A Waste and Recycling Technician identifies, sorts and recycles waste by choosing the right processes and maintaining the equipment
Today, all businesses and households are trying to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste, to avoid it going to landfill and damaging the environment. Many people and organisations take action voluntarily, but there are also laws that dictate how some materials and items need to be handled if they’re no longer wanted or can’t be used: chemicals or electrical items, for example.
With experience, you could move into a supervisory role at a waste collection site. Or with additional qualifications you could specialise in a specific area of waste management.
Your interest in waste and recycling could expand your career into other “green roles”, such as helping business and industry minimise the resources they use and where they’re sourced from.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job.
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
When you first consider this role, you probably imagine a household recycling centre. However, there are many other sectors a waste and recycling technician can be employed in. For example, agriculture, mining and quarrying, health, and construction.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
Materials Recycling Facility Operative
Household Waste Recycling Centre Operative
Recycling Operative
Energy From Waste Operative
