Recycling Centre Site Operative – Saffron Walden Recycling Centre

Essex County Council; Saffron Walden; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning & development opportunities

26 days annual leave + bank holidays +

Local Government Pension scheme

Essex Rewards discounts

Health & wellbeing platform

Volunteering leave (up to 4 days)

Cycle to Work Scheme

6% Sunday uplift

Job summary

Essex County Council is recruiting a full-time Recycling Centre Site Operative for the Saffron Walden centre. The role requires working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday with a 6% uplift for Sunday shifts.

You will assist the public, maintain a safe site, and help coordinate subcontractors while operating plant machinery. You'll contribute to efficient recycling operations, handle basic admin, and may be asked to work at other centres.

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role.
• Able to work on foot for long periods.
• Willing to complete manual handling tasks.
• Willing to learn new systems and training (First Aid, Plant Operator, Fire Marshall).
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public with questions, queries or complaints.
• Maintain a clean, safe site and comply with safety standards.
• Instruct subcontractors/hauliers and oversee waste movements.
• Operate plant machinery and manage material storage for recycling.
• Support administrative tasks as required and be flexible for other centres.

Skills

Footwork endurance

Team player

Customer facing

Manual handling

Reading & writing

Willing to learn

First Aid

Plant Operator

Fire Marshall

Driving licence

Excel & Outlook

IOSH awareness

NPORS licence

Education

Tools

NPORS/Plant Ops Licence

Plant Machinery Ops

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Essex Waste Partnership aspire to be a zero-waste county. By working together, we are working to reduce waste to help protect the environment and conserve resources. Help us to achieve our goals by joining our one of our Recycling Centre Teams.

We’re currently recruiting for a full-time Site Operative to join our team at our Recycling Centre in Saffron Walden. Please note this role will require you to work Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursday and Sundays. You will receive a 6% flat rate allowance for any Sundays worked.

What will you be doing?

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.

What’s in it for you?

• Wide range of learning and development opportunities
• 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

The Experience You Will Bring

Essential

• 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: Love Essex

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.

Why Essex?

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 Everyone's Essex. 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 careers site.

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 allveteransandcare 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 Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.