Waste and Recycling Operative
| Posting date: | 19 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £23,984 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 February 2026 |
| Location: | Southampton, Hampshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Southampton |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 3316026TD |
Summary
We are recruiting for a permanent, full-time Waste and Recycling Operative post in our Estates and Facilities team.
You will be part of a team that ensures our campuses are kept clean, tidy, and safe and provide excellent customer service to our staff, students, and other stakeholders.
The role:
• the collection, emptying, transporting, and sorting of general waste and recyclable materials to agreed time schedules
• the use of equipment such as balers and external cleaning equipment.
• driving to move waste and recycling to various locations
• driving a road-sweeping machine
You will need to be reliable, flexible, and enthusiastic, with a strong customer focus.
Basic PC skills, such as the use of email, will be required. A full driving license is essential as driving vehicles is an integral part of the role.
The position offers a 36-hour/week working between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, (11:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday). You will also be expected to be available for occasional weekend work covering Open Days in the Summer and Autumn.
What we can offer you
We offer a generous holiday allowance of 20* days (plus up to 6 University closure days and 8 public holidays), access to a university pension scheme, subsidised health, and fitness facilities, and a range of discounts. Furthermore, the University is a fantastic place to work – regardless of what life stage you are at, you will be a valued member of our team.
*You will receive an extra day of annual leave after each year of continuous service, for the first four years of service, up to a maximum holiday allowance of 24 days per year.
We supply uniforms and a structured training scheme.
You will be part of a team that ensures our campuses are kept clean, tidy, and safe and provide excellent customer service to our staff, students, and other stakeholders.
The role:
• the collection, emptying, transporting, and sorting of general waste and recyclable materials to agreed time schedules
• the use of equipment such as balers and external cleaning equipment.
• driving to move waste and recycling to various locations
• driving a road-sweeping machine
You will need to be reliable, flexible, and enthusiastic, with a strong customer focus.
Basic PC skills, such as the use of email, will be required. A full driving license is essential as driving vehicles is an integral part of the role.
The position offers a 36-hour/week working between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, (11:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday). You will also be expected to be available for occasional weekend work covering Open Days in the Summer and Autumn.
What we can offer you
We offer a generous holiday allowance of 20* days (plus up to 6 University closure days and 8 public holidays), access to a university pension scheme, subsidised health, and fitness facilities, and a range of discounts. Furthermore, the University is a fantastic place to work – regardless of what life stage you are at, you will be a valued member of our team.
*You will receive an extra day of annual leave after each year of continuous service, for the first four years of service, up to a maximum holiday allowance of 24 days per year.
We supply uniforms and a structured training scheme.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.