Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 53-7081.00
Collect and dump refuse or recyclable materials from containers into truck. May drive truck.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.09–0.18· 2 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 9611Garbage and Recycling Collectors0.09
- ISCO-08 9612Refuse Sorters0.18
Task-level exposure
Show 12 hidden tasks16 rated tasks · 4 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (25.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 2 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Fill out defective equipment reports.O*NET Task ID 7172 | 1.0 |
Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems.O*NET Task ID 7178 | 1.0 |
Provide quotes for refuse collection contracts.O*NET Task ID 7184 | 1.0 |
Organize schedules for refuse collection.O*NET Task ID 7183 | 0.5 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (14)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition. | Core |
| Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid. | Core |
| Fill out defective equipment reports. | Core |
| Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas. | Core |
| Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse. | Core |
| Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies. | Core |
| Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point. | Core |
| Communicate with dispatchers concerning delays, unsafe sites, accidents, equipment breakdowns, or other maintenance problems. | Core |
| Check road or weather conditions to determine how routes will be affected. | Core |
| Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed. | Core |
| Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites. | Core |
| Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted. | Supplemental |
| Organize schedules for refuse collection. | Supplemental |
| Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items. | Supplemental |
1.80/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition. | E0 none |
| Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid. | E2 structured facilities |
| Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas. | E2 structured facilities |
| Operate equipment that compresses collected refuse. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Operate automated or semi-automated hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies. | E3 unstructured settings |
| Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites. | E2 structured facilities |
| Tag garbage or recycling containers to inform customers of problems, such as excess garbage or inclusion of items that are not permitted. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 156K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 160K
- Change (2025–35)
- +2.1%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $49,690
- Typical education needed for entry
- No formal educational credential
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94141 | 재활용품 수거원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 94142 | 쓰레기 수거원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 94130 | 거리 및 공공장소 청소원 | Related, not a match | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 9611Garbage and Recycling Collectors
- ISCO-08 9612Refuse Sorters
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- refuse collectorESCO 9611.1Same scope
Refuse collectors remove waste from homes and other facilities and put it in the bin lorry so it can be transported to a treatment and disposal facility. They assist the driver of the bin lorry, help unload the waste, and record the amount of refuse collected. They may also collect waste from construction and demolition sites, and hazardous waste.
- recycling workerESCO 9612.1Overlapping, not the same
Recycling workers clean materials and remove waste, and ensure the waste and collected materials are sorted in the appropriate recycling containers. They also dismantle vehicles and sort the parts collected, and deposit recyclable materials onto conveyor belts where they can be further sorted.
- refuse vehicle driverESCO 8332.8Overlapping, not the same
Refuse vehicle drivers drive the large vehicles used for refuse collection. They drive the vehicles from the homes and facilities where the refuse is collected by the refuse collectors on the lorry and transport the waste to the waste treatment and disposal facilities.
- sorter labourerESCO 9612.2Overlapping, not the same
Sorter labourers sort recyclable materials and waste from a recycling stream, and ensure no unsuitable materials wind up among the recyclable materials. They inspect the materials and perform cleaning duties, and work in compliance with waste regulations.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| K2303 | Equipier / Equipière de collecte de déchets | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| N4118 | Conducteur / Conductrice de matériel de collecte | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| K2307 | Agent / Agente de propreté urbaine | Related, not a match |
| K2324 | Ferrailleur / Ferrailleuse de métal | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 9441 | Recogedores de residuos | Same scopeprovisional |
| 8432 | Conductores asalariados de camiones | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 9443 | Barrenderos y afines | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 34301 | Berufe in der Ver- und Entsorgung (ohne Spezialisierung) - Helfer-/Anlerntätigkeiten | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 52122 | Berufskraftfahrer/innen (Güterverkehr/LKW) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 714 | ごみ・し尿処理従事者 | This occupation is narrower |
| 715 | 産業廃棄物処理従事者 | Overlapping, not the same |
| 613 | 貨物自動車運転者 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources