Waste broker

Waste brokers act as mediating party between clients and waste management industries. They ensure the waste is collected from the client by a specialised professional, and transported to a waste mangement facility where it is processed.

The following job titles also refer to waste broker:

mine waste broker
mining waste broker
lower tier waste broker
waste management broker
waste management intermediary
animal waste broker
waste recycling broker
recycling waste broker
upper tier waste broker
abattoir waste broker
quarry waste broker
agricultural waste broker

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Waste broker is a Skill level 3 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to waste broker.

landfill supervisor
solid waste operator
hazardous materials inspector
hazardous waste inspector
industrial waste inspector

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of waste broker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of waste broker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

waste management officer
recycling specialist
environmental protection manager
waste treatment engineer
intermodal logistics manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of waste broker.

• Waste transport legislation: Regulations and legislation concerning the safe transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials, products, and appliances.
• Waste management: The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.
• Types of waste collection vehicles: Different types of heavy trucks used for waste collection such as front loaders, rear loaders, and side loaders.

These skills are necessary for the role of waste broker.

• Communicate with waste treatment facilities: Communicate with facilities dealing with the treatment of hazardous or non-hazardous waste in order to ensure efficient cooperation in the organisation of waste treatment procedures.
• Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
• Communicate with customers: Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
• Communicate with waste collectors: Communicate with workers who collect waste from various places and transport it to the waste treatment facilities in order to ensure optimal cooperation and efficient operation of waste treatment and disposal procedures.
• Ensure compliance with waste legislative regulations: Implement and monitor company procedures for the collection, transport and disposal of waste, in compliance with all regulations and legal requirements.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Maintain waste collection records: Maintain records on waste collection routes, scheduling, and types and volume of waste collected.
• Coordinate shipments of waste materials: Organise the transportation of hazardous or non-hazardous waste from a client to a waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility, and ensure that all procedures are compliant with environmental legislation.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of waste broker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Hazardous materials transportation: Regulations and safety procedures which are involved in the transportation of hazardous materials and products, such as hazardous waste, chemicals, explosives, and flammable materials.
• Waste and scrap products: The offered waste and scrap products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Hazardous waste storage: The regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of waste broker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Implement transport strategy: Anticipate company requirements and goals in terms of transport strategy; use this as a base to take actions to implement the strategy.
• Inspect compliance with hazardous waste regulations: Inspect an organisation’s or facility’s strategies which deal with the management of hazardous waste in order to ensure that their actions are compliant with relevant legislation and that measures are taken to improve protection from exposure, and ensure health and safety.
• Establish waste collection routes: Establish and outline the routes which would ensure efficient and fast waste collection in the designated area.
• Apply transportation management concepts: Apply transport industry management concepts in order to improve transportation processes, reduce waste, increase efficiency, and improve schedule preparation.
• Update licenses: Update and display all necessary licenses as required by regulatory agencies.
• Monitor legislation developments: Monitor changes in rules, policies and legislation, and identify how they may influence the organisation, existing operations, or a specific case or situation.
• Investigate complaints about improper waste handling: Respond to and investigate accusations and complaints about improper industrial waste handling and disposal.
• Coordinate waste management procedures: Coordinate the operations of a facility or organisation which deal with the management of waste, such as waste collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal, in order to ensure optimal efficiency of operations, improve methods for waste reduction, and ensure compliance with legislation.
• Coordinate shipments of recycling materials: Coordinate and oversee shipments of recycling materials. Communicate with processing companies and shipping brokers.
• Advise on waste management procedures: Advise organisations on the implementation of waste regulations and on improvement strategies for waste management and waste minimisation, to increase environmentally sustainable practices and environmental awareness.

3324 – Trade brokers

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References

1. Waste broker – ESCO