Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

The Work

Recycling officers work to improve established recycling strategies and they develop new systems to collect and recycle waste in order to meet national targets.

They also promote and advise the public on environmental issues.  
 
Recycling facilities include bottle, can, paper and textile banks. They are often in places that attract a lot of people and are easy to get to, for example car parks, supermarkets and housing estates.

There are also recycling centres next tolandfill sites.  

Recycling officers are responsible for making sure that people have suitable recycling containers. For example, they may be asked to put waste into colour coded bins, bin liners or plastic boxes.  
 
Recycling officers may be responsible for arranging contracts with companies that take away waste material for recycling. They may also work with the owners of landfill sites.  
 
Recycling officers also have a very important educational role. This may involve giving talks to schoolchildren and other groups in the community that are interested in environmental issues.

They may also arrange visits to recycling centres and promote recycling by producing leaflets and booklets.  
 
Recycling officers aim to increase the amount of material to be recycled and increase awareness on sustainable development. This involves a lot of planning.

They carry out duties such as writing reports for council committees, keeping records and controlling budgets.

They may also attend committee meetings of various groups and societies.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Oversee recycling pick-up or drop-off programs to ensure compliance with community ordinances.
• Maintain logs of recycling materials received or shipped to processing companies.
• Supervise recycling technicians, community service workers, or other recycling operations employees or volunteers.
• Review customer requests for service to determine service needs and deploy appropriate resources to provide service.
• Provide training to recycling technicians or community service workers on topics such as safety, solid waste processing, or general recycling operations.
• Identify or investigate new opportunities for materials to be collected and recycled.
• Assign truck drivers or recycling technicians to routes.
• Create or manage recycling operations budgets.
• Prepare bills of lading, statements of shipping records, or customer receipts related to recycling or hasardous material services.
• Inspect physical condition of recycling or hasardous waste facility for compliance with safety, quality, and service standards.

Further Information

• Recycling Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Recycling Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Recycling Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Recycling Officer - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Minimum entry requirements vary for to this type of work, those who go into Environmental health & Protection/ Recycling Officer posts from full-time education tend to be science graduates. Some people develop towards roles in the sustainable circular economy or waste management. 

Training & Development 

FET Centre PLC Courses: Environmental Monitoring, Sustainability, Applied Ecology NFQ level 5 Search FET our PLC Coursefinder 

Higher Education CAO Entry: Environmental Science, Environmental Health Safety & Protection, Chemistry, Biology, Wastes Management, sustainablity, and a range of engineering degrees NFQ Level 8 Search our CAO coursefinder

Professional Development  

Postgraduate Study Options:Environmental Science, Environmental Health Safety & Protection NFQ level 9   
 
Training will be on-the-job combined with courses arranged through the Republic of Ireland's Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).  Likewise your professional development in line with Industry compliance standard in Health & Safety Authority of Ireland Click here 
 
Members of the CIWM can gain recognition as a chartered environmentalist (CEnv). Membership of the CIWM requires that you take part in continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €44k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties, role, and experience.

Data Source(s):
Indeed/ Payscale/ Glassdoor

Last Updated: March, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The changes in classification as a result of the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017 are partly responsible for the strong employment growth rate for this occupation, although employment also grew strongly between 2019 and 2020, and continued to grow in 2022. Those employed are primarily female (69%), working full-time (90%), and over half (55%) held third-level qualifications. With a higher than average share of persons employed aged 55 years and older (31% compared to 19% for all occupations), replacement demand is likely to result in opportunities opening up for these roles even if employment growth slows.

There was a significant number of vacancies advertised online for clerical officer roles across the civil service and Government administration roles. However, recent job hires for 2022 far exceeded employment growth indicating that job churn is a feature of this occupation. While job openings are set to continue, upskilling and reskilling may also be required for those already employed in these occupations in order to reach targets set out in the Civil Service Renewal Plan 2024 in areas such as in digital skills.

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• ENFO - Ask about Ireland

  • 17 St. Andrew Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
  • Click Here

• Chartered Institute of Wastes Management

  • A1 Waste, 3 Broomhill Business Complex, Broomhill Road, Dublin 24
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here