Waste Management

The waste management and recycling industry is evolving quickly in response to the green/ carbon agendas and as such, its reliance on technology and mechanisation is increasing. New technologies and the automated processes now used to treat waste and recyclate require the industry to examine the whole skills agenda. As well as up-skilling the existing workforce, the industry needs to increase its attractiveness and to show that the industry is an attractive career choice. Skilled operators and technical experts are and will be in short supply, compounded by the continued expansion of the sector.

Core activities within the industry are:

• Waste collection and transport
• Transfer stations and household waste and recycling centres
• Energy from waste (including thermal recovery processes and anaerobic digestion)
• Recycling, processing and specialist operations
• Landfill

Energy & Utility Skills (EU Skills) has published the UK Waste Management and Recycling Industry 2010 Labour Market Investigation, to provide a comprehensive assessment of the UK waste management and recycling industry, both currently and into the future.

The latest Labour Market Investigation builds upon the first report undertaken by EU Skills in 2006 and highlights the real and pertinent skills and recruitment needs facing the sector over the coming years. EU Skills believes that this Labour Market Investigation will inform and add value to the issue of skills and sector attractiveness in the waste management and recycling industry.