Waste Management Jobs in Canada

By acting quickly to cut pollution and plastic waste, we can strengthen our economy because it possesses the longest coastline and a quarter of the world’s freshwater.  Waste Management Job is a crucial step in preserving our beloved locations and animals. Also, We must alter how plastics are created, used, and disposed of. We can achieve a world with zero plastic waste by collaborating with industry, all levels of government, and every Canadian. By working together, we can keep plastics out of the environment and in the economy.   

What is the Goal of Waste Management Jobs?

Workers who handle waste in all of its forms and stages of disposal or treatment make up the vast waste management sector. The goal of waste management jobs, ranging from scientists who examine organic and inorganic waste to refuse collectors who pick up trash at homes and businesses, is to protect the environment and public health. There are numerous subcategories within the waste management industry. Garbage management professionals might work in the public or private sectors and handle both hazardous and nonhazardous garbage.

Waste management jobs may also concentrate on issues related to the air, soil, or water. For individuals who are interested in the subject, there are several options, and the qualifications for the various employment kinds vary. Jobs like garbage collectors and landfill workers may be available to you if you like working outside and don’t want to pursue further education. The opportunities rise with some postsecondary education.

Responsibilities of a Waste Management Job

It might be difficult to describe the precise responsibilities and activities that waste management specialists perform because the subject interacts with and involves a wide range of other fields. But among the frequent duties performed by these experts are:

• Waste and rubbish collection

Waste management specialists gather various waste materials from homes, businesses, and even government organizations. They then supervise their transportation to a central location where they are either properly disposed of or treated. 

• Creation of waste management policies

They design, carry out, and oversee all-encompassing waste management programs that are optimized to optimize opportunities for recycling, reuse, and waste prevention. 

• Create protocols for disposing of hazardous waste

Waste management specialists not only make it easier to remove various items, but they also develop guidelines to guarantee a safe and effective removal. They also make sure that the regulations adhere to national and local laws.

• Manage waste facilities

 Waste management specialists oversee public and sanitary facilities. They coordinate the trash collection process, and ensure the disposal of organic and inorganic materials. They also make sure that waste management plants and equipment are operating efficiently. 

• Sell waste to third parties

 Selling waste and byproducts to those who can better utilize them is one efficient approach for waste management specialists to handle waste. After all, what is garbage to one man may be treasure to another. 

• Create recycling programs

Waste management jobs also handle these recycling programs. They create recycling initiatives to reduce landfill usage. These experts also instruct individuals and companies on how to properly dispose of different kinds of waste.

Reasons for working a waste management job in Canada

Why someone would choose to work in this “messy” industry may be a mystery to you. One reason is that waste management is a lucrative field. The average pay for a manager of waste management is $114,315 according to Salary.com. There is a tendency for the pay to vary depending on the type of employment and industry. Collectors of recyclables and trash, for example, make an average of $42,780 per year. If you’re thinking about becoming a waste management company owner, the future appears bright as well. A recent analysis projects that by 2025, solid waste management income will reach $530 billion.

However, there are other reasons to pursue this career path besides the financial gain. Because of the positive social and environmental impact you might have, working in waste management can also be fulfilling. Another motivation for some people to enter this field is a desire to contribute to environmental protection. The work that waste management specialists do affects all of humanity. In addition to harming the environment, improper rubbish management can also endanger people and animals. 

15 High-Paying Waste Management Jobs

• Waste management engineer

An engineer who specializes in waste management concentrates on the process of treating or getting rid of garbage. Your responsibilities in this position may involve addressing issues with pollution, contamination, and environmental restrictions; developing an effective waste disposal strategy; and figuring out how recycling might reduce the environmental impact. You might also focus on waste management.

For instance, some waste management engineers create or enhance wastewater treatment systems, while other experts can concentrate on the methods and techniques for securely disposing of dangerous or poisonous items. You may work for a state or local government agency, a consultancy firm, a manufacturing company, a nonprofit organization, or a recycling company. The salary is $95,000 to $129,000 annually. 

• Solid Waste Engineer

One of your duties as a solid waste engineer is to assist a landfill’s environmental efforts. Among your responsibilities is designing a solid waste treatment plant. You handle enhancing recycling programs, making arrangements for the appropriate disposal of trash and garbage containers, and developing sanitary procedures to guarantee that landfill contents do not afflict employees. Use programs like AutoCAD, gather environmental samples, request permits from the appropriate authorities, and draft reports outlining each project’s objectives to complete these duties. You have to deal with a lot of hazardous waste in some places.

