Light Equipment Operator - Solid Waste Collection & Recycling

Job Description:

Light Equipment Operator - Solid Waste Collection & Recycling

Description

About us

York County is located in the Piedmont region, between the Broad River and the Catawba River. Its diverse landscape is home to family-friendly towns/cities, a progressive urban region and lakefront communities. We are excited that you want to join our team and recognize that our employees are the foundation for our success.

Mission Statement - York County provides quality public services in an open, efficient, and responsive manner.

Vision Statement - York County provides an environment where all citizens and businesses can thrive and succeed.

Core Values - Excellence through Professionalism

• Respect - respect builds bridges, not silos. How we live it? Golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
• Dedicated- strong work ethic. How we live it? Persistence, reliability and commitment to do your best.
• Integrity- do the right thing instead of what is convenient. How we live it? Displaying strong moral principles.
• Knowledgeable- ready and able. How we live it? Having the right competencies necessary for achievement.
• Friendly- service with a smile. How we live it? Being respectful, pleasant and helpful to ALL.

Solid Waste Collection & Recycling supports the operation of 16 Collection & Recycling Centers throughout the county by providing solid waste and recycling opportunities for York County residents, in an effort to meet the waste reduction and recycling goals set by the SC Solid Waste Management Policy Act. York County established the recycling program in 1993 and is recognized as one of the best in the state of South Carolina.

The following links are provided to learn more out the Solid Waste Collection & Recycling Department:
Solid Waste Collection & Recycling (Center Locations & Operating Hours) | York, SC (yorkcountygov.com)
YorkCountySC Recycling - YouTube

York County Recycling--Full Material Recovery Facility Video - YouTube

About our opportunity

We are hiring a full-time (40 hours weekly), non-exempt Light Equipment Operator in the Solid Waste Collection & Recycling Division of the Public Works Department. The purpose of this position is to perform wide variety of unskilled and semi-skilled tasks in the maintenance of the County’s streets, Solid Waste & Recycling facilities, and community.

Projected Salary Range/Pay Grade 110: $19.43 - $23.32 per hour. Salary is determined based on qualifications.
Schedule: 6 am - 3 pm with occasional overtime to include weekends.

Our Total Compensation Package:

• Compensation - competitive market-rate pay, and negotiable based on qualifications.
• Comprehensive State Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Parental Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Deferred Compensation 401K Plans
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Public Loan Forgiveness Program (Student Loan Forgiveness Program)
• 11 Paid Holidays + 3 Optional Holidays
• Longevity Pay
• SC State Retirement Plan Pension
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• Expanded Sick Bank
• Critical Care and Cancer Insurance
• Wellness Screenings
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Professional Development / Trainings

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operates a variety of light equipment, vehicles and tools; including, but not limited to mowers, blowers, sweepers, trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, pole saws, augers, concrete saws, plate compactors, rammers, lift gates, mixers, forklifts, mowers, skid steers, tractors, small excavators, and backhoes in the maintenance and construction of roads, sidewalks, landfill, facilities, collection centers, and grounds.
• Performs workplace housekeeping activities and community and roadside litter pickups.
• Performs manual labor in the maintenance and construction of roads, sidewalks, landfill, facilities, collection centers, and grounds
• Stocks vehicles and equipment with supplies and materials necessary to perform job assignments; operate, clean, service, maintain, and perform minor repair on assigned tools, machinery, and equipment.
• Responds to service calls concerning emergencies or problems on a stand-by basis; work to reduce state of emergency and correct problems; performs overtime duties as necessary or required in order to maintain effective and efficient County services.
• Secures and partitions off work area as necessary with traffic signs, cones and barricades; flag and direct traffic around work area as necessary.
• Prepares various paperwork including completed work orders, job logs, and inspection forms
• Ensures proper care in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies; promotes continuous improvement of workplace safety and environmental practices.
• Performs related work as assigned.

About you

Education and Experience:

• High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
• One (1) year of operating light equipment or related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving history.

Applicants with equivalent experience and/or education may be considered.

