Waste Resources Operative

On a waste resources operative apprenticeship course, you’ll help collect, transport, process, dispose and recycle waste and recyclables.

The phrase “waste resources operator” refers to anybody who has a significant role in the collection, transportation, processing, disposal, and recycling of waste and recyclables.

As an operative, you may be sent to several sites, including recycling centres, recycling facilities, and transfer stations.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will learn about waste and recycling. This will include detecting waste and recyclables, sorting and separating them, treatment options, a duty of care, and issues relating to health, safety, quality, and the environment.

You’ll assist with the site’s or activity’s day-to-day operations, ensuring that processes are carried out safely and efficiently. You will also contribute to environmental preservation, improved resource use, and quality improvement in line with relevant legislation.

What you’ll learn

On a waste resources operative course, you’ll learn to:

• Clear, accurate, and timely communication with colleagues, customers, and the broader public.
• Use appropriate verbal and nonverbal communication skills in the workplace.
• Conciliate different points of view within an argument, discussion, or perspective to achieve a good outcome.
• Plan garbage collection routes, including access to and from the waste and the safety and suitability of collection equipment and gear.
• Prepare for the loading and unloading of waste and resources in line with regulatory and organisational policy and practice.
• Collect trash by hand and machine, reject rubbish, and deal with non-conforming waste following organisational procedures.
• Identify and segregate recyclable materials, ensure that recyclables meet required quality standards, prepare, check, maintain, and use recyclable material sorting equipment, carry out sorting methods following organisational procedures and practises, and deal with superfluous materials and non-recyclables
• Follow safe working procedures and practices that follow legal and organisational requirements.
• Identify and address problems that may affect health, safety, and hygiene standards following your responsibilities and company policies and procedures.
• Recognise and report a near miss, incident, or occurrence.
• Carry out and execute work duties as part of a team within performance limits.
• Deal with colleagues and others constructively to ensure that tasks are done quickly and safely.
• Maintain records following organisational processes, for example. Permission to use
• Report any problems to the relevant person per your organisational job role responsibilities.
• Prepare to use vehicles, machinery, and equipment by doing daily checks to verify that they are in working order following work and manufacturer’s instructions. Any problems should be disclosed according to company policy.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

• Depend on the employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience for intermediate apprenticeship
• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment comprises three assessments:

• Multiple choice question test
• Observation
• Professional discussion

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

• have a full driving licence

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 2 Waste Resources Operative Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.