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Most waste management officers are employed in waste planning, collection and disposal services operating within local authorities in the UK. There are over 350 Waste Collection Authorities operating within England and Wales.
Environmental and waste management consultancy services and private waste management firms are also significant employers. Many civil engineering consultancies also have specialist divisions dealing with these issues. Those employed in this sector may have different job titles. The Environment Agency (EA) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also play major roles in regulating waste and can offer significant careers in this area.
Emphasis is currently being placed on providing best value services (largely as a result of new legislation on increased landfill tax, packaging regulations and recycling targets) and employment opportunities are expanding in response to this.
As environmental legislation has strengthened, large companies and organisations such as The National Health Service (NHS) and higher education institutions, such as universities, are creating new posts for waste management professionals. In total the Energy & Utility Skills Council estimates that there are currently 141,000 people involved in the UK waste management industry.
Some recruitment agencies specialise in environmental jobs. Consult the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) for further details.
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