Refuse and Cleansing Operative

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Caerphilly County Borough Council
Service Area: Housing and Environment / Waste and Infrastructure / Waste Strategy & Operations / Waste Operations

Hours: 37 hours per week

Working Pattern:
On-site operational role
Flexible hours may be required, including weekends, bank holidays, additional hours and different shift patterns as directed by the Supervisor

Start Date: 14 September 2026
End Date: 22 November 2026 (Possible Extension) 
Duration: 10 weeks

Number of Roles: 3

Location

Base Location:
Block B3
New Road
Tir-Y-Berth
Caerphilly
CF82 8NR

The role may involve working throughout the county borough.

Pay

PAYE Rate: £12.85 per hour

Job Overview

Caerphilly County Borough Council is seeking Refuse and Cleansing Operatives to support the Waste Strategy and Operations service.

The role will involve providing an effective and efficient cleansing and waste collection service across the county borough. Duties may include litter picking, sweeping, removing waste and detritus, loading bulky items, supporting refuse and cleansing rounds, working on Household Waste Recycling Centres, undertaking yardman duties, and helping to keep public areas clean, safe and presentable.

This is a physically demanding outdoor role. Candidates must be willing to work in all weather conditions, undertake manual handling, support waste and recycling operations, work flexibly across different duties, and provide a customer-focused service to residents and members of the public.

Important – Please Read Carefully

This is a Refuse and Cleansing Operative / Waste Operations role.

Candidates must be able to undertake physically demanding outdoor work, including litter picking, sweeping for long distances, loading heavy or bulky items, assisting with waste collection rounds and working in all weather conditions.

The role may involve working on Household Waste Recycling Centres, assisting the public with bulky items, segregating materials to maximise recycling, keeping sites clean and safe, and undertaking basic checks on machinery or equipment after training.

Candidates must be flexible and willing to work weekends, bank holidays, additional hours or different shift patterns when required by the Supervisor.

Manual Handling Passport Standard is required or candidates must be willing to undertake the necessary training.

No DBS check is required for this post.

Candidates without outdoor manual work, cleansing, waste, refuse, recycling, public service, customer-facing, manual handling or physically demanding work experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide cleansing and waste collection services
• Complete allocated cleansing duties
• Undertake litter picking
• Sweep for long distances where required
• Remove waste and detritus from public areas
• Load heavy items of illicit tipping onto vehicles
• Support waste collection rounds
• Manually load waste where required
• Remove bulky items from pedestrian areas, grass verges, parks, roads, pavements, wasteland, houses and public properties
• Support street washing duties where required
• Work on Household Waste Recycling Centres when required
• Assist members of the public to unload heavy or bulky items
• Segregate materials to optimise recycling
• Keep recycling centre sites clean and free from hazards
• Undertake out-of-hours attendance where required
• Carry out daily pre and post maintenance checks on machinery or equipment where used
• Undertake routine machine maintenance where required
• Undertake yardman duties where required
• Support loading and unloading vehicles
• Assist with stock control
• Issue materials and PPE where required
• Participate in environmental, educational and customer care initiatives
• Use equipment after training, such as pressure washers, chewing gum removal equipment, drills, strimmers or chainsaws
• Work closely with other crews and supervisors
• Promote cleansing, waste minimisation, recycling and environmental issues
• Support existing Council officers and Public Services staff
• Provide a customer-focused service to residents
• Participate in community events or local initiatives
• Distribute leaflets and flyers where required
• Communicate politely with residents, visitors and the public
• Complete cleansing, collection and delivery schedule records accurately
• Undertake basic administrative and clerical duties where required
• Work in line with Health and Safety and Environmental Protection legislation
• Follow risk assessments, safe systems of work and training provided

Essential Experience & Skills

• Ability to undertake physically demanding manual work
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Ability to walk long distances as part of cleansing rounds
• Ability to lift and load heavy or bulky items safely
• Basic awareness of cleansing or waste management issues
• Experience working with the public
• Experience delivering a customer-focused service
• Ability to work individually
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to undertake a wide range of Public Services operative duties
• Good communication skills
• Ability to listen to and understand residents' needs
• Ability to handle difficult or sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Ability to follow instructions from a Supervisor
• Ability to complete records accurately
• Reasonable numeracy and literacy skills
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Understanding of equal opportunities
• Commitment to health and safety
• Flexibility to work weekends, bank holidays, overtime and different shift patterns where required
• Willingness to undertake required training
• Manual Handling Passport Standard or willingness to complete the required training
• Willingness to undertake any other duties directed by the Supervisor

Desirable

• Previous refuse, recycling, waste, cleansing or street scene experience
• Experience working on Household Waste Recycling Centres
• Experience assisting the public with bulky waste or recycling
• Experience using small plant or equipment
• Experience using pressure washers, strimmers, drills, chewing gum removal equipment or similar tools
• Experience driving or maintaining vehicles
• Competent and experienced driver
• Full current driving licence
• LGV 1 or LGV 2 licence
• Forklift truck experience
• Knowledge of the county borough
• Knowledge of Public Services duties
• Experience working with community groups on cleansing initiatives
• GCSEs or equivalent

Additional Information

Interview will be held on site.

Candidate submission deadline is 08 September 2026.

No DBS check is required for this post.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

OR114438