Building a Sustainable Future from the Ground Up: Environmental Technician Rachel Olsen

Environmental Technician Rachel Olsen champions a collaborative mission for a greener future at the Clinton County Landfill in Morrisonville, NY. Starting her career as a laborer, Olsen holds the knowledge and experience to tackle everyday challenges head-on while continuing to ignite a passion for sustainability in her community.

How did you get your start in the industry?

I came onto the team at Clinton County Landfill as a laborer almost three years ago. I have an Environmental Science degree, and I wanted to use it. I remember when I was interviewed, our General Manager Sean Lukas outlined what my career path could look like, and I decided I wanted to dive in and work my way up. I knew this landfill would be how I wanted to use my skill set.

What does a typical day look like for you?

To start my day, I go through my emails and check to make sure there weren’t any alarms that went off overnight. I calibrate my tuning equipment and check in with the plant and our gas fuel maintenance team to make sure nothing is shut down or being worked on. I will go out and do as much tuning as possible, then go over to the food compost and do temperature and moisture readings to ensure everything is going smoothly. We get our food compost delivery on Thursdays, so when those come in, the team lets me know, and I go over and inspect it as they dump.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I really enjoy being up on the landfill and tuning. You get a nice view up there, and depending on the weather, it is just like hiking. Working with the food compost is also very interesting because I never thought I would be doing something like that. It is so cool to see the process and recognize that we are removing it all from the waste stream.

Where do you feel the most impact in your work?

I really feel the impact of what I do when we get to go to educational events. We recently attended a sustainability event in Jay, Vermont. A group of nonprofits invited us because they heard we were taking food compost and were interested in learning more. To be able to lead those conversations was impactful. We also host class field trips and teach kids about our work. It is great to see them light up, and you know that they will go home and tell their families. When you can make that impact on the next generation, it is even more powerful.

As a woman in a primarily male-dominated field, how do you see your role in shaping the industry and inspiring others?

I think it is so empowering. Most people probably don’t think of a woman working at a landfill at first, but it is important to recognize that I am doing all of this vital work. I am out there in the field with everyone else. I worked so hard as a laborer, and I earned everyone’s respect. It was kind of cool to start at the bottom and work my way up because I was able to learn deeply about the ins and outs of the business.

Want to join our team? Explore our various career path options and apply today at casella.com/careers.