Salary: $32.31 - $39.37 Hourly
Location : Kittitas County
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Solid Waste
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: 10/8/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Road
Description
The Solid Waste Operator oversees the waste disposal process at the Kittitas County Solid Waste facilities. Must maintain courteous and cooperative working relationships with administrative and other County personnel, public agencies, and the general public, and work under the guidance of Local/State/Federal regulations and County policies/procedures.
Examples of Duties
Calculate yardage/tonnages and provide incoming customers with receipt. Inform customers of charges based on established fees.
Minimum Qualifications
Supplemental Information
Work is mostly performed outdoors in all weather conditions with exposure to hazardous materials and inclement weather including temperature extremes and windy/dusty conditions. Occasional work required near moving mechanical parts and occasional exposure to vibration. The noise level is usually loud in the field and moderately quiet in the office. The position requires frequent interactions with customers; must maintain professionalism at all times and handle frequent interruptions. Must be physically capable of moving about compost sites, traversing a variety of surfaces including those that are slippery or rugged, and entering/exiting a variety of equipment. Ability to sit, walk, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, grasp with hands, and reach with arms and legs to operate equipment. Must have ability to push, pull, lift or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally more with assistance. Must have close, distance, color, night, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus; hearing and speech are required to communicate clearly in person, as well as over the telephone and/or radio. All PPE must be worn when required for employee safety, and safety rules/regulations must be adhered to at all times.
This position is scheduled to rotate Tuesday through Saturday. Occasional variance may occur to accommodate business needs. Regular and reliable attendance and punctuality are required.
Travel throughout the county and the local region is required; must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle in all weather conditions and levels of daylight.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Kittitas County is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Kittitas County does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of protected class status. All employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, compensated, and if appropriate, disciplined or terminated without regard to race, color, religion or creed, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age (over 40), marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation or gender identity, veteran status, use of a guide or service animal, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability (unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification).
Most permanent employees who at least 20 hours per week on a regular schedule are entitled to healthcare, retirement, and leave benefits, pro-rated to the scheduled hours of work.
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
Eligible employees and their family members have access to medical, dental, and vision benefits. The base plans for these benefits are paid 100% by the County regardless of the number of family members enrolled. Plan buy-up options are available for a small cost via payroll deduction.
LIFE INSURANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS
Kittitas County offers access to a $12,000 basic life/accidental death and dismemberment insurance plan as well as a base long term disability plan through Mutual of Omaha as part of the core benefits program.
Supplemental products are available for eligible employees who choose to purchase them through AFLAC, Allstate, Colonial, and Mutual of Omaha. These products include:
LEAVE BENEFITS
Eligible County employees have access to a variety of leave programs. The amount of paid leave an employee may accrue and bank will vary between employee groups and collective bargaining agreements. Types of leave available include, but are not limited to:
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Most benefited employees are eligible to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan administered by the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Participation in the DRS retirement program is mandatory for all eligible employees. Both the employee and the County contribute to the plan at a rate set by the State legislature.
For more information regarding DRS you can visit their website at
Employees who want to save additional dollars for retirement may do so voluntarily by participating in a choice of 457 deferred compensation plans. A 457 plan allows employees to defer funds through payroll deduction, up to a maximum amount set each year by the IRS.
01
Equipment experience: What types of heavy equipment have you operated? Please include your experience with loaders, bulldozers, excavators, tractors, and water trucks, where applicable. For each, describe the work you performed and approximately how long you operated it.
02
Preventive maintenance: Describe the preventive maintenance you have personally performed on heavy equipment or trucks. What do you check during a routine inspection, and how do you document or report a problem you find?
03
Computer skills: Describe your experience using computers to enter information, maintain records, and complete forms. What programs or systems have you used, including Microsoft Office or computerized scale systems?
Required Question
Location : Kittitas County
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Solid Waste
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: 10/8/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: Road
Description
The Solid Waste Operator oversees the waste disposal process at the Kittitas County Solid Waste facilities. Must maintain courteous and cooperative working relationships with administrative and other County personnel, public agencies, and the general public, and work under the guidance of Local/State/Federal regulations and County policies/procedures.
Examples of Duties
Calculate yardage/tonnages and provide incoming customers with receipt. Inform customers of charges based on established fees.
- Direct customers to designated areas for disposal.
- Inspect all waste loads to screen for liquids, regulated and hazardous wastes.
- Complete all forms as required in accordance with the operations plan.
- Forward receipts to the Solid Waste Office for processing.
- Inform the public of the availability of County's Solid Waste Programs.
- Perform other related duties as may be required from time to time by the Solid Waste Director.
- Perform crushing and pushup of disposed materials with 850J Dozer or equal.
- Keep track of yards of material disposed and install cover material in accordance with facility plan.
- Schedule and/or perform general maintenance to the equipment and site including dozer maintenance, Water truck maintenance, snow removal, road repairs, water tank maintenance, septage lagoon access, and site access.
- Operate and fill water truck and fill as needed to maintain water supply on site for fire protection and wash water for equipment, and to perform watering at lagoon area as required by permit.
- Keep records of Dozer and other equipment maintenance.
- Perform landfill cover material application in accordance with approved plan.
- Fill in as needed at Compost facility:
- Grind incoming material using a 3800 Morback grinder or similar.
