Applicants must:
- Meet the below education/experience criteria for the level operator for which they are applying.
- Submit a Solid Waste Operator Certification Application
with a $50 fee to receive temporary Interim certification and register to take Basic Training. - Complete the DES Basic Solid Waste Training Course to receive full certification.
- Participate in continuing education activities to maintain full certification.
Four Levels of Operators:
- Level 4 Manager/Operator: A Level 4 Manager/Operator is authorized to manage landfills, transfer stations and composting facilities, and recycling centers that are permitted to accept more than 30 tons of waste per day. A Level 4 Manager/Operator must have a high school diploma or GED and a minimum of five years experience in a field related to waste management, subject to the substitutions allowed below.
- Level 3 Advanced Operator: A Level 3 Advanced Operator is authorized to work at landfills, transfer stations, recycling centers and composting facilities permitted to accept up to 30 tons of waste per day, and monofills that only receive scrap metal, demolition debris or asbestos. Level 3 Advanced Operators must have a high school diploma or GED and three years experience in a field related to waste management, subject to the substitutions allowed below.
- Level 2 Operator: Individuals certified at this level are authorized to work to be in charge at monofills that only accept brush and/or stumps. Level 2 Operators must have completed eighth grade and have two years work experience in a field related to waste management, subject to the substitutions allowed below.
- Level 1 Attendant: Attendants must have completed eighth grade and have one year or less experience in a related filed; they may not be in charge at any type of solid waste facility.
The following substitutions may be made to the above requirements:
- One year of college education may be substituted for one year of experience, up to a maximum of four years for Level 4, two years for Level 3, and one year for Level 2.
- One year of experience may be substituted for one year of elementary or high school up to a maximum of one year.
- High school education shall not be credited towards experience.
- Education applied toward experience shall not also be applied toward the education requirement.
Basic Solid Waste Operator Training Course for First-time Licenses
The Basic Training course is required of all four levels of solid waste operators. The course covers the basics of facility operations and management, and the rules and regulations that apply to managing solid waste.
DES Announces Training Dates for Solid Waste Operator Certification
Three one-day courses for new operators will be held in 2012. New operators on the job as of April 1 must submit an application and attend the April 13 training and take the test; new operators from the North Country on the job as of September 1 must submit an application and attend the September 21 session. New operators employed as of October 15 must submit an application and attend the November 1 session.
Courses will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on:
- Friday, April 13, 2012 at DES, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord
- Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Lincoln Town Hall, 148 Main Street, Lincoln
- Thursday, November 1, 2012 at DES, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord
Please contact Nelson Ordway ((603) 271-2925 or nelson.ordway@des.nh.gov) to register.
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