Solid Waste > EYC Home > Youth Crew Members

Job Information - Youth Crew Members

Youth crew members range from age 14 to 17 and pick up litter along the shoulders of interstates, state highways, city and county roads, and interchanges, as well as in public off-road areas such as parks, school grounds, and boat launches. During our summer season, these crews normally work one 4-week session, with a complete turnover of crews occurring mid-summer. Youth crew members earn $8.55/hour.

The Department of Ecology will be hiring several road crews in each region throughout the state. No prior job experience is necessary to be an EYC crew member, however two references are required (teacher, school counselor, school administrator or coach).

Applicants for youth crews must:

• Be 14 - 17 years old by the first day of employment and provide proof of age
• Be eligible to work in the United States
• Have a Social Security card, photo identification and proof of age
• Submit an EYC Application by the deadline posted by the Regional Office closest to you.
• Submit an EYC Reference Form with two references (teacher, school counselor, school administrator, coach, etc.).  These forms are also available on the Regional Information page.

If hired:

• You will earn $8.55 per hour
• Your paycheck will be mailed to your home twice a month
• You will work:
  • up to 40 hours per week
  • Monday thru Friday
• You will get two paid 15-minute breaks per day
• You will get a paid 30-minute lunch break
• You will be insured by Labor and Industries for work related injuries
• You are not eligible for medical benefits, paid holiday, sick, or vacation time

Crew members are responsible for their daily transportation to and from the crew meeting point. The supervisor will transport the crew from this meeting point to and from the job site and will remain with the crew throughout the day. Crew members are encouraged to bring their own healthy snacks and lunch each day.

Crew members are trained in proper safety procedures. Ecology provides gloves, hard hat, safety vest, protective eyewear, and EYC Program T-shirts, which must be worn at work. Ecology also furnishes all crew deployment equipment and safety attire EXCEPT footwear. Crew members are responsible for providing and wearing a pair of sturdy, hard-soled, over-the-ankle leather-type work boots and supplying their own rain gear.

In addition to picking up litter, crews collect and recycle containers made of aluminum, glass, plastic, and scrap metal, etc. They also learn how to help the environment become healthier and safer.

Summer Crew Job Description

75%	Litter pickup along freeways and roads, plus boat launches, parks, school grounds, and other public property
15%	Orientation, training, and environmental education
5%	Recycling recovered materials
5%	Maintenance of vehicle and equipment

NOTE:  Ecology is unable to interview all applicants due to the large number of applications received so applicants are chosen by a random selection process. We select EYC crew members based on their interview score and their references.

Go to Regional Information for further details on how to apply in your area.

Median Crew Members

Median Crews are composed of people 18 years and older and are responsible for cleaning the more challenging roadway areas such as the center medians of freeways, complex, interchanges and high traffic areas. These crews work mainly in the spring and fall and occasionally in the summer. They earn $10/hour. Many crews opt to work four 10-hour days per week.

If interested, send an application to the regional office that serves the county in which you want to work. Applications are accepted all year long and kept on file until the end of the calendar year. Applicants are encouraged to apply in February/March and July/August. Go to Regional Information for more details on opportunities available in your area.

Environmental Education

In addition to an all important community service EYC youths learn facts about the environment. Many crews have the opportunity to go on educational field tours of landfills, compost facilities, wildlife centers, and waste-to-energy plants. Some crews also have special environmental education days on waste reduction and recycling, and other environmental issues such as global warming, water quality and quantity issues, salmon recovery, and the principles of biodiversity and sustainability.

Environmental Education Links

For more information please contact Ariona.