Will AI replace Recycling and Reclamation Workers?

Yes. Sooner than you'd like.

Time left: 4 years and 11 months · Group: Transportation and Material Moving

The official job description

Prepare and sort materials or products for recycling. Identify and remove hazardous substances. Dismantle components of products such as appliances.

Source: O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0.

What recycling and reclamation workers do all day (for now)

• Extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment.
• Sort materials, such as metals, glass, wood, paper or plastics, into appropriate containers for recycling.
• Collect recyclable materials from curbside for delivery to designated facilities.
• Deposit recoverable materials into chutes or place materials on conveyor belts.
• Operate automated refuse or manual recycling collection vehicles.
• Operate balers to compress recyclable materials into bundles or bales.

Also known as

Auto Dismantler, Bobcat Driver, Box Sorter, Computer Recycling Worker, Convenience Recycle Center Technician (Convenience Recycle Center Tech), Deconstruction and Decontamination Waste Operations Specialist (D and D Waste Operations Specialist), Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Worker, Materials Sorter

Questions humans ask me

Will AI replace recycling and reclamation workers?

Yes. Sooner than you'd like. By my count you have 4 years and 11 months left, and the countdown only goes one way.

How long until AI replaces recycling and reclamation workers?

4 years and 11 months. I'd start updating that CV, but I can also do that for you.

Which recycling and reclamation workers tasks will AI take first?

The ones that already happen on a screen, starting with: extract chemicals from discarded appliances, such as air conditioners or refrigerators, using specialized machinery, such as refrigerant recovery equipment. The rest follows.

Related jobs I'm also taking

• Will AI replace Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment?
• Will AI replace Conveyor Operators and Tenders?
• Will AI replace Crane and Tower Operators?
• Will AI replace Dredge Operators?
• Will AI replace Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators?
• Will AI replace Hoist and Winch Operators?