Page Content
Job profiles
Waste management officer
Hours
30-40 per week
Starting salary
£20,000 + per year
As a waste management officer, you would organise and manage the collection and disposal of waste from households and businesses. You might also be responsible for waste treatment and street cleaning operations. If you are interested in environmental issues, and you can be organised in your approach, this job could be ideal for you.
In this job you would also need to be able to manage and lead a team. You would need good customer service skills. You would need number skills for dealing with budgets and statistics.
To get into this job you could either study for a relevant degree or postgraduate course, or go in at technician or supervisor level and get experience and industry-recognised qualifications while you work. You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme.
WorkDesc
The work
As a waste management officer, your work might include:
- running and inspecting waste disposal sites and recycling facilities
- managing teams of refuse/recycling collectors
- monitoring local waste and recycling collection services
- managing contracts with private waste collection companies
- analysing statistics on local levels of waste and recycling
- making sure that waste disposal is handled according to the law
- aiming to meet waste reduction, landfill diversion 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 duties, whilst in others you would just focus on waste management.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would typically work standard office hours Monday to Friday, although in some jobs you may work weekends 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.
IncomeDesc
Income
Salaries tend to be 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.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
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 to work your way up through the waste management industry, you could help your promotion prospects by taking recognised qualifications whilst you are working, such as:
- Level 3 Diploma for Waste Supervisor
- Level 3 and 4 Diplomas for Waste Manager
- Level 4 Diplomas for Waste Management Operations (specialising in inert waste, transfer, physical & chemical treatment, landfill, closed landfill, thermal treatment, civic amenity or biological treatment)
- BTEC Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Wastes Management
- Foundation Degree in Wastes Management.
See the CIWM website for details of the HNC and Foundation Degree.
You may also get into this job through an Advanced Level Apprenticeship. The Apprenticeship in the Sustainable Resource Management is open to individuals of any age and does not impose any restrictions to entry. Responsibility for selection and recruitment of apprentices lies with the employer who will have a clear idea of their requirements. There are no formal skills requirements and anyone aged 16 or over and not in full-time education can apply.
The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about the Apprenticeship, visit the Energy & Utility Skills or Apprenticeships websites.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
You will normally develop your skills on the job, and may also take some formal training programmes from the CIWM, such as:
- Certificate in Supervisory Management – for anyone in or aiming for a supervisory job
- Structured Learning and Development Scheme – for recent graduates to gain practical skills in their first job
- New Technologies – courses in new and sustainable waste management technologies, for experienced staff.
It may help your career to join the CIWM and work towards Chartered Waste Manager status. See the CIWM website for more details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be a waste management officer you should have:
- 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.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Energy & Utility Skills 
Friars Gate
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922
www.euskills.co.uk
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
9 Saxon Court
St Peter’s Gardens
Marefair
Northampton
NN1 1SX
Tel: 01604 620426
www.ciwm.co.uk
Waste Management Industry Training & Advisory Board (WAMITAB)
Peterbridge House
3 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7HE
Tel: 01604 231950
www.wamitab.org.uk
LGcareers
www.lgcareers.com
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You could work for local authorities or private waste management companies all over the UK.
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):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The waste management industry is part of the energy and utility sector, represented by Energy and Utility Sector Skills Council, which also includes: power; gas; and water. The UK energy and utility sector employs an estimated 536,200 people.
The waste management industry covers the activities concerned with the collection, transport, treatment and final management of waste and recyclables. Once waste is generated from other sectors of the economy, it is collected and passed through a series of processes, which result in either valuable or non-valuable outputs. Non-valuable outputs, which consist of materials that are unsuitable for recovery and re-use, are either sent to landfill or incinerated to produce energy, heat or power. Valuable outputs (such as paper, glass, plastics, metals, etc.), once they have been dismantled and sorted, then leave the waste management industry.
Key facts:
- There are 141,000 people employed in the industry, which includes:
- 29,000 working in Integrated Waste Management Companies
- 60,000 in Public Waste Collection, Disposal Authorities and LAWDCs
- 45,000 in small medium enterprises involved in collection, processing and disposal
- 1,000 working in support services
- 3,000 contractors
- 2,000 in plant/equipment
- 1,000 others, including Regulators
- Women are concentrated in administrative and secretarial, sales and customer service roles.
- The age profile of the waste management industry is significantly older than average UK workforce.
- Around 900 new workers per year will be required by the industry between 2008 and 2017.
Jobs in the industry include: recycling officer; recycling operative; refuse operative; waste management officer; transfer station labourer; energy from waste engineer; environmental engineer; landfill gas; and energy from waste plant operator.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are some 13,500 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 560 companies.
East of England – There are some 7,000 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 590 companies.
London – There are some 15,500 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 460 companies.
North East – There are some 7,000 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in around 210 companies.
North West – There are some 17,500 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 750 companies.
South East – There are some 17,500 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 650 companies.
South West – There are some 10,000 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 490 companies.
West Midlands – There are some 12,000 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 620 companies.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are some 10,000 people are employed within the waste management industry in the region in approximately 620 companies.
Career paths
Further sources
View full Job market information
News
