Recycling Centre Site Operative

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave + bank holidays +

Generous Local Government Pension

Essex Rewards discounts

Health and wellbeing platform

Volunteering leave

Cycle to Work Scheme

Sunday uplift

Job summary

Essex County Council is hiring a Recycling Centre Site Operative to support daily site operations, assist the public, and help maintain a safe, efficient facility. The role requires mobility across sites and a willingness to undertake training such as First Aid, Plant Operator, and Fire Marshall.

The post involves handling waste movements, operating machinery when required, and assisting subcontractors. A full driving license is desirable to support site mobility and cover across locations

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing position.
• Able to work on foot for lengthy periods.
• Able to work without supervision and as part of a team.
• Willing to complete training such as First Aid, Plant Operator, Fire Marshall.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public with questions, queries, or complaints.
• Maintain a clean, tidy, and risk-free site.
• Assist in providing clear instructions to subcontractors/hauliers.
• Operate plant machinery and oversee waste movements.
• Ensure proper storage of materials for recycling.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Support the team with administrative tasks.
• May work at an alternative Recycling Centre as needed.
• Be able to work on foot for long periods.
• Work independently and as part of a team.

Skills

Customer facing

Teamwork

Manual handling

Willing to learn

Computer literacy

Tools

Excel

Outlook

Job description

As a Recycling Centre Site Operative, your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Assisting the public with any questions, queries, or complaints.
• Maintaining a clean, tidy, and risk-free site.
• Assisting in providing clear instructions to subcontractors / hauliers.
• Operating plant machinery and overseeing waste movements.
• Ensuring proper storage of materials for optimal recycling.
• Ensuring compliance with safety standards.
• Contributing to safe and efficient site operations.
• Supporting the team with administrative tasks as and when required.
• To assist with operations, on occasions you may be required to work at an alternative Recycling Centre. Able to work on foot for lengthy periods of time.
• Ability to work without supervision as well as part of a team.
• Experience within a customer facing position.
• Able to complete manual handling tasks.
• Able to complete basic reading and writing tasks.
• A willingness to learn new systems.
• Willing to complete training necessary to fulfil the role, i.e. First Aid, Plant Operator, Fire Marshall

Desirable:

• Full Driving License
• Computer literate (especially Microsoft Excel and Outlook) with good administration skills.
• IOSH Working Safely or equivalent safety accreditation.
• NPORS or similar Plant Operators Licence/Qualification on Material Handler, with previous experience operating plant machinery preferably within the waste industry.

To read more about our recycling centre and Waste Strategy please visit: Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our .

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 6% Salary uplift for Sunday working