ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the McLeod County Assistant Environmental Services Director, this position will assist in the general physical operation of the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility.

Supplemental:

• This position will remain open until filled. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.
• The 2025 salary range for this position is $23.43 - $35.14 per hour depending on experience. A new hire without comparable experience should expect to start at $25.74 per hour.
• Candidates must possess a valid driver's license.
• This is a full-time benefit eligible position including medical, dental, life insurance, holiday, sick leave, vacation, and uniform pay. Work hours typically consist of 8-hour shifts, Monday through Friday, with an occasional Saturday morning.
• 2025 Benefits Click HERE or visit McLeod County website > Employment tab

Essential Functions/Responsibilities

Duties listed are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Position Duties

• Identify and receive eligible HHW from participants; pre-sort, bulk, test, and lab pack wastes.
• Maintain proper storage of drums and containers; prepare, seal and label materials for shipment.
• Record and maintain hazardous waste drum logs, waste stream volumes, participation spreadsheets, customer invoicing, and accounts receivable management.
• Organize and maintain a used product exchange area; assist in seeking outlets for problem materials.
• Initiate, plan, coordinate and conduct shipments for HHW program with hazardous waste contractors and internal personnel.
• Conduct daily and weekly facility inspections for container conditions, spill equipment, and incompatible wastes to ensure compliance with 40CFR/State Regulations.
• Prepare mobile trailer for collections; loading and securing loads for transport and conduct collections.
• Provide HHW educational information and materials to participants and assist with other County educational programs.
• Perform cleaning and maintenance duties and related projects necessary to maintain clean, safe, and orderly work conditions in the facility.
• Maintain a constant awareness of chemical hazards and safe handling practices.
• Maintain, update, and consolidate data entries for annual report.
• Compile and correlate data for annual reporting requirements.
• Continuous improvement relating to work flow.
• Plan, coordinate, and collect waste associated with the very small quantity generator (VSQG) business waste program.
• Receive, process, and record problem materials for data management and reporting.
• Lead and direct interns, volunteers, sentence to serve (STS), and other personnel to accomplish daily tasks in the HHW facility.

Non-Essential Functions

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned or apparent.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with supervisor, co-workers, and the general public in person, over the phone and through written correspondence.
• Familiarity with common household products, their chemical components and properties, and their effect on the environment.
• Ability to maintain regular and timely work attendance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff from the County and other governmental agencies.
• Ability to move collected wastes to proper storage areas.
• Knowledgeable of emergency action procedures and contingency plans.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Ability to undergo medical monitoring and have medical approval to wear an air purifying respirator.
• Familiarity with Minnesota Hazardous Waste regulations.
• Ability to work independently at times, often without direct supervision.
• Knowledge of computer software programs with an emphasis on the Microsoft Office Suite and Scale Software programs.
• Ability to work under hazardous, unsafe, and uncomfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as toxic agents, blood borne pathogens, noise, wetness, machinery and/or dust can cause discomfort and where there is a risk of injury.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in the Sciences with preference toward Biology/Chemistry/Environmental Science.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job.

Required Training

• Ability to complete Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) training programs and maintain all required certifications.

Required Certifications/Licenses

• Valid MN driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• Ability to obtain forklift certification within 6 months of hire.

Relationships

• Interaction with the public regarding HHW and questions they may have.
• Local, regional, state and federal agencies.
• Waste and Recycling contractors.
• Local businesses for waste disposal options.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide work direction to temporary staff.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed indoors and out of doors at the County’s HHW facility.
• May be exposed to all types of weather conditions.
• May be exposed to household hazardous waste if it is not properly contained.
• May be exposed to foul odors.
• Work includes driving a forklift.
• Must work occasional evenings and weekends.

Physical Requirements Of This Position

• Hear and speak effectively to communicate by phone or in person with the public, manager and hazardous waste disposal contractors.
• Apply manual dexterity to label hazardous waste and to operate a computer keyboard and mouse.
• Apply visual acuity to read computer screens, printed instructions and ingredients; drive a forklift; and see both close-up and distances while conducting facility inspections.
• Stand for extended periods of time to accept HHW from the public and complete facility inspections.
• Apply physical coordination in order to safely drive a forklift under various weather conditions and handle containers of HHW.
• Physical ability to climb stairs and ladders, kneel, stand, grasp, balance, walk, stoop, reach, push and pull while handling and storing HHW.
• Ability to lift and carry containers of HHW weighing up to 50 pounds.

Equipment Required to Perform This Job

• Computers
• Telephones
• Two- and four-wheeled carts
• Fork lift
• Hydraulic press/air compressor
• Power tools

Additional Notes

• All positions at McLeod County are subject to a background check. This may include, but is not limited to, the following checks: criminal history, credit, driver’s license, pre-employment physical assessment, pre-employment drug and alcohol screening and psychological testing.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)