Recycling Assistant in Leeds

Salary: B1 £25,183 - £25,989 pro rata plus weekend and bank holiday enhancements

Hours: 32.15 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.

About You:

• You must be committed to providing 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.

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.

Responsibilities:

• Positively undertake the segregation of recyclable material, to extract as much recyclables as possible.
• Utilising reuse facilities on site, to positively separate waste for reuse: e.g. Paint, WEEE and furniture.
• 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:

• 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.
• Adhere to customer service standards applicable to operations on site.
• Assist with surveys, leafleting and customer feedback.
• Respond to customer enquiries regarding recycling facilities both on site and offered at kerbside/bring and direct the public to where further information can be obtained.

Site Operation:

• Undertake all work in accordance with health and safety procedures and 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 PPE as required.
• Ensure all essential records relating to site operation are completed fully and promptly.
• Operate and ensure the safe use of heavy plant and machinery, such as waste compactors on household waste sites in accordance with training and site procedures.
• Report issues immediately or by end of the working day.
• Ensure the timely opening and closing of the HWSS and that all site security systems are activated as appropriate.
• Follow site procedures and method statements to complete tasks in the programme of work and report any problems.
• Rectify routine problems and report any outstanding issues to a manager immediately or by the end of the working day and complete required paperwork.
• Use a range of specialist tools with appropriate training, including horticultural work where applicable.
• Undertake ancillary labouring, cleaning and maintenance duties and grounds maintenance as applicable.
• Ensure resources, equipment, machinery and buildings are safe and in good order.
• Operate electronic monitoring devices as required and report issues.
• Keep the site clean, sweep and litter pick as required, and remove dumping from the external boundary.
• Comply with all relevant Leeds City Council Policies and Procedures.
• Undergo relevant training and development.
• Support educational campaigns to promote behaviour change for increased recycling/reuse.
• Carry out all work with high standards of behaviour and conduct as an ambassador for the City and the Council.

This is not an exhaustive list; the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties within the scope of this role.

Hours of Work:

The hours of work are an overall average of 32.15 hours per week, over 7 days per week (Monday to Sunday inclusive), working 4 days one week and 3 days the next in a repeating cycle, 52 weeks per year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. There will be seasonal variation to hours of work.

Physical & Relationships:

• Employees will be required to work flexibly and may be deployed to any of the eight city-wide household waste sites.
• The post holder will communicate with all levels of staff, members of the public, external agencies and occasionally ward councillors.
• You will work positively and flexibly with team members upholding the Council's values.