Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Recycling and waste management technician

Recognised by ordinance of 17 June 2002 (BGBl. I, p. 2335)

Duration of traineeship

3 years

Training takes place in the specialist areas of logistics, collection and marketing or waste utilisation and treatment or waste disposal and treatment

The venues for training are company and part-time vocational school (Berufsschule)

Field of activity

Recycling and waste management technicians work in disposal firms, utilisation and treatment facilities, for example, glass and paper recycling facilities, landfills, composting facilities, and chemical and physical treatment plants.

Occupational skills

Recycling and waste management technicians carry out their work independently on the basis of technical documents and rules as well as relevant legal provisions. They acquire information, plan and coordinate their work. They document their performance and take measures to ensure quality, safety, health and environmental protection at work.

Recycling and waste management technicians

• accept waste
• identify, examine and declare waste
• assign waste to disposal systems
• allot containers and vehicles taking into account occupational safety regulations
• manage and control technical processes
• operate, monitor, inspect, maintain and repair waste utilisation, treatment and disposal plants
• recognise faults and react independently
• document and analyse work and operational processes
• act in a customer-oriented manner and make use of relevant information and communications technologies
• work in a cost-conscious, pro-environmental and hygiene-conscious manner
• apply relevant legal provisions, technical rules and occupational safety provisions and observe quality management guidelines

Last modified on: December 12, 2006