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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 1321

Waste management officer

A waste management officer is a person who advises on and enforces the regulations covering waste management, waste collection and recycling, develops and implements rules, and assesses whether they are being complied with. The role joins a regulatory side and an operational side in one job.

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Rate 5 of the 15 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

ensure compliance with environmental legislation

ensure compliance with waste legislative regulations

manage staff

establish waste collection routes

develop recycling programs

About waste management officer

The regulatory side comes first. The officer ensures compliance with waste regulations, assesses what is actually happening against what the rules require, and advises on waste management procedures for the organisations and departments that have to follow them. Knowledge of waste and scrap products supports that advice. The officer keeps up to date with waste legislation and checks that the organisation applies it.

Collection is the operational side. The officer plans waste collection routes, applies organisational techniques to the logistics of moving material that is heavy, bulky and time-sensitive, and makes the schedule work against the capacity that actually exists.

Recycling programmes are where the two sides meet. The officer develops recycling programmes, keeps the recycling records that show what was diverted and where it went, and manages the recycling programme budget. The officer reports the programme's costs together with the recovery rate it achieves.

European Skills Framework

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

Essential (15)

business management principlesbusiness management principlesPrinciples governing business management methods such as strategy planning, methods of efficient production, people and resources coordination.waste transport legislationwaste transport legislationRegulations and legislation concerning the safe transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials, products, and appliances.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.ensure compliance with environmental legislationensure compliance with environmental legislationMonitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation....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.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...maintain recycling recordsmaintain recycling recordsMaintain records and process facts and figures about type and volume of different recycling operations.establish waste collection routesestablish waste collection routesEstablish and outline the routes which would ensure efficient and fast waste collection in the designated area.follow standards for machinery safetyfollow standards for machinery safetyApply basic safety standards and machine-specific technical standards to prevent risks connected with the use of machines in the workplace.develop recycling programsdevelop recycling programsDevelop and coordinate recycling programs; collect and process recyclable materials in order to reduce waste.apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...manage recycling program budgetmanage recycling program budgetManage the annual recycling program and respective budget of an organisation.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...
Optional (27) — show
decontamination techniquesdecontamination techniquesThe methods and techniques used for the decontamination of waste by removing or neutralising the harmful substance.pollution legislationpollution legislationBe familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.project managementproject managementThe discipline of project management, the activities which comprise this area and the variables implied in it, such as time, resources, requirements, deadlines, and responding to unexpected events.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.nuclear energynuclear energyThe generation of electrical energy through the use of nuclear reactors, by converting the energy released from nuclei of atoms in reactors which generate heat. This heat subsequently generates steam ...radiation protectionradiation protectionThe measures and procedures used to protect people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionising radiation.hazardous waste storagehazardous waste storageThe regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.find grantsfind grantsDetect possible grants and grant opportunities for their organisation by consulting the foundation or agency offering the funding. Follow up and complete application processes.communicate with waste collectorscommunicate with waste collectorsCommunicate with workers who collect waste from various places and transport it to the waste treatment facilities in order to ensure optimal cooperation and efficient operation of waste treatment and ...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 ...develop hazardous waste management strategiesdevelop hazardous waste management strategiesDevelop strategies which aim to increase the efficiency in which a facility treats, transports, and disposes of hazardous waste materials, such as radioactive waste, chemicals, and electronics.collect samples for analysiscollect samples for analysisCollect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.advise on pollution preventionadvise on pollution preventionAdvise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions which aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.follow nuclear plant safety precautionsfollow nuclear plant safety precautionsComply with nuclear power plant safety procedures, policies and legislation to ensure a safe working environment for all employees, and to ensure the safety of the public.monitor disposal of radioactive substancesmonitor disposal of radioactive substancesEnsure correct management and disposal of radioactive substances used for medical purposes, in compliance with established procedures.maintain waste collection recordsmaintain waste collection recordsMaintain records on waste collection routes, scheduling, and types and volume of waste collected.identify new recycling opportunitiesidentify new recycling opportunitiesInvestigate ideas and spot opportunities to improve the collection, process and recycling of waste materials.write technical reportswrite technical reportsCompose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.schedule regular machine maintenanceschedule regular machine maintenanceSchedule and perform regular maintenance, cleaning, and repairs of all equipment. Order necessary machine parts and upgrade equipment when necessary to ensure optimal performance.analyse experimental laboratory dataanalyse experimental laboratory dataAnalyse experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.monitor waste treatment equipmentmonitor waste treatment equipmentMonitor the operations of equipment used for the treatment and disposal of hazardous or non-hazardous waste to ensure that it is functional, compliant with legislation, and to check for faults.train staff on recycling programstrain staff on recycling programsTrain employees on the type of recycling methods and programs available for a company and all its procedures and policies that should be taken account of.respond to nuclear emergenciesrespond to nuclear emergenciesSet in motion the strategies for reacting in the event of equipment malfunctions, errors, or other events which may lead to contamination and other nuclear emergencies, ensuring that the facility is s...test safety strategiestest safety strategiesTest policies and strategies related to risk and safety management and procedures, such as testing evacuation plans, safety equipment, and carrying out drills.monitor radiation levelsmonitor radiation levelsUse measuring and testing equipment and techniques to identify the levels of radiation or radioactive substances in order to control exposure and minimise health, safety, and environmental risks.develop non-hazardous waste management strategiesdevelop non-hazardous waste management strategiesDevelop strategies which aim to increase the efficiency in which a facility treats, transports, and disposes of non-hazardous waste materials, such as packaging, textiles, scraps, debris, and paper.train staff on waste managementtrain staff on waste managementTrain the staff of a facility which deals with waste management, or an organisation's staff responsible for waste management strategies, on the improvements that can be made to reduce waste, increase ...

Related Occupations

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

recycling specialist7 shared essential skillswaste management supervisor6 shared essential skillslandfill supervisor5 shared essential skillssolid waste operator5 shared essential skillshazardous materials inspector4 shared essential skillshazardous waste technician4 shared essential skillsrecycling worker4 shared essential skillsstreet sweeper4 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a waste management officer do?

Waste management officers advise and enforce regulations on facilities managing waste disposal, collection and recycling. They develop and implement rules and evaluate the compliance with existing legislation.

What skills does a waste management officer need?

A waste management officer needs 15 essential skills, including business management principles, waste transport legislation, health, safety and hygiene legislation, waste management, waste and scrap products.

Will AI replace waste management officer jobs?

The AI disruption score for waste management officer is 50/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: maintain waste collection records, maintain recycling records, write technical reports. Most resilient: respond to nuclear emergencies, nuclear energy, business management principles.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupProduction and specialised services managers
Essential Skills15

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