• Hazardous Material Specialist

Salaries for hazardous material specialists range from $54,000 to $105,500 annually. The removal of hazardous materials following incidents, like chemical spills or toxic fires, or as part of an environmental waste job on cleanup, like the removal of asbestos from an old school building, is overseen by a hazardous material specialist. You examine contaminated areas as a specialist and take samples of chemicals, poisonous gases, and other potentially dangerous elements for testing. Among your responsibilities are overseeing the cleanup strategy for hazardous waste disposal and conducting site audits to guarantee the project’s success.

• Solid Waste Manager

A solid waste manager disposes of solid waste, including industrial and household garbage, appropriately. To guarantee that trash is disposed of properly, waste management professionals frequently work at a recycling facility or landfill in a particular district. By keeping processes in conformity with industry and environmental standards, they contribute to resource conservation. Implementing new garbage-removal equipment and procedures and training new hires are possible extra duties for a solid waste manager. Salaries for solid waste managers range from $57,500 to $93,500 annually. 

• Reuse Technician 

Dialyzers, which are filters that remove the blood from waste and extra food, are cleaned and sterilized by a reuse technician. Dialyzers, which are connected to the hemodialysis machine and are reusable for a predetermined amount of time, are provided to each dialysis patient. The reuse technician makes sure the dialyzers are flushed, cleaned, and prepared for reuse by carrying out a thorough cleaning procedure after treatment. A certification to operate the reuse machinery and an associate degree are requirements for becoming a reuse technician. The pay range is $57,500 to $72,500 yearly. 

• Sanitation Engineer

The appropriate handling of wastewater and sewage, as well as the sanitary treatment of wastewater and sewage, are under the purview of a sanitation engineer. To ensure that the local ecosystem is safe from contamination, they use their expertise to conduct random sample testing of the soil and water in nearby streams. The correct processing and disposal of specific hazardous waste materials, including assistance in designing facilities and procedures to guarantee appropriate disposal, may also be a part of some sanitation engineer employment.  The Salary range for a sanitation engineer is  $28,000 to $102,500 annually.

• Supervisor of Sanitation

 A sanitation supervisor keeps a factory or facility that produces food clean and hygienic. Among your responsibilities as a sanitation supervisor are managing all cleaning personnel, enforcing business policies about a hygienic workplace, conducting routine inspections, and keeping track of cleaning staff budgets and inventory. Practical cleaning abilities and job experience are also necessary for this career. While some supervisors may have postsecondary training in food science and health, others may just have a high school diploma. Leadership abilities and acute attention to detail are further prerequisites. The salary range is $49,000 to $74,000 annually.

• Recycling Coordinator

The annual salary range for a recycling coordinator is $42,000 to $64,500 respectively. There is room for progress. This moderate salary range indicates that compensation in this profession will be constant regardless of years of experience, location, or skill level. Also, a few organizations are recruiting recycling coordinators in Canada, indicating that the employment market is rather active.

• Trash Hauler

The Salary range for a trash hauler is  $37,500 to $72,000 annually. Depending on skill level, region, and years of experience, there may be numerous prospects for development and higher income. This is as indicated by this wide range of prospective salaries. Due to the low number of organizations hiring for this position, the trash hauler job market in Canada is not extremely active at the moment.

• Street Sweeper

The annual salary range for a street sweeper is $33,000 to $44,000. Help to remove trash from a town or city’s streets is the responsibility of a street sweeper. Most of the time, you operate a sizable cleaning apparatus that cleans the roadways as thoroughly as possible using brushes, water, and suction. A street sweeper responds to situations like auto accidents. This is where glass and other hazardous debris are on a road, even if the majority of street cleanings follow set schedules. Your sweeping machines’ mechanical systems may also require daily preventative maintenance from you. You might occasionally assist in setting up traffic control devices, carry out custodial duties, and clear away garbage and other waste. Also, you report issues like spills of dangerous materials or unusually large debris.

• Roll-off Driver

The Pay range for a roll-off driver is $42,000 to $53,500 annually.  A roll-off driver manages rubbish from commercial, residential, and construction sites with large volumes. You move compact and open-top containers to the landfill for appropriate disposal as a roll-off driver. You are responsible for managing the pick-up and hauling, and inspecting the container. Also, you handle filling out reports and adhering to all transportation regulations. As you mount and dismount a heavy-duty truck along the way, this job is physically taxing. You handle inspecting and maintaining your truck, informing the appropriate authorities of any safety concerns. Coordinating orders with dispatch and answering client inquiries are additional responsibilities.

