Columbia looks to hire additional solid waste employees for trash/recycling collection

Columbia’s city council is expected to vote tonight (Monday) to add a solid waste packer position, which is not expected to have a financial impact on the solid waste utility budget. That’s because of several vacant positions.

If the council approves the proposal tonight, the employees hired for the entry-level position will be represented by a local union, be paid $15 an hour and will be eligible for all normal city employee benefits. It’s one job title that would involve multiple employees.

The employees hired will ride/stand on the rear of a trash or recycling truck and will manually lift and place refuse and recycling material into the back of a rear loading refuse collecting vehicle.

City officials anticipate that creating this position will reduce the Solid Waste Utility’s dependence on temporary staffing agency employees and will make trash collection operations more reliable.