Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to identify and segregate a variety of waste types to meet client requirements. It covers identifying and segregating waste into required categories, including identifying and managing hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste. The unit includes selecting and using equipment for segregation activities, and setting up, labelling, monitoring and emptying segregation containers. The unit requires the ability to identify and manage hazards and risks while working safely with potentially hazardous waste products.
The unit supports those who work under limited supervision in a waste management team.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan waste identification and segregation. | 1.1. | Waste management plan including waste collection |
1.2. | Hazards and risks are identified and managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.3. | Relevant personnel are informed of work requirements, hazards and risks according to organisational requirements. | ||
1.4. | Segregation equipment is selected, obtained and operated according to work and organisational requirements. | ||
1.5. | Segregation containers are set up to ensure safe and effective waste segregation according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.6. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, checked and used according to work, organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2. | Carry out waste identification and segregation activities. | 2.1. | Waste is identified and hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste handled according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
2.2. | Waste is segregated into categories according to waste characteristics and work requirements. | ||
2.3. | Sorted waste is placed into correct waste category container to prevent litter in surrounding area and to avoid cross-contamination. | ||
2.4. | Waste containers are frequently monitored to ensure adequate available storage capacity and secure waste containment according to organisational requirements. | ||
2.5. | Full waste containers are emptied and promptly replaced to minimise disruption to production according to work, organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2.6. | Segregated waste is labelled according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Conduct quality control inspection of waste. | 3.1. | Segregated waste is inspected to ensure quality compliance and problems are reported according to organisational requirements. |
3.2. | Quality control inspection details are documented according to organisational requirements. | ||
4. | Carry out clean-up activities. | 4.1. | Sorting site and equipment are cleaned to ensure safe and effective future operation according to organisational requirements. |
4.2. | PPE is cleaned, checked and stored, and damaged or faulty equipment is reported according to organisational requirements. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit. The person must identify and segregate waste into required categories for three different tasks.
While identifying and segregating the above waste, the person must:
interpret waste management plans to identify waste collection requirements, client needs and segregation categories
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements when identifying and segregating waste
select, obtain and operate equipment required for waste segregation activities
set up, monitor and empty waste segregation containers
identify hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste
inspect segregated waste to ensure quality compliance
use organisational proformas to document the outcomes of quality control inspections
clean the sorting site and segregation equipment
clean, check and store personal protective equipment (PPE) and report faults.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
classifications of dangerous goods
hazards and risks associated with waste identification and segregation
organisational policies and procedures, and regulatory and legal requirements relating to segregating waste
procedures for containing segregated waste types including containing and isolating hazardous waste
resource recovery options relating to:
environmental issues and regulations
potential resources to be recovered
timeframe to recover resources
valuable resources within materials
types, streams and characteristics of waste including hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste streams
waste segregation categories.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
equipment required to identify and segregate waste, as specified by organisational requirements
personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working under limited supervision.
Timeframe:
as specified by organisational requirements.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Planning and organising skills to: | prioritise work activities to meet work timeframes. |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate waste volumes and weights during segregation activities. |
Oral communication skills to: | discuss and clarify work information with relevant personnel. |
Reading skills to: | interpret safety data sheets related to hazardous waste. |
Writing skills to: | complete waste documents and proformas. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Waste collection requirements must include: | acceptable waste types contamination requirements work health and safety requirements. |
Segregation categories must include at least six of the following: | chemical waste commercial and industrial waste construction and demolition waste dangerous goods green waste hazardous waste municipal waste prescribed or regulated waste putrescibles quarantine waste recyclable liquid and solid waste solid inert waste. |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to waste segregation, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety. |
Relevant personnel must include at least one of the following: | supervisor team leader team member. |
Waste characteristics | density level of contamination quality shape size volume weight. |
Sectors
Waste management