Recycling Advisor

Bath and North East Somerset Council; Bath; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Bath and North East Somerset Council is recruiting for enthusiastic Recycling Advisors to join our Household Waste Recycling Centre team. You will welcome visitors, promote recycling, and assist with waste disposal and site bookings at Bath, Keynsham and Radstock locations.

You will work outdoors, 37 hours per week with weekend duties, helping maximise recycling, reuse and safe site operations while delivering a courteous, informative service to residents.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Confident and courteous communication with the public.
• Experience in a customer-facing role.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Understanding of recycling and waste management practices.
• Awareness of health and safety requirements.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Team player with the ability to work independently when needed.
• Remain calm and professional with difficult customers.
• Willingness to undertake training and development.

Responsibilities

• Meet, greet and assist customers professionally.
• Check bookings, permits and proof of address.
• Direct customers to correct recycling and waste areas.
• Provide guidance on segregation and disposal to maximise recycling.
• Identify opportunities to divert waste from landfill through recycling.
• Monitor containers and waste streams to minimise contamination.
• Promote reuse schemes and encourage donated items.
• Assist with safe handling and storage of recyclables.
• Support site recycling targets through customer engagement.
• Identify hazardous or non-conforming waste and manage accordingly.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Customer facing

Literacy

Recycling knowledge

Health and safety

Outdoor work

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Willingness to train

Job description

At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives.

About the Team

Hours are 37 plus contractual weekend working

Location: Bath, Keynsham and Radstock. Core site to be confirmed at the Household Waste Recycling Centres across Bath & North East Somerset

About the Role

Are you passionate about customer service, recycling, and making a positive difference to the environment?

We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated Recycling Advisors to join our Household Waste Recycling Centre team. This is a varied role combining operational recycling responsibilities with customer-facing Meet & Greet duties, ensuring visitors receive a safe, efficient and welcoming experience whilst helping maximise recycling and reuse opportunities.

As the first point of contact for customers entering the site, you will play a key role in promoting recycling, assisting residents with waste disposal, checking site bookings and permits, and helping maintain safe and efficient site operations.

• Meet, greet and assist customers professionally.
• Check bookings, permits and proof of address.
• Direct customers to correct recycling and waste areas.
• Provide expert guidance to customers on the correct segregation and disposal of waste materials to maximise recycling and recovery rates.
• Actively identify opportunities to divert waste from landfill through recycling, reuse and recovery initiatives.
• Monitor containers and waste streams to ensure materials are deposited correctly and contamination is minimised.
• Promote the site's reuse schemes and encourage customers to donate reusable items where appropriate.
• Assist with the safe handling and storage of recyclable materials in accordance with site procedures and environmental legislation.
• Carry out regular inspections of recycling bays, skips and waste containers, reporting issues promptly.
• Support the achievement of site recycling, reuse and diversion targets through proactive customer engagement.
• Identify hazardous, restricted or non-conforming waste and ensure it is managed in accordance with procedures.
• Provide customers with advice on sustainable waste management practices, home recycling options and waste reduction initiatives.
• Assist in maintaining accurate records relating to site activities, incidents and waste streams.
• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety, Environmental and Waste Management procedures at all times.
• Manage vehicle queues and site safety.
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment.
• Handle customer enquiries and resolve issues professionally.
• Act as an ambassador for the Council's environmental objectives and sustainability initiatives.

About You

We're Looking For

Essential Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to communicate confidently and courteously with members of the public.
• Experience working in a customer-facing role.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Understanding of recycling and waste management practices.
• Awareness of health and safety requirements.
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently when required.
• Ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with difficult situations.
• Willingness to undertake training and development.

Desirable

• Experience working within waste, recycling, environmental or operational services.
• Experience using booking systems or customer verification processes.
• Knowledge of Household Waste Recycling Centre operations. Working Environment

This role involves:

• Working outdoors throughout the year in all weather conditions.
• Significant periods of standing and walking.
• Exposure to waste materials, noise, odours and moving vehicles.
• Working safely around plant equipment and members of the public.
• Occasional exposure to challenging customer situations.

Why Join Us?

You'll be joining a team that plays a vital role in helping local residents recycle more, reduce waste and protect the environment. Every day brings different challenges, opportunities to help people, and the chance to make a real contribution to your local community.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

If you are interested in this post and require more details or just to chat through the role and what's involved, please contact Dennis Bramhall, Operations Manager, [e-mail] or 01225 396375.

Interview date: TBA

*Please note, BANES Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register (redeployee). This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role they will be considered ahead of external applicants.

About Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Working at Bath and North East Somerset provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

Why Bath and North East Somerset Council?

• We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need.
• The Council is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

Go to https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-benefits

At Bath and North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve peoples lives. Find out more about our values at https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/why-work-us/our-values

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. Find out more on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/equality-and-diversity

We are a Disability Confident Employer – find out more at https://shorturl.at/ajrsW

Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced/Basic DBS Check.

Safeguarding Statement: The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of this commitment anyone working in a post with children or vulnerable groups will be expected to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with/without barred list checks.