Waste and Recycling Operative

Join Our Growing Waste & Recycling Team

We’re expanding our waste services and looking for eight dedicated Waste and Recycling Operatives to help us deliver this vital service to our communities. If you’re passionate about the environment and want to be part of a transformative moment in local waste collection, we’d love to hear from you!

Love the Outdoors? Care About the Planet?

Our operatives are the frontline heroes in protecting both our local and global environment. Without them, over 1,000 tonnes of waste could pile up in just one week across our beautiful district.

You’ll be the first to handle residents’ recycling and waste, identifying contamination and ensuring materials are properly sorted for recycling or energy recovery. It’s physical, sometimes messy work—but it’s meaningful, active, and outdoors.

If you’re looking for a role that offers work-life balance, keeps you fit, and makes a real difference, this could be the perfect fit.

#Waste Matters

• This role is subject to pre‑employment health screening
• A basic DBS check is required

• Up to a maximum of £26,476 per annum including bank holiday payments
• 23 days leave plus an additional 5 days for 5 years local authority continuous service
• Limited parking available at all depots
• Local Government Pension scheme and AVC provision
• Employee Assistance Programme (free 24‑hour legal, financial and personal advice for employees)
• Free flu jabs and free health checks
• Training and development opportunities, particularly if you’d like to progress to be an HGV driver
• Wide range of employee discounts at high street retailers, including supermarkets, stores and restaurants
• Cycle to Work scheme which could save you around 40 percent on cycles and accessories
• Buy or sell annual leave scheme

About us.

As one of the largest districts in the country, with 6 towns and a close relationship with neighbouring conurbations, the New Forest provides a supportive environment in which everyone who works for us can help drive our aims.

At NFDC we believe that all our employees make a valuable contribution to the work of the council and that’s why we encourage a trusting and open culture where each employee is supported and respected equally, where ideas are actively sought and self‑development promoted.

We also recognise the value of a highly motivated and engaged workforce, and we actively promote a good work/life balance. We’re keen to support career development and help all colleagues to be the best they can be.

We are proud of our values; please watch this short video to find out more. LEAF Learning Empathy Ambition Fairness ()

If you’re ambitious and passionate, are driven to deliver, and want to be part of our team, we welcome your application.

To view full details of what you can expect from working for NFDC and to view the full job description, please click on the candidate pack attached.

After reading the job description of what the role will involve, you feel you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Dave Wheeler‑Osman (Waste and Recycling Senior Supervisor)  or Ian Nunn (Waste and Recycling Supervisor) on .

Closing date: 11pm on Sunday 8th March 2026
Interview Date: 17th, 18th, 19th March 2026