[Core] [59% incumbents] Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies.
  DWAs: Record details of deliveries or shipments.

[Core] [59% incumbents] Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers.
  DWAs: Direct material handling or moving activities.

[Core] [59% incumbents] Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service.
  DWAs: Review customer information.

[Core] [59% incumbents] Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations.
  DWAs: Train transportation or material moving personnel.

[Core] [59% incumbents] Identify or investigate new opportunities for materials to be collected and recycled.
  DWAs: Plan implementation or promotion of recycling programs.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Assign truck drivers or recycling technicians to routes.
  DWAs: Direct passenger or freight transport activities.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Create or manage recycling operations budgets.
  DWAs: Plan work operations.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Prepare bills of lading, statements of shipping records, or customer receipts related to recycling or hazardous material services.
  DWAs: Record details of deliveries or shipments.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Inspect physical condition of recycling or hazardous waste facility for compliance with safety, quality, and service standards.
  DWAs: Inspect facilities to ensure compliance with safety, quality, or service standards.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Negotiate contracts with waste management or other firms.
  DWAs: Negotiate contracts for transportation, distribution, or logistics services.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Coordinate shipments of recycling materials with shipping brokers or processing companies.
  DWAs: Direct passenger or freight transport activities.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Operate recycling processing equipment, such as sorters, balers, crushers, and granulators to sort and process materials.
  DWAs: Operate packing or other material processing equipment.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Operate fork lifts, skid loaders, or trucks to move or store recyclable materials.
  DWAs: Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Schedule movement of recycling materials into and out of storage areas.
  DWAs: Schedule operational activities.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Oversee campaigns to promote recycling or waste reduction programs in communities or private companies.
  DWAs: Plan implementation or promotion of recycling programs.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Develop community or corporate recycling plans and goals to minimize waste and conform to resource constraints.
  DWAs: Develop program goals or plans. | Plan implementation or promotion of recycling programs.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Prepare grant applications to fund recycling programs or program enhancements.
  DWAs: Plan implementation or promotion of recycling programs.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Investigate violations of solid waste or recycling ordinances.
  DWAs: Investigate crimes committed within organizations.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Implement grant-funded projects, monitoring and reporting progress in accordance with sponsoring agency requirements.
  DWAs: Develop program goals or plans.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Make presentations to educate the public on how to recycle or on the environmental advantages of recycling.
  DWAs: Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.

[Supplemental] [59% incumbents] Design community solid and hazardous waste management programs.
  DWAs: Develop program goals or plans.

[Core] [58% incumbents] Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances.
  DWAs: Direct material handling or moving activities.

[Supplemental] [58% incumbents] Coordinate recycling collection schedules to optimize service and efficiency.
  DWAs: Schedule operational activities.

--- SKILLS ---
  Speaking (imp:3.88 lvl:3.38) — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  Active Listening (imp:3.62 lvl:3.12) — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand
  Critical Thinking (imp:3.62 lvl:3.50) — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternativ
  Reading Comprehension (imp:3.50 lvl:3.50) — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  Monitoring (imp:3.50 lvl:3.50) — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organization
  Writing (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audienc
  Active Learning (imp:3.12 lvl:3.12) — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future pr
  Learning Strategies (imp:3.00 lvl:3.00) — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate fo
  Mathematics (imp:2.50 lvl:2.75) — Using mathematics to solve problems.
  Science (imp:1.25 lvl:0.25) — Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

