The Catlins Area School
Rubbish/Recycling Collector Kaiwhakahiato Rāpihi
Rubbish/recycling collectors collect household, industrial or commercial rubbish for disposal or recycling.
Rubbish/recycling collectors may do some or all of the following:
- drive or ride on a rubbish/recycling truck
- pick up bags or bins of rubbish/recycling and throw them into the truck
- operate machines to pick up bins
- separate rubbish from recycling
- operate equipment that crushes rubbish and items for recycling
- unload and clean rubbish/recycling trucks
- drive forklifts or vehicles with tracks or rollers.
Physical Requirements
Rubbish/recycling collectors need to have a good level of fitness and must be strong.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for rubbish/recycling collectors includes physical labour or driving heavy vehicles.
Personal Qualities
Rubbish/recycling collectors need to be:
- practical, with an eye for detail
- quick and efficient
- punctual.
Skills
Rubbish/recycling collectors need to have knowledge of:
- collection routes
- what they should or should not collect
- health and safety guidelines
- correct lifting and carrying techniques
- how to operate rubbish compactors and other types of rubbish/recycling collection vehicles.
Ability to drive a heavy vehicle, forklift or vehicle with tracks or rollers is also useful.
Conditions
Rubbish/recycling collectors:
- work irregular hours, including early mornings
- work outdoors on suburban streets and in commercial and industrial areas
- work in most types of weather, and in conditions that may be dirty, messy and smelly.
Subject Recommendations
There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a rubbish/recycling collector.
Rubbish/Recycling Collectors can earn around $23 per hour.
Rubbish/recycling collectors usually earn between minimum wage and a little more, depending on where they work.
Owner-drivers earn more, but they have to pay for costs such as vehicle maintenance.
Sources: careers.govt.nz research, 2020; and Northland Waste, 2020.
Rubbish/recycling collectors may move into management roles or into operating machinery or driving heavy vehicle jobs.
Years Of Training
There are no specific requirements to become a rubbish/recycling collector.
To become a rubbish/recycling truck driver, you need to have a heavy vehicle driver's licence.
To become a forklift driver, you need a licence with an F endorsement.
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