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Recycling engagement officer Green Job

Recycling engagement officers run local recycling schemes and promote recycling in the community.

Annual Salary

£22,500 to £35,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 39 a week

You could work: evenings;

2.9%
Future employment

There will be 2.9% more Recycling engagement officer jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a recycling engagement officer, you could:

  • improve take-up of local recycling and collection services
  • deal with contracts, budgets and funding applications for schemes
  • organise and promote local sustainability projects and events
  • give advice on waste management and recycling issues
  • recruit and train community volunteers

Green job

As a recycling engagement officer, you'll explain the benefits of recycling to the public. This can have a positive impact on the environment.

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

You could work in an office or at a waste recycling site.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • volunteering
  • applying directly
University

You can get into this job with a higher national diploma or degree in any subject. You may have an advantage if you have studied for a qualification in:

  • business and environment
  • environment and sustainability
  • community development
  • public relations or marketing

Some employers might want you to have a qualification that is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree
For more information
College

You could do a college course to help you learn some of the skills and knowledge you need to become a recycling engagement officer. For example a certificate or diploma in:

  • sustainable resource management
  • business management
  • marketing
  • public relations

For more information
Apprenticeship

You could begin by doing an apprenticeship like:

  • Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
  • Environmental Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

These take a minimum of 3 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
For more information
Volunteering and work experience

You could volunteer at a recycling centre to get practical experience of working in waste management.

You could also take part in community or environmental based schemes to show your interest in local affairs.

Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a recycling engagement officer.

You'll be expected to have an understanding of the issues around recycling, as well as experience of bringing different groups together to work on projects.

More information

You can find out more about careers and training in recycling from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

  • have a full driving licence

More information

Showing jobs in:
View all vacancies in this region

With experience, you could:become an engagement and partnerships manager; move into freelance work as an environmental or sustainability consultant; apply for chartered environmentalist status

How does this job help to address the impacts of climate change and protect wildlife and nature in the West of England?

Recycling Engagement Officers are needed to manage local recycling and collection services and to organise and promote local sustainability projects across the West of England region.

Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.

Examples of post-16 courses you could study at local schools or colleges

  • English, Geography or Environmental Science A-levels

Click here to find a local provider

Examples of apprenticeships you may be able to take with local employers

  • Level 2 Waste Resource Operative
  • Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor

Click here to search for a local apprenticeship

Examples of post-18 courses you could study at local higher education providers

Click here to search for other university courses

Examples of employers with local job opportunities 

  • Bristol Council
  • North Somerset Council
  • Bath and North East Somerset Council
  • South Gloucestershire Council
  • Biffa

For more local employment opportunities working in recycling engagement see in the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • leadership skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • business management skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
  • customer service skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • maths knowledge
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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