STATEN ISLAND, NY — If you want to join New York’s strongest, application to take the New York Sanitation Exam will open in June.

A Sanitation Worker for the City of New York performs work and prepares and operates various types of equipment involved in street cleaning, garbage collection, recycling collection, snow removal, clearing clutter and waste disposal.

The test is one of the most popular civil service exams. The last time the app was available was in 2014.

Here’s what you need to know about the exam.

When does the exam application open?

Interested candidates can take the open, competitive, computer-based exam when it opens on June 8.

Details on how to apply will soon be available on the website of the New York City Department of Administrative Services (DCAS), which administers the civil service exams.

What are the qualities?

According to DCAS, a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent is required. There are also certain medical, physical and age requirements.

You must be at least 17.5 years old at the end of the application period to take this exam.

Also, you must be 21 to be appointed as a Sanitation Officer. If you are too young to be nominated on the date the eligibility list is terminated, you will have no further opportunity to be considered for nomination from the list.

What happens after taking the test?

If you pass the multiple-choice test, your name will be placed in order of final grades on an eligible list and you will be given a list number.

After an exam is administered, it typically takes nine to 12 months for an eligible list of passers to be established from which agencies can hire, according to DCAS. You will be informed by e-mail of the results of your test.

If you pass the physical test and meet all other requirements and conditions, you will be considered for an appointment when your name reaches the eligible list.

What is the current salary?

DCAS has not yet released the current minimum wage. It will be released when the app becomes available on June 8.

After the completion of six months of employment, the salary will increase. Incumbents also receive salary increases at the end of five and a half years of employment. After five, 10, 15 and 20 years of service, they also receive a longevity allowance in addition to the basic salary.

Should I get vaccinated against the coronavirus?

All newly hired municipal employees will be required to be vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to DCAS, effective August 2, 2021, all new employees must be vaccinated against the disease, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability. If you are offered municipal employment, this requirement must be met at the time of your hire, unless a reasonable accommodation exemption is received and approved by the hiring agency.

What are the typical tasks?

DCAS shared the typical tasks a sanitation worker performs:

• Follows the roadmap of the assigned work area; loading and unloading waste and bulk items; sweeps and cleans city streets; participates in the details of special cleaning and collection works.
• Inspects and prepares department vehicles and equipment for operation; drives and/or operates department vehicles and equipment.
• During winter months, attaches and operates snow plows, clears snow and ice from city streets and thoroughfares, and spreads salt and sand.
• Monitors collected waste for hazardous or toxic materials.
• Uses operational manuals and training materials.
• Prepares the necessary forms and reports; enters data and makes journal entries.
• Moors, shifts, secures and covers barges.
• When assigned, performs law enforcement duties.

What are the other working conditions?

Sanitation workers are required to work shifts, shifts on days off, night shifts, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and mandatory overtime.

Moreover, they are required to perform these tasks in all types of weather.

Some of the physical activities performed by sanitation workers and the environmental conditions encountered include: walking and/or standing for long periods of time; operate various types of sanitation service equipment in all weather conditions; pulling, dragging, lifting and carrying heavy bulky objects, garbage bags, cans, containers, loose items and throwing or dumping them into a truck hopper or loading them onto a truck.

Where are the test centers?

In Staten Island, the testing center is located at 135 Canal St., Stapleton. Additional testing centers are located at: 2 Lafayette St., Manhattan; 210 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn; 118-35 Queens Blvd., Queens; 1932 Arthur Ave, Bronx.

I have other questions. Who can I ask?

For more information on registering for these and other tests, log on to the DCAS website. To apply for a civil service exam open during this application period, go online through the OASys at www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs.

To receive monthly exam updates, sign up for the DCAS newsletter at nyc.gov/examsforjobs and click on the Exams tab.

Inquiries regarding the status of an eligible listing may be emailed to the New York City Department of Administrative Services at [email protected]

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