Refuse collectors work in a team made up of several loaders and a driver. They collect rubbish and put it in a refuse lorry to take to a recycling centre, tip or incinerator.
The Work
Loader
You could be:
wheeling bins to the edge of the pavement and loading them on the automatic tipping machine to empty them into the lorry
picking up plastic bags full of rubbish and throwing them into the lorry
operating controls at the back of the lorry to crush the rubbish
returning empty bins to houses and perhaps supplying new bins
emptying public litter bins or skips
collecting garden rubbish or large items such as old furniture or carpets
sorting rubbish for recycling
removing dangerous materials such as chemicals or hospital waste.
Driver
You could be:
driving the refuse lorry slowly down a street and waiting while loaders empty bins into it
driving full loads to the refuse tip or incinerator
doing routine maintenance of the lorry – checking oil, water, fuel, tyres
driving a vehicle at a refuse tip.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Pay rates for refuse collectors vary depending on your local council, but recent vacancies in Scotland have been in the range of around £23,000 to £30,000 a year.
Conditions
Work is outdoors in all weathers, which can be difficult in winter.
It can be dirty, smelly and dusty, and you might come across rodents and insects.
You could be at risk of cuts or other injuries if you don't follow health and safety rules.
You would spend a lot of time on your feet.
You need to wear a high visibility jacket, protective clothing and gloves.
There might be shower facilities at the depot where you start and finish.
You may have to work unsociable shifts including early starts or late finishes.
You could get overtime, or bonus payments, for working public holidays – especially Christmas and New Year.
Getting In
A good general education is useful.
You should be over 18 for health and safety reasons.
A current driving and Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence with Category C or C+E is required to be a driver.
You should apply to the DVLA for a digital tachograph driver smart card (digicard) and the DVSA for a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card. The CPC card is given after 35 hours periodic training.
You should be fit and healthy as there is a lot of lifting, carrying, bending and walking.
If the job involves driving, you will need to pass a medical examination.
You could work for a local authority, a private contractor employed by a local authority or a private company specialising in recycling or disposing of industrial waste.
2025
