Waste management job description templates
Eight free job description templates for Australian waste and resource recovery operators — from depot hands to driver instructors. Each one names the licence the role needs and the Waste Management Award level it sits at.
Browse templatesThese templates reflect Australian workplace standards and waste industry practice at the time of publication. They are a general guide only and do not constitute legal advice. Review and tailor each template to your operation, vehicle classes, site requirements, modern award or enterprise agreement. Classification under the Waste Management Award turns on what the employee drives or operates, so confirm the level against the actual duties before advertising a rate. For complex coverage questions, seek independent legal or HR advice. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Job descriptions built from the award, not guesswork
Waste roles are unusually easy to misclassify. The Waste Management Award 2020 separates its nine levels almost entirely by what the employee drives or operates — vehicle tonnage, plant horsepower and whether the role instructs others. Two people doing visibly similar work can sit two levels and several dollars an hour apart.
Every template below states the classification level it generally sits at and the rate that goes with it, taken from the Fair Work pay guide effective 1 July 2026. That makes the job description and the pay decision one conversation instead of two.
Waste management job description templates
Eight free templates covering collection, depot and facility roles
Waste collection driver
Kerbside and commercial collection runs in side-lift, rear-loading and skip-lift vehicles. Level 5.
Read moreFront lift driver
Commercial front-lift collection using forks mounted at the front of the vehicle. Level 6.
Read moreSkip bin driver
On-demand skip delivery, exchange and collection using hook-lift and chain-lift equipment. Level 5.
Read moreWaste driver instructor
Trains and assesses collection drivers across all vehicle systems before they run solo. Level 7.
Read moreDepot hand
Yard duties, bin delivery and repair, vehicle wash-down and assisting collection crews. Level 2.
Read moreWeighbridge operator
Weighs vehicles in and out, issues dockets, takes payment and keeps the records a site is audited on. Level 3.
Read moreTransfer station attendant
Directs public customers, segregates streams and keeps the tipping area safe and clear. Level 2.
Read moreResource recovery sorter
Sorts mixed material on a picking line and removes contamination before baling. Level 2.
Read moreWhat's in each template
Every template follows the same structure so you can compare roles side by side
These templates are general information, not legal advice. Always confirm the classification against the actual duties before advertising a rate.
Who these templates are for
Written for the operators who run collection fleets and recovery facilities
Related job description categories
Browse other industries or head back to the full library
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Commercial and office cleaning roles including supervisors and grounds maintenance.
Learn moreExplore the waste management cluster
Award rates, rostering guidance and the tools that go with them
How to classify a waste role correctly
Classification under this award follows the equipment, not the job title. A driver on a 12-tonne vehicle sits at Level 4; the same person on a 20-tonne rear-loader sits at Level 5; move them to a front-lift or articulated vehicle and they are Level 6. A driver who also instructs others across all systems is Level 7.
Two things are worth checking before you advertise. First, the published rates already include the $3.24 per hour industry allowance, because clause 16.2(b) makes it an all-purpose allowance — so do not add it again on top. Second, the ordinary-hours span opens at 4.00am, which means the early start most waste roles involve is ordinary time rather than a penalty.
Both are covered in detail in the Waste Management Award pay guide, which also carries a free calculator for every classification.
Hiring across a collection fleet?
Once the crew is in place, RosterElf builds compliant rosters in minutes, verifies depot clock-ins with GPS and exports award-ready timesheets to payroll.
Waste management job description FAQ
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Yes. Every template on this page is free to download as a PDF and free to adapt for your own hiring. No sign-up is required.
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Eight roles across collection and facilities: waste collection driver, front lift driver, skip bin driver, waste driver instructor, depot hand, weighbridge operator, transfer station attendant and resource recovery sorter.
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Yes — they are starting points. Add your vehicle classes, site specifics, start times and any safety procedures that apply to your operation.
Before you download
General information only — not legal advice
This document is a general HR template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.