Materials Recycler
Waste Management Officer
Waste Transfer
Attendant - Landfill Operations
Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
Garbage, rubbish and recycling collectors collect rubbish from houses, industries and commercial
businesses for disposal or recycling.
They drive or ride in rubbish trucks, pick up bags, bins or recycling materials and throw them into the truck, or operate industrial waste disposal facilities. They may also separate recycling materials and remove hazardous waste, and unload or clean the truck. Recycling and rubbish collectors may also plan and organise the schedules and routes for rubbish and recycling collection in consultation with local government.
Garbage collectors may operate their own business or work within a partnership collecting garbage bags and other rubbish from domestic and commercial premises.
ANZSCO ID & description: 8996: Collects household, commercial and industrial waste for recycling or disposal.
Alternative names: Recycling and Rubbish Collector, Garbologist, Refuse Collector, Waste Removalist, Sanitation Workers, Graffiti Officer, Waste Collector, Compact Truck Driver (Rubblish Collection), Street cleaners or an old term "Dustmen"!
Specialisations: Garbage Depot Worker
Knowledge, skills and attributes
A garbage, recycling and rubbish collector needs:
- physical fitness and stamina
- to enjoy outdoor work
- manual and practical skills
- a methodical approach to their work
- speed and efficiency
- to be able and willing to work in unsanitary conditions
Duties and Tasks
Garbage collectors may perform some of the following as part of their duties:
- ride in or on garbage and recycling trucks
- collect waste and load it into bins or trucks
- collecting rubbish and items for recycling from domestic, commercial and industrial premises
- return empty bins to footpath
- operate machinery or compacting equipment
- loading rubbish and recycling into bins and garbage and recycling trucks
- drive trucks, street sweeping machines, or machinery at the tip.
- operate forklift and compacting equipment
- unloading garbage and recycling trucks
- may operate compacting equipment on garbage trucks
- report incidences of graffiti
- may supervise other garbage collectors
Working conditions
Recycling and rubbish collectors work outdoors, usually in large trucks, which they drive either along established domestic routes or to businesses and other organisations, and also to recycling plants and waste disposal facilities. They work in most weather conditions, and are often required to undertake a lot of heavy lifting. Working conditions may be dirty, smelly and unhygienic. They usually work irregular hours, which often involve early mornings.
Garbage collectors need to be able to identify recyclable materials (such as paper, glass, plastic, aluminium and steel) so these can be recycled.
Some garbage collectors operate their own business collecting
garbage bags and other rubbish from homes and/or businesses.
Tools and technologies
Recycling and rubbish collectors generally drive rubbish collection vehicles
such as trucks, which may be fitted with hydraulic lifting equipment and
automated compacting equipment. They may also be required to work with
industrial waste-disposal equipment. They are often required to wear
protective clothing such as masks, gloves, boots and high-visibility
clothing when they are working on roadsides.
You do not need any qualifications to become a recycling and rubbish collector and get training on the job. However, your employment prospects may be improved with formal qualifications.
You can also become a recycling and rubbish collector by completing a traineeship. Waste management traineeship usually takes 12 months to complete. Alternatively a waste collection driver traineeship usually takes 24 months to complete.
To operate a waste collection vehicle, you will need appropriate licences to drive vehicles and operate machinery. Truck drivers and garbage collectors involved in transporting waste products and toxic or flammable substances must have suitably endorsed licences.
Employment Opportunities
The majority of garbage collectors work for private rubbish removal
companies. Their services are then contracted by local councils and
corporations.
