Transfer station attendant job description
A complete transfer station attendant job description template for Australian waste operators, with the duties, licences and award detail that actually apply to the role.
Transfer station attendant job description
PDF format • Ready to download
By downloading, you agree to our template disclaimer
This transfer station attendant job description template reflects Australian workplace standards and waste industry practice at the time of publication. It is a general guide only and does not constitute legal advice. Confirm the applicable classification, licence requirements and pay rate against the Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043) and the actual duties of the role before advertising. 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.
What does a transfer station attendant do?
A transfer station attendant runs the customer-facing side of a tipping facility. They direct arriving vehicles to the right bay, check what is being unloaded, keep the tipping area clear, and pull out material that can be recovered rather than buried.
The safety element is significant: the public reverse trailers next to open pits, carry loads they are not equipped for, and bring items the site cannot accept. Under the Waste Management Award the role sits at Level 2, which covers waste facility attendants.
Key responsibilities
Core duties included in this job description template
Direct customers to the correct bay
Assess each load on arrival and send the vehicle to the right tipping face or stream.
Supervise unloading safely
Keep members of the public a safe distance from plant, pits and edges while they unload.
Segregate waste streams
Ensure recyclable, green, e-waste and hazardous material go to the correct area rather than into general waste.
Recover reusable material
Identify items suitable for the reuse shop or resource recovery rather than disposal.
Keep the tipping area clear
Sweep, push back and tidy so the working face stays safe and usable through the day.
Refuse or escalate prohibited material
Identify asbestos, chemicals and other material the site is not licensed to accept, and escalate before it is unloaded.
Skills and attributes
What to look for in candidates
Public interaction
Gives clear direction to members of the public who have never used the site before.
Load assessment
Recognises at a glance what a load contains and where it belongs.
Safety leadership
Willing to stop an unsafe unload, including when the customer is impatient.
Physical fitness
Sustains manual work outdoors across a full shift.
Recovery mindset
Actively looks for material that can be diverted from landfill.
Clear communication
Explains site rules and charges without escalating the interaction.
Licences and qualifications
Requirements for transfer station attendant positions vary by operator and vehicle class. These are the credentials Australian waste employers ask for most often.
- No formal qualification required
Not required. Attendants are trained on the job in site procedures and stream identification.
- Site induction and stream training
Provided. Covers what the site accepts, where each stream goes and what must be refused.
- Class C driver licence
Commonly required. Needed to reach most facility sites.
- Asbestos awareness
Desirable. Valuable for recognising material the site cannot accept.
- First aid certificate
Desirable. Useful at sites open to the public.
- Certificate II in Waste Management
Desirable. Supports progression to plant operating or supervision.
Working conditions
Set clear expectations for candidates about the work environment
- Outdoor work at a tipping face in all weather
- Sustained contact with members of the public, including difficult interactions
- Exposure to odour, dust and noise, with PPE provided
- Work near open pits, moving plant and reversing vehicles
- Weekend and public holiday work — sites are busiest when the public is off work
- Physically demanding, with regular manual handling
Award coverage
Understanding the Waste Management Award
Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043)
Most transfer station attendant positions in Australia are covered by the Waste Management Award 2020 (MA000043). This role generally sits at Level 2, which pays $1,168.48 a week or $30.75 an hour for full-time and part-time employees, and $38.44 an hour for casuals, from 1 July 2026. See the full Waste Management Award pay guide for every classification, penalty rate and allowance.
The rates include the industry allowance
Fair Work publishes these rates with the $3.24 per hour industry allowance already included, because clause 16.2(b) makes it an all-purpose allowance — payable for all purposes including overtime and shift rates. Rate sites that strip it out quote a Level 1 rate around $26.63 instead of $30.11, and every penalty calculated from that lower base is understated.
Waste Management Award pay rates 2026-27
Minimum ordinary hourly rates by classification, effective from 1 July 2026. Casual includes the 25% casual loading. Penalty rates for weekends, evenings and public holidays apply on top.