--- KNOWLEDGE ---
  Customer and Personal Service (imp:4.16 lvl:5.20) — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal servic
  Administration and Management (imp:3.95 lvl:4.24) — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, 
  Administrative (imp:3.77 lvl:3.73) — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word proce
  Education and Training (imp:3.69 lvl:4.88) — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching
  Production and Processing (imp:3.61 lvl:3.93) — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ot
  Mathematics (imp:3.57 lvl:4.11) — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their appl
  English Language (imp:3.52 lvl:3.54) — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the mea
  Public Safety and Security (imp:3.44 lvl:3.52) — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote
  Personnel and Human Resources (imp:3.32 lvl:3.57) — Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, tra
  Computers and Electronics (imp:3.32 lvl:3.51) — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and comput
  Transportation (imp:3.14 lvl:2.93) — Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea
  Law and Government (imp:2.86 lvl:2.66) — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulat
  Economics and Accounting (imp:2.79 lvl:2.17) — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial mar
  Mechanical (imp:2.59 lvl:2.83) — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and main
  Sales and Marketing (imp:2.54 lvl:2.32) — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products
  Engineering and Technology (imp:2.33 lvl:2.38) — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. Th
  Psychology (imp:2.31 lvl:2.37) — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, 
  Communications and Media (imp:2.20 lvl:2.04) — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and m
  Building and Construction (imp:2.17 lvl:2.17) — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or r
  Telecommunications (imp:2.02 lvl:1.50) — Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of te
  Foreign Language (imp:1.85 lvl:1.11) — Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language inclu
  Sociology and Anthropology (imp:1.84 lvl:1.49) — Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human 
  Geography (imp:1.77 lvl:1.33) — Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, an
  Chemistry (imp:1.60 lvl:1.40) — Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances a
  Design (imp:1.59 lvl:1.35) — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of 
  Biology (imp:1.50 lvl:1.05) — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interd
  Physics (imp:1.45 lvl:0.90) — Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships,
  Therapy and Counseling (imp:1.43 lvl:1.13) — Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and r
  Medicine and Dentistry (imp:1.32 lvl:0.70) — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human i
  History and Archeology (imp:1.32 lvl:0.65) — Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civi
  Food Production (imp:1.25) — Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food
  Philosophy and Theology (imp:1.16 lvl:0.45) — Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their 
  Fine Arts (imp:1.11) — Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform

--- ABILITIES ---
  Oral Comprehension (imp:3.88 lvl:3.75) — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through 
  Oral Expression (imp:3.88 lvl:3.62) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will unde
  Speech Recognition (imp:3.75 lvl:3.12) — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  Speech Clarity (imp:3.75 lvl:3.25) — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  Deductive Reasoning (imp:3.62 lvl:3.25) — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that 
  Information Ordering (imp:3.50 lvl:3.12) — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according
  Written Comprehension (imp:3.38 lvl:3.25) — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  Problem Sensitivity (imp:3.38 lvl:3.00) — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does no
  Inductive Reasoning (imp:3.38 lvl:3.12) — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusion
  Near Vision (imp:3.38 lvl:3.00) — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  Category Flexibility (imp:3.25 lvl:2.88) — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping
  Written Expression (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will under
  Selective Attention (imp:3.12 lvl:2.62) — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distrac
  Fluency of Ideas (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas
  Mathematical Reasoning (imp:2.75 lvl:2.50) — The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a prob
  Number Facility (imp:2.75 lvl:2.62) — The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  Flexibility of Closure (imp:2.75 lvl:2.62) — The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or so
  Originality (imp:2.62 lvl:2.50) — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situa
  Finger Dexterity (imp:2.62 lvl:2.38) — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or bot
  Far Vision (imp:2.62 lvl:2.75) — The ability to see details at a distance.
  Perceptual Speed (imp:2.50 lvl:2.38) — The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among
  Time Sharing (imp:2.50 lvl:2.38) — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of
  Depth Perception (imp:2.50 lvl:2.12) — The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you
  Control Precision (imp:2.38 lvl:2.50) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehi
  Multilimb Coordination (imp:2.38 lvl:2.75) — The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or
  Auditory Attention (imp:2.38 lvl:2.38) — The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distra
  Memorization (imp:2.25 lvl:2.00) — The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and proced
  Speed of Closure (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into mea
  Visualization (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when 
  Manual Dexterity (imp:2.25 lvl:1.88) — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your
  Trunk Strength (imp:2.25 lvl:2.00) — The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the 
  Arm-Hand Steadiness (imp:2.12 lvl:2.12) — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while hold
  Static Strength (imp:2.12 lvl:1.75) — The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  Visual Color Discrimination (imp:2.12 lvl:2.00) — The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of c
  Response Orientation (imp:2.00 lvl:2.00) — The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two o
  Reaction Time (imp:2.00 lvl:1.88) — The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sou
  Hearing Sensitivity (imp:2.00 lvl:1.75) — The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch 
  Spatial Orientation (imp:1.88 lvl:1.50) — The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know wher
  Rate Control (imp:1.88 lvl:1.25) — The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in an
  Wrist-Finger Speed (imp:1.75 lvl:1.25) — The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and 
  Speed of Limb Movement (imp:1.75 lvl:1.12) — The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
  Night Vision (imp:1.75 lvl:1.12) — The ability to see under low-light conditions.
  Peripheral Vision (imp:1.75 lvl:0.88) — The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes ar
  Glare Sensitivity (imp:1.75 lvl:1.12) — The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
  Sound Localization (imp:1.62 lvl:0.75) — The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
  Stamina (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getti
  Gross Body Coordination (imp:1.12 lvl:0.12) — The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together wh
  Explosive Strength (imp:1.00) — The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping
  Dynamic Strength (imp:1.00) — The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This inv
  Extent Flexibility (imp:1.00) — The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  Dynamic Flexibility (imp:1.00) — The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with yo
  Gross Body Equilibrium (imp:1.00) — The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unsta

