Are you looking to write your perfect Recycling Officer CV?
As a recycling officer, your role involves spearheading efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle materials. To secure a job in this role, you’ll need a strong CV that effectively showcases your qualifications, experience and accomplishments.
In this useful guide, we’ll offer valuable tips and provide examples to help you create a standout CV that impresses potential employers. Let’s get started!
Throughout my working years since University, I have amassed a skill set that has made me a determined, adaptable and reliable Recycling Officer with a passion for environmental causes. The work experience that I have in the recycling field complements my hard-working attitude and allows me to accomplish all tasks to a very high standard. I am currently looking for an opportunity to further my career in the environmental sector and make a real difference in people’s daily lives.
Achievements
Two years of relevant work experience
Degree in Environmental Geoscience from Bristol University
River Severn charity bike ride, 2013
Education
2010 –2013
BSc Environmental Geoscience
Bristol University
Grade achieved: [2:2]
Relevant Modules:
Geology
Atmospheric Processes
Soils and Environmental Analysis
Environmental Geoscience
2010 – 2012 Results: Biology: A Geology: A German: B
A Levels
Summerfield College
2003 – 2010 Results: 11 GCSEs at Grades A*-C.
GCSEs
Westminster School
Work experience
Sept 2014 – Present
Recycling Officer Brighton Council
Main duties performed:
Ensuring that the council’s recycling procedures are followed correctly and efficiently to reduce the environmental impact of human processes
Highlighting the importance of recycling to staff members and the local community at large
Encouraging households and businesses to recycle more
Promoting all aspects of sustainable waste management
Initiating new recycling schemes in the borough
Holding regular meetings to discuss various topics including housing development, environmental concerns, community education and cutting down the cost of spending
Liaising with other departments to complete recycling duties
Keeping up-to-date with scientific advancements in the recycling field to ensure that all processes are as efficient as possible
Controlling budgets which have been allocated by the council board
Organising the maintenance of machinery and sites
Advising the planning team on locations and requirements of new sites
Organising and coordinating projects across the borough
Participating in community-based campaigns to promote recycling
Writing reports and presenting its findings to the senior management
Performing general admin duties
Sept 2013 – Sept 2014
Admin Assistant Sussex Waste Management
Main duties performed:
Organising meetings and scheduling appointments for senior management
Assisting the recycling staff on-site
Producing computerised time sheets for waste disposal teams
Ensuring shifts run according to schedule
Qualifications
Effective Team Working Skills – Ripley Training Ltd.
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) – BCS
HSE First Aid at Work
Skills
Superb communicator with experience of dealing with customer queries via phone, email and in person.
Exceptional scientific background knowledge to aid planning and effectiveness within waste management and disposal.
Meticulous in preparation to reduce planning errors.
Good grasp of the German language, often have to deal with German machinery manufacturers.
Excellent IT skills including proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Hobbies and interests
I love to travel and take pride in visiting new places and countries. In a sporting capacity, I am an avid cyclist and like to combine this with my love of travel. Additionally, I am very passionate about protecting the environment, and I regularly contribute to various ecological blogs.
References
Mr Peter Hunter Recycling Manager, Brighton Council Address: 8 Soho Rd, Chester, CQ8 5DT Tel: 0723 6798 7822 Email:[email protected]
Mrs Maria Parker Supervisor, Sussex Waste Management Address: 4 Green Ln, Clay, CE1 3PP Tel: 0980 6579 8903 Email:[email protected]
Preview
What makes this CV good and effective?
The personal profile: The personal profile is concise and effectively summarises the candidate’s skills, experience and passion for recycling.
Layout and formatting: The CV is well-structured with clear headings and bullet points, making it easy to skim. Consistent use of fonts and formatting elements creates a professional and polished appearance.
Tailored for the role: The candidate has tailored their CV to the recycling officer position by highlighting specific skills and experiences relevant to the job. It gives the impression that the candidate has taken the time to carefully study the job’s personal specifications and has used the same key words, phrases and terminology to produce a targeted CV.
Professional experience: The CV provides a detailed work history with bullet points that highlight key achievements and responsibilities for each role. It lists their experience in waste management and recycling programs, as well as having environmental awareness, which is crucial for the role.
