Waste management

When materials are sent to landfill, their value is lost to the economy. Recycling materials keeps their value in the economy, prevents the need for new or expanded landfills and creates jobs. Greater separation of recyclable materials and investment in the right infrastructure will produce higher-quality recycled materials with stronger market demand.

Skills and occupations required

Workers in the sector require knowledge of waste reduction, waste management and recycling technologies. Most workers in the recycling sector, including drivers and plant operators, must have digital and data literacy skills to effectively use digital technologies, such as waste management tracking tools.

Courses available through the TAFE Network

• Certificate IV of Building and Construction – Minimise waste on the building and construction site
• Diploma of Engineering Technical – Apply basic just in time systems to the reduction of waste

Climate events, such as droughts, heatwaves, floods, intense rainfall, sea-level rises, and changes in temperature, have affected Victoria's sewage systems. To address these changes, sewage plants need to upgrade infrastructure to manage increased water volumes, improve flood defences, and enhance treatment processes to manage changing water quality. Treatment plants are also useful for the recovery of biogas and solids. With these sources of energy becoming more integrated into Victoria's energy mix, efforts may increase to ramp up the capacity for biogas recovery.

Skills and occupations required

Knowledge of nitrogen and biogas/biosolid capture is required by engineers to enable recovery of biogas from wastewater. Inspectors and sewer maintenance personnel require skills in assessing sewage plants and water quality.

Speak to your local TAFE to identify qualifications that could meet your needs.