Physical Demands / Work Environment / Disclaimer

Physical Demands: Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

• Performs light to medium work that involves walking or standing virtually all of the time and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or considerable skill, adeptness and speed in the use of the fingers, hands or limbs in tasks involving close tolerances or limits of accuracy.
• May be required to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment): Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

• Involves routine and frequent exposure to:
  • Bright/dim light; Dusts and pollen.
  • Extreme heat and/or cold; Wet or humid conditions.
  • Extreme noise levels, Animals/wildlife.
  • Vibration; Fumes and/or noxious odors.
  • Traffic; Moving machinery.

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: York County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the County to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Standard Clauses: May be required to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies (man-made or natural) to meet the business needs of the County.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of essential functions and responsibilities that are required of an employee for this job. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Full-time employees are allowed to participate in group medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance programs offered by York County Government. If employees elect to secure dependent coverage, the employee should pay the additional costs for such coverage. All statements of insurance coverage are subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and other eligibility requirements that are set forth in various insurance plan documents.

Our full-time benefits through PEBA (South Carolina Retirement Systems and State Health Plan) include health insurance, prescription benefits, dental, vision, life insurance, MoneyPlus, Health Savings Accounts, retirement (Membership in the South Carolina Retirement System is mandatory for county employees), and deferred compensation. Making decisions about your insurance and retirement benefits can sometimes be complicated and difficult. The Navigating Your Benefits series provides common-language explanations and can help you find your way in the world of your insurance and retirement benefits: Navigating Your Benefits | S.C. PEBA (sc.gov)

Other full-time benefits include longevity allowance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, Sick Leave Bank, wellness benefits, Employee Assistance Program, etc. Please contact Human Resources at [email protected] if you would like more information.

Longevity Allowance
Full-time regular county employees, elected officials, appointed officials, and judges with ten or more years of full time continuous governmental service are eligible to receive a monthly longevity allowance in addition to their regular compensation. Continuous service transferred from employment with another county, municipality, state or a political entity created by the State may contribute toward eligibility for the longevity allowance. Longevity allowances are paid according to the following schedule.

Longevity Allowance
Years of Continuous Service Monthly Longevity Amount
10-14 Years $20.00
15-19 Years $25.00
20-24 Years $30.00
25-29 Years $35.00
30-34 Years $40.00
35-39 Years $45.00
40+ Years $50.00

Parental Leave
Employees that have been employed at least 12 months with the county may be eligible for up to 30 days of parental leave immediately following the birth, adoption or placement of a legal dependent child.

Bereavement Leave

Three (3) days of bereavement leave for the death of an immediate family member, which includes a spouse, parent, grandparent or child.

Annual Leave
Probationary and regular full-time county employees that work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave with pay. Employees in their new hire six (6) month probationary period shall not be able to use annual leave until they become regular county employees. Employees who are separating from county service shall be paid for all accrued, unused annual leave up to 360 hours provided they give York County as the employer the proper notice as required. Employees in their six (6) month New Hire probationary period who are terminated or separated from employment shall not be paid for accrued annual leave. The maximum amount of annual leave carried into each calendar year is 360 hours.

Earning Rate for Full-Time Employees
Full-time employees with less than ten years of continuous service earn at the rate of eight hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve month period. Full-time employees with at least ten years, but less than twenty years of continuous service will earn at the rate of ten (10) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve-month period. Full-time employees with twenty or more years of service will earn at the rate of twelve (12) hours of paid annual leave for each month of service during a twelve (12) months period.

Sick Leave
Full-time county employees may be entitled to earn sick leave with pay. Employees may accrue up to 1,440 hours of sick leave. Upon termination of employment with the County, employees may not be reimbursed for any unused sick leave. When a paid holiday occurs while an employee is on sick leave with pay, the day may not be charged as sick leave.

Earning Rate of Sick Leave
Full time employees will earn eight hours of sick leave per month of service during a twelve month period.

Paid Holiday’s
The following days may be observed as paid holidays for York County Employees:
January - December: 3 Optional Holidays per Calendar Year
January: New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Day
May: Memorial Day
June: Juneteenth Day
July: Independence Day
September: Labor Day
November: Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday after Thanksgiving
December: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

Training:
Quality training and educational programs are available at various times for county employees in order to support workforce development that is consistent with organizational objectives. Training topics may include driver training, CPR/first aid, communication, supervisor training, workplace violence, substance abuse, and various computer related classes.

Closing Date/Time: 6/14/2026 5:00 PM Eastern

Salary:

See Position Description