Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Waste Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Waste Program Coordinator is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing municipal or organizational solid waste, recycling, and hazardous waste programs to achieve regulatory compliance, maximize waste diversion, and deliver measurable sustainability outcomes. This role coordinates cross-functional teams, manages contractor relationships, prepares regulatory reports, secures and administers grants, and leads community outreach and education initiatives related to waste reduction and recycling. The ideal candidate combines technical knowledge of waste streams and environmental regulations with strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven program evaluation skills.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Environmental Technician or Field Technician (Solid Waste/Recycling)
Recycling or Sustainability Program Assistant
Public Works or Environmental Compliance Assistant

Advancement To:

Waste Program Manager / Solid Waste Manager
Sustainability Program Manager / Director of Environmental Services
Senior Regulatory Compliance Specialist or Environmental Compliance Manager

Lateral Moves:

Sustainability Coordinator
Materials Management Coordinator
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Program Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive municipal or organizational waste management programs (including curbside recycling, organics/composting, bulky waste collection, and hazardous materials collection) to increase diversion rates and reduce landfill disposal in alignment with local and state regulations.
Prepare, submit and maintain regulatory compliance documents and permits related to solid waste and hazardous waste operations, including coordination with EPA, state environmental agencies, and local health departments.
Design and administer grant proposals and funding applications (federal, state, foundation) to secure program funding; manage awarded grants including budgets, deliverables, reporting, and audit readiness.
Monitor and manage program budgets, contractor invoices, and procurement for waste collection, transportation, disposal, recycling processing, and special events to ensure cost-effective service delivery.
Oversee vendor and contractor selection, performance monitoring, contract compliance, and resolution of service issues for haulers, materials recovery facilities (MRFs), composters, and HAZMAT handlers.
Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics for waste diversion, contamination rates, participation rates, and cost per ton; produce monthly and annual program performance reports for leadership and stakeholders.
Conduct waste composition studies, audits, and field inspections to evaluate program effectiveness, identify contamination sources, and recommend operational changes to improve diversion and quality of recyclables.
Create and implement outreach, education, and behavior-change campaigns for residents, businesses, schools, and community organizations to promote recycling, composting, source reduction, and proper hazardous waste disposal.
Lead community engagement efforts including public meetings, workshops, presentations, and partnership development to solicit feedback, build awareness, and increase program participation and compliance.
Develop and maintain educational materials, multilingual communications, signage, and digital content (website, social media, newsletters) that clearly explain collection rules, recycling guidelines, and program changes.
Coordinate special collection events such as household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-offs, electronics recycling drives, bulky item collection events, and community cleanups, including logistics, staffing, and safety planning.
Implement contamination reduction strategies, including targeted outreach, bin tagging programs, feedback loops with contractors, and operational changes to maximize quality of recyclable material streams.
Provide technical assistance and compliance support to businesses, institutions, and multi-family housing complexes on waste diversion strategies, recycling program design, and compliance with local ordinances.
Work cross‑departmentally with Public Works, Planning, Code Enforcement, Procurement, and Finance to integrate waste program objectives into broader municipal operations and capital planning.
Maintain and update program policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and emergency response plans for spills, illegal dumping, or hazardous material incidents associated with program operations.
Collect, manage, and analyze program data (tonnage, participation, costs, contamination) to inform strategic planning, annual reports, grant deliverables, and continuous improvement efforts.
Conduct staff training and develop capacity-building activities for front-line staff, volunteers, and partner organizations on proper waste handling, health and safety, and customer service standards.
Track and interpret regulatory changes, industry trends, and market conditions for recyclables and organics, advising leadership on policy adjustments, procurement strategies, and long-term planning.
Support policy development and ordinance enforcement related to single-use plastics, producer responsibility, waste reduction mandates, and mandatory recycling/organics programs through research and stakeholder consultation.
Manage customer service inquiries, complaints, and dispute resolution related to collection services, billing, and program operations, using data and field coordination to resolve recurring issues.
Prepare and present regular briefings, reports, and presentations to elected officials, boards, commissions, and senior management to secure program approvals, budget requests, and public support.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc reporting requests and produce executive-level dashboards and visualizations to communicate program performance, trends, and return on investment.
Assist with procurement processes for equipment, carts, bins, and outreach materials; prepare scopes of work, evaluate bids, and manage vendor onboarding.
Participate in interagency working groups, regional solid waste planning efforts, and multi-jurisdictional collaborations to coordinate services and share best practices.
Provide backup support for field operations during peak events, emergencies, and staff shortages, including oversight of event logistics and contractor coordination.
Contribute to strategic planning efforts for long-term waste facility needs, transfer station operations, and capital improvement plans to support sustainable materials management.
Maintain data integrity and GIS mapping of routes, drop-off sites, and service boundaries to support operational planning and equitable service delivery.
Coordinate with enforcement and code compliance teams to identify non-compliant properties and initiate corrective measures related to illegal dumping and improper waste storage.
Support research and pilot programs for new technologies and approaches (pay-as-you-throw, single-stream to dual-stream transitions, anaerobic digestion pilots) to drive innovation and cost savings.
Compile case studies and success stories for marketing, grant reporting, and public recognition programs that showcase program impact and community partnerships.
Facilitate training workshops for business recycling coordinators and institutional partners to expand diversion programs and meet sustainability goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Solid waste program development and management (recycling, organics, C&D, HHW) with demonstrated experience in municipal or institutional program delivery.
Regulatory knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations (EPA guidelines, RCRA, state solid waste rules, HAZMAT protocols).
Grant writing, grant administration, and federal/state grant compliance, including reporting, budgeting, and audit preparedness.
Data analysis and reporting: proficiency with Excel, SQL, or data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) to analyze tonnage, participation, and cost metrics.
Contract management and procurement: developing scopes of work, evaluating proposals, negotiating service agreements, and monitoring contractor performance.
Waste composition auditing and contamination analysis methodologies to drive operational improvements and outreach strategies.
Project management skills, including project plans, timelines, risk management, and stakeholder coordination using Agile or traditional PM frameworks.
Public outreach and communications: developing educational materials, multilingual content, social media, and community engagement strategies to change behaviors.
GIS and route mapping familiarity to support service planning and equity assessments (ArcGIS or similar tools).
Health and safety knowledge for waste handling operations, PPE requirements, and emergency response procedures for hazardous incidents.
Familiarity with recycling markets and material end‑markets, commodity pricing, and strategies for maximizing revenue and reducing processing costs.

