HWRC and Plant Operative

Staffordshire County Council, Job Introduction

We’re looking for a reliable, safety‑focused team player to join our Household Waste Recycling Centre team. In this hands‑on role, you’ll help the public dispose of waste safely, support recycling and reuse, and ensure the site operates smoothly and responsibly.

If you enjoy working outdoors, providing great service, and making a positive impact on your community, we’d love to hear from you.

• Provide friendly, professional support to the public and promote correct waste segregation.
• Encourage recycling and reuse through clear guidance and engagement with site users.
• Ensure all waste handling complies with Environmental Permits, Planning Permission, and council processes.
• Carry out site inspections, monitor container capacity, and coordinate haulage needs.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and well‑organised site environment, including traffic management and supervision.
• Follow all Health and Safety requirements, reporting accidents, near misses, and hazards promptly.
• Monitor recyclable material quality, complete required documentation, and process payments for chargeable waste.
• Support contractors and haulage teams by preparing loads safely and ensuring efficient waste removal.

• Experience in customer‑facing roles and preferably in waste, recycling, or similar operations.
• Experience working in a busy team environment.
• Understanding of and ability to interpret/implement current waste legislation.
• Enthusiastic approach and willingness to undertake additional training and development as required.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to follow procedures accurately and work effectively as part of a team.
• Physically able to carry out manual handling tasks and operate equipment safely.
• Basic IT skills for record‑keeping and documentation.
• Knowledge of waste segregation, Health & Safety practices, and Duty of Care requirements (training available).
• Hold a full UK driving licence and relevant operational training.
• Reliable, professional, adaptable to outdoor working and varied hours, with a positive attitude towards sustainability.

This is a floating position. The post holder will be required to cover multiple recycling centres across the network to ensure facilities are fully staffed.

• Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities.