Job Description

New Government legislation called Simpler Recycling means councils across England must reduce the amount of waste being disposed of and increase what is reused, recycled, and composted. To meet these requirements, were introducing a countywide food waste collection service and making improvements to our existing kerbside recycling scheme.



Did you know that in County Durham we produce around 230,000 tonnes of household waste every year? Currently, residents can recycle paper, card, plastics, and cans in a blue-lidded bin, and glass bottles and jars in a kerbside box. Last year, we recycled just under 37% of household waste - and we want to do even better.

What is involved?

Were running a countywide education campaign to support the rollout of the new food waste collection service and promote kerbside recycling. To make this happen, we need enthusiastic and experienced individuals to join our team.



As part of the role, youll:
Work closely with our Strategic Waste Management and Operational teams. Provide advice to residents through door-knocking and monitoring activities. Deliver community engagement events, including school assemblies and local talks. Monitor kerbside recycling for contamination and support crews with follow-up visits to households.This is a hands-on role where youll be out in the community, helping people understand how they can make a difference.
We encourage you to contact Victoria Burrell via email at Victoria.burrell@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role

What will I need?

Were looking for people who:
Are customer-focused, friendly, and great communicators - comfortable speaking face-to-face with residents. Have excellent organisational skills. Have an interest in the environment, especially waste prevention and recycling. Knowledge of waste services is a bonus, but full training will be provided.
Other requirements:
Qualifications: 5 GCSEs (A-C grade) or equivalent. Ability to work outside normal hours, including evenings and weekends when needed. A 6-week probation period will apply..
If successful, you will be required to undertake and pass an in-house driving assessment as part of our pre-employment checks before any offer of appointment can be confirmed.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on 15 December 2025



We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable.



Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website (https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/26895/Rewards-and-benefits-if-you-work-for-us)



Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

HOW TO APPLY

Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the Person Specification section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website (https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/2083/How-to-apply-for-a-job-with-us)



If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, (option 4) or via email RecruitmentNE@durham.gov.uk

All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you dont miss any updates.

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