Sanitation Technician I/II

Want a job where your work truly makes a difference every single day? Join our team as a Sanitation Technician and help keep Bellingham clean, safe, and thriving. If you’re dependable, hardworking, and ready to take on a role that supports the entire community, apply today for the Sanitation Technician position with Public Works!

Performs a variety of manual and skilled physical labor in carrying out sanitation and community cleanup duties such as litter control, illegal dumpsite cleanup, and illegal camp site cleanup Enforces various State and City ordinances regarding environmental regulations, litter, nuisance abatement, illegal parking and other related code violations on private residences, business, and City property including rights-of-way. Maintains records as required by City policy, state, and local law. Participates in public education programs related to code enforcement and litter prevention. Maintains close relationships with code enforcement and compliance personnel from other City departments. The position involves a high degree of public contact. Works independently on specialized assignments.

For more information, please review the job classification. 

• Hourly Rates:
  • Sanitation Technician I: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($37.75/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $37.75/hour - $49.24/hour.
  • Sanitation Technician II: Starting hourly rate is at Step 1 ($40.02/hour) for full time positions. The full salary range for this position is $40.02/hour - $52.21/hour.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match

Sanitation Technician I

• Two years of experience working with the public in problem resolution or enforcement activities required, AND
• Willingness and ability to perform manual and semi-skilled labor in the field including litter and moderate to high risk waste cleanup.
• Intermediate computer skills including word processing, email and data entry is required.
• Must demonstrate and maintain proficiency in the safe and efficient use of specialized equipment such as a woodchipper and handheld devices used for citation issuing and reporting.  
• Associate degree or two years of coursework in communications, environmental studies, social services or similar field may be substituted for two years of experience working with the public in problem resolution or enforcement activities.
• Moderate to high-risk waste materials handling experience preferred.
• Experience with special needs populations or social services preferred.
• Experience in code enforcement preferred.

Sanitation Technician II

In addition to the experience and training requirements listed above:

• Demonstrated proficiency in operating heavy equipment such as an excavator, vactor truck, street cleaner, and hydro excavator.

• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire. 

Sanitation Technician I

• Valid Washington State driver's license and clean driving record. Candidates must submit a three-year driving abstract prior to hire; with biennial submission of driving abstract to department, to be forwarded to Human Resources (Policy ADM 10.03.02.4).
• Must be able to report to Operations Division for emergency/call out and to serve on standby in accordance with bargaining unit agreement if required
• Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) certification within one (1) year of hire.
• Ability to obtain and maintain First Aid/CPR card within three months of employment. 
• Ability to obtain and maintain Flagging/Traffic Control Card within six months of employment.
• Must successfully complete and possess the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification within one (1) year of hire.
• Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, local background check and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
• Must qualify for a limited commission.

Sanitation Technician II

• Sanitation Technician II must possess and maintain a Commercial Driver’s License (Class A CDL) with air brake endorsement throughout term of employment (CSC 7-11-90).
• Must pass CDL-related drug and alcohol testing throughout the term of employment.
• Failure to obtain and maintain appropriate certifications within established time limits will result in demotion to the lower class for which qualified, until such time as the required certification is achieved or termination if incumbent is not qualified for a lower class.

1. Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around October 12, 2026. 
2. If there are 21 or more qualified candidates: 
   • Applications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around October 23, 2026.
   • The 20 scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Review will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of November 2, 2026.
3. If 20 or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all will be invited to the Oral Board Interviews, tentatively scheduled for the week of November 2, 2026.
4. Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following: 
   • If 20 or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, the Oral Board Interview will be 100% of overall score. Applicants must have a passing total score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.
   • If there are 21 or more applicants that meet minimum qualifications, the Experience and Training Rating will be 40% of overall score and Oral Board Interview will be 60% of overall score. Applicants must have a total passing score of 60% or higher to be placed on the eligibility register.

Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There are currently two full-time vacancies in Public Works. This position is represented by a union. 

If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form. and upload it to your application with your DD214. 

Please Note: Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.