--- WORK ACTIVITIES ---
  Making Decisions and Solving Problems (imp:4.68 lvl:4.71) — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and sol
  Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (imp:4.65 lvl:5.11) — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone,
  Scheduling Work and Activities (imp:4.54 lvl:5.19) — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
  Communicating with People Outside the Organization (imp:4.54 lvl:5.05) — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organizatio
  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (imp:4.51 lvl:5.87) — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your
  Working with Computers (imp:4.39 lvl:3.73) — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to progra
  Documenting/Recording Information (imp:4.30 lvl:3.50) — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in writte
  Getting Information (imp:4.21 lvl:4.08) — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sour
  Processing Information (imp:4.20 lvl:4.64) — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying
  Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (imp:4.17 lvl:4.86) — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and m
  Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (imp:4.13 lvl:4.92) — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, 
  Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (imp:4.10 lvl:4.47) — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others (imp:4.05 lvl:4.88) — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (imp:4.02 lvl:3.98) — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events o
  Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (imp:3.99 lvl:4.57) — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  Developing Objectives and Strategies (imp:3.98 lvl:3.76) — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to 
  Selling or Influencing Others (imp:3.96 lvl:4.63) — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or
  Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (imp:3.94 lvl:4.97) — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance 
  Developing and Building Teams (imp:3.83 lvl:3.89) — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team membe
  Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (imp:3.81 lvl:4.61) — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving
  Analyzing Data or Information (imp:3.79 lvl:3.82) — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by break
  Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (imp:3.78 lvl:3.94) — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment,
  Training and Teaching Others (imp:3.75 lvl:4.05) — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or tr
  Coaching and Developing Others (imp:3.74 lvl:4.29) — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherw
  Thinking Creatively (imp:3.68 lvl:3.94) — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, syste
  Monitoring and Controlling Resources (imp:3.67 lvl:4.54) — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
  Performing Administrative Activities (imp:3.58 lvl:4.08) — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files
  Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (imp:3.44 lvl:2.71) — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors o
  Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information (imp:3.42 lvl:3.36) — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resourc
  Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (imp:3.24 lvl:2.71) — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, s
  Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (imp:3.17 lvl:2.98) — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  Staffing Organizational Units (imp:3.15 lvl:3.38) — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organ
  Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (imp:3.12 lvl:2.84) — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or 
  Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (imp:2.98 lvl:3.73) — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical,
  Assisting and Caring for Others (imp:2.97 lvl:3.02) — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other pe
  Handling and Moving Objects (imp:2.95 lvl:4.79) — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials,
  Controlling Machines and Processes (imp:2.56 lvl:2.42) — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines 
  Performing General Physical Activities (imp:2.39 lvl:2.94) — Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require co
  Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (imp:2.03 lvl:2.28) — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, an
  Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment (imp:1.89 lvl:1.64) — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to t
  Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (imp:1.71 lvl:1.61) — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines,

