5 Recycling Jobs in Virginia

Nationally, Recycling Sorter roles in the waste industry average $16.50 per hour, about $34,000 a year. Most positions fall between $13.46 and $20.19 per hour; those hourly figures are converted from annual pay at 2,080 hours per year, not separately surveyed. Actual pay in Virginia varies by employer, route type, and contract. Check each listing for the posted rate.

Overtime depends on inbound tonnage. Facilities push extra hours during holiday volume spikes and after service interruptions, but hours can also be cut when commodity markets slow, so weekly earnings are less predictable than on collection routes.

Sorting is one of the most accessible entry points in the whole industry. No licence, degree or prior experience is normally required. Material recovery facilities hire on reliability and physical fitness and train new sorters on the line, usually within their first few shifts. Safety orientation and PPE training are provided by the employer.

Union representation varies sharply by facility. Publicly owned MRFs and larger operations in unionised metros are often covered by a collective bargaining agreement, while many privately run and temp-staffed facilities are not. Where a contract exists it sets the wage scale and progression steps; ask the facility or the local whether the site is organised before assuming either.

MRFs run in shifts and staff up around seasonal volume peaks, so part-time, temp-to-hire and second-shift sorting slots are common. Agency and seasonal placements are frequently used as a route into a permanent position.

Based on current listings on this site, the most openings are in Chester (2), Chesapeake (1), Nottoway Court House (1), Stafford (1). Listing counts change as jobs are filled and new ones are posted.