Municipal Waste Europe

Jobs, Skills and Skills Needs

Ian MacKenziePolicy Officer

Municipal Waste Europe

Municipal waste Europe is a non-profit association which represents European

municipalities and their waste management companies, in their responsibility

to manage municipal waste. The members of Municipal waste Europe

represent 14 Member States of the European Union, through national waste

associations which serve over 60% and up to 95% of their national population.

Throughout Europe, municipalities are responsible for the recovery of material

resources from European households. The members of Municipal Waste

Europe therefore play a pivotal role in driving Europe to becoming more

resource efficient and in this regard are the bridge between the actors in

resource efficiency at European level, and the public.

LARAC Local Authority Recycling Advisory Service

The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) is an

association of around 330 local authorities across England, Scotland,

Wales and Northern Ireland whose waste management and recycling

professionals’ co-ordinate and operate waste management services.

Membership is drawn from all types of authority including statutory

Waste Collection (WCA), Waste Disposal (WDA) and Unitary.

LARAC works with the UK regulatory bodies to ensure the views of Local

Authority waste professionals are considered within legislation and

operational procedures.

Skills training in EuropeOperator/supervisor training

Austria Norway Finland Greece UKYES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

1 Are training schemes nationally acredited? partly x x x x2 Is there a training scheme for waste collectors? x x x x x3 Is there a training scheme for waste vehicle drivers? x x x x x4 Is there a training scheme for MRF operatives? x x x x x5 Is there a training scheme for plant operatives? x x x x x6 Are there training schemes for supervisors? x x x x x7 Are there training schemes for managers? x x x x x8 Is it provided by external provider? x x x x x9 Do you think current training provision is adequate? x x x x x

10 Is there a nationally recognised qualification? x x x x x

This means that across Europe only 60% are adequately trained !!!

This means that across Europe only 60% of employees are adequately trained !!!

• Is training alone enough?

• Should training/skills be

transferable?

• Should training have value?

Skills Training in the UK

The UK’s operator training is based on two distinct

requirements

• A statutory requirement that within all permitted

waste operations staff should be ‘competant’ and

proof of ‘competancy’ can be provided.

• A requirement by the Health and Safety Executive

that adequate training is provided for which details of

‘best practice’ are provided.

The UK process

Waste Management Industry Training and Advisory BoardWAMITAB

• Is the awarding body for the UK Waste Industry

• Provides training for all employees within the waste industry

• Operates within four distinct areas

• Waste Qualifications

• Recycling Qualifications

• Cleansing Qualifications

• Facilities Management/ Skills for Public Services

• Four levels of competency attainable

WAMITAB Process

Qualifications Suite for Recycling Activities

Level 1 Diploma for General Recycling Operative

Level 1 Diploma in Recycling Activities

Level 2 Diploma for Sustainable Recycling Activities

Level 3 Diploma for Sustainable Recycling Activities (Supervisory)

Level 4 Diploma for Management of Sustainable Recycling Activities

Level 4 Diploma for Management of Sustainable Recycling Activities:

Small Scale Operations

WAMITAB Process

A - Mandatory Units – Sustainable Recycling (Supervisory)

Title Level Credits

-Set objectives and provide support for team members 3 5

-Plan, allocate and monitor work of a team 3 5

-Conduct a health and safety risk assessment of the workplace 3 6

-Develop and implement a risk assessment plan in own area of

Responsibility 4 6

-Promote sustainability and environmental good practice in

the recycling industry 3 10

-Develop personal performance 2 3

B – Optional Units (20)

The Credit System

• Work Books determine the competences and activities required

to be assessed

• Competences are assessed “on-the –job” by external assessor.

• Portfolio of evidence required to demonstrate knowledge and

competence to meet standard required

• Credits awarded are put together for qualification.

• 1 – 12 credits = award

• 13 – 16 credits = certificate

• 37 credits and above = diploma

• Can be viewed by external training establishments

• The EU’s current strategy “aims to achieve a sustainble

reduction in occupational accidents and diseases through

various EU and national actions”

• EU statistics show that the 15 to 24 age group have more work

related accidents/injuries than other age groups

• Trips slips and falls are the main type of accident

• Being struck by an object in motion caused the greatest

number of fatalities

• Inspite of such a sophisticated system of training the UK had 6

fatalities in 2011 in the waste industry

But we should never give up – effective, timely and quality training of operatives is the only way that we

can achieve both European and national goals of less work related

injuries and fatalities

Thank You for your attention!

ianmackenzie21@btinternet.com