Recycling Assistant

Job title: Recycling Assistant

Salary: B1 £24,404 - £25,183 pro rata, plus weekend and bank holiday enhancements

Hours: 32.17 on average per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Various recycling centres in Leeds (Kirkstall, Seacroft, Wetherby, Middleton, Meanwood, Pudsey, Otley and Yeadon)

As a Recycling Assistant you must thrive on interacting with members of the public by encouraging them to maximise the separation of their waste. This will increase recycling and help the Authority to achieve their waste strategy commitment.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As a Recycling Assistant:

• You must be committed to provide a high-quality customer service and be an excellent communicator.
• You must have the ability to work as a team, whilst being able to use your own initiative.
• You must have the ability to work with a range of partners, contractors, agencies, and other teams from within the council to ensure our sites are responsive to customer needs and reuse/recycling is maximised to the full.
• You must be able to be on your feet for up to 10 hours a day and be able to work in all weathers. You must be flexible in terms of location of where you are placed across Leeds and to be able to get there each day.

About the role

This is a vital role working in a fast paced team with a high demand for the service. You must be motivated and hardworking with a passion to make a positive contribution to improving the environment. You can help by ensuring that all waste that is presented is segregated into the correct waste/recycle stream. This assist in minimising the costs of transporting and disposing of non-recyclable waste which can be more expensive.

The eight Household Recycling Centres (HWRC) accept items that are no longer wanted or needed by residents of Leeds. The council collects approximately 333,000 tonnes of waste per year from around 340,000 households with emphasis on reducing non recyclable waste.

We work in partnership with various charities including REVIVE. There are two reuse shops located at Kirkstall HWRC and Seacroft HWRC. This enables residents to donate reusable items like furniture, working electrical items, clothing, bikes and bric a brac. The councils reuse partner REVIVE has supported Leeds journey towards achieving net zero emissions citywide by 2030 by helping to divert 935 tonnes of Co2 equivalent in 2022/2023 that otherwise would have been disposed of. This is the equivalent of taking over 458 typical UK cars off the road for a whole year.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions

• a clear career pathway of development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Leeds Waste Team on 0113 3784695 or email leeds.waste@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To work as part of a multi-skilled household waste site team responsible for encouraging the public to maximise the separation of their waste to increase recycling and help the Council achieve its Waste Strategy objectives. To show initiative, commitment, and enthusiasm to ensure the services provided make a difference by supporting and advising residents how to recycle their waste and improving behaviours in relation to disposing of their waste responsibly

Responsibilities

Managing Waste

• Positively undertake the segregation of recyclable material, to extract as much recyclables as possible.
• Utilising Reuse facilities available on site, to positively separate waste for reuse: e.g. Paint, WEEE and furniture.
• To actively deter trade/commercial waste visitors from using the sites, complying with individual site procedures and current permit restrictions.
• Contribute to new initiatives to manage waste aimed to improve recycling and reuse on site.
• Control chargeable waste and facilitate revenue collection using appropriate payment technology.

Customer Care

• To proactively meet and greet visitors to the site and assist members of the public in separating/ recycling and disposing of waste as appropriate. Offer physical assistance to less able customers.
• To adhere to customer service standards applicable to operations on site.
• Assist with surveys, leafleting and customer feedback.
• To respond to customer enquiries regarding recycling facilities both on site and offered at kerbside/bring and to direct the public to where further information can be obtained.

Site Operation

• Undertake all work in accordance with health and safety procedures and to report defects or safety concerns identified to the appropriate supervisor/manager.
• Ensure that Health and Safety Regulations, site procedures and risk assessments are observed and complied with, especially in-relation to Asbestos, unknown chemicals and gas cylinders. Wear appropriate P.P.E. ...