Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Waste Management Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Waste Management Program Technician is a hands-on environmental professional who executes and documents waste handling operations, ensures regulatory compliance with federal, state, and local waste regulations (including RCRA and DOT), conducts chemical and waste stream characterization, supports waste minimization and recycling initiatives, and provides technical support to environmental and operations teams. This role balances fieldwork, laboratory coordination, data entry, and stakeholder communication to maintain safe, auditable waste programs and minimize environmental risk.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Field Technician or Environmental Services Technician
Hazardous Materials Handler or Industrial Waste Handler
Recent graduate with an Associate/Bachelor’s in Environmental Science, Chemistry, or related field

Advancement To:

Waste Management Specialist / Senior Waste Technician
Environmental Compliance Coordinator or Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Technician
Environmental Program Manager or EHS Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Technician
Environmental Laboratory Technician
Site Remediation Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform routine and non-routine hazardous and non-hazardous waste inspections, including satellite accumulation areas, main accumulation areas, and storage tanks, to verify proper labeling, container condition, segregation, and compatibility in accordance with RCRA and facility procedures.
Characterize waste streams by reviewing chemical inventories, safety data sheets (SDS/MSDS), process knowledge, and laboratory results to determine hazardous classification, shipping requirements, and disposal routing.
Prepare, review, and complete hazardous waste manifests, electronic manifests, and shipping paperwork; ensure accurate Waste Codes, generator information, and transporter details to maintain regulatory chain-of-custody and audit readiness.
Conduct field sampling and collect representative waste and environmental media samples following approved sampling plans and chain-of-custody protocols for laboratory analysis and regulatory reporting.
Maintain accurate and auditable records for waste generation, accumulation, manifests, lab results, waste profiles, and disposal invoices in the facility’s waste tracking system or EHS database (e.g., Enablon, SAP, Oracle).
Execute daily, weekly, and monthly waste handling operations including container consolidation, bulking, labeling, bulking analyses, and preparation of waste for shipment to licensed treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs).
Monitor and verify compliance with Department of Transportation (49 CFR) regulations for hazardous materials packaging, marking, labeling, and placarding during transport preparation.
Respond to, investigate, and document spills and releases related to waste handling; implement containment, cleanup, and reporting measures per facility emergency response procedures and regulatory notification requirements.
Support waste minimization, recycling, and reuse initiatives by identifying opportunities to reduce hazardous waste generation, segregate recyclable streams, and recommend process or purchasing changes.
Coordinate with licensed transporters, TSDFs, and laboratories to schedule pickups, confirm disposal routes, and ensure timely movement of waste off-site; resolve transport or manifest discrepancies.
Perform periodic audits of vendor disposal documentation, certificates of destruction, and cradle-to-grave records to confirm appropriate treatment and disposal methods and to support environmental audits and inspections.
Operate and maintain field and shop equipment used in waste handling operations safely, such as secondary containment systems, pumps, forklifts (if certified), and decontamination stations.
Support regulatory reporting including Biennial Hazardous Waste Reports, state notifications, EPA forms, and other required submittals by compiling data, reviewing manifests, and preparing draft reports for the program manager.
Implement best-practice container management: inspect and replace damaged containers, ensure compatible chemical segregation, update container labeling with accumulation start dates, and manage satellite accumulation area capacity limits.
Train and mentor operations and shop staff in proper waste identification, segregation, labeling, and emergency response procedures to ensure consistent implementation of the waste management program.
Coordinate on-site chemical waste profiling meetings with operations, lab personnel, and waste vendors to develop acceptable disposal routes and obtain pre-approval from TSDFs when required.
Utilize field instrumentation (e.g., pH meters, PID/FOG detectors, turbidity meters) to perform initial screening and documentation of waste characteristics prior to shipment or laboratory analysis.
Participate in internal and external regulatory inspections and audits, support inspector requests for documentation and walkthroughs, and promptly implement corrective actions to address findings.
Develop and update written procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and job aids for waste handling, labeling, manifesting, and emergency response to reflect regulatory changes and continuous improvement.
Coordinate with laboratory services to ensure proper sample packaging, preservation, shipping, and receipt; review lab reports for anomalous results and initiate investigative or corrective actions.
Maintain personal and team compliance with training and certification requirements (e.g., 40-hour HAZWOPER initial and refreshers, DOT hazmat training, site-specific orientation) and ensure training records are up to date.
Track inventory of waste management supplies (e.g., absorbents, drums, labels, PPE) and coordinate procurement to ensure uninterrupted safe operations.
Analyze waste operations metrics and develop periodic summaries (monthly/quarterly) for program managers highlighting trends, cost drivers, and opportunities for waste reduction and cost avoidance.
Support project-based work such as RCRA closure activities, remediation support, or capital projects by providing waste forecasts, logistical planning, characterization, and onsite technical support.
Ensure adherence to OSHA, EPA, DOT, state, and local environmental health and safety regulations during all waste management activities and support the site’s broader environmental compliance program.

