Waste treatment and recycle products manager; Industrial waste management technician

The gradual integration of European environmental directives into the Spanish legal system, responsibilities associated with the poor management of production activities and a growing social awareness of environmental quality have obliged companies and public institutions to develop efficient systems and to draw up waste management and reuse plans on the basis of the concept of sustainable development.

In this context, the hazardous waste manager sees to the control, processing and recycling of waste materials (whether solid, liquid and gaseous) generated by chemical processing and manufacturing industries. His/her mission is to minimise the production of waste, achieve the reuse or recycling of any waste produced and ensure that the rest is disposed of in a manner which does not affect the environment. S/he must also intervene in the event of an emergency or accidental spillage and draw up reports for local, autonomous and state authorities. Management possibilities by-and-large depend on the characteristics, volume, origin, processing costs, marketing potential and administrative guidelines linked to produced waste and make use of tools such as lifecycle analysis and value-adding to achieve its minimisation.

• Monitor the production of waste during the different opeartions involved in the production process and supervise their placement in appropriate treatment or storage areas.
  Identify and categorise any potential pollutants generated, reviewing the design of facilities, manufacturing processes and applicable legislation in order to identify spills, emissions, waste and sources of pollution.
  Inspect and identify any waste produced in the factory and carry out the relevant categorisation depending on its origin and dangerousness.
  Check that the machines, tools, pipes, transport systems, etc., used comply with current regulations.
  Coordinate the sampling and analysis of waste residue.
  Supervise the transportation of waste residue to ensure that is carried out in an efficient manner.
  Identify waste residue and inventorise it according to volume, physicochemical classification and characteristics.
• Assess, select and implement the best hazardous waste processing, elimination or storage alternatives.
  Draw up and implement waste treatment programmes, processes, equipment and facilities, determining whether or not it is necessary to hire external managers according to the financial feasibility of the process.
  Participate in calculating the cost of the waste treatment process, assessing the different alternatives and potential recovery of any by-products generated.
  Monitor the operations carried out by the staff of the different processing lines (physicochemical, biological, inactivation, etc.) in case the company has its own equipment.
  Take and analyse initial and treated waste residue samples and supervise solid waste and waste water activity according to the necessary quality standards.
  Coordinate treated waste residue removal, organising its transportation to an incineration plant or spillway specialised in industrial waste.
• Study alternative possibilities for waste or by-products generated in the factory, including minimisation and recovery options.
  Propose corrective actions to be applied to existing process and equipment and the application of new technologies aimed at minimising waste production in the factory.
  Work towards improving company waste recycling and reuse strategies, resorting to alternative processes such as energy recovery or making use of by-products and assessing the need to resort to external agents.
  Carry out research projects in partnership with universities and public or private research centres to reduce the production of waste and promote its reuse.
  Recommend the application of new waste management techniques and strategies to the management of the company.
  Identify customers and potential uses for recovered materials.
  Manage processing and storage systems for recovery operations.
  Monitor the use of recycled materials in the production process.
• Draw up technical reports regarding the operation of the production process, waste management and incidents observed.
  Keep the technical documentation required by regulatory authorities up to date.
  Coordinate the removal or disposal of inactivated waste with local authorities, taking care of the necessary documentation.
  Ensure the fulfillment of regulations pursuant to waste transportation,handling and removal.
  Advise the general and industrial management with regard to the interpretation of regulations, reports, inspections and deviations.
  Review and supervise factory cleaning and maintenance tasks and ensure these actions are duly documented in the relevant records.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Chemical Professional Families - Advanced Level: Chemical industry
• Grau: Química
• Grau: Enginyeria química
• Grau: Enginyeria geològica
• Grau: Enginyeria de l'energia
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Ciències ambientals

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Concern for order and quality: Level 3

Analytical thought: Level 2

Team work and cooperation: Level 1

Orientation within reach: Level 3

Conceptual thought: Level 3

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 2

Scientific research

Individuals who have an affinity for the field of scientific research focus their interest on activities that study different types of organisms and substances in order to obtain valuable products for human beings. A key part of performing this task is the planning and verification of scientific hypotheses through the use of different research designs and techniques. The objective of these searches is the development of new medicines and medical techniques, technological innovation based on the manipulation of cells, molecules and biological agents, as well as the study of cultures in order to improve the characteristics and properties of plants and food.

Environment

People who work in this field focus their professional interests on the preservation, improvement or restoration of the environment (vegetation, fauna, flora) in both built-up areas and natural spaces. Some of the activities that represent this field are the detection, analysis and control of pollutants, the carrying out of measurements and tests in relation to climatic or environmental variables and the reduction of the harmful effects of human activity on the environment. The carrying out of these activities requires knowledge of the environment, for its planning and use, and of environmental regulations.

Environmental and chemical safety specialist

Specialist industrial waste management technician

Polymer technician

Specialist in catalysis and catalytic processes

Municipal environmental management and energy efficiency technician

• Work hours

  This job tends to be full-time, split- or continuous shift, starting at 8-9 am and finishing at 5-6 pm, Monday to Friday. Employees may occasionally have to work overtime or on weekends if the facilities remain open Monday to Sunday, in the event that an incident arises in the generation, management or storage of waste residues and their recycling. In large businesses with their own treatment facilities, waste management may be carried out in a continuous manner, meaning that different managers may take turns to work a shift rota to supervise the work of operatives.

• Salary

  Average salaries paid for this occupation can be highly variable, depending on experience, the level of training and company type. Salaries tend to range between 18,000 and 24,000 Euros gross per annum; these may be higher or lower depending on the level of responsibility involved in the job and the amount of waste managed, as well as the success of new solutions contributed in the frame of his/her occupation.

• Other features

  It is necessary to be in possession of the relevant licenses and to provide a forecast of any payments to be made to dump or dispose of waste residues in the relevant facilities.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Human resources and equipment

  Staff specialised in cleaning, waste collection or separation. With regard to material resources, it is necessary to plan their transportation and the components involved in cleaning in line with the speciality and handling method specified by the relevant treatment facility.

• Initial investments

  A major initial investment is needed, which must include transportation, cleaning machinery and the management of any waste generated during the cleaning process.