Tailor your CV to the role: Remember that employers receive hundreds of applications for the same job so targeting your CV is essential to get shortlisted for interviews. Align your CV with the specific requirements of the position by highlighting relevant skills and experiences. For instance, if the job requires waste management expertise, emphasise your experience in waste reduction and disposal.
Use a clean and professional layout: Choose a clean, well-organised CV template that allows your information to be easily accessible. A clutter-free layout ensures that your achievements stand out. Consider using one of these blank CV templates to ensure that your CV has the correct structure, format and layout.
Emphasise relevant skills: Enumerate your skills, such as waste auditing, recycling program management and environmental compliance, in a prominent skills section.
Volunteer work: If you’ve volunteered for environmental causes or recycling projects, highlight this experience on your CV, showcasing your commitment to the field.
Relevance over length: Focus on the relevance of your content rather than making your CV overly long. A concise, well-targeted CV is more effective.
Your CV’s personal details section is where you provide essential information about yourself. It should contain your full name, contact details (email and phone number) and your address.
Including your address is common, and it helps the employer know your location for potential commuting or local considerations.
Ensure that your personal details are accurate and up-to-date. It’s important to provide a professional email address (not [email protected]!) and a working phone number.
Your personal profile is a concise paragraph, usually at the beginning of your CV, designed to give the prospective employer an overview of your qualifications and what you can bring to the role.
When crafting your personal profile, make sure to use action-oriented language and specific examples to demonstrate your achievements and how they align with the job you’re seeking.
Aim to keep your personal profile concise, typically around 2-3 sentences.
Experienced Recycling Officer with a proven record of increasing recycling rates by 25% through strategic community outreach and the implementation of efficient waste diversion programmes. Skilled in waste auditing, environmental compliance, and driving sustainable practices to reduce landfill waste. Committed to creating a greener, more environmentally responsible future.
Accomplishments
In this section, you showcase some of your impressive achievements in a bullet-point format.
This can include awards you’ve received, promotions, notable projects you’ve completed, academic achievements, and any other accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and contributions to your previous roles.
It’s a way to emphasise what you’ve done that sets you apart from other candidates and shows your value to potential employers.
Example:
Achieved a Distinction in the Environmental Management course, demonstrating a strong grasp of sustainability principles.
Led a team of volunteers for a local charity event, raising £1,000 for environmental conservation.
Received the “Green Initiative Award” for outstanding contributions to eco-friendly practices within the workplace.
Organised a successful recycling awareness campaign, reaching 10,000 households with crucial information.
Work experience
As its name suggests, the work experience section of your CV is where you detail your employment history.
You should list your previous job positions in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. This will ensure that the most recent and/or significant job entry is seen first by employers.
For each job, provide information about your roles, duties, responsibilities and achievements.
March 2022 – Present
Recycling Officer Green Solutions Ltd
Main duties and responsibilities performed:
Implemented a comprehensive recycling programme, increasing waste diversion by 25% within the first year.
Conducted regular waste audits, identifying areas for improvement and reducing landfill waste by 20%.
Led a team of recycling enthusiasts, providing training and guidance to ensure effective recycling practices.
Collaborated with local schools to develop educational workshops, reaching 1,500 students annually.
Achieved a 98% recycling rate within the company, receiving recognition for exceptional sustainability efforts.
Developing and implementing recycling programmes to reduce waste sent to landfills.
Conducting waste audits to assess and improve recycling and waste diversion efforts.
Collaborating with local communities, businesses, and schools to promote recycling and sustainability.
Monitoring and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and standards.
Educating and training staff, students, and the public on recycling best practices.
Managing recycling facilities and overseeing the collection and separation of recyclable materials.
Identifying and implementing innovative recycling initiatives to enhance environmental impact.
Analysing data to track and report on recycling rates and progress towards sustainability goals.
Coordinating recycling-related events and campaigns to raise awareness and engagement.
Continuously researching and staying up-to-date on industry trends and best practices in recycling and waste management.
Education
In the education section of your CV, you can include a range of qualifications such as degrees, A-Levels, GCSEs, diplomas and any other relevant educational achievements.
Providing details of what you studied in each qualification, along with any special projects or coursework that are relevant to the job, can give you an extra edge. Highlight any exceptional academic achievements, such as high grades or awards, to make your education section even more compelling.
