Refuse & Cleansing Operative

Job Opportunity: Refuse and Cleansing Operative 

Are you a dedicated and hardworking individual passionate about keeping communities clean and safe? Network Recruitment Wales is recruiting for 6 Refuse and Cleansing Operatives to join the Waste Strategy and Operations team in Caerphilly, for a 12-week temporary contract to meet short-term demand. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to an essential frontline service, ensuring the borough’s streets, parks, and public spaces are clean and welcoming!

Role: Refuse and Cleansing Operative
Location: Caerphilly
Contract Duration: 26/08/2025 – 18/11/2025
Hours: 37 hours per week (Monday–Friday, with potential for weekends, Bank Holidays, or alternative shift patterns as directed by Supervisor)
Rate: PAYE: £12.85 per hour | Umbrella: £16.12 per hour
Employment Type: Temporary

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform cleansing duties, including litter picking, sweeping, and removing waste, detritus, and bulky items from pedestrian areas, grass verges, parks, roads, pavements, wasteland, and public properties.
• Assist with waste collection rounds, potentially covering up to 2,000 properties per day, including manual loading of waste into vehicles where wheelie bins are not used.
• Work at Household Waste Recycling Centres, helping the public unload heavy/bulky items, segregating materials for recycling, and keeping sites clean and hazard-free.
• Undertake yardsman duties, such as driving a forklift truck, loading/unloading vehicles, stock control, and issuing materials or PPE.
• Operate equipment (e.g., pressure washers, chewing gum removal equipment, strimmers) after training, and perform daily pre/post-maintenance checks on vehicles or plant.
• Promote waste minimisation, recycling, and environmental initiatives, distributing leaflets and engaging with community events.
• Provide a customer-focused service, offering information and assistance to residents with sensitivity and professionalism.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety legislation, risk assessments, and safe systems of work.
• Maintain accurate records of cleansing/collection schedules and report vehicle/equipment defects promptly.
• Work flexibly, including potential out-of-hours attendance for emergency services or community initiatives.

Requirements:

• Essential:
  • Eligibility to work in the UK.
  • Basic awareness of cleansing/waste management issues.
  • Ability to work individually or as part of a team, delivering a high-quality, customer-focused service.
  • Strong communication skills to engage effectively with residents and handle sensitive or stressful situations with tact and diplomacy.
  • Reasonable numeracy and literacy skills.
  • Flexibility to work weekends, Bank Holidays, overtime, or varying shift patterns (e.g., longer summer shifts, early/late shifts).
  • Physically capable of walking long distances, lifting heavy items, and working outdoors in all weather conditions (including extreme heat, cold, rain, or snow).
  • Trained to Manual Handling Passport Standard (or willing to undertake training).
  • Commitment to council policies, including confidentiality, equal opportunities, and safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Desirable:
  • Experience in a customer-focused or public service role.
  • Experience driving and maintaining vehicles (full driving licence, LGV 1 or 2 advantageous but not essential).
  • Knowledge of the County Borough and its services.
  • Passes at GCSE or equivalent, or relevant experience.
• Required Documents at Submission:
  • Photo ID
  • Proof of eligibility to work in the UK
  • Criminal Convictions Declaration
  • Confidentiality Agreement
  • 2 years of references/work history
• Required on Offer Acceptance:
  • Health Declaration/Questionnaire
• Desirable:
  • Proof of qualifications

What We Offer:

• A rewarding frontline role enhancing the cleanliness and safety of Caerphilly’s public spaces.
• Opportunity to work in a supportive team under the guidance of a Supervisor.
• Competitive pay and a structured 37-hour workweek with potential for additional hours.
• A chance to contribute to community initiatives and environmental goals, including recycling and waste minimisation.

Apply Now!
If you’re ready to make a difference in Caerphilly’s communities through a vital cleansing and waste service, we’d love to hear from you! Submit your CV and required documents to Network Recruitment Wales. For more details, contact us today!