With experience and further training, it is possible to progress to
supervisory and management positions.
| Did You Know? Metal Cans Americans throw away enough aluminum in three months to rebuild all of our commercial airplanes! The energy saved by recycling one aluminum can could run a television for three hours! The energy saved by recycling 19 billion steel cans each year is the same as Los Angeles' energy requirements for eight years! Currently, the only source for new tin in the U.S. is from recycling used tin cans! Recycled tin is so pure that it is used to make stannous fluoride, the "cavity fighter" in toothpaste! Paper Every year, Americans throw away enough office and writing paper to build a wall 12 feet high, stretching from Los Angeles to New York City! We use more than 50 million tons of paper each year! Recycling one ton of paper saves one acre of trees! More than 30 million trees are cut down to create one year's worth of newspapers! Paper makes up the largest single item in the trash, accounting for 37 percent!  Glass Bottles and Jars If all the glass bottles and jars collected through recycling in the U.S. in one year were laid end-to-end, they would reach the Moon and half way back to the Earth! The volume of glass recycled by Americans in one year would fill New Jersey's Giants Stadium more than three times! Glass can be recycled an infinite number of times! The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will light a 100-watt bulb for four hours! Plastics Used plastic soda and juice bottles are used to make carpets, insulating materials in clothes and sleeping bags, strapping, scouring, pads, auto parts, paint brushes, bottles, and other things such as tennis balls! We can recycle plastic milk, water and detergent bottles to make new detergent and engine oil bottles, trash cans, flower pots, recycling bins, drainage pipes, park benches, playground equipment, traffic barrier cones, kitchen drain boards and combs! The number of plastics recycling businesses has nearly tripled over the past several years, with more than 1,700 businesses handling and reclaiming post-consumer plastics. By using plastic in packaging, American product manufacturers save enough energy each year to power a city of 1 million homes for three and a half years. The post-consumer plastics recycling industry provides jobs for more than 52,000 American workers. Clothing/Textiles In one year an estimated seven million tons of clothing and other textiles are thrown away. Only 12 percent are reused or recycled! Textile recycling provides raw materials for upholstery, for filling mattresses, for wadding and other absorbent products, and for the manufacture of felt as well as fibre from which new cloth can be made. Sources: Aluminum Recycling, American Forest and Paper Association Recycling, Environmental News Network (ENN.com), EPA, plasticsresource.com, Bureau of International Recycling. as quoted in "FunFacts" |
Waste management officers organise and manage the collection and
disposal of waste from households and businesses.
ANZSCO ID: N/A
Knowledge, skills and attributes
To become a waste management officer, you would 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 complaints
- to be able to analyse statistics and see trends
- the ability to understand and apply laws and regulations
(Source:
DENR PENRO Cagayan Sub-Office)
Duties and Tasks
As a waste management officer
- oversee and inspect waste disposal sites and recycling facilities
- manage teams of garbage or recycling collectors
- monitor local waste and recycling collection services
- manage contracts with private waste collection companies
- analyse statistics on local levels of waste and recycling
- make sure that waste disposal is handled according to the law
- aim to meet waste reduction, landfill diversion and recycling targets
- introduce new disposal or recycling schemes
- advise local businesses and communities on waste reduction and environmental issues
- manage budgets
Working conditions
In a full-time role a waste
management officer would usually work a standard number of hours, Monday
to Friday. In some jobs they may work weekends if waste management or
recycling sites are open seven days a week. They normally work for a
local government authority or a private waste management or recycling
company. They are mainly office-based, and also spend some time visiting
sites and contractors in the local area. They need a current drivers'
licence.
Education and training/entrance requirements
To become a waste management officer, you would
usually need a VET qualification or a degree in environmental
management, waste management, engineering or similar areas. To get into
these courses, you would usually need to gain your senior school
certificate or equivalent, with English.
