A growing number of solid waste professionals write environmental impact reports (EIRs), and work with the public to reduce the growing amount of residential and commercial waste.
RELATED PROFESSIONS
- Environmental Assessor
- Civil Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Hydrologist
- Chemist
- Health Inspector
- Biologist
- Risk Manager
Currently few schools offer a degree in solid waste management; rather, most professionals hold degrees in engineering, geology, chemistry, or a related field. High school students interested in becoming solid waste specialists should have a strong math and science background, such as calculus, chemistry, physics, and computer science. College courses are also heavily oriented toward the physical sciences, with many students interested in a career in waste management taking courses such as geomorphology, organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics.
Approximately 170 colleges and universities offer at least one formal credit course in solid and hazardous waste management, and 89 have noncredit training courses. Four programs offer master's degrees in hazardous/materials management including: Tufts University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Wayne State University in Detroit, and the University of San Francisco. Hazardous waste management programs tend to be multidisciplinary and encompass such fields as civil environmental engineering, chemical engineering, public/allied health, biology, chemistry, forestry, geology, and environmental science. Most of these master's programs are offered through departments of engineering.
A growing number of universities and community colleges are offering certification programs for professionals already in the field. The University of California at Berkeley, for example, offers certificate programs in environmental site assessment and remediation, hazardous materials management, integrated solid waste management, advanced environmental law and management, air quality management, environmental health, and safety au-diting. Students enrolled in hazardous materials management must take courses including such topics as principles of hazardous materials management, environmental law and regulation, and health and environmental effects of hazardous materials. Elective classes include hazardous waste minimization and management, principles of toxicology, and air pollution control systems. A growing number of community colleges nationwide are also offering these programs.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
There are no federal or state licensing requirements for solid waste specialists; however, many engineers must be certified. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require registration for engineers whose work affects life, health, or property, or who offer their services to the public. The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) offers the Professional Engineer (PE) license. Attainment of the license is based upon the acquisition of an engineering degree from an ABET-approved institution, successful completion of the Engineering-in-Training examination, four years of relevant work experience, and the passage of a state examination. Licenses are generally transferable between states. Contact the ABET, listed at the end of this chapter for further information.
SETTING
With landfills and Superfund sites scattered across the nation, professionals can find jobs in both urban and rural areas in every state. Solid waste professionals may work in a variety of environments, including laboratories that are generally clean and comfortable, in offices primarily writing EIRs, and in the field conducting tests. They may also work in manufacturing plants and other production facilities in management, inspection, and control positions. Most of these professionals work eight hours a day, five days per week.
EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS AND MAJOR EMPLOYERS
Employment opportunities for solid waste professionals are divided evenly between the public and private sectors, with a relatively small percentage of individuals employed in the nonprofit sector. Within the public sector, local and state government agencies are the largest employers, while the federal government employs the fewest workers. Often, recycling programs and other innovative solid waste programs are initiated at the state level because the state has more resources than local governments. Generally, local governments are responsible for collection and recycling programs. Currently, more than 30 states have recycling programs that deal with more than 23.5 million tons of material per year. In addition, there are approximately 1,000 composting projects nationwide. As the number of recycling and compost projects increases, the demand for solid waste specialists increases. A list of state agencies concerned with solid waste management is included in Appendix M.
While government agencies are responsible for solid waste management, much of the actual work is contracted out to private firms. The largest private employers are waste management companies and consulting firms. The National Solid Waste Management Association (NSWMA) estimated that approximately 75 percent of the nation's total waste is moved by private companies. The NSWMA estimated that the revenues generated by private industry doubled between 1989 and 1990 and will double again by 1995. At the same time, there has been a consolidation of smaller companies, with fewer and fewer companies competing.
Nonprofit organizations employ relatively few individuals. Nonprofit groups include advocacy and lobbying groups, planners, scientists, and other professionals that work to solve problems related to solid waste management.
SALARY STATISTICS
Salaries in this field vary depending on the job, sector, years of experience, and education. The private sector generally pays the most, followed by the public and nonprofit sectors. Within the public sector, the federal government generally pays the most, followed by state and local agencies. The starting pay for solid waste specialists averages about $21,000 per year. With three to five years of experience, solid waste professionals generally earn between $25,000 and $35,000. Engineers and individuals with master's degrees can earn substantially more.
