Recycling officers are responsible for planning and developing local environmental and waste reduction policies, and running recycling schemes.

Their work usually includes:

• developing waste reduction and recycling policies
• promoting recycling to the local community and media
• 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.

Some jobs combine recycling operations and waste management, whilst some areas split the activities into separate jobs (see the Waste Management Officer profile for more information).

Hours and Environment

Skills and Interests

To be a recycling officer you should:

• be confident in communicating and making presentations
• be able to manage people and lead a team
• be well-organised
• have good written communication skills, for producing reports
• be able to prioritise and meet deadlines
• be able to analyse and interpret statistics
• have budget management skills
• be interested in the environment.

A driving licence will be useful.

Entry

There are no set entry qualifications for becoming a recycling officer. Most employers ask for a HNC or degree in wastes management (or a related subject like environmental science), but you can often get into the job if you have:

• plenty of voluntary or paid experience in recycling or environmental projects, or
• experience and qualifications as a technician or supervisor in the waste management industry.

See the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) website for a list of accredited degrees. Please check with colleges or universities for course entry requirements.

Contact your local recycling officer or community recycling organisation about volunteering or work experience opportunities.

You may find it useful to have relevant NVQs/SVQs, such as:

• Levels 1 and 2 in Recycling Operations
• Levels 2 and 3 in Environmental Conservation (Community Recycling option)
• Levels 1, 2 and 3 in Waste Management Operations or Level 3 in Waste Management Supervision.

See the Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory Board (WAMITAB) and Energy & Utility Skills websites for more information about NVQs/SVQs.

Training

You will be trained on the job, usually with some formal training courses from the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM), including:

• 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.

You could also work towards relevant NVQs/SVQs, such as:

• NVQ/SVQ Levels 3 and 4 in Management of Recycling Operations
• NVQ/SVQ 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. Membership is available at various levels, depending on your experience and qualifications.

Opportunities

As a recycling officer you are most likely to work for the environmental or cleansing departments of local councils all over the UK. You could also work for community and environmental groups and charities, or private waste and recycling contractors.

Jobs are advertised in the local and national press, trade magazines and websites and on the CIWM and LGjobs websites.

Recycling is a growth area of work, because of government policies and interest in environmental issues. However, some local authority recycling teams are small so competition for jobs can be strong.

With experience, you could progress into area or senior management jobs. You could also move into waste management (see the Waste Management Officer profile for more details), environmental project management or freelance work as a self-employed environmental consultant.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Recycling officers usually start on around £18,000 to £20,000 a year. 
Experienced recycling officers usually earn £20,000 to £27,000 a year.

Further information

The Old Academy
21 Horse Fair
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 0AH
Tel: 0808 100 2040 Peterbridge House
3 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7HE
Tel: 01604 231950 9 Saxon Court
St Peter’s Gardens
Marefair
Northampton
NN1 1SX
Tel: 01604 620426 Friars Gate Two
1011 Stratford Road
Shirley
Solihull
B90 4BN
Tel: 0845 077 9922