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills for public presentations, stakeholder briefings, and clear citizen-facing instructions.
Relationship building and stakeholder management with elected officials, community leaders, vendors, and agency partners.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to translate data and field observations into programmatic improvements and policy recommendations.
Customer-service orientation with patience and diplomacy when handling community complaints and inquiries.
Organizational skills and attention to detail to manage multiple concurrent programs, grants, and reporting deadlines.
Adaptability and resilience in a field environment with changing regulations, market conditions, and seasonal service demands.
Leadership and team collaboration to coordinate cross-functional teams and build consensus on program changes.
Cultural competency and inclusivity when designing outreach for diverse communities and multilingual populations.
Time management and prioritization to balance operational needs, strategic initiatives, and emergency responses.
Negotiation and influence skills to secure contractor commitments, interagency agreements, and community buy-in.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Public Administration, Civil Engineering, Sustainability, or related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Environmental Management, Public Administration (MPA), Sustainability, or a related discipline and/or professional certifications (CPWM, CESSWI, AICP, or similar).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Environmental Engineering
Sustainable Materials Management
Public Administration / Public Policy
Civil Engineering
Urban Planning
Environmental Health and Safety

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of relevant experience in waste management, recycling, or municipal environmental programs.

Preferred: 3–7 years of progressive experience coordinating solid waste or recycling programs, including grant management, vendor contracts, regulatory compliance, and community outreach. Demonstrated success in program growth, measurable diversion increases, or implementation of new collection systems is highly desired.