Refuse/Recycling Collection Operative

Post Title: Refuse & Recycling Collection Operative

Location: Bradley Fold Depot

Hours:37 hours per week

Team: Place Operations Waste Management and Transport

Salary; £26,403-£28,142

Are you looking for a practical, active job where you’ll work outdoors, be part of a supportive team, and make a real difference in the community. We’re recruiting Refuse & Recycling Collection Operatives to join our Waste Management Service at Bradley Fold.

This is an essential frontline role supporting household and business waste collections across Bury. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including people who may not have worked in waste services before. If you value teamwork, enjoy working outdoors, and want a role that makes a difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

As a Refuse & Recycling Collection Operative, you’ll be part of a crew delivering a reliable, customerfocused service. Your responsibilities will include:

• Collecting refuse and recycling from households and businesses across the Borough
• Loading waste safely into specialist vehicles
• Returning bins to the correct locations to keep streets safe and tidy
• Supporting the Driver/Team Leader to complete routes efficiently
• Ensuring all work is carried out safely in line with Council health and safety policies
• Following instructions and working together using a teambased approach
• Cleaning up any spillages to maintain high service standards
• Acting professionally and courteously when speaking to members of the public
• Reporting issues such as contamination, excess waste or damaged bins

What we’re looking for

You’ll be someone who:

• Enjoys working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Works well within a team and follows instructions confidently
• Has a positive, reliable approach and pride in delivering a quality service
• Communicates clearly and respectfully with colleagues and the public
• Is physically capable of manual handling and working on foot throughout the day
• Wants to contribute to a Cleaner, Safer, Greener Bury
• Takes pride in delivering a reliable service for the community
• Is willing to participate in training and learn new skills

Hours, development and training

• 37 hours per week, TuesdayFriday, 06:4516:30
• Occasional evening/weekend work to meet service needs
• Training may take place outside normal hours and at other locations
• Opportunities to develop skills and gain experience in waste and recycling operations

Recruitment

Please ensure your CV includes your full employment history, with explanations for any gaps.

You must also include a covering letter outlining:

• how you meet the requirements of the role, and
• why you are interested in applying.

Successful candidates will be asked to provide employment references. Character references cannot be accepted.

To hear about the benefits for working with Bury Council, please visit A good employer | greater jobs

We support employees to work with agility, where appropriate for the post and service requirements.

We are committed to Bury being an equal society that recognises values and embraces all people, regardless of any difference, for the skills, abilities, and experiences they bring into the workforce and the wider community. Therefore, we guarantee an interview for disabled people, looked after children/ care leavers, armed forces personnel (including reservists and veterans) and carers of adults or disabled children if they meet the essential criteria.

For an informal chat regarding the role please contact Carl Nieland on 07814300399.

Interviews will be held week commencing 27-4-2026 at Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Unit 30-34, Bradley Fold Trading Estate, Radcliffe Moor Road, Bradley Fold, BOLTON, BL2 6RT.

For further information please see:

• Job description
• Work demands form (JA1)
• Privacy notice