Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Waste Recycling Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Waste Recycling Supervisor oversees daily operations of recycling and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) or collection programs, ensuring efficient processing, compliance with environmental and safety regulations, and achievement of diversion and quality targets. This hands-on leadership role manages frontline staff, coordinates equipment maintenance, optimizes sort and bale quality, liaises with vendors and municipal clients, and uses operational KPIs to drive continuous improvement in recycling throughput and cost-efficiency.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Recycling Technician / Sorting Line Lead
Material Handler or Transfer Station Operator
Waste Collection Driver or Route Supervisor

Advancement To:

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Manager
Operations Manager — Solid Waste & Recycling
Regional Recycling or Sustainability Manager

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Compliance Coordinator
Sustainability Program Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise daily operations of the recycling facility or MRF, including line supervision, shift coordination, and direct management of sorting, baling, and screening teams to meet production and quality targets.
Lead, recruit, train, mentor, and evaluate front-line staff and team leads—establishing clear performance expectations, conducting coaching sessions, and implementing corrective actions when necessary.
Create and manage shift schedules, overtime plans, and labor allocation to ensure consistent throughput, minimize downtime, and respond to seasonal or volume fluctuations.
Monitor and manage material flow and throughput metrics (TPH), bale counts, contamination rates, and bale quality to optimize revenue, recyclate value, and diversion rates.
Enforce and continuously improve environmental, health, and safety programs, ensuring compliance with OSHA, local environmental regulations, DOT, and company safety standards; lead toolbox talks and safety audits.
Coordinate preventive and corrective maintenance schedules for conveyors, balers, trommels, optical sorters, shredders, compactors, and other MRF equipment; prioritize repairs to reduce unplanned downtime.
Perform hands-on troubleshooting for mechanical and electrical issues in partnership with maintenance technicians and external service providers, and document repairs and parts usage.
Implement process improvements and lean manufacturing/Six Sigma practices to reduce contamination, increase sort efficiency, and lower operating costs—identify bottlenecks and lead kaizen events.
Manage inbound material acceptance policies and quality control inspections at the scale house and tipping floor; enforce inbound load rejection criteria and document nonconforming shipments.
Oversee outbound material sales and bale specifications, coordinate with brokers and end-markets to maximize commodity pricing, and maintain records for bale shipments and manifests.
Maintain accurate operational documentation, daily production logs, incident reports, equipment maintenance records, and regulatory reporting required by environmental agencies and municipal clients.
Develop, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) including tons processed, contamination rate, downtime, safety incidents, labor cost per ton, and diversion percentage to senior management.
Partner with procurement and finance to manage departmental budgets, control operating expenses, purchase spare parts and PPE, and make recommendations for capital investments in equipment upgrades.
Coordinate with hauling contractors, vendors, and municipal or commercial customers regarding scheduling, service issues, special handling requirements, and emergency response.
Lead emergency response and spill containment procedures for hazardous or non-conforming loads, including coordination with local emergency services and internal incident command.
Enforce proper handling and storage of hazardous materials, electronic waste (e-waste), batteries, and problem materials according to local regulations and company policy.
Implement and maintain quality assurance programs to reduce contamination in recyclable streams, conduct Material Recovery Facility (MRF) audits, and provide feedback to contracts, haulers, and customers.
Conduct periodic training and certification programs for equipment operation (e.g., forklift, skid steer, front-end loader), lockout/tagout, confined space awareness, and hazardous materials handling.
Manage inventory of consumables, PPE, spare parts, and bale wrap materials; forecast needs based on production schedules and maintenance plans.
Develop and maintain positive relationships with community stakeholders, municipal partners, vendors, and regulatory inspectors; represent the facility during audits, inspections, and public meetings.
Prepare and present operational reports, root-cause analyses, and improvement plans to senior leadership to support decision-making and capital planning.
Supervise quality control sampling and testing protocols (e.g., contamination checks, bale density testing) and ensure corrective actions are implemented and tracked.
Lead initiatives to increase participation in recycling programs, improve material capture rates, and implement new material streams or pilot programs (e.g., organics, glass cleanup).
Ensure compliance with record-keeping and reporting for environmental permits, air and water discharge (if applicable), and transport manifests, and coordinate with environmental compliance staff for regulatory submissions.

Secondary Functions

Support continuous improvement projects, piloting new sorting technologies or process flows, and documenting outcomes for scale-up decisions.
Participate in monthly client review meetings and prepare customized operational scorecards and improvement plans for municipal or commercial contracts.
Assist procurement in evaluating equipment vendors, negotiating service contracts, and drafting scope of work for outsourced maintenance or capital projects.
Provide backup support in the scale house or customer service office during peak periods, including load acceptance and dispute resolution.
Contribute to sustainability and outreach initiatives by supporting community education events, facility tours, and corporate recycling campaigns.
Maintain accurate digital records in ERP or operational management systems, ensuring data integrity for billing, reporting, and KPI dashboards.
Collaborate with safety and HR teams to investigate incidents, implement corrective actions, and update training programs based on lessons learned.
Support budgeting cycles by providing historical data, cost drivers, and capital request justification for plant improvements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven operational leadership in recycling operations, materials recovery facilities (MRF), or solid waste management environments.
Strong mechanical aptitude with hands-on experience troubleshooting conveyors, balers, shredders, optical sorters, and associated MRF equipment.
Knowledge of OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout, confined space, and other workplace safety standards relevant to waste and recycling facilities.
Experience with preventive maintenance programs and CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) such as Maximo, SAP PM, or similar.
Familiarity with commodity markets for paper, OCC, PET, HDPE, aluminum, steel, and glass and ability to manage bale specifications and sales.
Proficiency in ERP, workforce management, and operations reporting tools; strong skills with Microsoft Excel for KPI tracking, pivot tables, and basic data analysis.
Understanding of environmental and permitting requirements for waste operations, including hazardous materials handling and reporting.
Ability to read electrical/mechanical schematics and collaborate effectively with electricians and millwrights.
Forklift, skid steer, and heavy equipment operation experience and/or certifications (where applicable).
Experience implementing Lean, Kaizen, or continuous improvement methodologies and driving process optimization projects.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and team-building skills with experience developing frontline supervisors and fostering a safety-first culture.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interfacing with staff, contractors, municipal clients, and regulatory agencies.
Problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to prioritize issues, make data-driven decisions, and lead root-cause analyses.
Conflict resolution and coaching abilities to manage unionized and non-union workforces in a high-throughput environment.
Time management and organization skills to balance operational priorities, maintenance needs, and administrative duties.
Customer service orientation and stakeholder management to sustain positive relationships and maintain contract performance.
Resilience and adaptability to manage fluctuating volumes, market-driven commodity pricing, and emergency operational challenges.
Attention to detail for compliance documentation, bale quality control, and inventory management.
Project management capability to execute upgrades, retrofits, and pilot programs on schedule and within budget.
Ethical judgment and integrity in enforcing safety, regulatory, and environmental standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Technology, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
Waste Management or Solid Waste Technology
Business Administration / Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of operational experience in recycling, waste management, or materials recovery with at least 1–3 years in a supervisory or lead role.

Preferred: 5+ years supervising MRF operations or comparable recycling facility experience, demonstrated success managing budgets, safety programs, and process improvement initiatives. Certifications such as OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER awareness, or supervisor training are a plus.