Recycling engagement officer
Recycling engagement officers run local recycling schemes and promote recycling in the community.
What you'll do
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
We've identified this as a 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 could work in an office or at a waste recycling site.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
Career path and progression
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
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
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
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- have a full driving licence
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- volunteering
- applying directly
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
More Information
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
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
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
More Information
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.
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.
You can find out more about careers and training in recycling from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).
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This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.