Waste and Recycling Jobs in Australia 2026 at Muswellbrook

Waste industry job in the NSW Upper Hunter with training and council benefits? Muswellbrook Shire Council is hiring a Waste and Recycling Team Member (called a Waste Operator inside Council) for its Muswellbrook Waste and Recycling Facility and the Denman Waste Transfer Station. The pay is $39.55 to $44.44 per hour plus 12% superannuation, depending on qualifications and experience.

This is not a rubbish truck round. It is facility work: serving customers, operating the weighbridge and taking payments, directing visitors to the right areas, handling and relocating materials, keeping the site tidy and helping with the Recovery Shop. It suits people who like practical outdoor work and dealing with the public.

Below you’ll find complete details on this waste job in Australia, including pay, duties, requirements, employer information and a step-by-step guide on how to apply.

Closing soon: The listing says applications close on October 27, 2026 at 11:59pm, which is tomorrow in Australian time. Apply today if you want this one.

Please read before applying:

• The job type is unclear. The LinkedIn text says “casual” with an hourly rate, but SEEK lists the same job as full-time at $60,120 to $67,546 per year with a 9-day fortnight. Council’s earlier Waste Operator ads were permanent full-time. Ask which applies.
• You need work rights and local requirements. The ad does not mention visa sponsorship. It requires a current NSW White Card and a Class C driver’s licence or higher.
• A medical check may apply. Recommended candidates may be asked to do a medical assessment, which may include alcohol and drug testing, before an offer.

About the Employer

Muswellbrook Shire Council is the local government for the Muswellbrook area, in the Upper Hunter Valley of NSW. According to the ad, it is under two hours from Newcastle and Tamworth and three hours from Sydney. The area has a long history in energy generation and is one of Australia’s largest coal mining regions. The Council says it is at the centre of the renewable energy transition and also supports viticulture, equine and agriculture industries. LinkedIn lists it with 51 to 200 employees.

The Council runs “The Welcome Experience”, a program that connects new residents and their families with local people and resources to help them settle in. Its local government jobs are advertised on its own careers website and on job boards.

Job Details

Job Title: Waste and Recycling Team Member (Waste Operator)
Company Name: Muswellbrook Shire Council
Country: Australia
Location: Muswellbrook, NSW (also covers Denman Waste Transfer Station)
Salary: $39.5530 to $44.4382 per hour plus 12% superannuation (LinkedIn); SEEK shows $60,120 to $67,546 per year
Job Type: Casual per the LinkedIn text; SEEK shows full-time with a 9-day fortnight
Experience: Certificate III in Waste Management, or 12+ months of relevant experience, or willingness to complete the course
Education: Proven Year 10 level literacy and numeracy
Licence and Tickets: Class C driver’s licence or higher; current NSW White Card; Weighbridge Operations Statement of Attainment, or willingness to obtain
Vacancies: Not specified by the employer
Posted: Reposted about 2 days ago (listing seen October 26, 2026)
Closing Date: October 27, 2026 at 11:59pm

Job Responsibilities

As a Waste Facility Team Member, your main duties will include:

• Maintaining the waste facility and contributing to its upkeep and efficient operation
• Providing a high level of customer service to everyone who uses the facility
• Operating the weighbridge, collecting money and keeping computer records
• Monitoring and inspecting materials coming into the site, and guiding visitors to the right areas
• Working with other staff to pick suitable products for the Recovery Shop
• Using and maintaining small plant, equipment and hand and power tools, and doing general labouring such as mowing and whipper snipping
• Following Council policies, procedures and legislation
• Manually collecting and relocating varied materials within the facility
• Working with the team to meet Council’s waste operational goals

Job Requirements

To apply for this waste job in Australia, candidates should have:

• A Certificate III in Waste Management, or 12 or more months of relevant experience, or be willing to complete the course
• Year 10 level literacy and numeracy, with the ability to complete forms, enter data and do basic cashiering
• A current NSW White Card (Construction Induction Certificate)
• A Class C driver’s licence or higher
• Experience operating facilities in line with safety and EPA guidelines
• A Weighbridge Operations Statement of Attainment, or willingness to obtain one
• The right to work in Australia

Required Documents

To apply, Council asks you to upload:

• A copy of your resume
• Responses to questions based on the criteria in the Position Description (keep them concise)

You should also prepare your White Card, driver’s licence and any Certificate III or weighbridge certificates. Incomplete applications will not be considered after the closing date. Check your junk mail folder for replies.

Employee Benefits

The Council lists the following:

• Pay of $39.55 to $44.44 per hour plus 12% superannuation (casual rate per LinkedIn)
• A 40% discount on yearly Aquatic and Fitness Centre membership for staff and families at the local facility (conditions apply)
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program for you and your immediate family
• The Welcome Experience for newcomers to Muswellbrook

Earlier Council waste ads also mentioned training courses, professional development and a 9-day fortnight, and SEEK’s listing shows a 9-day fortnight. Ask whether these apply to this role.

Who Can Apply?

You may apply for this position if you:

• Have the right to work in Australia
• Hold, or can quickly get, a NSW White Card and a Class C licence
• Have waste, facility, labouring or customer service experience, or are willing to study the Certificate III
• Can handle cashiering, data entry and physical outdoor work
• Can live in or move to the Muswellbrook area

Why You Should Apply

The pay is high for a facility role, and the 12% superannuation is generous. The Council is a stable public employer, and the ad says it will support you to get the Certificate III and the weighbridge statement if you don’t have them. The job mixes customer service, cash handling, plant use and labouring, so you build a wide set of skills.

Muswellbrook is a regional centre with a growing renewable energy sector, and the Council’s Welcome Experience program helps new arrivals settle in.

How to Apply

Follow these simple steps to apply for the Waste and Recycling Team Member position:

Step 1: Check that you have the right to work in Australia, a White Card and a Class C licence.

Step 2: Read the Position Description on the Council’s careers website.

Step 3: Update your resume and prepare concise answers to the application questions, based on the criteria in the Position Description.

Step 4: Open the LinkedIn listing using the link below and click “Apply”, which takes you to the Council’s online application.

Step 5: Submit before 11:59pm on October 27, 2026, then check your email, including junk mail.

Official Job Listing (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4478784687/

Hiring Manager (Waste Supervisor): 0428 264 074 (the number given in the ad, for questions about the role)

Human Resources (for application help or adjustments): (02) 6549 3700 and humanresources@muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au

Council Jobs on SEEK: https://au.seek.com/Muswellbrook-Shire-Council-jobs

Safety tip: Never pay anyone for a job offer or for help with a council application. Genuine employers do not charge candidates to be hired. Apply only through the Council’s own application system or its listed job boards.

Final Words

This Waste and Recycling Team Member role at Muswellbrook Shire Council is a solid opportunity for people with Australian work rights who want practical, well-paid council work in the Upper Hunter. Applications close on October 27, 2026, so apply straight away, and check whether the job is casual or permanent before you accept.

Disclaimer: This website is only sharing information about this job vacancy for the convenience of job seekers. We are not the employer and are not involved in the hiring or recruitment process in any way. Please apply directly through the Council’s official application system, and confirm all job details, including job type, pay and closing date, with the employer before applying.