In local government, you might move into this role from another
management area within a local council or council authority. Some people
move into this role with experience in other industries such as
construction, transport management or fleet management.
| Did You Know? | |
| Definitions |
|
| Collection | The consolidation, loading, transport and delivery of waste and recyclable materials. |
| Energy Recovery | Energy recovered as a by-product of landfill or thermal treatment of waste derived fuels. |
| Landfill | A site for the disposal of waste materials which have been collected and cannot be recycled. |
| Material transfer | The physical movement of material within or between organisations, separate from any transport involved in the initial waste collection and sorting process. |
| Material transformation | The process of transforming a material from a waste input into a different material/good that has economic value. |
| Recycling | Processing and transforming used materials into new products to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials and reduce the amount of substances going to landfill. |
| Reuse | A form of recycling, where materials or products are used more than once without any transformation. The item can be used for the same function or a new function e.g. second hand clothing, building materials. |
| Sorting & recovery | Waste sorting for the purposes of eventual material recycling. |
| Waste input | Any material collected by (or on behalf of) an organisation that has been discarded or is no longer valued by its previous owner. This includes items that may eventually be recycled and reused. |
| Waste management | Management of the collection, recovery, transport, recycling, processing and disposal of waste. |
Waste Transfer Attendants
(Landfill Operations) carries out general landfill operations including but not limited to
grounds maintenance, litter pick up, loading and delivery of recovered
products like mulches, compost, crushed concrete
etc, customer assistance and batching of the green waste/organic waste
stream for composting operations. Waste Transfer Attendants control and
monitor/record the public vehicle movements at the Waste
Management facilities and the collection/daily reconciliation of waste
deposition fees.
ANZSCO ID: 899611
Alternative names:
Local Tip Worker, Landfill Operator, Garbage Depot Worker,Knowledge, skills and attributes
- Provide effective service to customers
- Follow defined work health and safety policies, procedures and legislation
- Undertake workplace learning and development
- A current Australian MR and/or LR Driver’s Licence and proven competence to operate relevant plant-Front End Loader/Excavator/forklift.
- WorkCover Construction Induction Card (white card) or equivalent
- CRC operator and DrumMuster inspector training or willingness to obtain within 3 months of appointment to the position.
- Demonstrated ability to meet Service Agreement Standards.
- Demonstrated accurate record keeping skills
- Demonstrated commitment to the provision of high quality customer service.
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively with staff and contractors, time management skills and verbal and written communication skills.
- Understanding of Work Health & Safety and Equal Employment Opportunity Legislation.
- Working Knowledge of Environmental Protection responsibilities.
- Certificate in Waste Management (Asset Maintenance).
- Experience in Local Government.
- Demonstrated ability to operate minor plant (eg. Handheld tools, mowers, chainsaws).
- Work effectively in a local government or business context.
(Source:
Whitehorse Council Vic)
Duties and Tasks
- Operation of the gatehouse including the collection of fees.
- Give directions to users regarding types of materials to be accepted, materials to be separated and correct placement of materials.
- Maintain Gate House and Transfer Station in a neat and tidy condition, including regular wash down of sealed/concrete areas, mowing of grass and edging of trees and shrubs.
- Operation of water supply system to maintain grass and shrubs.
- Load recovered products from stockpile area. (Compost/mulch/Crushed Concrete Etc).
- Ensure changeover of full bins as required including assisting contractors to load out items from the Community Recycling Centre and other recovered items or items sent for reprocessing.
- Ensure that the maximum amount of material is available/delivered to the resource recovery centre and e-waste processing facility.
- Work in a positive manner with other team members.
- Ensure that spillage of material does not occur from bins at the Waste Transfer Station.
Working conditions
Normal working hours are 7.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday but this could vary depending on need.
Tools and technologies
Handheld tools, mowers, chainsaws, relevant plant-Front End Loader/Excavator/forklift.
Education and training/entrance requirements
No educational or training is required but a Certificate in Waste Management (Asset Maintenance) would be helpful. On the Job Training will occur.
Materials recyclers collect, sort and repurpose recyclable items from
industrial, commercial and private establishments for reuse and resale.
They may recycle a range of materials such as cardboard and paper,
mattresses, scrap metal and plastics, construction and demolition
materials, and electronic waste (e-waste) such as computers and
televisions.
Recyclable
products are collected from community groups, households, industry and
commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and clubs.
