Job number
LBC05113
Contract Type
Fixed Term / Secondment
Posting End Date
30 June 2026
Job Area
Waste, Recycling and Environmental Services
Salary: £25,989 – £26,824 a year
Hours per week: 37
Contract type: Fixed Term for Three Years
As a Waste Compliance Officer, you will play a key role in improving waste management standards across the borough by working directly with residents to promote responsible waste storage, recycling, and disposal practices. Reporting to management, you will identify and target areas experiencing persistent waste-related issues, including bins left on the street, excessive side waste, contaminated recycling bins, and low recycling participation.
The role combines education, engagement, and enforcement to help residents understand their responsibilities and adopt sustainable waste disposal behaviours. You will conduct household visits, provide advice on waste reduction and recycling, and support residents in managing their waste more effectively.
A significant aspect of the position involves assessing households' ability to store bins off-street and present them for collection. Where appropriate, you will make recommendations for alternative waste collection arrangements and take enforcement action under the Environmental Protection Act to ensure compliance with council requirements.
You will work proactively with residents who consistently produce high volumes of waste, encouraging greater reuse and recycling while reducing waste sent to landfill. In cases of continued non-compliance, you will gather evidence, issue notices, and support legal enforcement processes.
The successful candidate will also monitor and record performance data, maintain accurate case records, and contribute to the delivery of key service objectives aimed at improving environmental quality and community wellbeing.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about environmental improvement, enjoys engaging with the public, and is confident in balancing education with enforcement to achieve positive outcomes.
Please note this role does not attract sponsorship.
We are looking for a confident, organised, and customer-focused individual who is passionate about helping communities improve their environmental standards. You will have experience of dealing with customers face-to-face, over the telephone, and in writing, demonstrating a sensitive, professional, and effective approach in all interactions.
Ideally, you will have experience working within a local authority, regulatory, compliance, or enforcement environment, and be comfortable balancing education and engagement with formal enforcement action where required.
You will possess excellent communication skills and be able to engage positively with a wide range of residents, providing clear advice and guidance while remaining calm, assertive, and professional in challenging situations. The ability to influence behaviour, encourage compliance, and build constructive relationships with members of the public is essential.
The successful candidate will be highly organised, with the ability to investigate issues, establish facts, and use their own initiative to make decisions within defined procedures. You will be capable of planning and prioritising your workload effectively, meeting deadlines, and maintaining accurate records of inspections, meetings, compliance actions, and enforcement activities.
You will be confident using Microsoft Office applications and other IT systems for research, intelligence gathering, case management, and administrative purposes. Experience of recording compliance information, issuing fixed penalty notices, and understanding associated enforcement processes would be advantageous.
Knowledge of waste management practices, recycling initiatives, environmental legislation, or regulatory enforcement matters is desirable, together with an understanding of equality and diversity issues and how they may affect different members of the community.
You should hold an administration, customer service, or equivalent qualification, or be able to demonstrate relevant experience and training. Due to the nature of the role, you must be able to travel throughout the borough to conduct site visits, assessments, and meetings on a daily basis, and be comfortable walking for extended periods as part of your duties.
Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision – that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty – is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents.
The people of Luton depend heavily on this council – and that means our workforce! Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision?
We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our borough
On occasions, we may close a vacancy early due to a very high number of applications being received.
We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include:
- From 25 to 32 days’ annual leave: linked to length of service and grade
- Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave
- Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area
- Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 19.2 per cent (at April 2026) and 3x salary death in service grant
- Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility)
- Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home
- Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns
- Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways
- Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons
- Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel
We understand that job applications take time and effort, but a high-quality application shows that you are professional with a good attention to detail. The recruiting manager may receive a number of applications for each job advertised so you want yours to stand out!
Our ‘How to apply' page has more tips to help with your application: How to apply
