Materials Recycler

A Materials Recycler operates in recycling facilities and waste processing centres, sorting, grading, and preparing recyclable materials for reprocessing or resale. They use mechanical and manual methods to separate materials such as metals, plastics, paper, and glass according to market specifications and environmental standards. The role requires knowledge of material properties, contamination protocols, and occupational safety in an industrial setting.

Sort incoming mixed recyclable materials by type (ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, plastics, paper, cardboard, glass) using visual inspection and manual separation techniques. Operate balers, shredders, and granulators to compress, cut, or fragment materials for transport and reprocessing. Grade materials according to quality standards and market specifications, removing contaminants and non-recyclable items. Identify and separate hazardous materials such as asbestos, batteries, and electronics to comply with EPA and Safe Work Australia waste handling regulations. Monitor material flow through conveyor systems and sort stations, adjusting equipment settings or stopping lines when contamination or jams occur. Weigh and record material quantities using industrial scales and inventory management systems to track output volumes. Maintain work areas to Safe Work Australia standards, including managing dust, spillage, and noise hazards inherent to recycling operations. Perform routine cleaning and basic maintenance of recycling equipment such as magnets, screens, and conveyor belts.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

The work is physically demanding and repetitive, with constant exposure to dust, noise, and contamination hazards that require strict safety discipline. Pay sits at the lower end of industrial work. Automation may reduce manual sorting roles over time, especially as AI-powered optical sorters improve. Without further qualifications, your earning ceiling is limited and job security depends on facility demand.

In practice, most jobs concentrate in larger metros where recycling facilities serve high-density populations and manufacturing hubs. Some regional centres have facilities near major towns. Work is on-site only. Check your state's EPA waste management contractor lists and local council recycling networks for actual vacancies.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 6219, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Goods Receipt Processingcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Stock Counting and Stocktakecore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Process Improvement Identification
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Record Management
• Risk Identification
• Supplier Communication
• Workload Self-Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026