Waste Porter

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) is seeking a Waste Management Operative to support delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste across wards and departments within the Trust.

You will operate waste tugs, balers and related equipment, following Trust policies. The role may involve working across sites and includes training responsibilities to support new staff and ensure safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• No formal education is required as on the job instruction, training and theoretical knowledge is provided.
• Formal waste training
• Training in the use of waste tugs and pallet trucks

Responsibilities

• Delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste.
• Exchange of Sharpsmart reusable receptacles across wards and departments.
• Collection of Confidential Waste from wards and departments.
• Correct disposal of condemned items and secure storage of waste.
• Operate waste disposal equipment such as balers and electric tugs.
• Decant laundry bags and clinical/non-clinical waste as required.
• Assist with training and induction of new starters when requested.
• Liaise with external drivers and account managers.

Skills

Follow instructions

Team coordination

Multitask

Calm under pressure

Data entry

Self-motivated

Respect for privacy

Initiative

Lead on duty

Physical duties

Tools

Waste tugs

Pallet trucks

Balers

Job description

Site University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Town Northampton Salary £25,272 per annum (pro rata if part time) Salary period Yearly Closing 23/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 15/10/2026

Job overview

To undertake waste collection and delivery duties for all wards and departments, providing aprofessional and quality service to all users.

This will include the safe transportation of clinical,hazardous and non-hazardous waste and linen using electric tugs and carts, as well as baler and compactor equipment as required.

Main duties of the job

Delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste from wardsand departments to the central waste area within the Trust’s policies and procedures.

Exchange of Sharpsmart reusable receptacles from all wards and departmentsaround the Trust.

Collection of Confidential Waste from wards and departments

Collection and correct disposal of any condemned items from wards anddepartments around the hospital site.

Ensure all collected waste is stored securely as per Trust policy andenvironmental legislation and is prepared for onward transportation to meet therequirements for the transportation of dangerous goods.

Cleaning duties as required in and around the department to keep the department neat and tidy.

Operate waste disposal equipment once trained e.g. waste compactors and balers and electric tug vehicles.

Decanting Laundry bags from Taylor bins into cages.

Decant clinical and non-clinical waste bags if required (e.g. for onward transportation, storage or compaction).

Ensure that items are processed for the compliant and most efficient method of collection e.g. segregating bulky goods, breaking down items for reduced storage space

Undertake all training as necessary to enable satisfactory and competent completion of role.

Working for our organisation

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste from wardsand departments to the central waste area within the Trust’s policies and procedures.

Exchange of Sharpsmart reusable receptacles from all wards and departmentsaround the Trust.

Collection of Confidential Waste from wards and departments

Collection and correct disposal of any condemned items from wards anddepartments around the hospital site.

Ensure all collected waste is stored securely as per Trust policy andenvironmental legislation and is prepared for onward transportation to meet therequirements for the transportation of dangerous goods.

Cleaning duties as required in and around the department to keep the department neat and tidy.

Operate waste disposal equipment once trained e.g. waste compactors and balers and electric tug vehicles.

Decanting Laundry bags from Taylor bins into cages.

Decant clinical and non-clinical waste bags if required (e.g. for onward transportation, storage or compaction).

Ensure that items are processed for the compliant and most efficient method of collection e.g. segregating bulky goods, breaking down items for reduced storage space

Undertake all training as necessary to enable satisfactory and competent completion of role.

Make sure all external pathways and waste corrals are kept clean and tidy from any litter or clutter. Internal corrals are the responsibility of the Domestic Team.

Ensure all transfer notes and paperwork are completed appropriately as per environmental legislation requirements.

Assist with the training and induction of new starters when requested, by demonstrating their role to and providing support to new members of the team.

Liaise and co-operate with representatives of outside companies e.g. collection drivers and account managers.

Be trained in the use of spill kits for chemical and hazardous waste spills.

Regularly check the security and cleanliness of waste storage areas and report faults and defects to the Estates Maintenance Team

Report any faults with any of the electrical equipment being used to the duty supervisor and Estates when problems arise.

To contribute to the development of the Waste and Recycling Service by putting forward suggestions for improvement.

Undertake all necessary training to enable satisfactory and competent completion of role.

To comply with specific instructions and working patterns when based in the Waste Management Area

Maintain high standards of personal presentation and hygiene during the performance of his/her duties

Work closely with Managers and Supervisors in producing a high standard of service.

Flexibility in areas of work, as prescribed for the departmental needs.

All duties will be carried out in accordance with the Departmental Health & Safety Policy including wearing of appropriate PPE.

To report any Health and Safety issues

Ensure all work is carried out in line with the relevant Trust Policies and Procedures

Any other work commensurate with the post or as requested by the Line Manager.

Educations, Training and Qualifications

• No formal education is required as on the job instruction, training and theoretical knowledge is provided. Therefore the ability to retain information and learning is essential together with excellent communication skills (oral and written)
• Formal waste training
• Training in the use of waste tugs and pallet trucks

Knowledge and Experience

• Previous experience of working in a small team
• Experience of working in a large organisation
• Knowledge of good health & safety practices
• Previous experience of working in a healthcare setting
• Previous experience in a waste environment
• Trained in health and safety practices
• Knowledge of trust policies and procedures

Skills

• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to develop rapport with staff
• Ability to multitask effectively and move from one task to another rapidly when priorities change
• Ability to remain calm under pressure or challenging situations
• Ability to input data to manage monthly timesheet
• Self-motivated to work under minimal supervision
• Respect for patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality
• Ability to prioritise & use initiative
• Ability to lead and coordinate a team when on duty
• Able to undertake the frequent physical duties of the role such as pulling/pushing carts, or similar, moving bags of waste
• Commitment to working the hours to fulfil the requirements of the job, including flexibility or working, where required
• Ability to carry out the full range of waste management duties once trained
• Ability to record information correctly and legible

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence® designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).

We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That’s why we talk about Team NGH. It’s all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Our Excellence Values:

• Compassion
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courageous
• Accountable

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.