatility and complex multi-site operations.
Customer service orientation when supporting internal business units and external regulatory stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Sustainability, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Environmental Management, Industrial Ecology, Environmental Engineering, or MBA with sustainability focus.
Professional certifications such as Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), or Project Management Professional (PMP).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Environmental Engineering
Sustainability / Industrial Ecology
Chemical Engineering
Public Health or Environmental Policy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of progressive experience in waste management, hazardous waste compliance, recycling program management or environmental operations; at least 3 years of program or people management experience.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience managing multi-site waste programs, vendor networks and regulatory interactions.
Proven track record of delivering waste diversion, cost savings and compliance outcomes; experience with corporate sustainability reporting and ESG metrics.
Experience in municipal waste programs, manufacturing, healthcare or laboratory environments where complex waste streams and strict regulatory requirements exist.
Familiarity with permitting, TRI reporting, biennial hazardous waste reporting and interfacing with state environmental agencies.