Waste Management Officer
What is the work like?
As a waste management officer, you would organise and manage the collection and disposal of waste. You might also be responsible for waste treatment and street cleaning operations.
Your work might include:
- running and inspecting waste disposal sites and recycling facilities
- managing teams of refuse collectors
- monitoring local waste collection services
- managing contracts with private waste collection companies
- analysing statistics on local levels of waste
- making sure that waste disposal is handled according to the law
- aiming to meet waste reduction and recycling targets
- introducing new disposal or recycling schemes
- advising local businesses and communities on waste reduction and environmental issues
- managing budgets.
In some jobs you might combine recycling and waste management activities, whilst in others you would just focus on waste management.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You could take either of the following routes to becoming a waste management officer:
- taking a degree or postgraduate course in wastes management or a related subject like environmental science, chemistry or earth sciences
- gaining experience and industry-recognised qualifications as a technician or supervisor in a waste management company.
See the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) website for a list of industry-recognised degrees and postgraduate degrees. If you take a university degree in wastes management, you will also find it useful to gain practical experience in voluntary recycling or environmental projects.
If you choose work your way up through the waste management industry, you will help your promotion prospects by taking recognised qualifications whilst you are working, such as:
- NVQ Level 3 in Waste Management Supervision
- NVQ levels 3 and 4 in Waste Management Operations (specialising in Landfill, Transfer or Treatment)
- BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Wastes Management
- Foundation Degree in Wastes Management.
See the Energy & Utility Skills website for more information on NVQs, and the CIWM website for details of the HNC and Foundation Degree.
What further training and development can I do?
Your training will normally be a mixture of learning on the job with some formal training courses from the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM). These include:
- CIWM Certificate in Supervisory Management – for anyone in or aiming for a supervisory job
- Structured Education and Training Scheme (SET) – for recent graduates to gain practical skills in their first job
- New Technologies – courses in new and sustainable waste management technologies, for experienced staff.
If you do not already have them, you could also work towards NVQ levels 3 and 4 in Waste Management Operations (Landfill, Transfer or Treatment).
It may help your career to join the CIWM and work towards Chartered Waste Manager status. See the CIWM website for more details.
Where can I go for more information?
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922
St Peter’s Gardens
Marefair
Northampton
NN1 1SX
Tel: 01604 620426
3 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7HE
Tel: 01604 231950
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Salaries are normally between £20,000 and £35,000 a year.
- Operations managers or chartered waste managers could earn £45,000 or more.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your standard working hours would be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, although in some jobs you may work at the weekend if sites are open seven days a week.
You would be mainly office-based, and also spend some time visiting sites and contractors in your local area.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good spoken and written communication skills
- management and leadership skills
- the ability to organise, prioritise and meet deadlines
- patience and tact, for dealing with any complaints
- an understanding of budgets and statistics
- the ability to understand and apply complex laws
- good IT and office skills
- a keen interest in environmental issues.
What opportunities are there?
You could work for local authorities or private waste management companies all over the UK. This is a growing area because of increased interest in 'green issues' and stricter environmental laws.
Jobs are advertised in the local, national and industry press, on industry websites, local authority websites and by specialist recruitment agencies.
With experience, you could progress into area or senior management. You could also move into recycling, environmental project management or freelance work as an environmental consultant.
You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Recycling & Waste Management News & Information
CIWM Jobsearch
The Environment Post
LG Jobs
letsrecycle.com
Acre
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