1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Bin worker

Bin worker

Alternative titles for this job include Refuse collector, waste operative, recycling collector, bin loader

Bin workers remove waste and recyclables from homes and businesses for disposal or recycling.

Average salary (a year)

£15,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

How to become a bin worker

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through an intermediate waste resource operative apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You could apply directly to job vacancies. Employers set their own entry requirements.

What it takes

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work on your own
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • be over 18 years of age

You'll need a large goods vehicle (LGV) licence to apply for jobs that include waste collection vehicle driving duties.

What you’ll do

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You could:

  • collect residential and business refuse and recycling
  • move, lift and load heavy items and wheelie bins
  • use a lifting mechanism to transfer refuse to the waste lorry
  • operate a waste compactor
  • sort recyclable materials at the kerbside
  • drive a waste lorry safely
  • report any problems with waste collections
  • help to unload the waste at designated facilities
  • record the amount of waste collected

Working environment

You could work in the community or at a waste recycling site.

Your working environment may be dirty, physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to team leader or supervisor.

With further training you could become a waste management officer or recycling officer.

Current opportunities

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Waste resource operative (level 2) apprenticeship

  • Wage: £156.00 Weekly
  • Location:

Waste Resource Operative Apprentice

  • Wage: £156.00 Weekly
  • Location: Prudhoe
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a bin worker?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat

  • 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday
  • 10am - 5pm Saturday

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.