Introduction
Did you know that the average family throws out around five tonnes
of waste every year? Waste management and refuse collection
services collect, bury, burn or recycle it. And that is not
counting commercial waste from shops, restaurants, factories and so
on. Local authorities may run their own refuse
collection/waste management service or they may contract it out.
Typically they send out teams of drivers and refuse loaders with a
refuse collection vehicle to collect rubbish and take it to a tip,
recycling facility and / or other sorting facility. Back at
the depot, supervisors and managers organise regular and special
collections and check work.
Work Environment
Refuse loaders and drivers work on board the refuse collection
vehicle, outdoors, in the streets, at rubbish tips, landfill site,
treatment plants and transfer stations. Supervisors are partly
office-based but also outside, checking work on the streets.
Loaders and drivers wear high visibility padded jackets, overalls
safety boots, gloves and waterproofs. Supervisors wear business
wear and high visibility jackets while they are working
outside. Working hours are typically 37 per week, usually
with early morning (around 7am) starts. Occasional weekend work may
be required. In some areas, workers may have to cover seven-day
24-hour operations.
Daily Activities
Refuse collection teams collect rubbish from domestic, commercial
and industrial properties, including bulky refuse. Loaders empty
household bins, plastic sacks, wheeled bins and loose waste onto
the vehicle, and leave the empty containers (where applicable) back
at the collection point. There is an increasing need to ensure that
pre-sorted recycled material is collected in specific sections of
collection vehicles to ensure the integrity of recycled material.
They assist the driver in the safe moving of the vehicle on the
streets and take rubbish to disposal points, such as tips,
recycling centres or dumps.
Drivers lead the team of refuse loaders and drive the freighter
or refuse vehicle. They supervise the collection of rubbish on
regular and special collection rounds. They also conduct daily
vehicle checks and undertake routine maintenance of the vehicle,
ensuring that it is always clean and safe. Supervisors work
from depots, allocating work to teams and ensuring they complete it
to schedule at the required standard. This includes checking
worksheets and observing streets to see that work has been
completed. They are responsible for ensuring teams have the right
clothing and equipment, and they check and authorise payment
claims. Supervisors also carry out risk assessments and
investigate any accidents or incidents that happen.
Skills & Interests
The main requirements are:
- good communications skills;
- sufficient physical fitness to undertake the work for loaders
and drivers;
- good timekeeping abilities;
- interest and ability to work as part of a team;
- displays concern for quality of work.
Entry Requirements
No academic qualifications are usually required for loaders and
drivers. Loaders must usually be over 18 and drivers over 21.
Drivers require the appropriate HGV driving licence. Supervisors
often work their way up through the ranks, but it may be possible
to start as a supervisor with four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) or
equivalent. Training is usually on-the-job and includes
safety awareness, manual handling, health and safety, protective
equipment, handling needles and customer service for loaders and
drivers. Supervisors may work towards an HNC or NVQ/SVQ level 3 in
waste management.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
There are opportunities for work in refuse collection all around
the UK, whether working directly for a local authority or for a
contracted-out operator. Loaders who gain the appropriate HGV
driving licence may become a driver, while both loaders and drivers
with sufficient experience can work their way up to
supervisor. For supervisors, career progression could be into
a range of waste management jobs or there is scope to progress into
regional or area management positions encompassing any operational
activities..
Further Information & Services
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management www.ciwm.co.uk
Energy and Utility Skills www.euskills.co.uk
Environmental Services Association www.esauk.org
Wastes Management Industry Training and Advisory Board www.wamitab.org.uk
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.