compensation:starts at $21.97 base wage plus an average incentive of $3.54 per hour, or an average hourly wage of $25.51 per hour. Health and Dental coverage.
At Urban Ore, all staff are responsible for reusing and recycling large volumes of material, satisfying customers, keeping the business running smoothly and profitably, and working cooperatively as a team. Staff members are expected to do many jobs according to the needs of the day, and to work together cooperatively as teammates to accomplish the overall goals.
People who find this job rewarding love physical work, have a treasure-hunter's curiosity, and take pleasure in helping to prevent resources from being wasted in a landfill. Urban Ore's purpose is To End the Age of Waste. We're helping to save the Earth from land filling and pollution, one discarded object at a time.
A Salvager performs diverse tasks as necessary while handling a variety of reusable and recyclable materials, each of which has its own system for receiving, processing, and marketing. The primary activities are to salvage reusable objects and recyclable nonferrous metals from the City of Berkeley Transfer Station; receive incoming recyclables; and sort, upgrade, and take recyclable metals to buyers. All staff members help each other as required. The overall purpose of the work is to recover discarded resources for highest and best use while maximizing income to the company, whether through reuse sales or scrap. Two days per week will be spent providing customer service and working with a POS in the General Store.
Physical requirements:
This is heavy and demanding physical work; salvagers lift about a ton a day (not all at once). Must work safely around heavy equipment using hand-signal communications protocols. Must be able to lift 50 pounds safely and walk 50 feet carrying it. Must be able to keep up an effective pace doing physical labor for the larger part of every day. An employment offer will be contingent on the applicant undergoing a company-paid physical examination.
Environment:
Primarily outdoors, year-round and inside an unheated steel warehouse. Staff include feral cats that help keep rodents away. People with allergies or environmental sensitivities of any kind should inquire during the job interview to assure the working conditions are appropriate for their health. Personal protective equipment (work gloves, dust masks, aprons, rain gear, boots) is provided as needed.
Activities:
Helps other team members and performs other tasks as required to keep the site orderly and appealing. Work collaboratively with neighboring departments, such as the General Store.
• Keeps work area clean and well-organized.
• Maintains recycling and trash bins.
• Culls inventory for old or unusable goods and puts them into scrap bins according to Urban Ore’s internal Zero Waste system.
• Helps load and unload materials from one area to another.
• Operating a forklift. Training and certification held on-site.
• Provides friendly and helpful customer service.
• POS (Point of Sale) Cashier. Training included.
• Monitors metal recycling areas and bins for processing.
• Performs other tasks as necessary to the smooth daily operation of the facility.
Personal characteristics we will look for:
• Safety conscious and safe work habits.
• Honesty and high integrity.
• Communicates well, efficient work patterns, and willingness to be trained.
• Willingness to learn workflow procedures and follows instructions well.
• Values teamwork and strives for continuous improvement.
• Ability to work smoothly with teammates even under pressure
• Ability to receive and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to recognize the dynamic nature of each product and situation.
• Interest in reuse, recycling, and other environmental matters is preferred.
Compensation:
This full-time job starts at $21.97 base wage plus an average incentive of $3.54 per hour, or an average hourly wage of $25.51 per hour. Benefits for the staff person and dependents include health and dental coverage; vacation time accrual that would yield 12 days of paid vacation a year; up to 22 total days off a year; and a 50% discount on purchases for personal use.
Schedule:
This full-time position is five (5) days a week; Thursday to Monday. Must work weekends. Primarily working three (3) days in Salvage and Recycling, Monday, Friday, & Saturday from 7:45AM to 4:30PM. Retail support on Sunday and Thursday, from 8:15AM to 5:00PM.
TO RECEIVE AN EMAILED JOB APPLICATION, respond to this ad at hr@urbanore.com. Then print the application, fill it in by hand (important), and bring it in person (important) in an envelope. You can also pick up an application at the front cash register and fill it out right away. No emailed applications will be considered. The closing date is 7/15/2026.
If you have any questions about the job and its requirements, structure, or future, please email hr@urbanore.com.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.