East Central Solid Waste Commission

Job Description

Title of Class:

Environmental Technician

Nature of Work:

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Executive Director. Duties will be performed primarily at the ECSWC office and facilities located near Mora, Minnesota. ECSWC owns a sanitary landfill, demolition landfill, yard waste site, and a landfill gas system that includes sale of landfill gas to another entity. ECSWC also owns transfer stations located near Hinckley and Cambridge. Duties will be performed 30% in an office setting and 70% in the daily field operations of the landfill.

Required Knowledge

The Environmental Technician will have a general knowledge of scientific topics related to environmental applications. The Environmental Technician will have a working knowledge in the use of word processing and spreadsheet software, internet navigation and possess professional writing skills.

Minimum Educational and Employment Experience – Candidates shall have completed and Associate in Applied Sciences (A.A.S.), Associates in Science (A.S) or equivalent Degree emphasizing science and mathematics. Bachelors degree in the sciences is preferred. Candidates will also be required to document at least two years of related experience, with references.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Environmental Technician must assist and support the ECSWC Executive Director as needed on various matters including contract compliance and program development. The Environmental Technician will coordinate and work with operations personnel, outside consultants, regulatory agencies and the general public.

Permit Compliance – ECSWC  holds Solid Waste Permits and Stormwater permits for each facility. Each permit contains specific conditions and requirements. Permit requirements include provisions related to operations, monitoring, reporting, closure and other items. ECSWC also holds an air permit for the landfill. The Environmental Technician will become familiar with all permit requirements and the Solid Waste Rules of the State of Minnesota.

General Operations –  The Environmental Technician will also be required to make determinations related to the acceptability of waste for processing or disposal, and the disposition of problem materials. The Environmental Technician will perform inspections and maintain records as required by the various permits or as deemed appropriate by the Executive Director.

Landfill Operations – The Environmental Technician will monitor the activity and assist in daily operational matters, including waste acceptance. The Environmental Technician should have general knowledge of mapping and surveying principles, and should be able to interpret survey information, especially topographic information. The Environmental Technician will operate heavy equipment on a regular basis.

Landfill Construction – Oversee construction activities and assist with planning and installation of landfill gas lines and leachate lines. 

Gravel Mining – A gravel deposit is being mined to make room for landfill expansion. This work is being performed by a contractor and involves mining to proper grades, restoration of excavated areas if necessary, reconciliation of quantities, provisions for gravel material to be processed for local units of government. The Environmental Technician will monitor this activity and coordinate the exchange of information between all parties involved. These may include the mining contractor, landfill operations contractor, engineering consultant and local authorities, especially Arthur Township.

Reporting – Facility permits and other agreements with MPCA identify required reporting and data collection. The Environmental Technician will assist in gas monitoring information, scale records, and other information to include in reports. The Environmental Technician would coordinate with and assist outside consultants in the preparation of certain reports, and in some cases would prepare reports for submission to state or local authorities. The Environmental Technician should possess professional writing skills and become familiar with reporting formats and requirements.

Transact Scale Software Program – Currently only the Executive Director has the security level to make changes in the scale software.  Scale Operators do not have the capability of doing anything beyond truck updates and invoicing. The Environmental Technician will be required to act as backup for Executive Director and troubleshoot computer/software problems.

Certificates -  Type II Landfill Operator certificate must be obtained within twelve months of hire.

Desired Knowledge

The Environmental Technician should have a general knowledge of the physical sciences, including some background in chemistry and mathematics. General knowledge of solid waste operations and regulations is highly desirable. Knowledge of general construction practices is also desirable.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee

is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and talk or

hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or

controls.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and vibration. The employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment may be loud.

This position is exposed to sharp items, broken glass and miscellaneous mixed garbage items and can be very dangerous and unsanitary if proper precautions and safely protocols and rules are not followed.