Front Door Waste Technician-Cortland Duluth

It's 8 p.m. on a Wednesday and you're working a valet trash route, moving from building to building, collecting bagged waste from resident doorsteps before it becomes anyone's problem. That's the core of this role. It's physical, it's consistent, and it matters more to resident satisfaction than most people expect.

What the Work Actually Looks Like

Cortland is hiring a Front Door Waste Technician for their Duluth community. This is a valet trash position, which means you're running scheduled collection routes through the property, picking up resident waste bags from doorsteps, loading them into leak-proof carts and hampers, and transferring everything to onsite compactors or containers. You'll also keep common areas clean: pool decks, dog waste stations, mail kiosks, parking lots, and compactor pads all fall within your scope.

Beyond the physical collection work, you're expected to flag improper or prohibited waste, clean spills as you find them, and interact professionally with residents and staff throughout your shift. Documentation matters here. You'll log start and end times and submit photo-supported reports through a mobile app, so comfort with a smartphone is a real requirement, not an afterthought.

The role also requires a valid Class E driver's license, the ability to lift up to 50 lbs, climb stairs, and work outdoors in all weather. If strong odors are a dealbreaker, this one isn't the right fit. That's worth saying plainly.

What Cortland Is Looking For

• High school diploma or equivalent (preferred)
• At least one year in waste services or a customer-facing role
• Working knowledge of EPA and OSHA regulations around waste handling
• Clear, professional communication with residents and on-site staff
• Bilingual ability is a plus
• Ability to follow written instructions and operate basic equipment
• Personal smartphone (Android 2.2+ or iPhone iOS 4.3+) with an active data plan and email
• Valid Class E driver's license

Cortland is a vertically integrated multifamily owner-operator, one of the larger ones in the country, which means their properties tend to run with more structure and more accountability than you'd find at a smaller management shop. Routes have productivity standards. Reporting is tracked. That's not a complaint, just context. If you do the job well and consistently, there's a real organization behind this role.

One thing worth noting for candidates coming from general labor or service backgrounds: valet trash on a Class A multifamily property is resident-facing work. You're the person residents see on their doorstep several nights a week. How you carry yourself on the route directly affects how the community feels to the people living there. The best candidates in this type of role treat it like a service job, not just a labor job.