Secondary Functions

Assist in developing and maintaining the facility’s Waste Management Plan and procedural documents to reflect new regulations and operational changes.
Support environmental data entry, quality assurance of waste tracking data, and preparation of materials used in regulatory and management reporting.
Provide backup support for routine environmental monitoring tasks (e.g., stormwater sampling, groundwater observation well checks) as needed to support the environmental team.
Participate in cross-functional teams to evaluate process changes, capital projects, or procurement decisions that may impact waste generation or disposal options.
Assist with vendor selection and technical evaluation of waste service providers, including review of transporter safety records and TSDF permits.
Lead periodic training sessions and safety toolbox talks focused on waste segregation, labeling, and spill prevention for front-line employees.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Thorough working knowledge of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations and state-level hazardous waste programs.
Proficient in DOT hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR) for packaging, marking, labeling, and shipping of hazardous waste.
Hazardous waste characterization expertise including use of SDS/MSDS, waste codes (UN/NA), ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity determination.
Hands-on experience preparing and auditing hazardous waste manifests, electronic manifests, and cradle-to-grave documentation.
Field sampling and chain-of-custody procedures for waste and environmental media, including sample preservation and documentation standards.
HAZWOPER certification (40-hour initial and 8-hour annual refresher) and competence in emergency response protocols for spills and releases.
Proficiency with EHS and waste tracking systems (e.g., Enablon, Sphera, WasteLogics, SAP, Oracle) and Microsoft Office (Excel for trend analysis and reporting).
Practical knowledge of waste treatment, recycling, neutralization, and disposal options including permitted TSDF operations and contractor evaluation.
Ability to use field instrumentation such as pH meters, PID meters, turbidity meters, and basic laboratory screening equipment.
Experience with container management, secondary containment, and safe handling/transport preparation for drums, totes, and bulk containers.
Familiarity with environmental permitting, hazardous waste accumulation limits, and generator category determination (LQG/SQG/VSQG).
Basic mechanical aptitude for operation of forklifts (if certified), pumps, valves, and containment systems; understanding of safe lockout/tagout procedures.
Competence in preparing regulatory reports and compiling supporting documentation for state and federal submissions.
Knowledge of spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC) planning and stormwater/wastewater interface considerations.
Experience coordinating with external vendors, laboratories, and transporters, and reviewing certificates of disposal and analytical reports.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and meticulous recordkeeping to ensure regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for interacting with operations staff, contractors, regulators, and management.
Proven problem-solving ability and practical judgment to triage waste issues and implement corrective actions quickly.
Team-oriented mindset with demonstrated ability to train, coach, and influence cross-functional personnel on waste practices.
Good time management and organizational skills to prioritize multiple shipments, sampling tasks, and regulatory deadlines.
Adaptability and resilience when responding to field conditions, regulatory changes, or emergency incidents.
Customer-service orientation to support internal clients and external vendors with timely, professional assistance.
Analytical mindset to interpret lab results, manifest data, and operational trends to drive program improvements.
Integrity and accountability in maintaining safety, environmental stewardship, and confidentiality of sensitive information.
Initiative and continuous learning attitude to stay current with evolving waste regulations, industry best practices, and new disposal technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; technical certificate or vocational training in hazardous materials handling, industrial safety, or environmental technology preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Technology, Chemistry, Biology, Safety Management, or related technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Environmental Engineering Technology
Chemistry
Industrial Hygiene
Occupational Safety and Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of progressive hands-on experience in hazardous and non-hazardous waste handling, manifesting, sampling, or environmental compliance.

Preferred:

2–4 years experience supporting a waste management or environmental compliance program in an industrial, laboratory, manufacturing, or remediation setting.
Documented experience with RCRA, DOT hazardous materials shipping, waste profiling, and field sampling protocols.
HAZWOPER 40-hour completion (or willingness to obtain) and site-specific hazardous materials training; prior experience working with regulated TSDFs, transporters, and analytical labs.