Materials recyclers may travel to perform an assessment or evaluation of
materials to be recycled, and may offer a collection service.
They may
buy materials to repurpose and resell, such as bricks for historic
buildings, or may recycle materials for manufacture on site.
ANZSCO ID: 621911
Alternative names:
Scrap Materials BuyerSpecialisations: Automotive Dismantler, Bottle Dealer, Waste Recycler
Knowledge, skills and attributes
-
enjoy practical work
-
understand the benefits of reducing waste and recycling
-
able to cope with the physical demands of the job
-
aware of public health and personal hygiene issues
(Source:
Science Direct)
Duties and Tasks
Sorts, packs and stores plastics, glass, paper, metals and other recyclable materials which have been collected from household, commercial and industrial premises in preparation for use in creating new products.
-
separate recyclable items according to type
-
calculate payment to customers
-
manually prepare recyclable products
-
operate a forklift
-
find markets for sale of products
-
deliver products to market for resale
-
seek to increase and promote recycling
-
assist with or provide advice relating to the development of on-site technology for more efficient handling of recyclable items
-
assist with or provide advice about minimising and avoiding waste
Working conditions
Material Recyclers work in conditions that
can be dirty and unhygienic. Materials recyclers may work in scrapyards, warehouse facilities or
factories where they sort and process items to be recycled. They may
sort materials by hand or by machine.
Materials recyclers generally work business hours, but may also work
on weekends, depending on the needs of their business. They may use
a range of personal protective equipment (PPE), which will vary
depending on the specific work being carried out.
Tools and technologies
Materials recyclers may use office equipment to consult
with clients and organise collections of recyclable materials. They
may also be required to collect payments for materials. They may
operate forklifts, trucks, mobile plants, balers or scissor lifts.
They may be required to wear safety gloves, glasses and boots, as
well as high visibility clothing.
Education and training/entrance requirements
You can work as a materials recycler without any formal qualifications and get training on the job. However, you can also complete a traineeship. A waste management traineeship is available, and can be done as a school-based traineeship. You can also do a traineeship as a waste collection driver. These traineeships generally take 12 to 24 months to complete.
You will need appropriate licences to drive vehicles and operate
machinery such as forklifts. Truck drivers and recyclers involved in
transporting waste products and toxic or flammable substances must
also have suitably endorsed licences.
Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have
recognised, additional skills under the Property Services Training
Package that will expand your career opportunities within this
industry.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
As an apprentice or trainee, you enter into a formal training
contract with an employer, enabling you to complete training towards
a nationally recognised qualification. You spend time working and
learning practical skills on the job and you spend some time
undertaking structured training with a registered training provider.
You can do an apprenticeship or traineeship if you are a
school-leaver, re-entering the workforce or as an adult or
mature-aged person wishing to change careers. You can even begin
your apprenticeship or traineeship while you're still at school.
If you are still at school you can access an apprenticeship through
your school. Talk to your school's VET Co-ordinator to start your
training now through VET in Schools. If you are no longer at school
you can apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship and get paid
while you learn and work.
To operate waste collection vehicles in Australia, you will need to
obtain the appropriate licences to drive these vehicles and operate
related machinery. Some employers may require you to hold a medium
or heavy rigid licence, depending on the type of vehicle used in
their operations.
Employment Opportunities
The recycling industry remains relatively small despite experiencing
significant growth in recent years due to increased community
awareness about the importance of minimising waste and pollution.
employment opportunities depend largely on community awareness of,
and participation in, recycling and the cost of reworking recycled
materials.
With experience and further training, it is possible to progress to
supervisory and management positions.
Related Jobs or
Working with these Jobs
Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Garbage
Collector;
Materials Recycler
];
WebArchive Only -
CareerHQ [Waste
Management Officer;
]
WebArchive Only -
CareersOnline [Garbage
Collector;
Recycler; ]
EVO Jobs [Waste
Operator; ]
Your Career [Recycling & Rubbish Collector;
Material Recycler; ]