Ensure you mention the name of the university or institution where you obtained these qualifications and the relevant dates, to provide a comprehensive overview of your educational background.
Example:
September 2014 – June 2016
A-Levels
City College
Grade achieved: ABA.
Subjects Studied:
Biology: A
Chemistry: B
Geography: A
September 2012 – June 2014 Results: 8 GCSEs, including Mathematics (A), English Language (B), Physics (A), and Environmental Science (A).
GCSEs
Greenfield High School
Qualifications
The professional training and qualifications section of your CV lists any additional courses, certifications, or qualifications you have obtained that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, demonstrating your expertise and skills.
For a recycling officer job, you might include certifications in waste management, environmental sustainability or health and safety, illustrating your expertise in areas crucial to the role.
Example:
Level 5 Diploma in Waste Management – Environmental Institute of Recycling and Sustainability
Level 4 Certificate in Environmental Sustainability – GreenSkills Training
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Health and Safety – British Safety Council
Skills and competencies
The skills section of your CV is where you highlight your specific abilities, competencies and attributes that make you well-suited for the role.
It should include both technical and soft skills relevant to the position, such as waste management expertise, environmental compliance knowledge, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
This section provides a quick snapshot of what you bring to the role and helps potential employers understand how you can excel in the position.
Waste management expertise: Managed and optimised waste disposal systems, reducing landfill contributions by 30% in my previous role.
Environmental compliance knowledge: Ensured strict compliance with environmental regulations, resulting in zero environmental violations over the past three years.
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement: Collaborated with local communities, schools and businesses to raise awareness of recycling initiatives, resulting in a 20% increase in community participation.
Waste management expertise: Proficient in the efficient collection, segregation and disposal of recyclable materials.
Analytical skills: Capable of assessing recycling data to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Community engagement: Skilled in collaborating with local communities and promoting recycling initiatives.
Waste reduction strategies: Able to develop and implement strategies to reduce waste generation and increase recycling rates.
Sustainability awareness: Knowledgeable about sustainable practices and their importance in waste management.
Report writing: Capable of preparing detailed reports on recycling activities and progress.
Project planning: Able to plan and execute recycling projects effectively.
Public awareness campaigns: Proficient in designing and implementing recycling awareness campaigns.
Waste auditing: Conducts waste audits to identify recycling opportunities and areas of improvement.
Innovative thinking: Encourages and implements innovative approaches to recycling challenges.
Personal interests
The personal interests section of your CV is where you can briefly share your hobbies, activities, or interests outside of work, allowing potential employers to get a glimpse of your personality and what motivates you beyond your professional life.
A recycling officer’s hobbies could include activities related to sustainability and the environment, such as participating in community clean-up events, gardening or volunteering for environmental organisations. These interests can show a strong commitment to the field and a genuine passion for environmental issues.
Passionate about environmental conservation, I actively engage in recycling initiatives within my community. Enjoy volunteering for local clean-up events and stay updated on sustainable practices to further my knowledge and contribute to a greener future.
References
The references section of your CV is where you provide the names and contact details of individuals who can vouch for your professional character and suitability for the job.
Typically, referees are former employers, supervisors, mentors or colleagues who can speak about your work performance or academic achievements.
Quantify achievements: Use facts and figures to make your statements more impactful, such as “Implemented a recycling program that reduced landfill waste by 30% in six months.”
Highlight teamwork: Mention instances where you collaborated with teams or community groups to drive recycling projects, exemplifying your ability to work with others. Remember, although changing the world starts with you, you need the collaboration of many other people to get tangible benefits on the environmental front.
Use keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords from the job description to increase the chances of your CV passing through applicant tracking systems. For example, if the job posting mentions ‘waste diversion,’ ‘recycling compliance’ or ‘sustainability initiatives’, be sure to include these exact phrases in your CV where relevant. This not only helps your CV get noticed but also indicates your alignment with the specific requirements of the role.
Continuous learning: Discuss how you stay updated on the latest recycling technologies and sustainable practices, by attending conferences or workshops.
Written by Sobhan Mohmand Sobhan is a qualified Careers Advisor and Professional CV Writer with over 10 years of experience in helping job seekers get a job. He is a Member of the Careers Development Institute (CDI) and is listed on the official UK Register of Career Development Professionals. He holds a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development (QCF).
