Recycling Worker
What the work is
Performs routine tasks in a recycling facility, such as sorting, packing and storing plastics, glass, paper, metals and other recyclable materials that have been collected from household, commercial and industrial premises in preparation for use in creating new products.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Inspects materials for contamination and removes non-recyclable items
- Sorts and packs materials for further processing
- Operates machinery and equipment to assist in the recycling process
- Monitors and maintains inventory of recyclable materials
- Follows safety procedures and guidelines to prevent accidents and injuries
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a recycling facility sorting paper, plastics, glass and metal from kerbside bins, with a plastics reprocessing line next door. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- The sorted bales stack up neatly and you know each one is clean enough to be reused
- Spotting a problem item early and keeping the whole line running
- A load comes in messy and leaves as clean, valuable material
Hard days
- Standing at the sorting belt for hours while it keeps moving
- Finding things in the bins that should never have been there
- Noise, dust and a belt that never stops
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 839138, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.