Recycling operatives work in recycling centres and sort glass, paper, cardboard, plastics, metals and textiles for saving and making into new products.
The Work
You could be:
showing members of the public to the correct bays to deposit their recyclable items
sorting through waste materials for recycling in the yard or warehouse
hand picking items off a sorting conveyor belt, inspecting them for contamination
operating equipment such as guillotines or machinery that make bales (large bundles of packages or cartons tied with ropes or wires)
checking the machines or air jets which separate paper from plastic bottles, tins and cans
separating plastic bottles into two types by hand and putting them into machines to make bales
sending the containers of materials to be recycled into new products
keeping the site clean and tidy
recording site usage, movement of materials and other relevant paperwork.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the company or organization you work for
the demand for the job.
Salaries for recycling operatives start around £20,000 a year and can go up to around £26,000.
Conditions
You will sometimes work indoors at a conveyor belt or work with production machinery.
At other times, you will be working outside in all weathers, sometimes moving around large items or materials.
With some companies you might work 12-hour shifts, others you will work normal hours 5 days out of 7.
You have to wear safety clothing including strong gloves.
You might have to work with hazardous and toxic waste.
Your working environment will be dusty, noisy and smelly.
You might have to work at heights or in confined spaces.
You must be fit as the work is physically demanding.
You could find work with a local council on a civic amenity (CA) site or specialist recycling company. You can search for jobs on the local authority website www.myjobscotland.gov.uk.
2024
