What are the Duties of a Compactor?

As a member of the kitchen stewarding department, simply put, the compactor is assigned to the task of taking out the trash or garbage after his or her shift. However, taking out the trash is not just about hauling them out of the kitchen and dumping them inside the dumpster, but there are more. Here is a short list of the common duties and responsibilities of a compactor. General Duties and Responsibilities Because the compactor is a member of the restaurant staff, he has to know the rules and policies of the restaurant especially when it comes to health and sanitation as well as safety procedures. He also has to be familiar with the operating machines; such as how to operate, clean, and maintain them. Because he is also carrying the name of the restaurant, he has to protect his workplace’s reputation. For this, he has to make sure that his personal appearance meets the standards of the restaurant. He should be wearing his appropriate uniform, and he should make sure that his uniform is clean. The restaurant also prides itself on being able to provide excellent customer service. The compactor, as a member of the Stewarding Department, must respect not only the customers and diners but also his peers as well. He should have a good rapport with everybody around him to promote respect and professionalism in the workplace, and he should also have an excellent working relationship with the other department staffs, not just within his own department. Specific Duties and Responsibilities Because the compactor will be taking over the duties and responsibilities of the previous shift, he has to arrive for work on time. If, for some reason, he will be arriving late, then it is imperative that he advice his immediate supervisor of the delay immediately. If, on the other hand, he will not be able to report for the day, he also needs to inform his supervisor. Before collecting the trash, the compactor has to check and see if there are any lost cutleries in the trash bag or garbage bin. If there are, he has to report it to his immediate supervisor. The compactor also to compact the trash bag so as to make more room for more garbage; however, he has to make sure not to overload the trash bag. It might split open while being transferred to the dumpster, and it will make a bigger mess. In line with this, the compactor also has to tie the top of the garbage bag in a knot so as to avoid garbage falling out of it. He has to make sure that no garbage or rubbish was dropped or left behind when he was transporting the garbage bags to the dumpster area. If he is going to transport more than one trash bag or is going to transport heavy loads, then he should use a wheel barrow. Not only will this save time and energy, but this will also help protect his joints from carrying heavy loads. Since he is assigned at the garbage areas, the compactor has to not only collect the trash but to also clean the garbage area as well. He also has to place new trash bags into the trash cans or canisters. Aside from this, he also has to maintain the cleanliness of the area as well. It will be a very bad publicity for the restaurant if rats, mice, and other pests make the garbage area their home.