- Build wind rows and turn as needed.
- Assist with screening at compost facility.
- Assist Solid Waste Specialist with MRW appointments.
- Maintain oil/antifreeze tanks at office and remote sites as needed.
- Collect batteries from participating businesses as needed.
- Assist office staff as required.
- Operate Ellensburg and Cle Elum scale houses as needed.
- Monitor septage lagoons for loads being disposed and freeboard capacity.
- Monitor area for wind-blown debris and clean up as needed.
- Monitor septage screens and clean weekly.
- Daily walk-through of the Limited Purpose Landfill area and the closed portion of the Ryegrass Landfill site, inspecting for evidence of combustion, vents or visible emissions in accordance with the Agreed Order between Department of Ecology and Kittitas County.
- Monitor leachate collection system and document flow meter readings, and weekly lysimeter testing.
- Assist with sampling of groundwater monitoring wells.
- Assist with monitoring compost temperatures as needed.
- Clean work area as needed.
- Pick up wind-blown litter around facility.
- Pick up wind-blown materials around septage lagoons.
- Perform other duties as may be required by the Solid Waste Director.
Minimum Qualifications
- High School diploma or GED equivalent.
- Valid Washington State Driver's License WITH a Class A CDL endorsement and no more than two (2) moving violations in the past two (2) years.
- Experience operating a loader, bulldozer, excavator and tractor.
- A criminal history and background check will be performed on qualified applicants. Convictions may preclude candidates from employment in certain circumstances. Factors such as relativity to the position, age and time of the offense, seriousness and nature of the violation, and rehabilitation will be taken into account.
Supplemental Information
Work is mostly performed outdoors in all weather conditions with exposure to hazardous materials and inclement weather including temperature extremes and windy/dusty conditions. Occasional work required near moving mechanical parts and occasional exposure to vibration. The noise level is usually loud in the field and moderately quiet in the office. The position requires frequent interactions with customers; must maintain professionalism at all times and handle frequent interruptions. Must be physically capable of moving about compost sites, traversing a variety of surfaces including those that are slippery or rugged, and entering/exiting a variety of equipment. Ability to sit, walk, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, stand, grasp with hands, and reach with arms and legs to operate equipment. Must have ability to push, pull, lift or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally more with assistance. Must have close, distance, color, night, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus; hearing and speech are required to communicate clearly in person, as well as over the telephone and/or radio. All PPE must be worn when required for employee safety, and safety rules/regulations must be adhered to at all times.
This position is scheduled to rotate Tuesday through Saturday. Occasional variance may occur to accommodate business needs. Regular and reliable attendance and punctuality are required.
Travel throughout the county and the local region is required; must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle in all weather conditions and levels of daylight.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Kittitas County is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Kittitas County does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of protected class status. All employees will be recruited, selected, trained, promoted, compensated, and if appropriate, disciplined or terminated without regard to race, color, religion or creed, ethnicity, national origin, sex, age (over 40), marital status, pregnancy or maternity, sexual orientation or gender identity, veteran status, use of a guide or service animal, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability (unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification).
Most permanent employees who at least 20 hours per week on a regular schedule are entitled to healthcare, retirement, and leave benefits, pro-rated to the scheduled hours of work.
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
Eligible employees and their family members have access to medical, dental, and vision benefits. The base plans for these benefits are paid 100% by the County regardless of the number of family members enrolled. Plan buy-up options are available for a small cost via payroll deduction.
LIFE INSURANCE AND SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS
Kittitas County offers access to a $12,000 basic life/accidental death and dismemberment insurance plan as well as a base long term disability plan through Mutual of Omaha as part of the core benefits program.
Supplemental products are available for eligible employees who choose to purchase them through AFLAC, Allstate, Colonial, and Mutual of Omaha. These products include:
- Supplemental life insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment
- Disabilty insurance
LEAVE BENEFITS
Eligible County employees have access to a variety of leave programs. The amount of paid leave an employee may accrue and bank will vary between employee groups and collective bargaining agreements. Types of leave available include, but are not limited to:
- Legal holidays
- Personal holiday
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Bereavement Leave
- Military Leave
- Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML)
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Most benefited employees are eligible to participate in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) plan administered by the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Participation in the DRS retirement program is mandatory for all eligible employees. Both the employee and the County contribute to the plan at a rate set by the State legislature.
For more information regarding DRS you can visit their website at
Employees who want to save additional dollars for retirement may do so voluntarily by participating in a choice of 457 deferred compensation plans. A 457 plan allows employees to defer funds through payroll deduction, up to a maximum amount set each year by the IRS.
01
Equipment experience: What types of heavy equipment have you operated? Please include your experience with loaders, bulldozers, excavators, tractors, and water trucks, where applicable. For each, describe the work you performed and approximately how long you operated it.
02
Preventive maintenance: Describe the preventive maintenance you have personally performed on heavy equipment or trucks. What do you check during a routine inspection, and how do you document or report a problem you find?
03
Computer skills: Describe your experience using computers to enter information, maintain records, and complete forms. What programs or systems have you used, including Microsoft Office or computerized scale systems?
Required Question
Solid Waste Operator in ellensburg at Unknown Company
This position is listed as full time and able to be worked remotely.