• Sanitarian

Sanitarian’s Pay range is  $44,000 to $57,500 annually.  A sanitarian is a health and safety professional who conducts business inspections. This is to ensure regulatory compliance at the local, state, and federal levels. One of this waste management job’s responsibilities is to verify that public or commercial establishments adhere to local safety regulations and environmental legislation. This is a great career route for anyone who has an interest in public health. It is for people who want to work in a field where their abilities have a direct impact on people’s quality of life. Certification from a state licensing board and a bachelor’s degree in public health or a similar discipline are prerequisites for this position.

• Refuse Collector

The Annual salary range for Refuse Collector is $30,500 to $48.500.  Trash is taken out of the designated areas by refuse collectors. They usually empty trash and recycling bins along public roads for municipalities or private refuse companies. Driving from home to home and manually filling garbage trucks with trash cans are requirements for some jobs. Other garbage collectors drive trucks that have a crane-like device that fills the trash can with garbage and dumps it into the truck. After all of the trash cans along the route have been filled, the refuse collector transports the waste to a recycling center or landfill.

• Snow Shoveller

The annual salary range for a snow shoveller is $33,000 to $52,000. To remove snow, a snow shovel is used. Your duties in this position include clearing snow from a parking lot, driveway, sidewalk, or pathway after a snowfall. Clearing ice from roads and walkways with salt or another de-icing agent may also be part of your job. Snow removal is a seasonal task because it only happens in the winter. A hand shovel, snow blowers, or a car with a plow or other snow removal tool are some of the tools that snow shovellers can employ.

• Garbage Collector

The Salary range for a garbage collector is $26,500 to $30,500 annually.  Picking up trash and recycling and delivering it to a landfill, sorting facility, or recycling center are the responsibilities of a garbage collector. You could pick up trash from businesses or residential structures in this line of work. Trash cans can be picked up manually or by using the truck’s hydraulic components. This way raises the can and empties its contents into the vehicle. While some garbage collectors react to calls to pick up rubbish, others drive along designated routes every day of the week.

• Septic Pump Truck Driver

The annual salary range for a septic pump truck driver is $40,000 to $54,000. A septic pump truck driver’s responsibilities include pumping service for portable lavatory units and septic tanks as well as moving, loading, and unloading equipment. Both unit delivery and pumping service are part of your duties. Driving a septic pump truck usually entails servicing porta-potty units and septic tank customers along a predetermined route. When pumping, you can check the septic system for wear and tear and leakage using specialized cameras. It could be necessary to inspect ventilation systems as well.

• Garbage Truck Driver

Garbage truck drivers make between $33,000 and $48,000 annually. It is your responsibility as a garbage truck driver to operate a huge vehicle. This is while collecting yard waste, recyclables, and trash from dumpsters and cans along a predetermined route. The load is subsequently transported to a recycling facility or landfill. Other collection vehicles are available. However, most drivers use a front-end loader truck to lift the waste into a container behind the vehicle.

In addition to driving your route, you might also need to register your actions, do preventative maintenance, clean the inside and outside of your car regularly, and conduct a daily pre-trip check. You may help residents with disabilities, carry out trash by hand, or report odd sanitary issues so the city can send someone to address them on some routes.

Average Salary Expectation

The quarter that ended on March 31, 2025, saw a net profit margin of 11.67% for waste management. Compared to 2023, Waste Management’s job average net profit margin decreased by 7.47% to 12.23% in 2024. Waste Management’s average net profit margin increased by 2.25% from 2022 to 11.38% in 2023. Waste Management’s average net profit margin increased by 11.63% from 2021 to 11.13% in 2022. The definition of net profit margin is net income divided by total sales revenue.

Read Also: Recruitment Agencies in the UK 2025

Conclusion 

 Waste management jobs in Canada are essential to maintaining public health and environmental sustainability. The need for qualified personnel in this field is anticipated to increase. This will happen since the nation continues to place a high priority on sustainable development and green initiatives. In addition to providing steady work, these positions range from collection and sorting to environmental engineering and recycling innovation. Also, it will significantly advance Canada’s larger waste reduction and climate goals. People entering the waste management industry can anticipate a career that significantly improves their communities. It will improve the environment with the correct education and dedication.