Trash & Recycling Driver chez City of Durango, CO

About the Department

Join the City of Durango’s Recycling Collection Division as a Trash & Recycling Driver and help support the community’s waste and recycling services. In this role, you’ll operate recycling and trash equipment, including front- and side-load collection vehicles, balers, and material conveyors. Safety is central to our work, and you’ll play an important role in inspecting equipment, performing minor maintenance, and following established safety practices. Under the general guidance of the Solid Waste Supervisor, you’ll represent the department in the community, providing dependable service and friendly customer support.

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan.

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

Position Duties

What You’ll Do in This Role: 

• Operate a variety of recycling and trash equipment, including front- and side-load collection trucks, skip loaders, front-end loaders, Bobcat attachments, forklifts, fork trucks, balers, and material conveyors.
• Perform preventive maintenance on both heavy and light equipment.
• Maintain production logs and records, and identify customer equipment needs.
• Handle, inspect, and sort incoming recyclable materials, and process payments.
• Ensure safe equipment operation through pre- and post-trip inspections, minor maintenance, and regular cleaning.
• Clear ice and snow from roadways and alleys.
• Follow established safety practices and procedures during all work activities.

Minimum Qualifications

You Have: 

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Two years of maintenance experience involving the operation of light to moderate construction and/or trash collection equipment.
• The ability to maintain a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) during employment.

You Will Succeed in This Role If You:

• Provide friendly, reliable, and professional customer service.
• Are familiar with the layout of Durango’s streets and neighborhoods.
• Bring experience performing a variety of semi-skilled maintenance and janitorial tasks.

Other Qualifications

What We Can Offer You:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance. 
• Ample personal time off (PTO) and 11 paid holidays.  
• 401(a) retirement plan and optional deferred compensation plan.  
• Basic life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.  
• Long-term disability coverage. 
• Paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA). 
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP).  
• Free access to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink & Ski Area. 
• Holistic Employee Wellness Program, addressing physical, mental, financial, and professional well-being. 
• Free transit pass and family member discounts.  
• Reimbursement for job-related classes to foster continuous learning.  
• Sixteen hours of volunteer time off per year to support local non-profit organizations.

To view the full job description, click here.