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LogisticsISCO 9612

Recycling worker

A recycling worker is a person who cleans materials and removes waste, and who sorts the waste and the collected materials into the appropriate recycling containers. The same role dismantles vehicles and sorts the parts recovered from them, and places recyclable material onto the conveyor belts where it is sorted further.

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Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

assess waste type

operate recycling processing equipment

ensure compliance with waste legislative regulations

troubleshoot

use personal protection equipment

About recycling worker

Sorting is a knowledge task rather than a mechanical one. The worker identifies types of waste, works from a knowledge of waste and scrap products and of waste management, and decides at speed what a given item is made of.

The work also includes dismantling. Taking a vehicle apart means separating materials that were designed to be joined: metals, plastics, glass, fluids and electronics, each going to a different stream. Recovered material has value only once it is separated.

Equipment and safety complete the picture. The worker operates the equipment in a recycling plant, troubleshoots the problems that arise with it, uses personal protective equipment, and ensures compliance with waste regulations. A recycling plant can be loud and dusty, with moving machinery handling material of unknown content, so protective equipment is worn throughout the work.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (11)

health, safety and hygiene legislationhealth, safety and hygiene legislationThe set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.waste managementwaste managementThe methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal. It excludes procedures related to waste inciner...waste and scrap productswaste and scrap productsThe offered waste and scrap products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.assess waste typeassess waste typeIdentify waste materials during collection and sorting operations in order to assess whether they need to be recycled, disposed of, or otherwise be treated.operate recycling processing equipmentoperate recycling processing equipmentOperate recycling processing equipment such as granulators, crushers and balers; process and sort materials to be recycled.ensure compliance with waste legislative regulationsensure compliance with waste legislative regulationsImplement and monitor company procedures for the collection, transport and disposal of waste, in compliance with all regulations and legal requirements.troubleshoottroubleshootIdentify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.use personal protection equipmentuse personal protection equipmentMake use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.dismantle broken appliancesdismantle broken appliancesDismantle equipment and appliances which are broken and ineligible for repair so that their separate components can be sorted, recycled, and disposed of in a manner which is compliant with waste and r...manage wastemanage wasteManage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials and/or hazardous materials, in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities. Ensure required l...collect broken appliancescollect broken appliancesCollect or receive products which are no longer functional and cannot be repaired from households, organisations or collection facilities so that they can be sorted for disposal or recycling.
Optional (22) — show
electronics principleselectronics principlesThe study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.pollution preventionpollution preventionThe processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.electricityelectricityThe principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.hazardous waste storagehazardous waste storageThe regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.maintain sorting equipmentmaintain sorting equipmentPerform routine maintenance as well as minor repairs on the equipment used for sorting waste and recyclable materials.perform laboratory testsperform laboratory testsCarry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.sort wastesort wasteManually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.operate forkliftoperate forkliftOperate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.educate on recycling regulationseducate on recycling regulationsEducate organisations and individuals on the correct procedures and legislation concerning the recycling of different types of waste in different types of containers, waste collection procedures, and ...assess contaminationassess contaminationAnalyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.dispose of hazardous wastedispose of hazardous wasteDispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.maintain recycling recordsmaintain recycling recordsMaintain records and process facts and figures about type and volume of different recycling operations.dispose of non-hazardous wastedispose of non-hazardous wasteDispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures except for waste incineration.avoid contaminationavoid contaminationAvoid the mixing or contamination of materials.drain hazardous liquidsdrain hazardous liquidsDrain substances which pose health and safety risks from equipment, appliances or installations in order to store the liquids according to safety guidelines and dispose or treat them as required.monitor compostingmonitor compostingMix the biodegradable materials respecting the appropriate proportion and monitor the degradation process of organic waste.install recycling containersinstall recycling containersTake care of the installation of containers for recyclable waste, such as cardboard paper, glass bottles and clothing, in the appropriate places.remove contaminantsremove contaminantsUse chemicals and solvents to remove contaminants from products or surfaces.follow recycling collection schedulesfollow recycling collection schedulesFollow and apply waste collection schedules, handed out by the organisations who collect and process the materials for recycling, in order to optimise efficiency and service.report pollution incidentsreport pollution incidentsWhen an incident causes pollution, examine the extent of the damage and what the consequences could be and report it relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.control delivered wastecontrol delivered wasteCarry out receiving controls identifying, inspecting and declaring the delivered waste.advise on waste management proceduresadvise on waste management proceduresAdvise organisations on the implementation of waste regulations and on improvement strategies for waste management and waste minimisation, to increase environmentally sustainable practices and environ...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

solid waste operator6 shared essential skillssorter labourer6 shared essential skillsrefuse collector5 shared essential skillsstreet sweeper5 shared essential skillshazardous waste technician4 shared essential skillswaste management officer4 shared essential skillshazardous materials inspector3 shared essential skillslandfill supervisor3 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a recycling worker do?

Recycling workers clean materials and remove waste, and ensure the waste and collected materials are sorted in the appropriate recycling containers. They also dismantle vehicles and sort the parts collected, and deposit recyclable materials onto conveyor belts where they can be further sorted.

What skills does a recycling worker need?

A recycling worker needs 11 essential skills, including health, safety and hygiene legislation, waste management, waste and scrap products, assess waste type, operate recycling processing equipment.

Will AI replace recycling worker jobs?

The AI disruption score for recycling worker is 44/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: maintain recycling records, follow recycling collection schedules, assess waste type. Most resilient: electricity, install recycling containers, drain hazardous liquids.

Quick Facts

SectorLogistics
ISCO GroupRefuse workers and other elementary workers
Essential Skills11

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