Recycling Coordinators

Recycling Coordinators score 38 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #443 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 23 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 12 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 2 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

38/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #443of 923 jobs
US workers: 633,400for First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers
Median pay: $62,840a year
In real AI use: 2 of 23tasks, April–May 2026

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Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 3 (13%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 12 (52%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 8 (35%)

Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Prepare bills of lading, statements of shipping records, or customer receipts related to recycling or hazardous material services.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Prepare grant applications to fund recycling programs or program enhancements.AI can speed this up on its own · supplemental task
Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Identify or investigate new opportunities for materials to be collected and recycled.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Assign truck drivers or recycling technicians to routes.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Create or manage recycling operations budgets.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Negotiate contracts with waste management or other firms.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Coordinate shipments of recycling materials with shipping brokers or processing companies.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Oversee campaigns to promote recycling or waste reduction programs in communities or private companies.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Coordinate recycling collection schedules to optimize service and efficiency.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Develop community or corporate recycling plans and goals to minimize waste and conform to resource constraints.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Implement grant-funded projects, monitoring and reporting progress in accordance with sponsoring agency requirements.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task · Seen in real AI use
Make presentations to educate the public on how to recycle or on the environmental advantages of recycling.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Design community solid and hazardous waste management programs.AI can speed this up with extra software · supplemental task
Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Inspect physical condition of recycling or hazardous waste facility for compliance with safety, quality, and service standards.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Operate recycling processing equipment, such as sorters, balers, crushers, and granulators to sort and process materials.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Operate fork lifts, skid loaders, or trucks to move or store recyclable materials.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Schedule movement of recycling materials into and out of storage areas.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
Investigate violations of solid waste or recycling ordinances.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

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Questions about recycling coordinators and AI

Will AI replace recycling coordinators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Recycling Coordinators score 38 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #443 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 15 of the job's 23 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 8 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which recycling coordinators tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies"; "Prepare bills of lading, statements of shipping records, or customer receipts related to recycling or hazardous material services"; "Prepare grant applications to fund recycling programs or program enhancements".

Which recycling coordinators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances"; "Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers"; "Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 2 of the 23 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as recycling coordinators, and what do they earn?

About 633,400 people in the US (figure for First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers), with median pay of $62,840 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.