--- TRANSFERABLE SKILLS ---
  Management of Personnel Resources (imp:3.75 lvl:3.50) — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best 
  Coordination (imp:3.62 lvl:3.25) — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  Time Management (imp:3.62 lvl:3.62) — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
  Judgment and Decision Making (imp:3.38 lvl:3.12) — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the m
  Social Perceptiveness (imp:3.25 lvl:3.12) — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  Persuasion (imp:3.12 lvl:3.25) — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  Service Orientation (imp:3.00 lvl:2.88) — Actively looking for ways to help people.
  Complex Problem Solving (imp:3.00 lvl:2.75) — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and ev
  Instructing (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — Teaching others how to do something.
  Systems Analysis (imp:2.88 lvl:2.75) — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, 
  Systems Evaluation (imp:2.88 lvl:2.88) — Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed 
  Negotiation (imp:2.62 lvl:3.00) — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  Operations Monitoring (imp:2.38 lvl:2.75) — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working pr
  Operation and Control (imp:2.25 lvl:2.62) — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  Quality Control Analysis (imp:2.25 lvl:2.12) — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate
  Management of Financial Resources (imp:2.25 lvl:2.38) — Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for the
  Management of Material Resources (imp:2.25 lvl:2.38) — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materi
  Technology Design (imp:1.75 lvl:0.88) — Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
  Troubleshooting (imp:1.75 lvl:1.12) — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  Operations Analysis (imp:1.50 lvl:1.12) — Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  Programming (imp:1.38 lvl:0.50) — Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  Equipment Selection (imp:1.25 lvl:0.38) — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  Installation (imp:1.00) — Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
  Equipment Maintenance (imp:1.00) — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind o
  Repairing (imp:1.00) — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

--- NATIONAL WAGES ---
  total_employment : N/A
  annual_median    : N/A
  annual_pct10     : N/A
  annual_pct25     : N/A
  annual_pct75     : N/A
  annual_pct90     : N/A
  annual_mean      : N/A
  hourly_median    : N/A

--- GEOGRAPHIC DISPERSION ---
  highest_state    : N/A
  lowest_state     : N/A
  dispersion_ratio : N/A

--- TOP STATES BY WAGE (0 total) ---

--- TOP INDUSTRIES BY EMPLOYMENT (0 total) ---

exact_match_status : found
matched_title      : Recycling in Canada
match_score        : 0.6341
wikidata_qid       : Q7303389
word_count         : 1,133
wikipedia_url      : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_in_Canada
license            : CC BY-SA 4.0
fetched_at         : 2026-06-02T23:29:12.961435Z

--- WIKIPEDIA FULL TEXT ---
This article outlines the position and trends of recycling in Canada. Since the 1980s, most mid to large municipalities in most provinces have recycling programs, relying on curbside collection with either bins, boxes, or bags. These systems are not standardized, and the specific process differs for each province. Certain provinces have container-deposit systems in place for bottles, cans, and other beverage containers.
As of 2012, Canada has a recycling rate around 26.8%.


== History ==
In 1981 Resource Integration Systems (RIS) in collaboration with Laidlaw International tested the first blue box recycling system on 1500 homes in Kitchener, Ontario. Due to the success of the project the City of Kitchener put out a contract for public bid in 1984 for a recycling system citywide. Laidlaw won the bid and continued with the popular blue box recycling system. Today hundreds of cities around the world use the blue box system or a similar variation.


