Recycling Worker Refuse Workers & Other Elementary Workers
SaveWhat 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.
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Where Do I Start?
Health, Safety And Hygiene Legislation
The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Recycling Worker
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialHealth, Safety And Hygiene Legislation knowledge
The set of health, safety and hygiene standards and items of legislation applicable in a specific sector.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWaste And Scrap Products knowledge
The offered waste and scrap products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialWaste Management knowledge
The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAssess Waste Type skill
Identify waste materials during collection and sorting operations which can either be recycled, disposed of, or otherwise treated, in order to assess the way in which they need to be …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDispose Waste skill
Dispose waste in accordance with legislation, thereby respecting environmental and company responsibilities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Compliance With Waste Legislative Regulations skill
Implement and monitor company procedures for the collection, transport and disposal of waste, in compliance with all regulations and legal requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Chemical Cleaning Agents skill
Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Waste skill
Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTroubleshoot skill
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialUse Personal Protection Equipment skill
Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCollect Broken Appliances skill
Collect 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.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialDismantle Broken Appliances skill
Dismantle 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 …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Recycling Processing Equipment skill
Operate recycling processing equipment such as granulators, crushers and balers; process and sort materials to be recycled.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 22 displayed)
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OptionalElectricity knowledge
Understand the principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalPollution Prevention knowledge
The 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.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalElectronics Principles knowledge
The study of electric energy, more specifically electron, control and its prominent principles regarding integrated circuits and electrical systems.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalHazardous Waste Storage knowledge
The regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAdvise On Waste Management Procedures skill
Advise organisations on the implementation of waste regulations and on improvement strategies for waste management and waste minimisation, to increase environmentally sustainable practices and environmental awareness.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssess Contamination skill
Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAvoid Contamination skill
Avoid the mixing or contamination of materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDispose Of Hazardous Waste skill
Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDispose Of Non-Hazardous Waste skill
Dispose of waste materials which pose no risk to health and safety in a manner which complies with recycling and waste management procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMaintain Recycling Records skill
Maintain records and process facts and figures about type and volume of different recycling operations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Forklift skill
Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Laboratory Tests skill
Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalReport Pollution Incidents skill
Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSort Waste skill
Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalControl Delivered Waste skill
Carry out receiving controls identifying, inspecting and declaring the delivered waste.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDrain Hazardous Liquids skill
Drain 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.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEducate On Recycling Regulations skill
Educate 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 on the sanctions …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalFollow Recycling Collection Schedules skill
Follow 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.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInstall Recycling Containers skill
Take care of the installation of containers for recyclable waste, such as cardboard paper, glass bottles and clothing, in the appropriate places.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMaintain Sorting Equipment skill
Perform routine maintenance as well as minor repairs on the equipment used for sorting waste and recyclable materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Composting skill
Mix the biodegradable materials respecting the appropriate proportion and monitor the degradation process of organic waste.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Contaminants skill
Use chemicals and solvents to remove contaminants from products or surfaces.
Course recommendations coming soon.