Blog 4

                In the introduction to Recycling Reconsidered, MacBride mentioned that the jobs that people boast that recycling creates are often very difficult and boring jobs. So I went to look up which jobs specifically are associated with the recycling process. The main jobs involved are drivers, sorters, maintenance workers and mechanics, MRF managers, route managers, and sales representatives. The more hands-on jobs are the ones that seem to be more difficult, potentially dangerous at times, and boring.

The drivers work in pairs and sometimes have to do heavy lifting to dump the recycling bins depending on the technology of the truck. Additionally, they work early in the morning and year-round, which can pose potential dangers during winter and certain weather conditions. The sorters seems to me to be the most unpleasant job involved. Even in automated MRFs, some sorters are required to help make sure everything is sorted properly and to get rid of items that would be a danger to the machines.  The job typically involves standing for long periods of time and bending over; additionally, sorters may occasionally handle some dangerous items (like sharp shards of glass). Mechanics have to run the machines, like the compactors, and also work on repairs for any machines or trucks that break down. MRF managers are responsible for overseeing the facility and staff in general, managing the budget, and oftentimes interacting with the press. Route managers handle the logistics behind planning both pickup schedules and pickup routes for the truck drivers to optimize efficiency and minimize costs associated with driving (like gas costs). Sales representatives are the people who find both clients for whom to pick up recyclables (often cities or individual homes) and clients who will purchase the recyclable materials. In addition to the obvious communication skills required, the sales representatives often need to do outside research on clients in order to make pitches to sell the recyclables to them and convince them to incorporate these materials into their products.

Certainly, as MacBride mentioned, there are a lot of jobs associated with recycling, even more than I had considered (I hide never thought of the sales representatives that would be needed for a recycling company). And though a few of these may be “dull, hard, and harsh,” I think that there are several jobs that are involved that are not so. Cleary, one argument for recycling over incineration or landfills is that it provides more jobs, but it also seems that in comparison what jobs would be needed at landfills and incinerators there are more options and some of the jobs would be less dangerous (I can’t help but think that working in the sort of dust and fumes that we saw at the incinerator is certainly harmful).