Waste Operations: Waste Collection Driver

The Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan states that: ‘‘Zero Waste Scotland will develop a programme to support continual improvement in health and safety and workforce skills in the resource management sector’. These SVQs are a key part of the plan, providing and certifying the skills and knowledge of the workforce.

The SVQ 2s in Waste Operations are very flexible qualifications that can be tailored to meet an organisation’s requirements. There are five distinct pathways.

• Waste Collection Operative
• Waste Collection Driver
• Waste Site Operative
• Waste Team Leader
• Waste Weighbridge Operator

The SVQ 2 in Waste Operations: Waste Collection Operative at SCQF level 5 can be offered:

• full-time
• part-time (eg day-release)
• as on-the-job training

This SVQ is suitable for:

• people of all ages at any stage in their career
• anyone employed as a driver of a refuse collection vehicle and who is involved in the loading and unloading of material

Employed candidates may be working for local authorities, waste management organisations or third sector organisations in Scotland.

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

No prior qualifications are required to undertake this qualification, although knowledge or experience of waste management would be an advantage.

This SVQ 2 could provide progression to:

• An HNC/HND in subject or related area, for example, Sustainable Resource Management
• SVQ3 Waste Supervisory Management (GF9M 23)
• Diplomas in Waste Management Operations
• Employment in the waste management sector, perhaps as a waste collection/refuse operator

Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority require to come forward for approval and should contact SQA’s Business Development Team for guidance.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence as outlined in the Systems and Qualification Approval Guide.

Assessment may involve a range of assessment methods. The methods of assessment used should generate sufficient evidence to demonstrate the candidate’s competence. They could include:

• observation (by the assessor)
• questions and candidate responses
• personal statement (produced by the candidate)
• witness testimony
• product evidence

The SVQ 2 Waste Operations: Waste Collection Driver at SCQF level 5 consists of seven mandatory Units and three optional Units.

For further information on the structure of this qualification please refer to the Qualification Structure (148 KB)

Unit information for this qualification is available on our Unit Search.

This SVQ 2 is part of a Modern Apprenticeship in Sustainable Resource Management.

• General Assessment Strategy  (421 KB)
• WasteSector Assessment Strategy (EU Skills)  (305 KB)

• SVQ 2 Waste Operations

• Guidance for candidates starting an SVQ (626 KB)
• Candidate Portfolio A4 Cover (118 KB)
• Candidate blank recording forms (616 KB)