== By province ==

Municipalities and provinces with recycling programs:

Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec – Montreal, Quebec City, Laval
British Columbia – Metro Vancouver Region, Victoria
Nova Scotia – seven different regions: Cape Breton, Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough, East Hants-Cumberland-Colchester, Halifax Regional Municipality, Annapolis-Kings, South Shore-West Hants, Yarmouth Digby
Saskatchewan – Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert
Alberta – Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray, Canmore
Manitoba – Winnipeg
Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John's


=== Alberta ===
In Alberta, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (also known as "Alberta Recycling") is an arm's-length body set up by the Government of Alberta under the Ministry of the Environment to coordinate recycling in the province. It administers the surcharge that has been added to the price of electronics, paint, and tires sold in the province since 2005 to pay for the recycling of those products in Alberta, and it helps to administer the province's household hazardous waste disposal program.
A separate management authority, the Beverage Container Management Board (BCMB), is responsible for recycling of beverage containers. Beverage container recycling regulations were first introduced province-wide in 1972, but the BCMB was created in 1997 to create a provincial oversight body for the industry. The BCMB oversees two non-profit corporations which process the materials, the Alberta Beer Container Corporation (ABCC) for standard-sized beer bottles (which reuses rather than recycles the bottles) and the Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation (ABCRC) for all other beverage containers. Containers are collected at privately owned, for-profit bottle depots. As of 2011 there are over 200 such bottle depots in Alberta, which are members of the Alberta Bottle Depot Association.
The Recycling Council of Alberta is a registered charity which has promoted recycling in Alberta since 1987. Specific industry groups lobby for their niche within the recycling sector, such as the Alberta Plastics Recycling Association.
Curbside recycling of newsprint, cardboard, plastic packaging, and other non-food household wastes is the responsibility of the individual municipalities of Alberta. Most of Alberta's most populous municipalities have blue box, blue bag, or blue bin recycling container programs. The two largest municipalities, however, adopted waste-diverting policies at a very different pace. Edmonton began a pilot project in curbside recycling for single-family houses in 1986 and adopted it citywide in 1988, expanding over the years to include more items (Christmas trees in 1990, and construction waste in 2008), and higher levels of processing including large-scale composting and capturing methane to produce energy. In addition, the scope of collection has expanded to include multi-family buildings in 2001 and businesses in 2010. It is expected that when the waste-to-biofuel plant is completed in 2012, Edmonton will divert 90% of its waste from landfills.
By contrast Calgary conducted a pilot project on curbside recycling in 1991 and then abandoned curbside collection for a drop-off system until a second pilot program in 2004, and currently collects recyclates only at private houses, with no plans to introduce collection at condo and apartment buildings before 2015.
Edmonton started their curbside recycling program in 1988. In 2021, Edmonton transitioned from a bag to cart system for garbage and food waste collection.
On September 10, 2020, the Edmonton city council approved a 25-year waste strategy to reduce the landfill waste by 90%. The city is also transitioning into a new cart system rather from the blue bag system to dispose of waste.


=== Ontario ===
As of January 1, 2026, under changing provincial regulations, municipalities in Ontario do not handle recycling, instead Circular Materials, an extended producer responsibility model is used whereby all the recycling in the province is handled uniformly by the producers of this material. Flexible plastic, toothpaste tubes, black plastic and hot beverage cups are all new materials accepted under this model.


== Recycling rate ==
Canada has an extremely high rate of plastic waste of 3 million tonnes per year. Out of all the material that Canadians dispose of in the recycling bin, 12% is exported to other countries, such as Malaysia, where it is processed and damages the environment and the health of the population. Of the remaining 88%, 86% goes to the landfill, 9% is recycled, and the rest is burned for energy.
According to a 2019 study, only 9 percent of waste in Canada goes to recycling.
As of 2019, British Columbia has the highest recycling rate, at 69 percent. In Ontario, the recycling rate has declined from 60.2% in 2018 to 57.3% in 2019.


