Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 10/7/2026
AI Resilience Score for Refuse/Recycling Collector:
40.9%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Med
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Med
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
AI Resilience Report forRefuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
$49,690 median salary•15,500 annual openings•SOC Code: 53-7081.00
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 7 sources.
This career is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is actively changing how waste collection works, even if it is not replacing workers outright just yet. Smart routing systems, in-cab safety cameras, and robotic sorters inside recycling facilities are already reshaping daily workflows, meaning the job looks and feels different than it did even a few years ago.
Learn more about how you can thrive in this position
This role is somewhat resilient
This career is labeled "Somewhat Resilient" because AI is actively changing how waste collection works, even if it is not replacing workers outright just yet. Smart routing systems, in-cab safety cameras, and robotic sorters inside recycling facilities are already reshaping daily workflows, meaning the job looks and feels different than it did even a few years ago.
Read full analysisAnalysis of current AI resilience
Refuse/Recycling Collector
Updated quarterly
How can Refuse/Recycling Collector prepare for AI?
Latest AI news for Refuse/Recycling Collector
These articles highlight how AI is transforming the recycling industry, offering exciting prospects for refuse and recyclable material collectors. For instance, AI-powered imaging, as seen with Greyparrot, helps identify misplaced recyclables, enhancing sorting efficiency. Additionally, deep learning technologies are streamlining waste management processes. As these innovations drive a shift towards a circular economy, collectors equipped with AI knowledge will be invaluable in adapting to new technologies, ensuring job security and growth in a rapidly evolving field. Embracing AI can lead to more effective recycling practices and a cleaner environment.
Throwaway economics: Can AI monetize our waste?
www.weforum.org • 9/20/2026
One of the nature-positive, return-generating investment opportunities that could contribute to a circular economy, AI-enabled waste sorting...
Droppie raises €4.2 million to expand its recycling stores
ioplus.nl • 6/22/2026
Droppie plans to expand to 70 locations and is committed to clean, reward-based waste collection in the Netherlands.
How AI Is Revolutionizing the Recycling Industry
news.climate.columbia.edu • 6/18/2025
Modern waste facilities are incorporating AI into their systems, using robots guided by AI vision systems and machine learning algorithms,...
Waste-management facilities are using AI to turn trash into recycled treasure
www.businessinsider.com • 5/9/2024
The startup Greyparrot uses AI-powered imaging to find misplaced recyclables and enhance data in waste-management facilities.
Welcome to Artificial Intelligence in Recycling
www.wastetodaymagazine.com • 4/6/2023
How A.I., deep learning, and neural networks are transforming the recycling industry.
More Career Info
Career: Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
They pick up trash and recyclables from homes and businesses to keep communities clean and help the environment.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$49,690
Jobs (2025)
156,400
Growth (2025-35)
+2.1%
Annual Openings
15,500
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Dismount garbage trucks to collect garbage and remount trucks to ride to the next collection point.
2
Refuel trucks or add other fluids, such as oil or brake fluid.
3
Make special pickups of recyclable materials, such as food scraps, used oil, discarded computers, or other electronic items.
4
Clean trucks or compactor bodies after routes have been completed.
5
Inspect trucks prior to beginning routes to ensure safe operating condition.
6
Drive trucks, following established routes, through residential streets or alleys or through business or industrial areas.
7
Dump refuse or recyclable materials at disposal sites.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
