Women In Waste: Why the industry is a great career choice
Biffa's Head of Sustainability, Fiona Campbell, is the star of The Sun's latest Employment feature about why the waste industry is a great career choice for women.
“The female perspective is so important if we want to change society’s attitude to waste," says Fiona. “Research shows it’s women who are playing a key role in championing eco-awareness.”
Read the article in full below:
They say “where there’s muck, there’s brass”, and it is never truer than in waste management – especially for women.
The fast-growing industry is one of the few that pays women on a par with, or in many cases better than, men.
While waste management is traditionally thought of as a role for men, conjuring up images of refuse lorries, skips, hard hats and landfill sites, bosses are on a mission to bring more women in.
Currently around 27 per cent of the waste management workforce are female — and this number is growing year on year.
Studies have shown that women are more likely to champion recycling and eco-awareness in the home, so the industry is hoping to capitalise on this by promoting more women in both frontline and senior management positions.
She said: “In what is still often regarded as a male-dominated sector, it’s perhaps unsurprising the industry has not always been the first choice for many women.
“A commitment to diversity and inclusion means this is changing, with more women now becoming drivers, refuse collectors and street cleaners.
“While our amazing frontline colleagues are the backbone of our operations, this industry is so much more than bins and trucks.
“There are many other exciting roles that make a real difference to the world, from engineering and environmental monitoring to biodiversity and innovation.
“The female perspective is so important if we want to change society’s attitude to waste.
“Research shows it’s women who are playing a key role in championing eco-awareness.”
With the push towards net zero and the “circular economy” — producing and reusing items with minimum waste — the UK waste management industry plans to invest £10billion and create 40,000 jobs over the next decade.
Projects including recycling infrastructure, renewable energy and the redistribution of surplus produce to those who need it most mean that jobs are no longer simply about waste disposal but can have a real impact on tackling carbon emissions and food poverty.
New roles are available at every level, from school leavers and new graduates to experienced experts.
Positions range from drivers, engineers and chemists to regulatory, customer services, logistics, site management and community engagement.
To help recruit more women, Biffa has launched a Women In Waste group and has introduced family-friendly policies and flexible working conditions.
The company has also pioneered special PPE and frontline workwear that better fits the female body shape.
Anthony Aarons, Group Head of Recruitment, said: “At Biffa, we embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, and pride ourselves on fostering an environment where career progression is not just a possibility but a priority.”
