Refuse collector

You'd take rubbish away from people’s home and businesses to keep the environment pleasant, clean and healthy.

As a loader, you’d pick up waste for disposal or recycling. You would work as part of a small team, collecting refuse from a different local area each day of the week.

You would:

• move bags, wheelie bins and recycling bins and boxes

• use a lifting mechanism to tip the waste from bins into the lorry

• throw plastic bags into the back of the lorry

• crush the waste

• sort recyclable materials at the kerbside

• guide the driver safely around the streets

• report any problems with waste collections

• help to unload the waste at designated facilities

• record the amount of waste collected

With experience, you might drive the collection lorry and supervise the team of loaders.

As a driver, you'd:

• check the lorry before you set out for routine maintenance

• stop often to keep in time with the loaders

• need to be aware of other vehicles or people in the road and steer the lorry safely

• make sure people are clear of the lorry before the rubbish is crushed

• drive the lorry to a transfer station, landfill site or recycling depot for weighing and unloading

You need to work cleanly and quickly and be aware of health and safety rules.

Green job

In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.

• WAMITAB - Offers qualifications in waste management and recycling, cleaning, street cleansing, facilities management and parking

• Chartered Institution of Wastes Management - Professional organisation for people working in resources and waste management

• Energy and Utility Skills - UK authority on skills and workforce development in the energy and utilities industries