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Waste Services Operative (Refuse & Recycling)

£27,330 - £30,971Full TimePermanentNot specifiedAdministration
Posted 15 March 2026Closes 10 April 2026

Job Description

In order to apply for this role, please do so by completing an online application using the Job Train portal, which can be accessed by visiting the Council’s website. https://www.jobtrain.co.uk/douglascitycouncil/Job/JobDetail?isPreview=Yes&jobid=101 - Please contact the HR Section if you require any further information (hr@douglas.gov.im) or 01624 696455. Essential: Flexible approach to working hours with a willingness to work out of hours, including Bank holidays, evenings and weekends when required. Appreciation of safe manual handling techniques with the ability to carry out manual handling operations. Positive approach to challenges and change with a willingness to be trained and to apply new skills. Good communication skills and the ability to deal courteously and fairly with the public. Ability to work effectively, independently and as part of a team. Basic awareness of Health & Safety Regulations. Desirable: Experience and knowledge of safe working practices with regard to refuse/recycling collection, or similar duties. Experience of refuse collection/street cleaning, recycling or other similar activity. Awareness of the need to recycle materials. Public Sector experience. Full clean valid driving licence.

Automation Risk

Automation probabilityi65%
AI exposure (AIOE)i55%

This role contains a high proportion of routine, physically repetitive tasks (e.g., refuse collection, vehicle operation, cleaning) that are increasingly automatable with robotics and AI. However, tasks involving public interaction, team flexibility, and on-the-spot judgment resist full automation, resulting in a high but not total automation risk. GenAI and digital tools can augment reporting, sorting, and hazard identification, but physical and social aspects limit full substitution.

Task analysis

  • Collect refuse and recycling materials from residential and commercial premises according to scheduled routes.
  • Sort and separate recyclable materials from general waste at point of collection.
  • Operate and monitor refuse collection vehicles and associated lifting/compacting equipment.
  • Engage courteously with members of the public regarding waste collection queries or issues.
  • Carry out manual handling of bins, bags, and bulky items, following safe lifting techniques.
  • Conduct visual checks for contamination or hazardous items in waste streams.
  • Maintain cleanliness of vehicles and equipment used in waste collection.
  • Report incidents, hazards, or service issues to supervisors promptly.
  • Work flexibly as part of a team to cover out-of-hours, holiday, or emergency collections.

Automatable AI-assisted Human-only

Occupational Classification

🇬🇧 UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligible
UK SOC2020: 9235Refuse and Salvage Occupations
O*NET: 53-7061.00 Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment
AI analysis: 16 March 2026

UK Salary Benchmark

Office administrative, office support and other business support activities · ONS ASHE 2024 annual earnings

scale £50k
This vacancy
£27,330
UK sector median
£34,855
UK sector mean
£49,618
£0£13k£25k£38k

👤 For Candidates

AI & future-of-work guidance

🤖 Enhance with AI

  • Use mobile apps for digital incident reporting
  • Learn to operate sensor-equipped refuse vehicles
  • Apply AI tools for hazard identification training

📈 Disruption outlook

10%1 yr
40%5 yrs
70%10 yrs

% risk of significant disruption

🎓 Learn now

📚 For full-time, part-time & evening courses on the Isle of Man, visit University College Isle of Man (UCM)

🏢 For Employers

Strategic hiring options & technology alternatives

🔄 Alternatives

💻 TechnologySemi-autonomous refuse vehicles

Reduce manual driving and bin lifting tasks

🤖 AI AgentAI-powered route optimisation

Optimise collection routes for efficiency

🔀 RestructureHybrid teams

Combine operatives with automation specialists

Recommendation

🔀 Hybrid approach

Physical tasks resist full automation; augment with digital and AI tools

Microsoft Copilot & M365

Power Automate

Automate incident and hazard reporting workflows

Copilot for Teams

Streamline team communication and scheduling

Power BI

Visualise collection data and service issues

Key Skills

Manual HandlingAdvancedHealth and SafetyIntermediateTeamworkIntermediateAttention to DetailIntermediateDrivingIntermediateService OrientationIntermediateActive ListeningIntermediateCleaningIntermediateOperations AnalysisBeginnerRecycling AwarenessBeginner

Knowledge Areas

Health and Safety ProceduresWaste Management and RecyclingTransportation and LogisticsCustomer Relationship ManagementAdministrative ProceduresReporting and Documentation

O*NET Competency Skills

Operation and ControlQuality Control Analysis

Alternative Career Paths

Street Cleaning Operative90% match

Transition to maintaining public spaces and streets, focusing on cleanliness and environmental standards.

Recycling Facility Operative85% match

Work in a materials recovery facility, focusing on sorting and processing recyclable materials.

Grounds Maintenance Worker70% match

Maintain parks, gardens, and public spaces, with an emphasis on outdoor manual work and equipment operation.

Delivery Driver60% match

Utilize driving and route management skills for parcel or goods delivery services.

Also Consider

🔥 Hot Technologies

In-demand tools for this occupation (O*NET)

Microsoft Windows

Work Activities

General work activities from O*NET

  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  • Training and Teaching Others
  • Processing Information
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Developing and Building Teams
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public

Anthropic Economic Index

Real-world AI adoption data from millions of Claude conversations · Dataset ↗

CC-BY Research

Observed Claude Usage

0%

of conversations

Classic Auto. Risk

37%

Frey & Osborne

Job Zone

2/5

Some prep

O*NET Median Salary

£19k

US ref. $25k · fx 0.79

Occupational family: Transportation and Material Moving

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