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly | Casual hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – depot hand in training Depot hand in training | $1143.98 | $30.11 | $37.64 |
| Level 2 – labourer / depot hand Labourers, depot hands, waste facility attendants, process workers, driver offsiders | $1168.48 | $30.75 | $38.44 |
| Level 3 – weighbridge / driver to 4.5t Weighbridge operators, trainee drivers up to 14 tonnes, drivers of vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes | $1180.58 | $31.07 | $38.84 |
| Level 4 – plant to 150 BHP / driver to 14t Truck-mounted crane, road sweeper and incinerator operators; earthmoving plant up to 150 BHP; drivers over 4.5 up to 14 tonnes | $1199.18 | $31.56 | $39.45 |
| Level 5 – driver 14–30t Rear-end loading, roll-on/roll-off, side lift, skip lift, liquid and septic/chemical waste drivers | $1212.58 | $31.91 | $39.89 |
| Level 6 – articulated / over 30t Articulated vehicle drivers, rigid vehicles over 30 tonnes, front lift operators, SOLO grab-operated collection | $1240.98 | $32.66 | $40.83 |
| Level 7 – driver/instructor Driver/instructor, all systems | $1321.78 | $34.79 | $43.49 |
| Level 8 – intermodal / plant over 150 BHP Intermodal and tipping platform operators; earthmoving plant over 150 BHP | $1381.68 | $36.36 | $45.45 |
| Level 9 – double articulated (B double) Double articulated (B double) drivers | $1393.88 | $36.68 | $45.85 |
Source: the Fair Work Waste Management Award pay guide (MA000043). Full classifications, penalty rates, allowances and a calculator are in the Waste Management Award pay guide .
Who should use this template?
This job description template is designed for Australian waste and resource recovery employers
Whether you run a single depot or a multi-site collection fleet, a clear job description reduces disputes about duties and makes award classification easier to defend.
How to use this template
Tips for adapting the job description to your operation
Name the vehicle and equipment
Specify the exact vehicle class and lifting system so applicants know what licence and experience they need.
State the start time honestly
Early starts are the single biggest reason waste roles turn over. Put the real start time in the ad.
Confirm the classification level
This role generally sits at Level 2, but check the classification against the actual duties before you advertise a rate.
List the tickets you will actually check
Only list credentials you will verify. Requirements you do not check discourage good applicants for no benefit.
Describe the site environment
Depot, transfer station, picking line or on-road — candidates self-select accurately when the environment is clear.
Add your own safety expectations
Include any site-specific procedures, PPE and fatigue management obligations that apply.
Ready to hire your next transfer station attendant?
Once the crew is in place, build compliant rosters in minutes, track early starts with GPS clock-ins and export award-ready timesheets to payroll.
Related resources
More templates and tools for waste and resource recovery employers
Waste Management Award pay guide
Every classification, penalty rate and allowance under MA000043, plus a free calculator.
View the guideWaste management rostering
How collection fleets roster early starts, depot clock-ins and licence-matched relief drivers.
See the industryHR policy templates
Free workplace policy templates including code of conduct, WHS and leave policies.
Browse templatesRelated job descriptions
More roles in this category — free templates you can download and edit.
Waste collection driver job description
Free waste collection driver job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreWaste driver instructor job description
Free waste driver instructor job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreWeighbridge operator job description
Free weighbridge operator job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreDepot hand job description
Free depot hand job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreFront lift driver job description
Free front lift driver job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreResource recovery sorter job description
Free resource recovery sorter job description template — duties, licences and Waste Management Award pay. Download the PDF.
Learn moreExplore the waste management cluster
Guides, tools and templates to help you hire, roster and pay waste crews
Industries
How-to guides
Regulatory sources
This job description is aligned with Australian workplace award requirements
Transfer station attendant job description FAQ
-
A transfer station attendant directs arriving vehicles to the correct tipping bay, supervises unloading safely, segregates waste streams, recovers reusable material and keeps the tipping area clear. They also refuse or escalate material the site is not licensed to accept.
-
Largely, yes. Most customers are members of the public using the site infrequently, so the attendant explains the rules, the charges and where to go — often while managing a queue and keeping people away from open pits.
-
Level 2 under the Waste Management Award, which explicitly covers waste facility attendants alongside labourers, depot hands and process workers.
-
Usually. Public tipping facilities are busiest at weekends and on public holidays, so weekend rostering is normal and attracts the award penalty rates for those days.
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.