Recycling Officer
What is the work like?
As a recycling officer, you would be responsible for planning and developing local environmental and waste reduction policies, and running recycling schemes.
Your work might include:- promoting recycling to the local community and media
- developing policies
- managing local recycling facilities and collection services
- developing and introducing new recycling schemes
- monitoring and reporting on how often recycling services are used
- assessing tenders for work and managing contracts
- advising local communities on recycling, waste reduction and environmental issues
- managing budgets and bidding for funding
- recruiting and training volunteers
- keeping up to date with best practice and current laws.
In some jobs you might combine recycling and waste management activities, in others you would just focus on recycling.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
The qualifications and experience you might need to become a recycling officer can vary between employers. You may often be asked for a BTEC HNC or degree in wastes management or a related subject like environmental science, but this is not always essential if you have:
- plenty of voluntary or paid experience in recycling or environmental projects, or
- experience as a technician or supervisor in the waste management industry.
You can find a list of degrees recognised by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) at the CIWM website. Check with colleges or universities for course entry requirements.
To find out more about volunteering or work experience opportunities in your area, contact a local community recycling group, or your local council's recycling officer.
If you have previous experience in recycling projects or the waste management industry, you will find it useful to have relevant NVQs such as:
- Levels 1 and 2 in Recycling Operations
- Levels 2 and 3 in Environmental Conservation (Community Recycling option)
- Levels 2 and 3 in Waste Management Operations.
See the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) and Energy & Utility Skills websites for more information about NVQs.
What further training and development can I do?
Your training will normally be a mixture of learning on the job and some formal training courses from the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM). These include:
- Structured Education and Training Scheme (SET) – for recent graduates to gain practical skills in their first job
- Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Recycling Managers' Training Programme – a series of short courses for recycling officers with at least three years' experience.
- Levels 3 and 4 in Management of Recycling Operations
- Level 4 in Waste Management Operations.
With experience, you may also choose to study for postgraduate qualifications in waste management, sustainable waste management or environmental engineering.
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?
Peterbridge House3 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7HE
Tel: 01604 231950
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922
St Peter’s Gardens
Marefair
Northampton
NN1 1SX
Tel: 01604 620426
21 Horse Fair
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 0AH
Tel: 0808 100 2040
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 usually between £19,000 and £28,000 a year.
- Senior managers earn up to £45,000 a year.
What are the hours and working conditions?
Your standard working hours would be 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You may need to work extra or flexible hours if you are setting up new schemes, attending evening meetings or running publicity events.
You would be office-based, and also spend time travelling around your local area to give talks, attend meetings and visit recycling sites.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good communication and 'people skills'
- confident presentation skills
- management and leadership ability
- the ability to analyse and interpret figures
- report writing skills
- the ability to organise, prioritise and meet deadlines
- budget awareness
- a keen interest in the environment.
What opportunities are there?
You could work for local authorities, private waste and recycling contractors, community recycling groups or environmental charities. Recycling is a growing area because of increased interest in environmental issues.
Jobs are advertised in the local, national and industry press, on recycling websites, local authority websites and by specialist recruitment agencies.
With experience, you could progress into area or senior management. You could also move into waste management, 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):
letsrecycle.com
Recycling & Waste Management News & Information
CIWM Jobsearch
LG Jobs
Acre
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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