Recycling Officer

Recycling Officer – Food Waste Collection
Location: PL4, Plymouth
Contract: Temporary (Dec 2025 – June 2026, subject to departmental needs). Possible temp to perm opportunity. 
Hours: 37 per week
Pay Rate: £15.56 per hour


Pertemps are recruiting on behalf of our client for a Recycling Officer to support the rollout of a new Food Waste Collection service.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a high‑profile project due for delivery by Spring 2026. You’ll play a key role in engaging with residents, promoting the benefits of food waste recycling, and helping ensure a smooth transition to the new service. As this is a public‑facing role, confidence, professionalism, and strong communication skills are essential.


Key Duties:

• Resident Engagement: Visiting households to explain the new service, answer questions, resolve issues, and encourage participation.
  
  
• Community Outreach: Attending schools, community groups, and events to promote recycling and environmental awareness through talks and workshops.
  
  
• Event Planning & Delivery: Supporting community clean‑ups, campaigns, and environmental events, including risk assessments, H&S compliance, and supervising staff/volunteers.
  
  
• Enforcement & Compliance: Working with enforcement teams on issues such as fly‑tipping, contamination, and container misuse, ensuring standards are met.
  
  
• Customer Service: Acting as a first point of contact for queries and complaints, providing clear information in line with Council policy.
  
  
• Monitoring & Reporting: Completing daily site visits, recording findings, reporting issues, and supporting record‑keeping, inventories, and budget monitoring (projects up to £75k).
  
  
• Partnership Working: Liaising with Councillors, voluntary groups, and external partners to develop projects that boost recycling participation.
  
  
• Education Projects: Creating and delivering initiatives for children and young people to promote recycling and environmental responsibility.
  
  
• Operational Support: Assisting operational teams when required, including moving equipment and coordinating service requests.
  
  

Essential Skills/Experience:

• GCSEs in Maths and English (A*–C / 9–4) or equivalent
  
  
• Full UK driving licence
  
  
• Experience in customer service, community engagement, and problem solving
  
  
• Knowledge of Health & Safety and risk assessments
  
  
• Strong organisational and interpersonal skills
  
  

Desirable:

• Local authority experience
  
  
• Experience sourcing funding or grants
  
  
• Supervisory experience
  
  
• PACE training
  
  

To apply, click Apply or contact Emily on 01752 601116 for more information.

Please note: Due to high application volumes, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion - but do keep an eye out for future opportunities with Pertemps.