== Collection processes ==

The curbside collection systems for recyclates vary across Canada:

Blue bin – Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Manitoba
Green bin – Toronto, York Region, Peel Region, Hamilton, Montreal, Halifax Regional Municipality, Durham Region, Barrie, Ontario, British Columbia
Compost bin (green), waste bin (black) and blue bags for recycling in Edmonton, Alberta
Blue bag used in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador


== Materials collected ==

The different types of recyclable materials collected include:

Newspapers, including paper flyers
Office paper and letter mail
Envelopes (without bubble wrap inside)
Glass jars and bottles
Metal cans – beverage and soup cans
Books, magazines, telephone books
Plastics – Type 1 PETE and 2 HDPE and 4 LDPE
Compostable materials (excluding grease)
Toys and clothing – for re-sale or re-use
Motor oil
Tires – some re-treaded, some mixed with asphalt for road resurfacing; re-used in playgrounds; pylons used for construction and road work crews
Beer bottles through deposit systems (Beer Store program in Ontario)
Liquor bottles through deposit systems
Pop cans and bottles through deposit systems (especially Quebec)
Ink cartridges
Cell phone and most batteries (including automotive)
Fluorescent lamp recycling
Styrofoam within Nova Scotia in most regions
Clothing – some sold for re-use, re-purposed locally or shipped overseas


== See also ==
Environment of Canada


== References ==


== External links ==
Performance Measurement and Reporting for Extended Producer Responsibility Programs
Recycling Council of British Columbia
Recycling Council of Alberta
Recycling Council of Ontario
News

--- SEMANTIC NEIGHBORS (5) ---

  Title: Electronic waste recycling (similarity: 0.3750)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_waste_recycling
  QID: Q3243428
  Extract: Electronic waste recycling, electronics recycling, or e-waste recycling is the disassembly and separation of components and raw materials of waste electronics; when referring to specific types of e-waste, the terms like computer recycling or mobile phone recycling may be used. Like other waste strea

  Title: Endosome (similarity: 0.2667)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endosome
  QID: Q824237
  Extract: Endosomes are a collection of intracellular sorting organelles in eukaryotic cells. They are parts of the endocytic membrane transport pathway originating from the trans Golgi network. Molecules or ligands internalized from the plasma membrane can follow this pathway all the way to lysosomes for deg

  Title: Recycle Here! (similarity: 0.4571)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycle_Here!
  QID: Q122761230
  Extract: Recycle Here! is a recycling center and drop-off facility in New Center, Detroit that opened in 2007. The recycling center is located in the Warren Motor Car Company Building, now the Dreamtroit complex. The building was once a Lincoln Motor Car Company factory, and was listed on the National Regist

  Title: Asphalt concrete (similarity: 0.3158)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphalt_concrete
  QID: Q189259
  Extract: Asphalt concrete is a composite material commonly used to surface roads, parking lots, airports, and the core of embankment dams. Asphalt mixtures have been used in pavement construction since the nineteenth century. It consists of mineral aggregate bound together with bitumen, laid in layers, and c

  Title: List of equipment of the Polish Land Forces (similarity: 0.2462)
  URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_equipment_of_the_Polish_Land_Forces
  QID: Q6619010
  Extract: The following is a list of current equipment of the Polish Land Forces. This is not to be confused with the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces, Navy, air force, or territorial defence forces. The list includes current equipment such as helmets, vision systems, communication systems, small arms, co

model_pass1          : claude-sonnet-4-20250514
model_pass2          : claude-haiku-4-5-20251001
inference_confidence : high
confidence_notes     : Strong O*NET data with detailed task descriptions, clear skill profiles, and well-defined related occupations provide robust foundation for analysis. Wikipedia context supports understanding of operational environment.
inferred_at          : 2026-06-04T02:50:04.335262+00:00
tokens_input         : 4,376
tokens_output        : 3,955
cost_usd             : $0.043552
wikipedia_used       : True
wikipedia_title      : Recycling in Canada
wikipedia_note       : The Wikipedia match provides context about municipal recycling program structures and curbside collection systems that recycling coordinators typically oversee. While focused on Canada, it illustrates the types of programs and operational complexity these professionals manage.

--- PROSE FIELDS ---

ROLE SUMMARY:
Recycling Coordinators supervise municipal and private recycling programs, managing curbside collection and drop-off operations while ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards. They oversee staff, coordinate logistics, maintain operational budgets, and work to expand recycling opportunities within their communities. These professionals serve as the operational backbone of waste diversion programs, bridging public service with environmental sustainability.

