Recycling Coordinators
Machines can already do 33% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 60%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Recycling Coordinators in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 33% of this job's tasks.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2031, and 60% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Contact with people: it scores 81% for contact with people.
- Also called: Heavy Equipment Supervisor, Recycle Coordinator, Recycling Coordinator, Recycling Manager.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers | 11% | 10% to 27% | |
| Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances | 10% | 10% to 27% | |
| Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service | 6% | 55% to 85% | |
| Coordinate shipments of recycling materials with shipping brokers or processing companies | 5% | 10% to 27% | |
| Oversee campaigns to promote recycling or waste reduction programs in communities or private companies | 5% | 40% to 75% | |
| Coordinate recycling collection schedules to optimize service and efficiency | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Make presentations to educate the public on how to recycle or on the environmental advantages of recycling | 5% | 40% to 68% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills recycling coordinators use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much recycling coordinators rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, low confidence.
- Go-to problem solver6/10
- Trust and reliability7/10
- Know-how about the organisation9/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others5/10
- Culture and morale5/10
- Initiative beyond the role5/10
- Calm in a crisis5/10
- Bridge between teams8/10
- Reputation and influence3/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Biofuels Production Managers48% of tasks by 2035 · US median $126,060
- Geothermal Production Managers55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $126,060
- Hydroelectric Production Managers53% of tasks by 2035 · US median $126,060
- Dietetic Technicians58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $37,640
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Recycling Coordinators?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2031. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of recycling coordinators?
Machines can do 33% of the tasks of recycling coordinators today and 60% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 53-1042.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, low confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Recycling Coordinators: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/recycling-coordinators/