Amazing details that Will Change The Way You Approach Career In The Waste & Recycling Industry
A recent study from LinkedIn found that 74% of people want a job where they feel that their work has an impact. In England, Gen Z and Millennials are quickly becoming the biggest percentage of the workforce, and these generations are known to be very keen on issues to do with the environment. Just last month, hundreds if not thousands of young people ditched school to protest the failure of those in leadership to address the ever-growing climate crisis.
How can we as a sector reach out to young people who want to ‘make the planet a better place for future generations’? Most of them will only see a tiny fraction of the work we engage in – the waste collection personnel who pick up their waste – yet there is a massive and brilliant sector behind it that not many individuals outside the field know about.
Spreading information about the many roles and functions in waste management is critical.
Partnerships and Logistics
For instance, people in this industry understand that transport is at the core of our day-to-day work, but how many outsiders really comprehend the sophisticated and complex logistics networks that form the backbone of our services?
We have a fleet of over 70 cars that we use to gather and transport waste, and our own auto repair workshop to keep the cars in top shape. The auto repair workshop provides apprenticeship opportunities; we have two people filling these slots at the moment, and there are great career opportunities on the automotive and mechanical repair side of things.
On top of apprentice opportunities, there are many other roles for waste operatives and drivers too. Because of the national shortage of HGV drivers, we should all be promoting the amazing incentives and training opportunities available to lure people to these important roles. We follow the best working practices and use the latest technologies, so anyone joining our sector will be working in a well-supported and resourced industry. This can also help facilitate energy from waste jobs for the unemployed.
Cawleys was the first waste management company to be a member of the DVSA Enhanced Recognition Scheme, and we know from many years of operations that working with the latest IT and tech solutions can improve productivity among our workforce.
Many individuals are shocked to learn how many women drivers we have in our team, but the waste management industry has had a rapidly shifting diversity and gender profile. We have female drivers, and I know they appreciate the shift patterns of their work as it revolves around childcare, and enjoy the care and custom contact aspect to the job, something people may be shocked to learn.
Are There Development And Training Opportunities?
The waste management sector is highly regulated. For individuals who like personal development and learning, there are various progression and training opportunities available.
Some of the qualifications I have to work with hazardous waste include a Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory/Chartered Institute of Waste Management (WAMITAB/CIWM) Operator Competence certification and a Certificate in Professional Competence (CPC) which is used to maintain standards of driving and promote road safety.
I also have an Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) certificate, which is very crucial in the type of work I do. Most of these qualifications require refresher courses and regular updating, so there are always opportunities to learn more and acquire new skills.
Moving forward in your career is vital to all of us, and when it comes to opportunities in our sector, for hard-working and bright candidates, it’s an excellent place to be. The best example of this fact is Phil, our very own Managing Director.
Phil began his career as a waste collector, driving a beat-up truck and emptying bins. Now, he is the head of a company that employs over 200 people and is currently valued at over £34 million. He is an inspiration to all of us. He is the best example of how this sector offers amazing career progression opportunities across various roles.
A ‘Normal’ Day in Waste Management
For individuals who may not want to work with hazardous waste, it can be a surprise to learn how varied and versatile how this particular work can be – no two days are the same. Previously, I have been requested to help dispose of everything from a fighter jet, a dead rhino, and an entire fishing boar. Every time, it’s something different. We have to rely on our skills and experience to find the safest way to handle different kinds of hazardous waste.
Each may be subject to its own unique laws, or require a specific of project management to finish the work successfully and ensue the waste is not a threat to anyone’s safety and health or cause pollution to the environment.
The wide range of skills and roles needed to handle situations like these shows how many opportunities there are in the waste management and recycling industry for individuals who are looking for a job where they will be fully engaged in environmental conservation.
How Can We Engage With Young People?
We’re always happy to listen to people who are interested in joining our line of work. Working with our customers as well as local schools, we offer tours of our MRF where people can see the systems and technologies at work.
We also reach out to our employees at our various branches, with environmental activation events and other team building activities. Our ‘Small Action, Big Impact’ campaign, for instance, has been very effective. Over 300 people volunteered in one of our events to reduce their use of single-use plastics, and the programme has been nominated for an NHS Sustainability Award.
It’s never easy as a business to provide work experience, but I think it’s another crucial way to share information about working in waste recycling. I welcome questions from people who want to learn more about waste management because it can be difficult to know what happens behind the scenes in our sector unless we the gatekeepers open the doors.