DAY IN THE LIFE:
A typical day involves reviewing service requests and deploying appropriate collection resources to meet community needs. They assign routes to truck drivers and recycling technicians, ensuring efficient coverage of their service area. Much of their time is spent documenting operations, maintaining logs of materials received and shipped to processing facilities, and preparing shipping records and customer receipts. They conduct facility inspections to verify compliance with safety and quality standards, while also training staff on proper handling procedures and safety protocols. Administrative tasks include budget management, contract negotiations with waste management firms, and identifying new opportunities to expand recycling collection programs.

WHO THRIVES:
Successful recycling coordinators combine strong organizational abilities with excellent communication skills, as they regularly interact with staff, customers, and external partners. They possess practical problem-solving skills and can make quick decisions while managing multiple priorities simultaneously. These individuals are detail-oriented and comfortable with routine documentation and record-keeping tasks. The role suits people who are enterprising and conventional in their approach, enjoying both the leadership aspects of supervising teams and the systematic nature of logistics coordination. Those who thrive appreciate contributing to environmental sustainability while managing tangible, measurable operations.

CAREER ENTRY:
Most positions require a high school diploma (47.1% of workers) though many employers prefer candidates with associate's degrees (22.8%) or bachelor's degrees (30.1%). Relevant experience in logistics, supervision, or waste management provides valuable preparation. Entry-level positions may begin with hands-on recycling operations before advancing to coordination roles. Some positions may require certifications related to hazardous materials handling or safety management.

CAREER TRAJECTORY:
Recycling coordinators can advance to recycling operations managers, materials managers, or environmental compliance specialists within larger organizations. The supervisory experience gained translates well to first-line supervisor positions in production, logistics, or facilities management across various industries. Some professionals move into environmental consulting, waste management contract administration, or sustainability program development for corporations or government agencies. The growing emphasis on circular economy principles creates opportunities in corporate sustainability roles and environmental project management.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE:
BLS OEWS May 2025 data shows supervisory roles in material moving operations typically earn between $35,000-$65,000 annually, varying significantly by geographic location and sector (municipal vs. private). Demand is driven by expanding municipal recycling mandates and corporate sustainability initiatives, with stronger job growth in urban areas with comprehensive waste diversion goals. Western and northeastern states generally offer higher compensation due to more aggressive environmental regulations and higher costs of living. The field shows steady demand as communities expand recycling programs, though employment growth may be moderate as operations become more efficient through technology.

AUTOMATION OUTLOOK:
The coordination and supervisory aspects of this role have low automation risk, as they require human judgment for decision-making, staff management, and external communication. While route optimization software and tracking systems may streamline scheduling and documentation tasks, the interpersonal elements of training staff, negotiating contracts, and managing customer relationships remain essential human functions.

--- REASONED EDGES ---
  [career_pathway] First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand (53-1042.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Direct career progression sharing identical supervisory responsibilities in material handling operations with overlapping management activities.
    data: Same SOC family 53-1042
    data: Shared supervision of material handling workers
    data: Identical management activities scores
  [skill_overlap] First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators (53-1043.00) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Both roles emphasize personnel management, scheduling work activities, and coordinating transportation logistics with similar importance ratings.
    data: Management of Personnel Resources importance 3.8
    data: Scheduling Work and Activities importance 4.5
    data: Transportation logistics focus
  [career_pathway] Recycling and Reclamation Workers (53-7062.04) — confidence:high
    reasoning: Natural progression pathway where workers advance from hands-on recycling operations to supervisory coordination roles.
    data: Listed as Primary-Short related occupation
    data: Same recycling industry focus
    data: Supervision relationship indicated in tasks
  [task_similarity] Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks (43-5061.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Shared emphasis on organizing and prioritizing work, scheduling operations, and maintaining detailed operational records.
    data: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work importance 4.5
    data: Documenting/Recording Information importance 4.3
    data: Logistics coordination tasks
  [knowledge_overlap] Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (53-7081.00) — confidence:medium
    reasoning: Both roles require understanding of waste management operations and public safety protocols in recycling collection systems.
    data: Public Safety and Security knowledge importance 3.4
    data: Same waste management industry
    data: Collection operations knowledge

--- NORMALIZER SIGNALS ---
  match_keywords   : ['recycling coordinator', 'recycling manager', 'recycling supervisor', 'materials manager', 'recycling operations', 'waste coordinator', 'recycling program', 'recycle supervisor']
  exclude_keywords : ['recycling worker', 'collection driver', 'sorter', 'processor', 'technician']
  title_patterns   : ['recycling coordinator', 'recycling manager', 'materials manager', 'recycling supervisor', 'recycling operations manager']
  common_variations: ['recycle coordinator', 'recycling center operator', 'recycling specialist', 'recycling crew supervisor', 'corporate recycling manager', 'recycling program manager', 'agency operator', 'materials coordinator']

total_terms    : 40
top_words      : ['recycling', 'equipment', 'waste', 'others', 'materials', 'programs', 'management', 'alberta', 'operations', 'principles', 'activities', 'service', 'material', 'collection', 'includes', 'moving', 'objects', 'body', 'processing', 'resources']
source_layers  : onet_tasks | onet_dimensions | dwas | wikipedia | inference

TERM                    COUNT     FREQ  DOMINANT SOURCE      SOURCE BREAKDOWN
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
recycling                  78  0.02483  wikipedia            wikipedia:54%  onet_tasks:24%  inference:17%
equipment                  31  0.00987  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:74%  wikipedia:16%  dwas:6%
waste                      30  0.00955  wikipedia            wikipedia:60%  onet_tasks:23%  inference:17%
others                     28  0.00891  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
materials                  27  0.00860  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:37%  wikipedia:30%  onet_tasks:22%
programs                   21  0.00669  inference            inference:24%  onet_tasks:19%  onet_dimensions:19%
management                 20  0.00637  inference            inference:40%  onet_dimensions:35%  wikipedia:15%
alberta                    18  0.00573  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
operations                 17  0.00541  inference            inference:41%  onet_dimensions:35%  onet_tasks:18%
principles                 17  0.00541  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:94%  inference:6%
activities                 15  0.00478  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:60%  dwas:40%
service                    13  0.00414  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:54%  inference:23%  onet_dimensions:15%
material                   13  0.00414  dwas                 dwas:38%  onet_dimensions:23%  wikipedia:23%
collection                 13  0.00414  wikipedia            wikipedia:62%  inference:31%  onet_tasks:8%
includes                   13  0.00414  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:92%  wikipedia:8%
moving                     12  0.00382  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:58%  dwas:33%  inference:8%
objects                    12  0.00382  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
body                       12  0.00382  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:83%  wikipedia:17%
processing                 11  0.00350  onet_tasks           onet_tasks:36%  onet_dimensions:36%  dwas:9%
resources                  11  0.00350  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:82%  onet_tasks:9%  inference:9%
program                    11  0.00350  wikipedia            wikipedia:36%  dwas:27%  inference:18%
quality                    10  0.00318  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:60%  inference:20%  onet_tasks:10%
procedures                 10  0.00318  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:80%  dwas:10%  inference:10%
techniques                 10  0.00318  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
blue                       10  0.00318  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
customer                    9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:44%  onet_tasks:22%  inference:22%
monitoring                  9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  onet_tasks:11%
problems                    9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
human                       9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:78%  inference:22%
production                  9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  inference:11%
handling                    9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:56%  dwas:22%  inference:22%
ideas                       9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
quickly                     9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:100%
identifying                 9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:89%  inference:11%
vehicles                    9  0.00286  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:44%  wikipedia:44%  dwas:11%
curbside                    9  0.00286  wikipedia            wikipedia:78%  inference:22%
ontario                     9  0.00286  wikipedia            wikipedia:100%
needs                       8  0.00255  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:75%  onet_tasks:12%  inference:12%
safety                      8  0.00255  inference            inference:50%  onet_tasks:25%  onet_dimensions:12%
services                    8  0.00255  onet_dimensions      onet_dimensions:75%  onet_tasks:12%  dwas:12%